The purpose of the study was to assess financing and support for development projects in Kenya and South Africa. Statement of the problem Rationale of the study Purpose of the study Objectives of the study Research questions Assumptions of the study Value of the study.
Statement of the problem
Poverty is embedded in the fabric of societies, as evidenced by living conditions and the inaccessibility to services and basic resources. With the majority of the populations in developing countries living in poverty, poverty reduction has become a national priority in these countries, especially in the developing world.
Factors contributing to poverty
Apartheid and Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs)
Post Colonial and post apartheid policies
Rationale of the study
Since poverty was still widespread, this was the result of the beneficiaries, the government, the donor or other factors that influenced them directly and indirectly from the wider environment. De Clerq (1994) pointed out that development projects failed because they were ultimately not self-sustaining and also because the projects were ultimately led by the implementing organization, which is characteristic of the 'top-down' development approach.
Purpose of the study
The broad aim of this study was to assess the differences and similarities (if any) between the development projects and support provided in Kenya and South Africa. This study also aimed to assess the nature of development projects in Kenya and South Africa, and how they channel support for development.
Objectives of the study
Viewed as systems, the external environment was also examined, assessing how the influence of the world market and international debt affected the operation of development agencies and development projects. Another secondary objective was to establish external and internal factors influencing aid channeled to development projects and to determine whether the donor agency's goals are aligned with development issues in the recipient host country.
Research questions
Assumptions of the study
Value of the study
The study will also provide a deeper and more critical understanding of the factors influencing development formations and development projects. What are some of the enabling environmental factors that affect development in both countries.
Explanation of Key concepts
It was anticipated that this study could be useful to funders and development agencies that intend to engage in strengthening and promoting development in Kenya and South Africa. The findings of this study will also be useful for human development professionals such as social and development workers involved in the implementation of development programs at local levels, within the national strategies and frameworks of the 1997 Social Welfare White Paper (South Africa) and the National plans to eradicate poverty in Kenya. Development agency: Development agencies refer to organizations that deal with all aspects of development (social, cultural, political, human and economic) with the aim of improving the quality of life of development beneficiaries.
Presentation of contents
The purpose of this chapter is to provide the conceptual and philosophical frameworks of poverty and development and systems theory. People-centred development recognizes key development partners such as women, the vulnerable, the previously excluded and the poor.
Human development
Social development
Beneficiary participation in development activities strengthens capacity building (skills and capacity building) and social integration, which are essential prerequisites for social development as defined at the Copenhagen Summit on Social Development (Eade, 2001; Eade and Williams 1995a; United Nations). , 1995). Beneficiaries of social development are those parts of the population that are defined as poor, socially excluded and the most disadvantaged.
Systems theory
Participation of the beneficiaries in the development activities promotes capacity building (build-up of skills and abilities), and social integration, which are essential prerequisites for social development as identified by the Copenhagen Social Development Summit (Eade, 2001;. The components of the subsystem, which the structure and influencing its functioning is attributed to both internal and external political and economic factors (Hasenfeld in O'Brien, 1995).
Theoretical interpretations of poverty
International comparisons of poverty definitions present a conceptual and practical problem in relation to the different precise values of poverty thresholds (Lipton and Ravallion, 1997; Narayan, Chambers, Shah and Petesch, 2000). NPEP refers to poverty in relation to the poor. While in Kenya most incidents occur in the Arid and Semi-arid Lands (ASAL) and within the belt running southeast from the populated areas (Government of Kenya, 2000; Office of the President, 1999) in South Africa, poverty is most prevalent in the Eastern Cape Provinces , Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) and Limpopo, which account for 63% of the country's poorest population (Ministry of the Office of the President, 1995).
Development
Harsch, (1999) for example attributes the relationship between the developing world represented by first world donors and the less developed world - Africa, as one in which donors have made African states dependent on them for aid as the result declares the inability to collect income. These plans overlooked the important role played by the external environment, such as changes in the economy, culture, technology levels and social system, which were not considered in the theory (Coetzee et al, 2001).
Development as a response to poverty
Organizations have endorsed poverty reduction goals in their visions and mission statements that are directly guided by those of the WSSD (ANe, 1994; Office of the President, 1999; United Nations, 1995). In both countries, the lack of education is most prevalent in the rural areas, with estimates of approximately 50% of the poor having no education or incomplete primary education in South Africa (Ministry of Finance and Planning, 2000a, 2000b; Ministry of the Office of the President, 1995).
Social policy and poverty alleviation
In Kenya, according to the WMS 111 (Welfare Monitoring Survey), 79.9% of the poor had attended school compared to 86.2% of the non-poor. In both countries it therefore becomes central to development, as education affects fertility rates, unemployment, infant mortality, poverty, development and RIV/AIDS.
NGO's as development agencies
Among such agencies operating in Kenya are CARE, Oxfam (GB), World Vision, GTZ and the World Bank, which provide services in areas such as poverty alleviation, emergency programmes, health and rural development (Gibbs et al, 1999; Pratt and Boyden, 1985; Republic of Kenya, 1994a). These development projects complement government efforts such as the presidential projects initiated within the RDP and within the Social Dimensions of Development Program in Kenya.
Funding
Donors influence the structural functioning of NGOs, as they are the financial resources of NGOs. The partnership between the government and non-governmental organizations thus becomes crucial, as they complement each other: the government provides the infrastructure, and the non-governmental organizations provide expertise and technical support.
The aid-chain
Directing funds entirely to the government has not proven to be as effective as speculated in the South African government. Official Development Assistance (ODA) for development projects in Kenya is in the form of grants and loans.
Conclusion
Chapter Three
Research design
Sampling methodology
Selection of the sample
Data collection instruments
In the case of some organizations, the researcher established the first telephone contact where she identified herself and the nature of the study. This was because the contact details of the organizations as listed in the NGO directories had changed since the last publication.
Data analysis
The questions related to the nature of the agency, internal and external factors influencing the organization, participation of development beneficiaries in development projects, projects and development assistance provided. The content validity and reliability of the questionnaire was tested by being examined by two social scientists.
Limitations of the study
These areas were in line with the provinces in both countries that were categorized as the poorest. Despite the differences in Kenya and South Africa, organizations in both countries were established with the aim of eradicating poverty, addressing basic human needs and improving the quality of life.
Supported programs and projects
Although these areas are classified as rural, the LNGOs in both countries had some projects in both rural and suburban areas. In both countries, these areas are defined as low-income areas, with little access to basic services and infrastructure.
Targets
Although these groups have been identified as the vulnerable groups in society, the researcher notes that men should also be the target of development projects. The researcher noted that there was a very thin line between the women's boundaries and those of the other family members, as an impact on one would cause change in the others (Eade and Williams, 1995b).
Project identification
In South Africa, INGO-funded projects are subject to the condition that they address the development concerns of both the South African and German governments. The researcher believed that the projects were often designed just to get funding, as stated in an interview with one of the South African organizations.
Resources
External resources, as indicated by organizations, where external refers to those not regenerated internally - as illustrated by Figure 2.1 in Chapter Two, included technical assistance, funding, materials and labour. In NGOs, the partnership was with organizations such as the British government, the South African government, Oxfam, Co-operatives and credit unions. In Kenya these included churches, hospitals and foundations such as the Ford Foundation.
Internal and external factors
The INGOs were in contact with organizations such as the European Union (EU), DFID, USAID and SIDA. The partnerships assisted in providing donations such as chairs and desks to schools and in organizational development through training in accounting and finance.
Internal factors
In terms of factors affecting the organization, in addition to the rate of inflation, infrastructure, high overheads, corruption and demolition of facilities, the above was the case in Kenya. High overhead costs such as electricity threaten non-agricultural support systems in organizational operations.
External factors
A Kenyan organization that focuses on small and micro businesses was hit hard by the withholding of support. Combined with the drought that hit Kenya in 2000, the withholding of aid put pressure on the country's budget, with the greatest consequences for poor, small-scale farmers and businesses who had little or nothing to fall back on.
Funding and resource distribution: conditions
In this case, both the organizations and the group therefore win in the form of empowerment through competences for the members and the interest back from the loans. The policies of INGOs in Kenya limited financial assistance to "bottlenecks" for technical cooperation.
Sustainability and continuity
Individual and community
Institutions and organizations
The study further looked at development projects in the context of the political and economic environments they operated within. It is estimated that 80% of the population lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture (Republic of Kenya, 1997).
If a project has delivered facilities that need to be maintained, there are mechanisms to ensure continuity when the organization withdraws from a project. 25. (If the organization provides funding to some extent) Does the organization have a policy for providing financial support.
RE: Funding for development projects
As a social scientist, practitioner and social development worker, I am of the opinion that this study will benefit the funding of NOOs in both countries, Kenya and South Africa and contribute to the knowledge base of socio-economic and social development initiatives and local development initiatives in our continent. At the end of this letter there is a section where you can indicate your willingness to cooperate in answering the questionnaire.
