I learned that many poor women in Ndola have developed six main livelihood strategies for survival. When this is done, it would help alleviate poverty among poor women in Ndola.
Background to study
In light of the above, this thesis seeks to address the causes and impact of poverty among women in Africa with particular attention to Ndola. This could be done through the application of the development principles and strategies as stated in the SLF.
Motivation of the research
Male dominance in the life of the local and national Church's day-to-day activities is found at every level. Women are mostly seen as helping with sweeping the Church and decorating the pulpit, teaching in Sunday school and cooking for special guests of the Church, without necessarily being given an opportunity to express their abilities as a gift from God practice.4 Reflecting on all these issues from my ministry experiences, I feel the Church has the potential to address the problem of poverty among women, but needs to correct its patriarchal theology that tends to hinder women's spiritual and economic development.
Preliminary literature study
- Resources on women and development
- Resources on Poverty
- Resources on the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework
- Resources on Development principles
- Resources on the Z.B.A
The Challenge of Poverty for the Church in Zambia: A response to the effects of the Structural Adjustment Program.9 The author of this thesis deals with the problem of poverty in Zambia. The Challenge of Poverty to the Church in Zambia: A Response to the Effects of the Structural Adjustment Program (Master Thesis University of Natal, 2002).
Research Problem/ Hypothesis Research Problem
This book provides a detailed historical background on the work and activities of the Baptist Church in Southern Africa. Seeing that inequality between men and women in Africa is one of the main causes of poverty among women, what development strategies can Z.B.A.
Hypothesis
It is important to note that such inequality between men and women has greatly contributed to the rising poverty rate in many households. What are some of the economic and social injustices faced by women in Africa that negatively affect their access to resources and opportunities that would enable them to realize their developmental aspirations?
Theoretical framework
People must be at the center of development despite their gender status, educational background, physical disabilities, age etc. Any kind of development that we seek to achieve must address issues of sustainability and ensure that it is not just the needs of the current generation are taken up, but that the needs of future generations are also taken care of. 23.
Research design and methodology
Sampling
With the help of the chairman of the Z.B.A, I had access to unpublished information about the association, such as the constitution and minutes of previous general assembly meetings. I also spent a lot of time on library studies and the use of the Internet to enrich my studies.
Research ethics
Outline of chapters
This chapter explores some of the causes and impact of female poverty in Africa, with a particular focus on female poverty in Ndola. The chapter also offers a theological response to some of the causes of poverty among women in Africa.
Causes and impact of poverty upon women
- Women's low level of education
- Women's poverty as a result of male domination
- Access to land for food production
- The impact of HIV/AIDS and other health problems on women
- Access to financial services
- Women and religious oppression
We see that HIV/AIDS has a negative impact on the livelihood of women in two ways. The impact of illiteracy, drought and poverty on the reproductive health and livelihood of women in the low-income communities, Kitwe, Zambia, p.9.
Theological response to poverty among women in Africa
- Both men and women are equal and made in the image of God
- Equity of access to and use of God's bounteous creation
- Women's gifts and talents
- Women's rights and social justice
It is important to emphasize that both men and women are created in God's image and thus equal before God. Some jobs that women do not have the opportunity to do are crucial for their development and.
Conclusion
The biblical vision of Shalom58 requires that we as God's people work towards social transformation and promote justice for all people by eradicating all forms of injustice and promoting peace and equality for all people.59 If we want to live in the vision of To God for Shalom as mentioned above, then we must make sure that there is no person in our society who is discriminated on the basis of age, gender, level of education or color. In this case, discrimination against women must be challenged and we as God's people must ensure that women enjoy their freedom of choice, access to land and livestock, full representation in policy-making bodies and respect for their rights.
Introduction
- Scripture
- Jesus Christ
- The Holy Spirit
- The Church
- The ordinances
- Water Baptism
- The Lord's Supper
- Leadership structure at local Church level
- The Church annual general meeting
- The local Church Pastor
- The Church elders
- Church deacons
- Cell leaders and ministry leaders
- The leadership structure at national level
- The bi-annual general assembly
- The General Executive Committee
- The General Secretary
- Mission partners
- Trustees
- Ministries
- District fellowship committees
- HIV/AIDS hope centre
- Munsenga training centre
- Mungwi clinic
The local church pastor is a full-time paid minister at the church and is one of the church elders. These trustees are appointed by resolution of the half-yearly general meeting at the general meeting.77.
Women and empowerment within the Z.B.A
Become involved in church fundraising activities to assist in raising funds for church projects and support the pastor in cases where the church cannot help pay his salary.83. Apart from the activities involving the Women's National Executive Committee and the activities of women's communities at local church level, there are no other activities within the Z.B.A.
The Z.B.A.'s potential to respond to women's poverty in Ndola
- Physical assets
- Farm land
- Networks with other organization
- Church buildings
- Motor vehicles
- Established leadership structures
- Manpower and women-power
- The Z.B.A.'s patriarchal theology
- A split between the 'spiritual' and 'social' mission in the Z.B.A
Once mobilized, these people can be a great asset to the social ministry of the Z.B.A, especially to help improve the livelihood of poor women. The Z.B.A did very well in establishing new Churches and encouraged its affiliated Churches to be very committed to the preaching of the gospel.
Conclusion
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
Introduction
The definition of the livelihoods approach to poverty alleviation
Livelihood
In this dissertation, I will use the definition of a living as explained by Chambers and Conway who say that a living,. Following the definition given above by Chambers and Conway, I think it is necessary to unpack the definition by explaining what assets, skills and resilience mean in the context of the livelihoods approach to poverty alleviation.
Assets
Capabilities
Second, an existence should be considered sustainable if it is economically efficient, meaning that its output is more than the input invested in it. Thirdly, an existence must be environmentally friendly and therefore sustainable if it is not a threat to the ecosystem, e.g.
Charity - traditional response to poverty alleviation
Since charity appears to be a common approach to poverty alleviation among many organizations, including the Z.B.A., I will contrast it with the subsistence approach to poverty alleviation in the next heading. Comparing the Subsistence and Charity Approach to Poverty Alleviation After explaining the subsistence and charity approach as a traditional approach to.
Contrasting the livelihoods approach and charity to poverty alleviation Having explained the livelihoods approach and charity as a traditional approach to
- The agency of the poor in development
- Affirmation of humanity and work as people's vocation
- Poor people put their abilities and assets to use
- Ownership of development
- Holistic development
- The sustainability of livelihoods
The livelihood approach enables poor people to make effective use of their capabilities and assets. The livelihood approach to poverty alleviation is more likely to be sustainable in that poor people are agents of their own development, they are able to work, participate in their development and use their capacities and assets and own their development.
Christian values promoted in the livelihoods approach to poverty alleviation When we theologically analyze the livelihoods approach to poverty alleviation, we
- People's gifts and talents are affirmed
- The livelihoods approach affirms work as making people human
- The livelihoods approach promotes equity to access of assets
- The livelihoods approach promotes environmental stewardship
On the other hand, the livelihood approach engages poor people to work for a good livelihood outcome. The Christian values mentioned above are promoted by the livelihood approach to development and I recommend their use for Z.B.A.
The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework
- Vulnerability context
- Trends
- Shocks
- Seasons
- Natural capital
- Physical capital
- Human capital
- Social capital
- Financial capital
- Policies, institutions and processes
- Households livelihood strategies
- Livelihood outcomes
Trends are changes that take place gradually, are mostly predictable and have a negative impact on the livelihood strategies of poor people. These policies formulated by these institutions should have a positive impact on the livelihood of the poor.
Strengths of the SLF
- It promotes partnership in development
- Promotion of the macro and micro links
- Promotes sustainability of livelihoods
- Ecologically friendly
- The SLF is gender sensitive
- Diversification of livelihoods strategies and outcomes
SLF seeks to highlight "the interrelationship between micro-level livelihood systems and the macro policies that affect these livelihoods". SLF does not separate people on any basis, but seeks to build each person's capacity to improve their well-being.
Conclusion
The SLF emphasizes how household members can best diversify their survival strategies to enhance their livelihoods. The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework helps people in households move from dependence on one survival strategy to diversification.
Introduction
Trends
- The economic trends in Ndola district
- Technological trend
- Shocks
Two of the many shocks that have negatively affected the livelihood strategies of poor women in Ndola, have been diseases and droughts. The problem of ill health is one of the biggest impacts that Ndola has experienced.
Policies, processes and structures
As a nation, Zambia has experienced a number of droughts, which have had a very negative impact on subsistence farmers who cannot obtain loans from the banks due to lack of collateral. Thus, a number of policies implemented by government and community-level structures have had a negative impact on most female-headed households.
The Asset portfolio
- Human capital
- Social capital
- Physical capital
- Natural capital
- Financial capital
There is also the problem of illiteracy and lack of skills among many women in Ndola. Many poor women in Ndola make use of such physical capital to pursue their life goals.
A description of women's livelihood strategies and their sustainability in Ndola
- Selling food and groceries in shacks
- Subsistence farming
- Begging and sending children to beg
- Charcoal Burning
- Formal employment
- Brewing illicit beer
Other forms of natural capital available to many women in Ndola are livestock, the atmosphere. Many women in Ndola including those in the Z.B.A. affiliated churches are involved in selling food and groceries in small wooden huts, locally called Intemba.
Conclusion
In a compound called Kaloko, illicit beer is the main livelihood for most households. The municipality has also enforced a law that has led to a ban on illegal beer brewing, making this livelihood strategy institutionally unsustainable.
Introduction
It is clearly unrealistic to suggest that every local Baptist Church does all of these things.
Transforming religion and culture
Not only must the Z.B.A work to address the problem of patriarchal leadership, but it is also patriarchal theology that prevents women from engaging in certain ministries that are considered men's roles. If this is done, it can help the maintenance of poor women's social and economic rights that are hindered by religious and cultural ideologies in Ndola.
Building women's asset portfolio
- Human capital
- Campaign for girl child education at local Church level
- Promoting literacy education at local Church level
- Lobbying the local government for good health policies for women
- Social Capital
- Women fellowships
- Women's civic organizations in Zambia
- Networking with other Baptist women fellowships beyond Ndola
- Natural capital
- Helping women to have access to land
- Initiating a program of planting trees
- Organic farming
- Physical capital
- Improving transport services and infrastructure
- Access to information
- Financial capital
The ZBA could try to address the problem of lack of land for poor women who engage in farming as a means of livelihood. Women's communities at both national and local church levels could serve as a link between poor women in Ndola and other financial institutions that would assist in providing credit facilities.
Enhancing poor women's livelihood strategies
Selling food and groceries in shacks
When the financial capital of poor women is increased through some of the strategies mentioned above, it would help them realize their livelihood goals and thus help reduce poverty. This would help women gain an understanding of business ethics and the logistics of simple bookkeeping, profit making, investment and saving.
Subsistence farming
- Crop diversification
- Improvement of communication networks in Ndola rural
The Z.B.A could also lobby the municipality to think about ways to build shopping stalls for poor women who usually sell their merchandise in unhealthy environments. Many poor women involved in subsistence farming as a livelihood strategy live in rural parts of Ndola.
Charcoal Burning
The issue of improving the communication system in the rural areas of Ndola has been key in the agenda of most politicians competing for the posts of deputies. Once these politicians are voted into power, they forget to fulfill their promises and are not seen in the area until the next election.
Conclusion
It is clear that it is impossible to stop burning coal in the near future, so planting trees becomes a key task to ensure this livelihood strategy.
Introduction
Summary of thesis
Women Poverty Alleviation Sub-committees could also be established in Ndola to help effectively address issues that adversely affect the livelihoods of poor women in Ndola. I found SLF to be a good tool for understanding the livelihoods of poor women in Ndola.
BIBLIOGRAPHY A. BOOKS
Entering the 21st Century: Voluntary Action and the Global Agenda, (West Hartford: Kumarian Press, 1990).
JOURNAL ARTICLES AND UNPUBLISHED DOCUMENTS
The impact of illiteracy, drought and poverty on the reproductive health and livelihoods of women in low-income communities, Kitwe, Zambia, paper presented at the Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of African Women in Johannesburg, South Africa, 7 /02/03. Isabel, “Domestic Violence in Christian Homes,” in Journal of Constructive Theology: Journal of the Center for Constructive Theology School of Religion and Culture, University of Durban-Westville, Durban, South Africa, (Vol. 6, No. 2000) .
INTERNET
What skills and economic empowerment would you propose to the church in Ndola district to help single women for economic empowerment. What do you think are some of the strengths that the church and society could build in the economic development of women in Ndola District?
