Browsing by Author "Campbell, Emma"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Open Access
    An exploration of social impact bonds as a social development strategy. A South African case study
    (2025) Nhaitayi, Ropafadzo; Campbell, Emma
    South Africa faces significant and complex socio-economic challenges, such as high levels of poverty, unemployment, income inequality, and incessant electricity supply shortages, the result of which is a negative impact on productivity and the economy, as well as the livelihoods of the most vulnerable people in the country (Erero, 2023; OECD, 2019; Mubangizi and Mubangizi, 2005). Traditional funding approaches for social development, such as funds from the Treasury and development aid, have yielded mixed results, prompting the need for innovative solutions. De Witt (2018) calls for the deployment of innovative financing mechanisms as a possible solution to traditional social development financing. This study considered one such innovative financing solution, namely Social Impact Bonds (SIBs). This exploratory qualitative research employed multiple case studies and examined the design and implementation of the two pioneering SIBs in South Africa, the Impact Bond Innovation Fund (IBIF) and Bonds for Jobs (B4J). Data collection involved face-to-face interviews and a focus group discussion with key stakeholders. Document analysis was also conducted to augment interview data. The data generated were analysed using a combination of NVivo 14, as well as an adaptation of Tesch's (1990) approach where data were coded and organised into themes, categories, and sub-categories. The study identified SIBs as a potential alternative to traditional funding; the findings showed that both case studies were successful, as they met their outcome targets, were able to demonstrate innovation, and were also able to repay investors. The research also found that several challenges were encountered in the design and implementation of the SIBs, including high costs, lengthy setup times, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the lack of specific SIB legislation presented hurdles during design and implementation. The findings from this research demonstrate the potential that SIBs carry, as such the findings can be thought of as providing a roadmap of issues to consider when designing and implementing SIBs in South Africa. The research concludes by offering recommendations for further research and the design of future SIBs in South Africa, including the establishment of a supportive regulatory framework and streamlining the design and implementation process.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Developmental and life-course pathways for antisocial behaviour among young adults in the Western Cape, South Africa
    (2021) Campbell, Emma; Holtzhausen, Leon
    The aim of this quantitative research project was to explore developmental and life-course theories explaining antisocial behaviour among 413 young adults in the Western Cape, South Africa. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data among 135 youth from lower income communities in Cape Town. A further 278 responses were collected from undergraduate students from the University of Cape Town. The questionnaire included 6 psychological assessment tools that measured childhood adversity, deviant and anti-social behaviours, cognitions, and attitudes as well as pro-social functioning. The responses to the scales were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25, in attempts to answer four key research questions. The four research questions were centred around exploring childhood adversity, anti/pro social behaviours, and five different developmental and life-course theories within a South African context. The results showed that deviant behaviours increased as adverse childhood experiences increased, with physical neglect, witnessing domestic violence, and household incarceration as particularly strong risk factors. The findings also showed that some of the key features of each of the five theories in question could generally be applied to South African youth. Furthermore, there was evidence in this study that adaptive coping was linked to more prosocial attitudes, albeit the correlations were not particularly strong. Finally, findings suggested some issues with the validity of the assessment scales for deviance, antisocial and prosocial functioning in the South African context. This highlights a need for more research into context-specific and culturally relevant assessment scales in South Africa.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Financial Management of NGOs towards financial sustainability: a case of Gaborone, Botswana
    (2022) Kgotlaetsile, Keagetswe Alex; Atmore, Eric; Campbell, Emma
    Financial sustainability remains a key concern for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Botswana. Their survival is dependent on the fading donor funding, illustrating a weak financial capacity and poor financial sustainability prospects. To continue operating, NGOs must adopt sound financial management practices to enhance their financially sustainability. The aim for this study is to find out if the financial management practices used by NGOs in Botswana can improve their financial sustainability, thus also determining their financial sustainability potential. The study employed a convergent parallel mixed method design, using structured surveys and face to face semi-structured interviews. A non-probability purposive sampling was adopted, drawing a sample of 20 participants for surveys representing 20 NGOs and 15 participants for face-to-face structured interviews representing 10 NGOs. The survey responses were analysed using spreadsheet (excel) while face to face interviews were analysed using NVivo Software, following Tech's (1990) process for data analysis. The study sought to answer questions centred around financial management, financial sustainability, sound financial management practices, sources of income and alternative funding for NGOs in Botswana. The main findings demonstrate a great understanding of financial management and financial sustainability. They also showed a strong practice of financial planning enhanced by strategic planning and budgeting. A strong financial recording process which includes the use of accounting process, systems, and tools. On the other hand, somewhat a weak financial monitoring process, with good use of audits but reluctancy in reviewing financial statements. Moreover, the results illustrate diverse but weak income sources, shown by a decline in local and international funding. Lastly the study shows the presence of an alternative funding approach which has ensured some income generation. On the same note NGOs have low financial reserves and survival ratios. The study recommends the strengthening of NGOs financial capacity, by NGOs, the private sector, and the government. NGOs should prioritise sound financial management and improve their financial capacity. The private sector and other stakeholders should promote sustainable financial support and partnerships with NGOs. The government should view NGOs as key partners and actively support their mandate. NGOs should prioritise financial management, train and enhance capacity of their members to ensure financial prudence.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Open Access
    Registered and Unregistered Early Childhood Development Centres in the Cape Flats, Cape Town: Challenges and Opportunities
    (2023) Butland, Lameez; Campbell, Emma
    This qualitative, explorative, research study aimed to explore the experiences of ECD principals from Registered and Unregistered Early Childhood Development Centres in the Cape Flats, Cape Town. This study collected data through face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. A non-probability, purposive sample of twenty ECD principals was selected to take part in this study. The main objective was to understand the context in which ECD principals in the Cape Flats provide their services. In doing so, the study attempts to answer four key research questions, which were centered around motivation, challenges and needs within the community-based service. The research study found that community needs, and lack of employment were key motivators for ECD principals. Several social challenges were identified as impacting the service including gangsterism, unemployment, substance abuse, registration, and infrastructural upgrade requirements. The lack of recognition and support from government departments was another common challenge that emerged from this study. Furthermore, there was an overall frustration around unrealistic standards assigned to compliance requirements and a lack of support for the management and business element of the service. To secure long-term viability and actualize social and economic benefits of ECD services in post-apartheid communities, the main recommendations of this study called on support from various stakeholders within corporate, government, and non-profit sectors of society.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Open Access
    Underspending of capital expenditure at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa: current state of knowledge and a research agenda
    (2025) Paine, Ayanda-Allie; Campbell, Emma
    South Africa's passenger rail network is in a desperate state of disrepair, leaving commuters - many of whom form part of the poor or working class - even more destitute. The process of restoring or modernizing rail overhead cables, signalling, perway and other station infrastructure is extremely capital intensive. Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has on numerous occasions been allocated a capital expenditure (CAPEX) budget by the National Treasury, specifically for the afore-listed capital projects. However, despite the availability of funding, the dire need for the capital projects as well as the urgency with which this implementation must take place, PRASA often grossly underspends the allocated CAPEX budget. Little research has been done on the entity's habitual underspending. The absence of the research into underspending of CAPEX at PRASA could affect the entity's ability to find sustainable solutions to the phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to summarize the state of our current knowledge of underspending of CAPEX at PRASA, identify further research needs and recommend areas that required additional probing by other scholars or organs of state. This was done through the collection of primary data from relevant experts and secondary data from applicable reports. For the primary data, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 industry experts. The secondary data comprised internal reports and other studies provided by the respondents. Thematic analysis was used to present the findings. The research respondents held varying views on the contribution of Treasury as well as internal systems towards underspending of CAPEX at PRASA, however, respondents were unanimous with regards to staff incapacity and corruption being factors which could be contributing to underspending at the entity. At a micro level, this study recommended that a skills audit be conducted by PRASA, to ascertain the capacity of its staff to spend on capital infrastructure. At a mezzo level, this study recommended that the Department of Transport review the efficacy of consequence management systems at PRASA. At a macro level, this study recommended that an external investigation be conducted into alleged corruption at PRASA.