Browsing by Subject "Social Policy and Management"
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- ItemOpen AccessAn exploration of Cape Town's Early Childhood Development sector in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic: Challenges, experiences, and opportunities for social support(2023) Pearce, Claire; Van Niekerk, Lauren-JayneThe early childhood development (ECD) sector, already vulnerable and inequality-ridden, has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, subsequent regulations, and implications. The Disaster Management Act, No. 57 of 2002, as amended in March 2020, imposed lockdown regulations to combat the spread of Covid-19. ECD programmes were closed by government from 18 March 2020; and only reopened from 6 July 2020 following ECD-sector litigation. This exacerbated existing, and posed new, socioeconomic challenges. To survive, the ECD sector adapted and sought social support, although the experiences thereof were varied. International research continuously emphasises the importance of quality ECD as critical for lifelong development and a nation's socioeconomic development (UNICEF, 2014); thus, a crippled ECD sector is of great concern in South Africa. This study explored Cape Town's ECD sector challenges and experiences in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the experiences of social support offered and opportunities for enhancing effective social support in the future. Undertaking a qualitative exploratory research design, 15 ECD-centre principals and five ECD non-profit staff participated in semi-structured interviews. The research found that Covid-19 regulations triggered a snowball effect of socioeconomic challenges. Among these include unemployment, income loss, difficulties in ECD-sector reopening, hunger, malnutrition, limited child stimulation, child abuse, gender-based violence, drug and alcohol abuse, gangsterism and other criminal activity, as well as mental-health challenges affecting children, families and communities, including the ECD workforce. ECD centres were found to be a source of social support for the ECD workforce and serve as safe spaces for young children. Families, too, were found to provide critical support for children's development. During the pandemic, ECD NPOs have provided social support through information provision and capacity building. Government support included local government support, and grants and subsidies – yet, the study found that rather than support, these proved problematic with overly-cumbersome requirements, significant delays, and nonpayment. The research study showed ECD-sector social support following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic through communities and intersectoral collaboration, including food relief, ECD forums and activism. Opportunities for effective ECD-sector support that emerged from the data, and were highlighted by ECD principals and ECD non-profit staff, included recognition of ECD and the ECD sector, empowering families and communities, scaling NPO support, and ECD workforce skills development and capacity building.
- ItemOpen AccessAn Exploration of Organisational Culture's Contribution to Job Stress in Cape Town Non-Profit Organisations, using the Culture-Work-Health Model(2021) Kew, Ashleigh; van Niekerk, Lauren-JayneOrganisational culture plays an essential role in the aetiology of job stress. Job stress has numerous negative effects including lower work performance and effectiveness, health problems and increased absenteeism. The direct and indirect costs associated with stress-related conditions, such as burnout, can result in reduced organisational commitment and engagement. Such situations require urgent attention from the management of any organisation, and it is essential that organisations take appropriate steps to avoid excessive stress of employees if they are to continue their vital work. The study uses the Culture-Work-Health Model as a framework to understand organisational culture and its contribution to job stress in Cape Town non-profit organisations (NPOs) working in the discipline of mental health and mental disability. An exploratory, qualitative research design was selected to develop an understanding of organisational culture in Cape Town NPOs. Seven employees from three NPOs, making up the total sample of 21 participants, were selected through non-probability, purposive sampling. From each organisation of seven employees, four were selected from management/leadership positions and three were selected from non-management in order to gain rich insightful data from both management and non-management perspectives. Data collection was done through semistructured, face-to-face interviews with the participants. The data was analysed through the use of Tesch's (1990) stages of analysis. Finally, a framework for analysis was developed based on the themes, categories and sub-categories that emerged. This study contributes to enhancing understanding of Cape Town NPO organisational culture, NPO management practices and job stress as well as providing a springboard for further research into these areas. A number of significant findings were made including: NPOs described a clan organisation-type culture with a committed and passionate staff; NPO management were perceived as unsupportive due to lack of transparency, which was exasperated by their inability to pay higher salaries; NPOs where management incorporate supervision and regular staff meetings were perceived more positively and reported fewer issues of miscommunication; and individuals who were able to incorporate a healthy work and non-work life balance thrived in the NPO setting. Based on these findings, a number of recommendations were made including: the development of an organisational mental health policy; mandatory regular staff meetings attended by all levels of staff to discuss general administrative issues; the communicated availability of support structures to staff, such as on-site counselling; and - very importantly - regular supervision for all staff members working directly with vulnerable clients.
- ItemOpen AccessAn exploratory study into the experiences and challenges of founders of non-profit organisation in the Western Cape with specific reference to fundraising(2023) Schuller, Raymond; Atmore, EricNew Non-profit Organisations (NPOs) are being registered daily. They are established by passionate individuals committed to providing critical services in support of the national development agenda and the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They therefore form an integral part of a broader ecosystem to ensure a just, equitable and fair society. Unlike for-profit enterprises, donor funding constitutes the single largest source of income for most NPOs. Because of the high levels of donor dependency by many NPOs, fundraising becomes critical and very often the most challenging activity for many NPOs. Given the fundraising challenges and volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) environments in which NPOs operate, this exploratory research study reflects on the motivations why founders of NPOs based in the Western Cape started NPOs and their experience and challenges with respect to sustaining these organisations. In particular, it explores: • The main motivations and rationale by founders to start NPOs; • The fundraising experience of founders; • The extent to which founders of NPOs prioritised fundraising; and • How the fundraising role and practice evolved over time The study examined several texts on the motivation and fundraising experience of founders of NPOs as part of a literature review. The research question and methodology is based on this literature review. Non-probability purposive sampling was used for this research study. Twenty founders of NPOs based in the Western Cape participated in the study using a semistructured interview schedule. Ethics clearance for the study was received from the University of Cape Town, Department of Social Development. The dissertation expands on existing knowledge regarding motivations for registering NPOs and the levels of personal investment required by founders. It makes a number of findings with the respect to fundraising as a strategic competency and the importance of fundraising capability. The study confirms that very few founders have prior fundraising and NPO experience and that fundraising is not significantly prioritised as a strategic imperative. I intend for some of the findings to serve as guidance to individuals planning to start a new NPO, of the important role of fundraising which can ultimately ensure the long-term sustainability of the organisation they plan to launch. The research study concludes with a set of recommendations prospective founders could consider when contemplating starting a new NPO.
- ItemOpen AccessAn exploratory study of the Financial Sustainability of the Non-Profit Sector in Lesotho(2019) Malebo, Moroesi; Atmore, EricThe non-profit sector plays a significant role in development in Lesotho. The sustainability of the NPOs is important; however, there is limited research on Lesotho’s non-profit sector, in particular, on its financial sustainability. This study has explored the financial sustainability of the non-profit sector in Lesotho in particular, the factors that affect the sustainability of non-profit organisations. A qualitative methodology was adopted which used a semi-structured interview guide. The data was collected primarily through in-depth interviews with 20 Non-Profit organizations based in Maseru, Lesotho. The sample was selected from organizations, which were registered with the Lesotho Council of Non-governmental Organizations. Purposive sampling, which used a non-probability sampling method, was chosen to select the 20 NPOs that participated in this study. The data was analysed and presented thematically according to the main research objectives. The findings revealed that the financial sustainability of Non-Profit Organizations in Lesotho is severely challenged. NPOs depend on donor funding as a major source of funding. The NPOs founded locally had a greater struggle to get funding than the international NPOs which were guaranteed the support of their international organizations. The sustainability of these NPOs was threatened by several factors, however, Lesotho’s political instability was a threat to all Non-profit organizations’ sustainability because it resulted in the withdrawal of external donor funding. The findings revealed that donor funding has dwindled over the past couple of years. Nevertheless, international donors were still the most consistent sources of funding for the NPOs in Lesotho. All the NPOs in this study received international donor funding. Only a few that received government grants, which was also very unsatisfactory. The data also revealed that the NPOs struggled to raise sufficient funds and the majority did not have staff who were devoted to fundraising. Key recommendations are that: the NPOs in Lesotho need to explore other income generating activities to improve their financial sustainability; they also need to strengthen their fundraising capacity by training their staff in fundraising; and, lastly, they need to improve their online presence, as the internet has become an important fundraising tool.
- ItemOpen AccessAn exploratory study of the governance and management processes of family foundations in South Africa(2020) Najjaar, Sufiya; Atmore, EricFamily foundations are important vehicles that make a positive impact in society both locally and globally and can be a unifying force in which family members can work together for a common altruistic purpose. The same governance and management principles that are applied by families in family businesses should also pertain to family foundations. In the United States (U.S.) there exists various organisations that serve to guide family foundations with best practices on foundation governance and management principles. In South Africa much less information is available to family foundations. This research study explores the governance and management processes of family foundations in South Africa. I reviewed extensive literature on the governance structures and management processes of family foundations particularly in the U.S. Based on the literature review and the research questions, a suitable research methodology was selected. A convergent parallel mixed method approach was used. Ethics clearance was obtained from the University of Cape Town and a sample of ten family foundations was purposively selected to be part of the study. Data was collected from 15 respondents, eight of whom were non-family members and seven were family members related to the founding donor. A semi-structured interview schedule was used and the same research participants completed a survey. The data was analysed using Tesch's (1990) adaptation for data analysis. The contribution that this study makes is an enhanced understanding of the governance and management processes of family foundations in South Africa and the challenges that some face in this regard. The study makes a number of findings including: Family foundations felt that the fiduciary duties and responsibilities, fiscal oversight and internal controls were duly executed. Family foundations were satisfied that the board knew enough about investment principles, however environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices was not high on the agenda for most family foundations; family foundation boards were diverse in terms of gender, age, expertise and experience but were not racially diverse; in some instances there was conflict between family members but this did not stand in the way of foundation performance; decision making was collaborative and most often made by consensus; legacy was not important for all family foundations. Most family foundations thought they had a clear grant making strategy with some family foundations including newer generations values and ideas into grant making. Based on these findings, the research study concludes by making recommendations for family foundations to improve governance and management processes.
- ItemOpen AccessAn investigation into the impact of COVID 19 on non-profit organisations in Cape Town(2023) Sidimba, Luzuko; Atmore, EricThe outbreak of the pandemic had a severe impact on every sector, including the NPO sector. This research has investigated the impact of COVID-19 on non-profit organisations (NPOs) in Cape Town. Due to the unprecedented nature of this crisis, there is limited literature on how the pandemic has affected non-profit organisations in South Africa or in Cape Town. This research seeks to contribute to closing this gap. The main objectives of this research are as follows: Firstly, to understand the challenges imposed by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, mostly known as COVID-19, on NPOs' access to funding, which subsequently resulted due to the lockdown restrictions. Secondly, to understand the challenges imposed by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in the operations and the ability of NPOs to implement programmes. Thirdly, to understand the role of NPO leadership during the lockdown restriction levels. Finally, to understand what strategies were implemented by NPOs to mitigate the challenge imposed by lockdown restrictions. This is a mixed methodology research study, and purposive sampling was used to select participants in this research study. The research study has used quantitative and qualitative research methods when collecting data. Survey questionnaires were emailed to 70 NPOs, 28 of which completed the questionnaire. For the qualitative data collection, 34 NPOs were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews, 12 of which participated. Some of the interviews were conducted virtually using Google Meet and Microsoft Teams, and other interviews were conducted face-to-face. All coronavirus regulations were observed. The research has found that the virus lockdown restrictions had a severe impact on the financial stability of organisations. The lockdown restrictions have made it impossible for organisations to generate revenue. On the other hand, the lockdown restrictions have challenged organisational leaders to improve their technological skills, as they were forced to run their organisations through virtual platforms. Employees in all sectors, including the NPO sector, were forced to work remotely as a way of adhering to the lockdown regulations. Be that as it may, organisational leaders who were interviewed for this research study highlighted their staffs' hard work during the initial phases of the lockdown regulations, and for their role in the resilience of organisations since the outbreak of the pandemic. Finally, having strategic plans prior to the outbreak of the pandemic have been found to be effective during the initial phases of the lockdown, especially when it comes to guiding the decision-making process. Organisations were able to use their existing strategic plan to decide which programmes needed to be prioritised.
- ItemOpen AccessAn assessment of job motivational factors of HIV/AIDS lay counsellors working for Western Cape NGOs(2010) Olivier, Sean; Becker, Lily; Smit, Andre de VThe purpose of this research was to uncover determinants in the work of NGO lay counsellors in the Western Cape which both motivate and de-motivate. The methodology used was to administer questionnaires to these counsellors. Secondly, questionnaires were also administered to the project managers who co-ordinate the counsellors at each of the seven participating NGOs. In total 114 HIV/Aids counsellors completed the questionnaires.
- ItemOpen AccessAn assessment of the sustainability of substance abuse organisations in South Africa(2011) Mawoyo, Tatenda; Smit, Andre de VThis research study sought to explore the sustainability of organisations in the field of substance abuse in South Africa. The rationale of this study was based on the premise that the number of substance abusers is increasing, therefore the organisations have to remain functional to deal with the increased demand of services. The study explored the financial position of organisations in the field, perceptions regarding policy and legislation, staff related effects of working in the field, factors that make organisations vulnerable to closure and sustainability threats.
- ItemOpen AccessA comparative study of the present and proposed South African child grant systems with countries of similar social and economic environments(2001) Mayhew, Tracy ClareSouth Africa is a large country with large needs; there are many social problems such as poverty that need to be addressed. Children in South Africa are affected by many of these social problems, such as malnutrition, poverty, and HIV / Aids. This research looks at what is being done for children in South Mrica; it looks specifically at the child grants or money given to children by the state. In reviewing the South African child grant system, it was appropriate to compare it with different countries. This was done using a comparative, cross-cultural and cross-national study. Countries, whose social and economic situations are similar to South Africa, have been chosen for an analysis to determine whether South Africa's present system is effective. The countries were selected based on a comparison of the GDP and literacy rates. Canada and Botswana were also studied in this research: Canada as a developed country example, and Botswana as a country with a similar heritage to South Africa. There has been much criticism of the South African social administration for children; this has prompted a major reflection thereof. This has been assessed in this research as another possibility in helping to provide for children. The aim of this research was to compare the South African child grant system to that of other countries, and analyse the proposed new grant system for South Africa. The analysis was completed using a framework of questions designed to extract information for comparison. The results indicate that South Africa should consider prioritising the child grant system specifically in terms of funding. The proposed child grant system could eventually be applied; however presently South Africa does not have the infrastructure to put the system in place. A closer look at Portugal's social administration could prove informative as they already have this system in place. This research is an analysis and interpretation of the available materials. This is a limited view, which opens possibilities for future research.
- ItemOpen AccessEpilepsy: an exploratory study of the business sectors perceptions of employability(2012) Kanhema, Joyce Chengetai; Smit, Andre de VThe research aimed to explore the perceptions of employers in employing people with epilepsy. The context of the topic of enquiry was that people with epilepsy often experienced difficulties in finding and maintaining regular employment and this had been recognised as an area with significant problems for people with epilepsy.
- ItemOpen AccessAn exploratory study of branding techniques used by registered Western Cape, [sic] development and housing non-profit organisations(2012) Rehse, Kerryn Lynn; Atmore, EricThis purpose of this research study was to explore the marketing and branding techniques used by registered Western Cape, [sic] development and housing non-profit organisations. Utilising a qualitative research design, two forms of qualitative data collection methods were used. Data was collected through a self-administered electronic questionnaire and face-to-face interviews. The electronic questionnaire was designed using an online survey tool (ESurveyPro). The tools were used to exploretheperceptions of marketing and branding held by management in the development and housing non-profit sector in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The population for this research study was registered non-profit organisations that operated in the development and housing sector in the Western Cape Province.
- ItemOpen AccessAn exploratory study of first year residence students' perceptions regarding safety and security at the University of Cape Town(2010) Kahari, Ingrid; O'Brien, ConnieSafety and security is an issue that institutions of higher learning have to deal with and address within their campuses. The focus of this study was to explore first year residence students perceptions regarding safety and security at the University of Cape Town (UCT). An exploratory qualitative approach was used in this study. The purposive sample consisted of fourteen first year students from three UCT residences and three residence supervisors from these residences giving a total sample of seventeen participants. The results of the study showed that students see themselves as safer within the confines of UCT whereas they feel relatively unsafe off campus.
- ItemOpen AccessAn exploratory study of the development of Adonis Musati Project as an organisation(2012) Kundishora, Ashley R; Atmore, EricBecause of the country's well-established socio-economic status, citizens from many neighbouring countries, such as Zimbabwe, have resorted to seeking refuge in South Africa. Different refugee organizations, such as Adonis Musati Project (AMP) emerged in order to meet refugee needs in Cape Town. AMP was formed in 2007 with the aim of providing humanitarian assistance to refugees and asylum seekers. Named after a Zimbabwean, Adonis Musati, who died of starvation in a queue at the Department of Home Affairs, trying to access legal documentation, AMP set out to ensure that this would never happen again. The aim of this research is to explore whether the organisation is meeting its intended goal; whether it abides by any policies; what impact it has on its stakeholders; which current life stage it is facing and challenges dealt with during this period; and what effectiveness approach it uses, if any, in order to achieve sustainable growth and remain relevant in its community.
- ItemOpen AccessExploring Early Childhood Development Practitioners’ Perceptions of the Implementation of Norms and Standards in Educare Centres in Blouberg(2019) Ross, Jetara; Van Niekerk, LaurenThis study explores the perceptions, experiences and challenges that Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners in ECD centres in Blouberg have with implementing the norms and standards for both partial care facilities and learning programmes as regulated by the Children’s Amendment Act 41 of 2007. ECD refers to the developmental, physical, mental, spiritual, emotional and social processes in children from birth until at least nine years of age (Department of Education [DOE], 2001). Since ECD centres are at the frontline of providing a range of ECD services paramount to the development of children, the way in which ECD practitioners understand, experience and operate under the influence of legislation and policies needs to be researched to improve service delivery and develop effective models of practice. The study targeted ECD centres in the Blouberg region of the Western Cape where 20 ECD practitioners belonging to 18 ECD centres were interviewed. An exploratory qualitative research design and a non-probability sampling approach making use of both purposive and snowball sampling techniques, were used to select the participants. The main findings emanating from the study were that: most ECD practitioners perceived that the norms and standards for ECD facilities promote the safety and protection of their service recipients; the implementation of norms and standards, however, were not effectively monitored; they were extremely costly to implement; practitioners did not have sufficient time in the day to implement them; that adhering to norms and standards for ECD learning programmes enhanced the development of the child and cultivated diversity; continuous changes in the curriculum posed various challenges to how effective learning programmes were monitored; norms and standards for learning programmes did not adequately account for children with disabilities; factors such as the long and difficult registration and re-registration processes, as well as the local economy and external financial environment made implementing norms and standards challenging; ECD practitioners in smaller, privately run centres experienced a lack of support from government; and that ECD practitioners were supported by various structures such as the Blouberg ECD Forum, the Department of Health, the Fire and Rescue Services as well as the local community that consisted of parents, businesses and professionals. The main recommendations emanating from the study include: providing tax incentives to private sectors supporting ECD centres; increasing the capacity, responsibility and authority of local ECD Forums; improving the Department of Social Development’s (DSD) reporting and investigating processes by partnering with the Department of Health (DOH), extending the current national school feeding scheme to include ECD centres; providing a once off registration/re-registration grant to NPO’s and smaller privately run ECD centres based on a means test; increasing support and introducing an increased grant to ECD centres catering for children with disabilities; promoting partnerships with professionals in the private sector to promote disability screening campaigns and education; to provide ECD centres with specific curricula so that they are able to cater for children with disabilities; rewarding positive parent-practitioner partnerships; and promoting parent involvement practices from a policy and legislation point of view. Recommendations relating to the research process specifically include expanding on the sample of participants to include privately run ECD centres as well as NPO’s.
- ItemOpen AccessExploring staff perceptions of why selected development NPOs are able to deliver effective services(2014) Nhaitayi, Ropafadzo Malvin; O'Brien, ConnieNonprofit organisations (NPOs) play an important role in society as they help government in service delivery. In their quest to deliver services, these organisations face insurmountable challenges, including, but not exclusive to inadequate funding and staff shortages. Yet in spite of this, some of these organisations have overcome these challenges, and continued to provide services to communities. This study sought to explore the perceptions of the staff working in development NPOs regarding the reasons they thought their organisations were able to deliver effective services to their beneficiaries. A qualitative research design was adopted as it focuses on the subjective realities of the respondents. A purposive sample of nineteen respondents from four different organisations was drawn up. The criterion for selection was: organisations that had been in existence since 1994; had at least eight staff members; and a Director who had been in charge for at least five years.
- ItemOpen AccessFinancial sustainability and business income generating in the non-profit sector(2016) Rochat, Ludovic; Smit, Andre De VThis study aimed to assess the perceptions of funding practices and level of financial sustainability amongst non-profit organisations in selected parts of the world. Furthermore, the study looked at the degree to which NPOs employ trading activity to help fund and improve financial sustainability. Utilising a quantitative method, the study used an online survey tool to gather financial information from 72 NPOs in six different countries - Australia, Canada, India, Nigeria, South Africa and the UK. This sample was derived from an international database called Idealist.org. Data was analysed using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and presented thematically to reflect the major findings of the research. It was found that NPOs around the world are crucially in need of extra income and may not survive if new income-generating alternatives are not found. This is largely due to NPOs being overly reliant on a donor-dependency model to raise funds, which is creating more and more financial insecurity. This model has limited financial sustainability, as the competition for funding has dramatically increased in recent years. All of these facts have made NPOs realise that it is necessary to diversify their income sources and become more financially self-reliant. This study explored one self-financing method, trading activity, which has the potential to help NPOs to become more financially stable. The research found that most NPOs do not perceive trading as negatively as it was once perceived and would consider using it if more support were given to them. In order to move in this direction, this study has formulated some recommendations that NPOs can use to start their own commercial activity, attain a more prosperous financial situation and fund their social mission.
- ItemOpen AccessFit for life: an exploration of the approaches used by sport-for-development NGOs to monitor and evaluate programmes offered in schools(2012) Mashale, Termica Rethabile; Booyens, MGThe study aimed at exploring the approaches used by sport-for-development organisations to monitor and evaluate their programmes offered to schools in the Cape Metropole. The study contributes to the growing fields of programme monitoring and evaluation (M&E) as well as sport-for-development in South Africa. The study’s sample comprised NGOs that used sport as an entry point to engage young people and engender behavioural change, thereby reducing youth vulnerability to sexual and reproductive health issues.
- ItemOpen AccessAn investigation of the factors which motivate social workers in child welfare to remain in the same job for more than three years(2011) Mugwagwa, Belinda; Smit, Andre de VThe purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the perspectives of social workers in the child welfare field and to ascertain what motivates them to remain in their jobs for longer than three years, instead of pursuing less demanding and more lucrative career paths.
- ItemOpen AccessAn investigation of the impact of the 2008/2009 economic recession on NGO sustainability and functioning: A South African perspective across the Social Service, Health and Education sectors(2011) Gebreselassie, Eyesus; Smit, Andre de VThe most recent economic recession severely challenged civil society organisations and the communities they served. A survey was conducted during 2010 to measure the impact of the 2008/2009 financial crisis on sustainability and functioning of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in South Africa and to determine how organisations reacted to this challenge.
- ItemOpen AccessLevels of alcohol intoxication : an assessment of perceptions, knowledge, attitudes, practices and breath alcohol levels(2012) Dunne, Rowan; Smit, Andre de VThroughout the world drunk drivers are responsible for numerous accidents resulting in the injury or death of many drivers, passengers, cyclists, and/or pedestrians. South Africa experiences very high rates of injuries and deaths from road accidents. Young people, especially students and their peers, represent a high risk group because of their inexperience on the roads, and the exacerbation of this risk when alcohol limits are exceeded. In order to determine students’ and their peers’ perceptions and cognisance of their degree of intoxication, and to assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices, survey data and measures of breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) were collected from 229 young adults over nine evenings at a single pub frequented by students and their peers in a South African university city.