Browsing by Author "Porter, Stephen"

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    The Amy Biehl HIV/AIDS peer educators programme: An impact assessment of the valued benefits and disbenefits for the programme participants
    (2005) Porter, Stephen; Wale, Kim
    This paper is the final deliverable of an impact assessment programme commissioned by the Amy Biehl Foundation to investigate the deeper impacts, benefits and disbenefits, on the recipients of the HIV/AIDS peer educators programme. This paper posits an interesting methodology based on Sen’s capability approach which sought to explore the impact of the peer education programme upon dimensions of well-being and other agency objectives. The programme was found to be having a very positive impact upon the recipients. Overall the programme was found have important unintended, but predictable outcomes upon youth’s knowledge, confidence and inner voice. The suggestion in this paper is that changes in feelings of self-worth are valuable in enhancing choices and decisions made generally in the peer educators lives and especially in regards to the knowledge gained in the area of HIV/AIDS. This is a positive appraisal; it tells us that the programme empowers youths through knowledge and relationships, which in turn enhances their own feeling of self-worth1 . Coaching the peer educators with reliable knowledge about HIV/AIDS is instrumentally and substantively important, enabling informed choices that can lead them to enjoy a long and healthy life.
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    Enhancing rural road policy: the case for the incorporation of the capabilities approach into rural road appraisal in Africa
    (2005) Porter, Stephen
    Infrastructure provisions, especially rural roads, have been highlighted in a number of recent studies and reports as an enabling factor for Africa to achieve 'development'. This paper reviews the current limits of rural road knowledge and appraisal procedures raising critical issues about what is actually known about the impact of rural roads and the extent to which current appraisal methods are able to fully contribute to this debate. An expanded methodology incorporating the capability approach is advocated to help overcome these issues. It is argued here that incorporation of the capability approach may help overcome certain frustrations in our ability to understand the manner in which rural roads impact upon the lives of people. The suggestion is made that the capability approach offers a different angle of analysis that could further contribute to critical questions surrounding the provision of roads, enhancing appraisal and helping to avoid the creation of further infrastructural 'white elephants' that have plagued Africa. Provision of rural roads is after all quite expensive and without a valid appraisal mechanism, money spent on some rural roads may more constructively be utilised elsewhere either on other roads, or on other sectors.
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    Who will guard the guardians themselves? : contributions of the capability approach to capacity development evaluation frameworks
    (2007) Porter, Stephen; Leibbrandt, Murray; McCord, Anna
    Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-118)