OpenUCT :: Browsing by Subject "Public Policy"

Browsing by Subject "Public Policy"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 23

Open Access
An analysis of state-civil society relationships in Botswana : a case of the Women's Affairs Department and women non-governmental organisations
(2011) Mooketsane, Keneilwe; Naidoo, Vinothan
Interactions between the state and Non-governmental Organisations have been heightened globally. This has led to states engaging civil society more than ever before. However, tendencies to control NGOs by the state seem common in African countries. This dissertation seeks to examine relations between the state and NGOs in Botswana. Botswana is a democratic country, which has been hailed as stable and a strong state, however, civil society in Botswana remains weak. This creates a problem of a dominant state and weak civil society. The dissertation employs Najam's theoretical framework in trying to understand the extent of state dominance in the relationship between the state and NGOs in Botswana.
Open Access
Cabinet decision making in Malawi and Zambia : implications for development policy implementation
(2007) Mtegha, Chigomezgo L D; Cameron, Robert
The study unravels the nature of Cabinet decision making in African Public Sector systems, and discusses its implications on development policy implementation. The demands on the State, and its key machinery, the Public Service, have evolved over time. Many states, including Zambia and Malawi, have since independence seen a decline in the welfare of their citizens, despite the plethora of development policy instruments that have been put in place to address this worrying situation. Weak policy implementation has been cited as the problem.
Open Access
Challenges facing the implementation of community and home-based early childhood development programmes for vulnerable children aged 0-4 years in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, South Africa
(2010) Orgill, Marsha Sarah
This thesis examined the challenges facing the public sector implementation of community and home based early childhood development (ECD) programmes for vulnerable children aged 0-4 years in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, South Africa. A qualitative case-study approach was used. The unit of analysis was the Department of Social Development (DoSD) as they are the public sector funders of non-profit organizations (NPOs) who deliver these services. The thesis included a literature review, a policy document review, and the collection and analysis of six interviews with officials involved in implementation of the National Integrated Plan for Early Childhood Development 2005–2010 (NIP for ECD). The data was organised using organizational coding and conceptually ordered displays, and analysed using the 5-C protocol of implementation as the overarching conceptual framework. The findings of the study showed that the main challenges facing the DoSD in the implementation of community and home-based ECD are: (1) Human resources that are stretched to capacity at the provincial and district level, primarily social workers who are unable to manage current services; (2) inadequate line item funding to scale up the provision of services in order to fulfill the mandate of the NIP for ECD (2005); (3) a shortage of NPOs to scale up services, current service providers already suffer with their own capacity constraints; (4) a lack of norms and standards for funding community and home-based ECD; (5) the social sector currently prioritizes centre-based ECD (in terms of funding and training) over community and home-based ECD. Another critical shortcoming is a lack of information regarding provision of services and a lack of South African evidence based research to assist implementers in making rationing decisions at the provincial level. Officials at the DoSD however display commitment to, and recognize the need to, support community and home-based ECD. The officials are however limited in doing so due to capacity constraints.
Open Access
The concepts of poverty used by the ANC government between 1994 and 2004
(2011) Kenyon, Steven
The choice of how poverty is conceptualised can have a significant effect on who is defined as poor and consequently who is targeted by government policies aimed at poverty eradication. This thesis examines the discourses of poverty used by the ANC government in its first decade in power and analyses what concepts of poverty underpin those discourses. By examining what concepts are used, this thesis lays a foundation for understanding what effect (if any) the concepts of poverty used by the ANC government might have on its efforts to combat poverty.
Open Access
A critical examination of the concept of welfare dependency : its assumptions, underlying values and manifistation in social policy, internationally and in South Africa
(2006) Di Lollo, Adrian; Taylor, Viviene
Concern over "welfare dependency" has featured prominently in the public discoursearound social assistance programmes in numerous countries for many years. The notionthat social assistance payments tend to sap the recipient's initiative, independence andpropensity for securing paid employment is widespread and is often assumed to be anobjective fact (rather than a concept) by public officials, social commentators and themedia. Consequently, charges of "welfare dependency" have often been used as the basisfor cutting social assistance expenditure, restricting eligibility or preventing newinitiatives. In South Africa, for example, the concept has been used in opposition todeveloping a universal Basic Income Grant (BIG).With the aid of case studies focusing on recent social welfare deVelopments in SouthAfrica, Australia and Brazil, this study attempts to critically analyse the term "welfaredependency" to determine which social values and assumptions inform the concept. Inaddition, the study aims to determine how "welfare dependency" manifests incontemporary social welfare policy and, most importantly, determine if the utilisation ofthe concept is related to other socio-economic agendas.
Open Access
Does the prevalence of poverty, religion or social capital influence the prevalence of HIV? : testing structural, cultural and institutional explanations of HIV diffusion in South Africa
(2006) Kennedy, Janis Louise; Mattes, Robert
Includes bibliographical references.
Open Access
An examination of the ways in which the five case study departments of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape have organised their monitoring and evaluation function
(2011) Cwayi, Siphumeze
This study looks at five departments in the Provincial Government of the Western Cape as case studies and examines the ways in which they have organized their M&E [monitoring and evaluation] function.
Open Access
Exploring social capital and its links with democracy in Cape Town : Findings from the Cape Area Study 2003
(2005) Jooste, Tracey-Lee; Mattes, Robert
This dissertation explores dimensions of social capital and its links with democracy in Cape Town, using data from the Cape Area Study 2003. The main theoretical and empirical approaches to the study of social capital in relation to democracy are critically analysed. The paper offers a descriptive overview of social capital, analysing facets beyond the widely used measures of general interpersonal trust and formal associational activism. While general interpersonal trust and associational activism in Cape Town are low, higher rates of social capital exist in other forms, such as neighbourly trust and informal networks of association with neighbours and kin. Factor and Reliability Analyses are applied to test dimensionality in the data ﬁnding that, in Cape Town, social capital is a multi-dimensional concept made up of distinct attitudinal and structural components. These facets are used to analyse the link between social capital and certain hypothesized outcomes linked to democratic stability, namely tolerance of diversity, civic commitment and political participation. The dissertation ﬁnds that interpersonal trust is a weak predictor of these outcomes and that associational activism can only sometimes be linked hereto. Other facets of social capital play a signiﬁcant role in determining these outcomes, but no single variable is a consistently strong predictor hereof. The ﬁndings suggest that the dimensions of social capital vary in their functioning and link to the outcomes of tolerance of diversity, civic commitment and political participation.
Open Access
Implementing HIV/AIDS global fund programs : funding disbursement mechanisms in Zambia
(2008) Conner, Deborah
The dissertation explores how variations in fund performance can be explained. Certain hypotheses suggested in the literature are set out that have been advanced to account for the differential performance of principal recipients. The dissertation analyzes the performance of the various funding mechanisms by exploring systems and procedures; public or non-governmental status; implementation models; staffing issues; NGO and CSO involvement in project implementation; and the absorption of funds. The dissertation makes an assessment of the significance of each factor in improving or worsening the performance of a disbursement mechanism, and draws some broad preliminary conclusions about how differences in disbursement performance can be explained.
Open Access
Intergovernmental fiscal reform in South Africa : preference matching, efficiency and accountability
(2007) Banda, Raymond Lorato; Butler, Anthony
The central purpose of this paper is to assess whether the South African intergovernmental fiscal relations system enables provinces to achieve preference matching, efficiency and accountability. In the final analysis the paper contests that the system does not enable preference matching because of centralized policy making, provincial over reliance on national transfers to finance their expenditures and the fact that the system was not necessarily crafted for purposes of preference matching but national unity and the need to address the imbalances of the past.
Open Access
Interrogating school effectiveness and socio economic status : the implications for South Africa
(2011) Erhiawarien, Mercy Oghenerukevwe; Aqiel, Mohamed
This dissertation undertakes a critical review of the literature on school effectiveness and quality and examines arguments regarding socio-economic status (SES) (which is linked to the notion of family effects) and its role in achievement. The analysis finds that both school and family effects have an impact on achievement that is equally important and relevant. The dissertation concludes by highlighting areas for action in reference to the findings on socio-economic status and achievement.
Open Access
Mapping and tracking the complexity of financial flows through non-state non-profit (faith-based) health providers in Kenya
(2018) Kingangi, Lucy; Olivier, Jill; Foster, Nicola
In strengthening health systems, the World Health Report 2000 indicates that health system improvement strategies must also cover private (for-profit and non-profit) health care provision and financing if progress towards Universal Health Coverage is to be achieved. Yet very little is known about the financing of non-profit providers in Africa - especially not faith-based health providers, who have often historically remained elusive in terms of financial transparency. This thesis reports on a multiple case study conducted with two non-profit faith-based health providers in Kenya, namely the Africa Inland Church Kijabe Hospital; and Nyumbani-Children of God Relief Institute in Nairobi (Nyumbani) - and situates these within the broader context of health systems financing and public-private partnership in Kenya. Data was collected from multiples sources including: secondary literature; secondary analysis of existing data (such as the Kenya Health Information System); financial data on projects and annual reports; routine facility and service data; previous research on both organizations; archival data; and supplemented by 6 in-depth interviews with key stakeholders. The study reveals a highly complex funding environment for non-profit (and faith-based) health providers in Kenya, which is a result of historic health system configurations, and current funding policy and focus (such as the influx of HIV-related funding). The HIV program in AIC Kijabe Hospital is solely funded by USAID; while Nyumbani is also funded by USAID (70%), but has other private sources. In both cases, funding from various sources is structured differently with varied financial flows and requirements. Faith-based health providers in Kenya are highly dependent on complex donor-funding arrangements, and lack financial resilience as a result. Donors need to better understand the nuance of engagement with such providers.
Open Access
The new public management and the transformation of the South African public service : an overview
(2009) Sokomani, Andile; Cameron, Robert
This dissertation is a desktop documentary review of the theory and practice of the New Public Management (NPM) in the public service context of a democratic South Africa. It undertakes an extensive review of the literature on NPM and explores in some detail the NPM’s origins, definitions, key characteristics, critiques and lessons learned. The study then considers the role of this NPM framework in South Africa’s public sector reform programme post 1994, and assess the extent to which it has been influenced by NPM principles. The successes and failures of NPM-inspired processes in South Africa are considered.
Open Access
Oversight in local government in South Africa : a case study of the Ombudman's office for the City of Cape Town
(2009) Nagia-Luddy, Fairouz; Naidoo, Goonasaigree; Butler, Anthony
The municipal ombud is a relatively new concept in South Africa and only two municipal ombud offices currently operate within the country. While there is a growing body of literature on the organisational ombud, as well as established works on various classical ombud, the practice of 'ombudsing' within local government currently enjoys no consistent or comprehensive theoretical foundation, particularly in relation to the required structure or processes, institutional support systems, or legal frameworks for the effective or optimal operation of an institution of this nature. The ombud at the local level calls for a hybrid approach to the ombud practice, and further requires particular arrangements to ensure the independence and credibility of the institution. This paper explores some of these critical factors required for the effective operation of an ombud, such as its 'independence' and 'credibility'. Linked to these factors, are aspects relating to the ombud's 'accountability'. Whereas the office has to ensure organisational accountability to the public, it also has to report to the host organisation. The result is a form of dual accountability, which means that the office needs to optimise its credibility and legitimacy both in the public realm, and within the host organisation. This dissertation argues that while such paradoxes are not uncommon to oversight institutions, numerous problems arise as a result of the lack of a clear and coherent approach, and the lack of understanding of the basic requirements for the ombud's effective or optimal functioning.
Open Access
Pro-poor education : an analysis of key policies guiding funding to basic education at a primary level in South Africa
(2007) Poggenpoel, Sasha; Simons, Mary
This dissertation examines a key South African education funding policy, the 2006 Amended National Norms and Standards for School Funding, which has been promoted as one of the first pro-poor education funding policies in South Africa. We assess whether it is in fact aligned with the principles necessary to ensure pro-poor education. The basis for this evaluation is a list of US AID-developed principles whose presence would be a good indication of the degree to which an education policy is pro-poor.
Open Access
Refugee HIV/AIDS program in Cape Town: Comparison with the UNAIDS Best Practice Guidelines (BPGS).
(2005) Mafuleka, Alice Whitehead
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-75).
Open Access
South Africa's 'pro-poor' approach to formulating and implementing tourism policies
(2004) Verhage, Martin; Thomas, Wolfgang
Includes bibliographical references.
Open Access
Strengthening performance-based budgeting in resource allocation for HIV and AIDS : an overview
(2007) Ndlovu, Moses Nhlanhla
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-75)
Open Access
Strengthening the Capacity of Caregivers of Children on Antiretroviral therapy in Mahalapye, Botswana
(2010) Maapatsane, Keitumetse; Head, Judith
Open Access
Using performance budgeting to improve service delivery : a case study of the Mpumalanga Department of Health
(2008) Vananda, Ntuthuzelo; Taylor, Viviene
This thesis evaluates implementation of budget reform within the Department of Health and Social Services in Mpumalanga, and the extent to which this has led to implementation of policy objectives and improved equitable service delivery.