Strategies to reduce poverty: a case study of two projects in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Demgne Kamdem, Olivia Armelle
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6486 , vital:21096
- Description: Poverty levels in South Africa remain high, and have not been significantly reduced since1994. This is associated with grass root challenges such as asset distribution, inequality, unemployment, high rate of HIV/AIDS, insufficient pro-poor economic growth, corruption, and bad governance. The problems of poverty and non-sustainable livelihoods in South Africa are still very persistent and can be attributed to significant lags in investment in human resource development and in the provision of basic social services, such as education, health and inequality growth and development. In view of the above, the necessity for improved standards of living is viewed as a vital issue in addressing poverty and has triggered the introduction of Integrated Development Planning (IDP) and Local Economic Development (LED) by municipalities. This has triggered the implementation of various projects by private and public sectors amongst which are The Institute for Youth Development in South Africa (IYDSA) and The Golden Stitches Trust, which aim to address poverty at the local level. Even though the effort of the local government to look into the immediate challenges affecting the community of NMBMM the influence of apartheid cannot be undermined. A need for pro-active developmental measures is imperative which will engage the entire citizenry on informing and educating them about steps to achieving a better improved life style. This study discussed the literature regarding poverty, the causes, and most importantly two programs undertaken in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality as a mechanism to alleviate poverty. With a view to actualize optimum desired result in the research, a qualitative and quantitative measure was designed for accurate assertions and verification. Data was collected from members of the projects by making use of questionnaires. It is a clear indication that many people are still very much far from development. They are however overwhelmed by low volume of qualitative education, primary health care and social amenities. The need for the local government to intensify their approach to reduce poverty is crucial. The findings of the study revealed that the Golden Stitches Trust lacks funding and faces shortage of members. However the IYDSA is quite successful but have some issues with the DSD pertaining to its name and as well needs more funds to be able to touch more lives.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The contribution of local economic development funded projects in job creation and poverty eradication in Alfred Nzo district municipality
- Authors: Walaza, Kanyiso
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job creation -- Government policy -- South Africa , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9180 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020146
- Description: Job creation and poverty eradication have been the top priority of the South African government over the past few years and continues to be on the agenda. The government is making numerous efforts to aggressively address poverty levels and create jobs. In 1994 the African National Congress (ANC) led government inherited an economy that had glaring disparities. Most of the important economic resources of the country are concentrated in urban areas, while very few economic activities and resources are found in the rural areas. While about 70% of the country’s poorest people live in rural areas, the abundance of economic resources in towns and cities has led to minimal growth taking place in rural areas. High poverty levels continue to manifest itself in various forms and shapes in communities. The negative effects of unemployment continue to threaten our societal well-being and stability. It is evident that in poverty stricken communities there are limited economic development opportunities and have thus become trapped in a poverty cycle, and economic growth is the only sustainable approach of addressing poverty and unemployment. Local economic development (LED) is but one intervention that could be used to create jobs and eradicate poverty at a given locality. LED has been regarded as an approach towards economic development and growth whereby local people are encouraged to work in collaboration in order to achieve sustainable economic growth, bringing economic benefits and improved quality of life for all community members in a municipal area. LED is an intervention solely based at a local level being driven by local people to realise economic benefits that would improve their quality of life. A qualitative study was conducted at Alfred Nzo District Municipality to assess the contribution of LED on job creation and poverty eradication. The target population included LED managers, Project Practitioners, LED Project Beneficiaries, LED Portfolio Councillors in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality and its Local Municipalities as well as relevant sector departments and Public Entities. The study examined the contribution of LED funded projects in job creation and poverty eradication. The project also assessed the problems, issues and challenges in LED and how they are being addressed. The study found that the implementation of LED in Alfred Nzo continues to be ineffective and confronted with numerous challenges. LED has been viewed as one of the tools for job creation targeted at unskilled and unemployed members of the community. Municipalities seem to be under utilising the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) and Equitable Share for funding the LED programme. In most municipalities LED is still regarded as an unfunded mandate. Most municipalities rely heavily on grant funding from sector departments and state owned enterprises for LED. A point of concern is the lack of regular and structured discussions on LED issues within municipalities which continue to re-enforce uncoordinated planning, insufficient budgeting and poor implementation of programmes within the municipality. The study noted serious skills shortages within the project beneficiaries which hamper effective implementation of LED projects. These skills include financial management, project management, conflict resolution and business management. These are core skills for the sound and viability of management of LED projects. Access to markets has been raised as an on-going concern for LED practitioners. It is recommended that a change is made from project-based LED to a business-based approach in LED. This would require all LED projects to be registered business entities, be liable for tax and require them to produce sound business plans before receiving grant funding.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The implementation of local economic development projects in Amathole District Municipality
- Authors: Dunga, Sipokazi
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Amathole District Municipality (South Africa) , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8265 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013256
- Description: The study investigated the problems and challenges facing the Amathole District Municipality when implementing Local Economic Development (LED) projects. The aim of the study was to evaluate the factors affecting this implementation. The other major challenge is the number of different institutions and agencies that are involved in LED. Consequently, the desired results cannot be achieved, thus the communities continue to live in poverty, the local economy cannot improve and there will be a high rate of unemployment. In order to address the research problem and to achieve the research objectives, available literature on Local Economic Development was reviewed. Empirical data was also collected making use of face-to-face interviews. The research revealed that the implementation of LED projects has not been entirely effective, mainly caused by the lack of capacity within the municipality to fully provide support in the implementation of LED projects; limited funding; shortage of personnel; political and administrative instability; problems regarding to social facilitation; and LED not being prioritised by the municipality and also seen as an unfunded mandate. From the investigation, the findings indicate that the effective implementation of these projects require strengthened capacity which needs more funding, more skilled personnel to drive the process, de-politicised development and the municipality to prioritise high impact projects that yield sustainability as opposed to smaller projects that unsustainable.
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- Date Issued: 2013