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1
Biswas, Margaret Rose. "FAO : its history and its achievements during the first four decades, 1945-1985." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2008. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:0b79db50-0d09-422e-8a11-d0ef8e9d47c3.
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Kaschula, S. A. H. "The impact of HIV and AIDS on household food security and food acquisition strategies in South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007137.
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How should the impact of HIV and AIDS on rural livelihoods be factored into efforts to monitor and stabilise household food security? With both HIV and AIDS and food security at the top of the global development agenda, this is a question posed by many scholars, practitioners, donor agencies and government departments. However, while there is an excess of discourse outlining the theoretical bases for how HIV and AIDS can, and is, radically transforming household food acquisition; there is a lack of empirical evidence from the South African context that demonstrates if, and how, HIV and AIDS changes household-level strategies of food acquisition and intake. This thesis explores the association of household-level mortality, chronic illness and additional child-dependent fostering with household experience of food security and food acquisition strategies, in three rural villages in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces of South Africa. Qualitative and quantitative methods of data-collection were applied to 307 households in the three sites. For twelve months, both HIV and AIDS-afflicted and non-afflicted households were repeatedly visited at 3-month intervals, in order to be assessed for levels of food security, dietary intake and method of food procurement (purchased, cultivated, wild or donated). Overall, HIV and AIDS-afflicted households showed a significantly higher experience of food insecurity, probably attributable to shortages in food quantity. Dietary composition and overall diversity, however, was not significantly different. Although households with chronic illness and recent mortality showed a heightened investment in cultivation sources, the success of these strategies were to a great extent mediated by household income, and the level of medical treatment received by those who were chronically ill. Chronic illness was also associated with more donations, but these required considerable investments in social capital networks. Finally, use of wild leafy vegetables was not associated with household HIV and AIDS status, despite the financial, nutritional and labour-saving properties of these foods. Overall, the study suggests that there was little evidence of long-term planning and strategy in household food security responses. There was no evidence for shifts to labour-saving crops or foods and, in some instances, child labour was being used to ameliorate prime-adult labour deficits. Moreover, given that the vast majority (89.2%) of food groups were sourced through purchase, it is questionable whether investing in diverse food acquisition strategies would be advisable. Unless supported by medical treatment and steady earned household income, policies to promote intensified household agricultural subsistence production in the wake of HIV and AIDS are unlikely to provide households with anything more than short-term safety-nets, rather than long-term, sustainable food security solutions.
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Jakavula, Siyabulela Cornelius. "Effectiveness of the high value crop-based extension model in improving rural livelihoods." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007533.
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The problem that is researched in this study relates to the effectiveness of the extension model applied in the High Value Crop programme in improving rural livelihoods in the Eastern Cape. The extent of poverty in rural areas in the Eastern Cape motivated for the intervention of the Is‘Baya through the introduction of Integrated Village Renewal Programme (IVRP). The need to improve the quality of life of rural households through the promotion of agriculture and industry gave rise to the collaborative effort between the Is‘Baya Development Trust and Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in South Africa. The HVC programme was established to mitigate the effects of food shortage and poverty through the production of fruit trees, herbs and vegetables at household level. Evaluation of the effectiveness of this collaborative effort was carried out in four local municipalities of the OR Tambo District and these included: King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality (Zangci); Nyadeni municipality (Hluleka); Port St Johns municipality (Noqhekwana) and Ngquza Hill municipality (Hombe). An equal number of villages where Siyazondla was implemented by DRDAR were visited for the survey to relate the extension model applied with HVC. The villages visited included: OR Tambo (Mhlontlo local municipality) Xhokonxa village; Amathole (Amahlathi local municipality) Ndakana village, (Ngqushwa local municipality) Mgababa village and (Mbhashe local municipality) Mbanyana village. The broad objective of the study therefore, was to evaluate the effectiveness of the extension model applied on the HVC programme as well as to identify the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders involved in the model. The specific objectives of the study were to describe the HVC based extension model as it is currently organized and implemented in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa in relation to the erstwhile Siyazondla programme, to establish the effectiveness of the extension model in terms of skills transfer and capacity development, to determine the socio-economic impact of the extension model on the livelihood of involved households, to establish the extent to which the extension model has empowered women and youths and to study the factors that has contributed to the sustainability of the extension model. In carrying out this research and in line with the practice of Agricultural Research for Development (ARD), qualitative and quantitative methods of information gathering were applied. Group approach such as the Rural Rapid Appraisal (RRA) and the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods of data collection were used. These tools include semi-structured interviews, focus-group discussions, transect walks, seasonal calendars, key-informant interviews, resource maps and secondary data. A sample of 149 respondents was selected from eight villages in the OR Tambo and Amathole districts. The HVC model was analysed using qualitative approach, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The Is‘Baya/ARC extension model is thus said to be effective in meeting the objectives of the HVC programme due to the efficient transfer of skills and technology and its positive impact on the livelihood of the people. There was also an improvement of the income and food security status of the rural dwellers in O.R Tambo district. The regression analysis model was applied and the results of the model were significant to the highest income earned. Out of 22 explanatory variables fitted in the regression model, 12 were significant. The R² and adjusted R² are 73 percent and 68 percent respectively which shows the significance of the fitted variables in the model. The very high F value of 15.427 shows strong significance of the fitted variables to the model. The study therefore concluded that the HVC based extension model implemented by Is‘Baya and ARC was very effective in improving rural livelihoods. The study further recommended investment in infrastructure, market linkages, value adding, public-private partnerships, creation of tenure security, investigation of different funding sources, investment on agricultural research, extension of skills provided and implementation of similar model by the public sector.
4
McNicholl, Duncan Ryan. "Characteristics of stakeholder networks supporting institutional development in rural water service delivery." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2017. https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/270358.
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Social network analysis was used in combination with qualitative methods to identify characteristics of stakeholder networks that supported cases of institutional development in rural water sectors in Ghana, Malawi, India, Tajikistan, and Bolivia. Institutions studied included local governments, a national government institution, and community operator committees managing water treatment facilities. Interviews with 162 participants in these countries used a facilitated network drawing exercise to capture data on stakeholder relationships and perceptions of factors supporting institutional development. Quantitative analysis of these networks and qualitative analysis of perceived factors identified three network characteristics as supporting institutional development for rural water supply in multiple countries and types of institutions. The three characteristics are: information and skill ties between an institution and stakeholders at lower levels of sector hierarchy; information and skill ties between an institution and stakeholders at higher levels of sector hierarchy; and coordination between stakeholders at higher levels of sector hierarchy that strongly engage an institution. These three characteristics can be observed from a network perspective, and qualitative descriptions of these interactions can improve understanding of the nuance and benefit of particular network ties. Social network analysis on its own cannot predict whether an institution will develop if these network characteristics exist, but it can be used to identify where network ties are absent or weakly developed. Methods and findings from this research enable a rigorous analysis of complex stakeholder interactions in rural water sectors to identify where particular relationships might be strengthened, and strengthening the environments that support institutional development has the potential to lead to the stronger institutions that are necessary for sustainable rural water service delivery.
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Mpendu, Daluhlanga Ayford. "Aspects pertinent to the provision of sustainable water supply projects in the Eastern Cape Province: a case study of Nomzamo Water Supply Project." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007450.
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This study explores views behind the failure of water supply projects to achieve sustainability, primarily from the 'users' perspective, and at a secondary level from the perspective of the government/funders. One completed water supply project was selected as a case study for the research project. The overriding principle behind the water infrastructure delivery programme is that the service must be provided in a sustainable manner, and that the community must actively participate and be involved in all the phases of the project. The provision of water is not simply as it might look. In reality it is a complex process, which involves a number of organisations with different, yet important roles and responsibilities. Ongoing collaboration is important among these organisations if the service is to be provided efficiently and in a sustainable manner. In particular, local government has a Constitutional obligation to provide services to all consumers in an efficient, affordable, economical and sustainable manner. The National and Provincial governments, however, have a number of responsibilities in the field of water services. Semi-structured interview method was used to collect data from respondents. Two sets of interview schedules were developed, one for the community/water project committee members, and the other for the government officials. The data collected was analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. This analysis enabled the researcher to draw findings, make conclusions and propose recommendations. The findings and conclusions of the study point to lack of clarity on roles and responsibilities; gender and cultural constraints; and, poor training and capacity and building of the community as being some of the reasons for the failure of the project. The recommendations proposed entail, inter alia, massive community mobilisation and awareness creation programmes; improvement in levels of the service; adoption of a gender-sensitive approach to project development; and, implementation of a training and capacity building process in the community in order to 'revitalise' the project. The study has merely focussed on one water project and sets the scene for further exploration of the subject. It certainly highlights some critical issues around sustainability of water projects, and hopefully will contribute towards the ongoing debate in this area.
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Setlolela, Jobo. "Technical and social acceptance evaluation of an ultrafiltration membrane system for potable water supply to rural and remote communities." Thesis, Peninsula Technikon, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/1028.
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Thesis (MTech (Civil Engineering))--Peninsula Technikon, 2004.<br>When considering water treatment in small rural and peri-urban communities,
sustainability is one of the most important factors to be considered. Sustainability needs
to be considered from financial, technological and socio-political perspectives. The major
problems with sustainability of conventional small water treatment systems are the
difficulty of controlling chemical treatment processes, especially when the raw water
quality changes, and the production of substandard quality water. Another very important
problem is lack of community involvement, especially over the longer term. The
acceptance of new technologies by the community is of crucial importance in ensuring
successful water supply projects.
The anticipation of more stringent drinking water quality regulations and decrease in
adequate water sources have brought membrane separation processes such as
microfiltration and ultrafiltration on the advantage for potable water supply to rural and
peri-urban areas. Membrane processes have the advantage of production of superior
quality water and addition of fewer chemicals in the treatment process.
The pUIpose of this study was to further investigate the potential of ultrafiltration
capillary membranes as a one-step membrane water treatment system for potable water
supply to developing communities. To successfully transfer a technology to a particular
community, the technology must be suitable and acceptable and a social study was
therefore also done to understand the social acceptance factors that govern the acceptance
of these new technologies.
7
IDO, Ayako, and 綾子 井戸. "Determinants of Operation and Maintenance Performance of Rural Water Supply Facilities in Cambodia: Does Social Capital Matter?" 名古屋大学大学院国際開発研究科, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2237/10586.
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Mtinda, Elias. "Sustainability of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Services under Community Management Approach: The case of six villages in Tanzania." Thesis, Linköping University, Department of Water and Environmental Studies, 2007. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-8112.
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<p>Abstract</p><p>Community management of the rural water supply and sanitation services is considered as one of the options for achieving sustainability of the water services. International communities and donors are steering this concept. National water policy in Tanzania puts more emphasis on community participation and management of water and sanitation (WATSAN) schemes. This study on the sustainability of the rural water supply and sanitation services focused on community management and participation as one strategy, which could contribute to the sustainability of WATSAN provision. A study was conducted in six water schemes in six villages in Tanzania, four of the villages had water schemes in operation and two schemes were under construction. Data was collected from water users, water management committees and water providers. A structured questionnaire was administered to 92 water users in four water schemes in operation, focus group discussion was conducted to water management committees in six water schemes and three water providers responded to the questionnaire.</p><p>Given changes and increasing diversity in the management of rural WATSAN schemes (village water committees, board of directors and public private partnership), it is apparent that community management of rural water schemes without support is not an ideal solution for achieving sustainability. It was also affirmed that to achieve a real community participation in the project is difficult. Village government leaders and water management committees were mainly involved during the planning phase and local communities during implementation. Interference by the politicians, village government leaders and inability of the water schemes to recover costs were the main problems facing water schemes. The consequence was poor performance and failure of some schemes to deliver the services. Generally, the findings lead to a subjective inference that community management of rural water schemes alone is not an ideal solution for attaining sustainability. Community management of rural WATSAN schemes is a good idea if implemented where there is demand-driven community involvement right from the beginning of the projects. Nevertheless, with the right capacity building and continuous support, community management of the rural WATSAN schemes can deliver reliable and sustainable water and sanitation services.</p>
9
Smith, Julie. "Social policy, welfare in urban services in South Africa : a case study of free basic water, indigency and citizenship in Eastwood, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal (2005-2007)." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1015231.
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This is an in-depth case study of urban water services to poor households and their interactions with local state power in the community of Eastwood, Pietermaritzburg, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, for the period 2005-2007. It draws especially on the experiences of poor women, exploring the conceptions and implications of the movement of municipal services into the realm of welfare-based urban service concessions. It interrogates what value municipal services, framed in the language and form of welfare but within a commodification milieu and in the context of shifting citizen-state relations offer the state apparatus and how such free basic service offerings are experienced by poor households at the level of domestic, social and economic functioning. The study adopts a fluid mixed-methodological approach to optimise exploration and interpretation. It argues that the interface of state service delivery and citizens is fraught with contradictions: core to this is the nature of state ' help.' Free basic water encompassed in the social wage did not improve the lives of poor households; instead it eroded original water access. Free basic water stole women's time spent on domestic activities; compromised appropriate water requirements, exacerbated service affordability problems and negatively affected household functioning. Poor households experienced the government's policy of free basic services as containment and punishment for being poor. The Indigent Policy activated the state's surveillance, disciplinary and control apparatus. In the absence of effective national regulation over municipalities and with financial shortfalls, street-level bureaucrats manipulated social policies to further municipal cost recovery goals and subjugate poor households. Social control and cheap governance were in symmetry. Citizens, desperate for relief, approached the state. Poor households were pushed into downgraded service packages or mercilessly pursued by municipally outsourced private debt collectors and disconnection companies. Municipalities competing for investments brought about by favourable credit ratings abandoned the humanity of their citizens. Such re-prioritisation of values had profound implications for governance and public trust. Citizens were jettisoned to the outskirts of municipal governance, resulting in a distinct confusion and anger towards the local state - and with it, major uncertainties regarding future stability, redistribution and equity.
10
Adam, Hassan Ali. "A solid phase microextraction/gas chromatography method for estimating the concentrations of chlorpyrifos, endosulphan-alpha, edosulphan-beta and endosulphan sulphate in water." Thesis, Peninsula Technikon, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/899.
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Thesis (MTech (Chemical Engineering))--Peninsula Technikon, Cape Town, 2003<br>The monitoring of pesticide contamination in surface and groundwater is an essential
aspect of an assessment of the potential environmental and health impacts of
widespread pesticide use. Previous research in three Western Cape farming areas found
consistent (37% to 69% of samples) pesticide contamination of rural water sources.
However, despite the need, monitoring of pesticides in water is not done due to lack of
analytical capacity and the cost of analysis in South Africa. The Solid Phase
Microextraction (SPME) sampling method has been developed over the last decade as
a replacement for solvent-based analyte extraction procedures. The method utilizes a
short, thin, solid rod of fused silica coated with an absorbent polymer. The fibre is
exposed to the pesticide contaminated water sample under vigorous agitation. The
pesticide is absorbed into the polymer coating; the mass absorbed depends on the
partition coefficient of the pesticide between the sample phase and the polymeric
coating, the exposure time and factors such as agitation rate, the diffusivity of the
analyte in water and the polymeric coating, and the volume and thickness of the
coating. After absorption, the fibre is directly inserted into the Gas Chromatograph
(GC) injection port for analysis.
For extraction from a stirred solution a fibre will have a boundary region where the
solution moves slowly near the fibre surface and faster further away until the analyte is
practically perfectly mixed in the bulk solution by convection. The boundary region
may be modelled as a layer of stationary solution surrounded by perfectly mixed
solution.
11
Rust, Urszula Anna. "Principles for mainstreaming gender equality in the South African rural water services sector." Thesis, Link to the online version, 2007. https://etd.sun.ac.za/jspui/handle/10019/706.
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Osei-Asare, Yaw. "Household Water Security and Water Demand in the Volta Basin of Ghana /." Frankfurt am Main [u.a.] : Lang, 2005. http://www.gbv.de/dms/zbw/491615132.pdf.
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Akyurek, Gokce. "Impact Of Ataturk Dam On Social And Environmental Aspects Of The Southeastern Anatolia Project." Master's thesis, METU, 2005. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12606992/index.pdf.
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In this thesis the impact of the Atatü<br>rk Dam on social and environmental aspects of the Southeastern Anatolia Project has been discussed in terms of planning and policy making, institutional arrangements, infrastuctural development and human resources development. In order to analyse the impacts of Atatü<br>rk Dam data related to several components are collected. These components can be listed as resettlement, land acquisition and land consolidation, education, health, gender issues.
The results show that the Atatü<br>rk Resettlement has been done involuntarily. The people mostly have their compensation. However the management abilities of the resettlers for the compensations were poor. Generally the Southeastern Anatolia Project as a large scale multi sectoral projects have positive impacts on the literacy ratio and health standards. Actually the social and environmental aspects of this kind of large scale projects are difficult to predict and measure. Therefore reasonable studies on prediciting the problems related to the environemental and social issues and producing sufficient solutions become more and more important day by day. The Southeastern Anatolia Project becomes an important example for similar projects by considering its both positive and negative impacts
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LaFreniere, Katherine Carol, and University of Lethbridge Faculty of Management. "The decision making process for social issue behaviors : a stakeholder perspective / Katherine Carol Lafreniere." Thesis, Management, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10133/2611.
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This study argues that Stakeholder Theory (Mitchell, Agle, & Wood, 1997) can be applied from the stakeholder‘s perspective in order to understand how stakeholders perceive their claims in an organization and consequently decide how to influence an organization. Using this audience-centric perspective, organizations can influence the stakeholder‘s claims and ultimately how the stakeholder will support the organization. These arguments are supported based on the case of farmers who voted in the 2007 water transfer agreement between the Municipality of Rocky View and the Western Irrigation District (WID). Personal interviews, employing Narrative Research, were conducted to document the participant‘s interpretations. The interview transcripts were analyzed in order to test and expand Stakeholder Theory as well as determine how marketers can use this perspective to successfully target different groups of stakeholders. This understanding contributes to potential management effectiveness because it explains how managers can deal with multiple stakeholder interests.<br>vii, 82 leaves ; 29 cm
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Gusha, Siyabulela Stability. "Productions of high quality wastewater final effluents remain a challenge in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/489.
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Water is an indispensible and yet a difficult resource to be renewed, thus water scarcity has become one of the major challenges faced worldwide, with the Southern regions of Africa being the most impacted and affected, especially the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa where rural communities depend on receiving waterbodies that are often negatively impacted by wastewater final effluents. This present study was conducted between August and December 2010 to assess the physicochemical and microbial qualities of the final effluents of peri-urban and rural communities based wastewater treatment plants in the Eastern Cape Province. The physicochemical parameters were determined on site and in the laboratory, while bacteriological qualities were determined using culture based techniques. The virological qualities were determined by molecular methods using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for the target RNA virus and the conventional polymerase chain reaction for the target DNA virus. For both wastewater treatment plants, the physicochemical parameters ranged as follows: chemical oxygen demand (5.95-45 mg/L); total dissolved solids (114.5-187.0 mg/L); salinity (0.12-0.20 psu); temperature (14.2-25.7oC); pH (6.0-7.6); nitrate and nitrites (1.55-6.7 mg/L and 0.023-1.15 mg/L respectively); biological oxygen demand (3.5-7.8 mg/L); turbidity (1.49-6.98 NTU); and chlorine residual (0-2.97 mg/L). Feacal indicator bacteria counts ranged as follows: feacal coliforms (0-1.25×104 cfu/100 ml); total coliforms (0-3.95×104 cfu/100 ml); and enterococci (0-5.0×103 cfu/100 ml). xviii Seventy five percent of the rural community based plant and 80 percent of the peri-urban community based plant were positive for coxsackie A virus, while hepatitis A virus was detected in all the rural community based plant 80 percent of the peri-urban community based plant. This study suggests the need for intervention by appropriate regulatory agencies to ensure regular monitoring of the qualities of final effluents of wastewater treatment facilities in the Eastern Cape Province and ensure compliance to established guidelines.
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Buthelezi, Mbekezeli Simphiwe. "A critical evaluation of local level responses to mine closure in the Northwestern KwaZulu-Natal coal belt region, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005497.
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The de-industrialisation process that was a common feature of North America and Western Europe in the 1970s, through into the 1980s has become an observable feature in African countries and South Africa in particular in the last two decades. Globally, hard hit areas include those associated with the early Industrial Revolution characterised by mass production and the agglomeration of iron and steel, coal and textile industries. General changes in the global market, especially the falling demand for extractive heavy minerals like coal and gold have also affected many countries region and localities. In the case of South Mrica, the previous high economic dependence on mined minerals like coal and gold has resulted in many once prosperous mining regions of the country being reduced to a shadow of their former selves. The worst affected areas in South Africa are those of the Klerksdorp Goldfields in the North West Province and Free State Goldfields, with the latter alone losing 100,000 jobs during the 1990s. This trend has also been acute in the coal-mining industry of the KwaZulu-Natal province since the late 1970s. The firms that had grown in the shadow of the major mining company supplyipg machinery, or who processed the semi-manufactured product are also severely affected by the closing down and restructuring in the mining and iron industries. These industries have often been forced to close down because of a break in the vital connections they developed with these mining industries. Such localised economic crisis has encouraged the universal trend towards the devolution of developmental responsibilities to the local governments and other local stakeholders to - empower them to respond to these changes. This study investigated the local economic initiatives which have been undertaken in the three municipalities of north-western KwaZulu Natal i.e. Utrecht, Dundee and Dannhauser to respond to the closures which have taken place in the mining industry of this region, which used to be among the most prosperous coal mining regions of South Africa. Using their new developmental mandate the local governments, in partnership with the communities and other external interveners have tried to respond to these localised economic crisis and also indirectly to the general poverty and underdevelopment, which characterises this region of KwaZulu-Natal. The effects of apartheid policies, and previous discriminatory rural development policies in, particular, and the Regional Industrial Development policy, which was intensively applied in the 1980s by the pre-1994 government regime, have further compounded the magnitude of the challenge. The lack of capacity in some municipalities has constrained successful implementation of Local Economic Development has led to some communities acting alone to face their situation with or without external intervention.
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Barnes, Garth. "An exploration of the way in which values and valuing processes might strengthen social learning in water stewardship practices in South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012940.
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This qualitative study, focussing on the way in which values and valuing processes might strengthen social learning in water stewardship practices in South Africa, is located within the broader global narrative that describes the scale of human impact on our Earth systems and that is setting humanity on a trajectory that threatens to place us beyond the safe operating spaces called planetary boundaries. For humanity to live within planetary boundaries – one of which is global freshwater use –will take a new way of relating to the environment called Earth stewardship, which calls for a new ethic of responsibility towards Earth systems. It is at the local level of stewardship within a global approach to water resources management called integrated water resources management that this qualitative study is contextually bound. Two case studies, located in the catchment management forums (CMFs) of the Upper Vaal catchment of Gauteng, South Africa, are used in an exploration of the way in which values and valuing processes might strengthen social learning in water stewardship practices in South Africa. The meta-theory of critical realism is used to help explore this relationship between values, practice and social learning. The study uses document analysis, interviews and observation of selected water stewardship practices to identify held and assigned values, and valuing processes and their influence on social learning, and the framing and de-framing processes that occur in social learning oriented towards water stewardship practices. The study differentiates between held and assigned values and identifies a strong altruistic-held values tendency that characterises forum participants who practice water stewardship in the two case study sites. Most water stewardship practice, identified in the case study sites, manifests as compliance activities in the public – or forum – space, while private-sphere environmentalism is mostly left to the confines of the individual’s private household. Lastly, the CMFs seem to have the potential to provide a space for social learning that is not yet maximised. Drawing from these key findings, the study’s major recommendation is that forums that facilitate learning, either using the current CMF structure or creating new opportunities, need to be provided as a conduit for social learning and reflexivity to make the existing boundaries between private and public forms of water stewardship more porous. This social learning may expand social practice and thus strengthen social change processes that expand water stewardship practices.
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Hong, Chang-Yu. "The Tension between Technocratic and Social Values in Environmental Decision-making: An'Yang Stream Restoration in South Korea." PDXScholar, 2017. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/3784.
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This dissertation examined the extent to which interests and values of diverse stakeholders were considered through participation-oriented decision-making. It covered the An' Yang Stream restoration case in South Korea, which has been judged a successful stream management endeavor led by public-private partnership governance.
This research utilized a mixed methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. It addressed the extent to which the collaborative and participatory decision-making processes incorporated diverse stakeholder values and visions. The relevant data on stream restoration was collected through nominal group technique (NGT), analytic hierarchy process (AHP), semi-structured interviews, observations at collaborative stakeholder meetings and workshops, and documentation review.
My research concluded that integration of all interests was not achieved. These interests might have potentially affected the extent to which stakeholders' values are incorporated or not in participation-oriented collaborative stakeholders' partnerships by utilizing interest-based facilitation techniques, such as joint-fact-finding or principled negotiation. At the same time, my findings expatiate the catalyzing roles of the public media within stream restoration decision-making governance.
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Muller, Matthew Justin. "Linking institutional and ecological provisions for wastewater treatment discharge in a rural municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013048.
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The Green Drop Certification Programme, launched in 2008 alongside the Blue Drop Certification Programme, aims to provide the Department of Water Affairs with a national overview of how municipalities and their individual wastewater treatment works (WWTW) are complying with licence conditions set by the National Water Act (NWA) (No. 36 of 1998; DWAF 1998) and the Water Services Act (No. 108 of 1997; DWAF 1998). By publishing the results of each municipality’s performance, the programme aims to ensure continuous improvement in the wastewater treatment sector through public pressure. The programme has been identified by this project as a necessary linking tool between the NWA and the Water Services Act to ensure protection and sustainable use of South Africa’s natural water resources. It does this through assisting municipalities to improve their wastewater treatment operations which in theory will lead to discharged effluent that is compliant with discharge licence conditions. These discharge licences form part of the NWA’s enforcement tool of Source Directed Controls (SDC) which help a water resource meet the ecological goals set for it as part of Resource Directed Measures (RDM). The link between meeting the required SDC and achieving the RDM goals has never been empirically tested. This project aimed to determine the present ecological condition of the Uie River, a tributary of the Sundays River which the Sundays River Valley Municipality (SRVM) discharges its domestic effluent into. It then determined whether the SRVM’s WWTW was complying with the General Standard licence conditions and what the impact of the effluent on the river was through the analysis of monthly biomonitoring, water chemistry and habitat data. Lastly, the project examined the effectiveness of the Green Drop Certification Programme in bringing about change in the SRVM’s wastewater treatment sector, which previously achieved a Green Drop score of 5.6 percent. It wanted to examine the underlying assumption that a WWTW which improves its Green Drop score will be discharging a better quality effluent that will help a water resource meets the RDM goals set for it. The Kirkwood WWTW did not have a discharge licence at the time of assessment and was thus assessed under the General Standard licence conditions. It was found that the Kirkwood WWTW was not complying with the General Standard discharge licence conditions in the Uie River. This was having a negative impact on the river health, mainly through high concentrations of Total Inorganic Nitrogen (TIN-N), orthophosphate and turbidity. The SRVM should see an improvement in its Green Drop score for the Kirkwood WWTW. However, the municipality showed no implementation of necessary programmes. Implementation of these programmes would help the SRVM meet the General Standard licence conditions (part of SDC) which would help the Uie River meet the RDM goals set for it.
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Motteux, Nicole. "Evaluating people-environment relationships : developing appropriate research methodologies for sustainable management and rehabilitation of riverine areas by communities in the Kat River Valley, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005503.
Full textAbstract:
International evidence clearly indicates that water shortages and the enhanced value attached to water and aquatic ecosystems are key concerns faced by many countries. International experience, since the mid-1980s, has emphasised the importance of addressing political, social, environmental and economic issues through active stakeholder participation in riverine and water resource management. These trends and issues are relevant to South Africa, where integrated water resource management (IWRM) is now a cornerstone of water resource policy and the National Water Act (NWA). Apartheid excluded communities in former homelands (racial reserves) from participation in IWRM. The research presented in this thesis was based on the search for philosophies and methods to involve the rural, former homeland people of the Kat River Valley in South Africa in IWRM. Post-modern, humanist and some logical positivist geographical philosophies were used during the research. This research applied Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) philosophy and methods and was influenced by the seminal work of Paolo Freire (1972). In addition, the use of innovative methods for engagement of the oppressed, using theatre methods developed by Augusto Boal (1995, 2000) was explored to add value to PRA. In addition, the application of Action Research ensured that community participants were actively involved in the research being conducted for this thesis. The applied research in the Kat River Valley in South Africa evolved through three key phases. In Phase One quantifiable data on the Kat River Valley and its residents was sought. This investigation did not empower the resident communities of Fairbairn and Hertzog – a lesson that influenced the move to more participatory methods in subsequent phases of the research. Lessons learned from using surveys encouraged exploration of participatory methods to enable participants to become “co-learners”. Phase Two of the research commenced with a series of feedback meetings, in which participants recognised that they faced an environmental crisis. Through a series of participatory workshops, residents came to acknowledge and affirm their environmental knowledge. Residents then committed themselves to gaining a deeper understanding of their environment and their lives. My role changed from that of a researcher to a facilitator. Phase Three of the research and the shift to Action Research commenced after local residents identified the need to personally take charge of their environmental challenges in the Kat River Valley and recognised the need to collaborate at a catchment scale for effective IWRM. This eventually led to the formation of a Water User Association and Catchment Forum. The key theoretical contribution of the thesis relates to the identified relationship between the development orientation and ecological paradigm, and an assessment of the impact this has on the inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes of IWRM. This theoretical contribution is equally valid in other countries, where the tradeoffs are essentially the same, but the framework for making the choices is different because of varying socio-economic and biophysical circumstances
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Makame, Makame Omar. "Vulnerability and adaptation of Zanzibar east coast communities to climate variability and change and other interacting stressors." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011895.
Full textAbstract:
Climate variability and change as well as sea level rise poses significant challenges to livelihoods, water and food security in small island developing states (SIDSs) including the Zanzibar Islands. Thus, without planned strategic adaptation, the future projected changes in climate and sea level will intensify the vulnerability of these sensitive areas. This thesis is based on research conducted in two sites located in the north eastern parts of each island, namely Kiuyu Mbuyuni, Pemba Island and Matemwe, Unguja Island. The research focused firstly on assessing the vulnerability of these two coastal communities to climate variability and change and other stressors. This included investigation of (1) the perceptions of fishers, farmers and seaweed farmers regarding climate stressors and shocks and associated risks and impacts, (2) existing and possible future water and food security issues, and (3) household's access to important livelihood assets. This was followed by an exploration of the coping and adaptive responses of farmers, fishers and seaweed farmers to perceived shocks and stresses and some of the barriers to these responses. Lastly, an analysis of the implications of the findings for achieving sustainable coastal livelihoods and a resilient coastal community was undertaken. The general picture that emerges is that local people along the east coasts of both islands are already vulnerable to a wide range of stressors. Although variability in rainfall is not a new phenomenon in these areas, increasing frequency of dry spells and coastal floods resulting from the influence of El Niño and La Niña events exert enormous pressures on local activities (fishing, farming and seaweed farming) which are the crux of the local economy. The main argument of the study is that the nature and characteristics of these activities are the main source of sensitivity amongst these communities and this creates high levels of vulnerability to climate shocks and trends. This vulnerability is evidenced by the reoccurrence of localised food shortages and the observed food and water insecurity. The study found that food insecurity is a result of unreliable rainfall, drought and seasonality changes. These interacted with other contextual factors such as poor soil, low purchasing power and the lack of livelihood diversification options. In addition to exposure to these almost unavoidable risks from climate variability, the vulnerability of the local communities along the east coasts is also influenced by the low level of capital stocks and limited access to the assets that are important for coping and adaptation. Despite this, some households managed to overcome barriers and adapt in various ways both within the three main livelihood sectors (fishing, farming and seaweed farming) as well as through adopting options outside these sectors resulting in diversification of the livelihood portfolio. However, the study found that most of the strategies opted for by fishers, farmers and seaweed farmers were mainly spontaneous. Few planned adaptation measures supported by state authorities were observed across the sites, with the exception of the provision of motorised boats which were specifically meant to increase physical assets amongst fishers, reduce pressure in the marine conservation areas and prevent overfishing in-shore. Furthermore, numerous strategies that people adopted were discontinued when further barriers were encountered. Interestingly, some of the barriers that prevented households adapting were the same ones that forced households that had responded to abandon their adaptations. To increase resilience amongst east coast communities to current and future predicted changes in climate and sea level, the study argues that traditional livelihood activities (fishing, farming and seaweed farming) need to be better supported, and access to a range of livelihood assets improved. This may be achieved through increased access to local sources of water and facilitation of rainwater harvesting, expanding the livelihood options available to people and increasing climate change awareness, and access to sources of credit.
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Mdanisi, Charlotte Tshikani. "Policy, planning and provision : a case study of water in the Limpopo Province." Thesis, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/7332.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study was to explore and understand how policies and legislative frameworks impact on the planning for water provision in rural areas, and in particular, the Makosha village in the Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo Province. The research method used was qualitative, which is exploratory, descriptive and conceptual in nature. The sample selection method was purposive since it was targeting specific people. Data were collected from a focus group and individuals through in-depth interviews. The findings of the study for the focus group were presented under the following themes:- Problems related to water provision; problems related to rights; communication between the municipality and the community; and respondents’ envisaged recommendations related to problems of water supply. The findings for the individual interviews were also presented under the following themes: - The district municipality’s expression of its difficulties when providing water; and planning. The results of the study provide evidence that water provision in rural areas is still a challenge. Mopani District municipality does not have the capacity to provide water. Water sources in the Greater Giyani municipality are not able to provide water to the various villages due to inadequate infrastructure. In the Makosha village, technical challenges are a cause of the problem. Illegal connections, lack of public participation in water provisioning activities and lack of skills in water provision were also identified as a cause of the problem. It is noted that the use of the Water Service Development Plan (WSDP) and the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), as planning tools, were not properly implemented. The study recommends that planning for water provision should be in line with the various legislative frameworks put in place in the country. The two planning tools, i.e. Water Service Development Plan (WSDP) and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) must be used in planning for water provision in all municipalities which are either a water service authority (WSA) or a water service provider (WSP). The capacity of the municipality should be improved in terms of skilled human resources, financial resources and infrastructural development. The Water Services and local government sectors should create a culture of public participation in the activities of the municipality. Monitoring and Evaluation should form an integral part of project implementation.<br>Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.
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Dlamini, Dennis Jabulani Mduduzi. "Assessment of the water poverty index at meso-catchment scale in the Thukela Basin." Thesis, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/4132.
Full textAbstract:
The connection between water and human wellbeing is increasingly causing concern
about the implications of water scarcity on poverty. The primary fear is that water
scarcity may not only worsen poverty, but may also undermine efforts to alleviate
poverty and food insecurity. A review of literature revealed that the relationship
between water scarcity and poverty is a complex one, with water scarcity being both
a cause and consequence of poverty. Furthermore, water scarcity is multidimensional,
which makes it difficult to define, while it can also vary considerably,
both temporally and spatially. Finally, the relationship between water scarcity and
poverty is a difficult one to quantify.
Within the context of water scarcity, indicators are viewed by many development
analysts as appropriate tools for informing and orienting policy-making, for comparing
situations and for measuring performance. However, simplistic traditional indicators
cannot capture the complexity of the water-poverty link; hence a proliferation of more
sophisticated indicators and indices since the early 1990s. The Water Poverty Index
(WPI), one of these new indices, assesses water scarcity holistically. Water poverty
derives from the conceptualisation of this index which relates dimensions of poverty
to access to water for domestic and productive use. However, the WPI has not been
applied extensively at meso-catchment scale, the scale at which water resources
managers operate. In South Africa, the Thukela Catchment -in the province of
KwaZulu-Natal presents a unique opportunity to assess the WPI at this scale.
The Thukela is a diverse catchment with respect to physiography, climate and (by
extension) natural vegetation, land use, demography, culture and economy. While
parts of the catchment are suitable for intensive agricultural production and others
are thriving economic centres, a large percentage of the population in the catchment
lives in poverty in high risk ecosystems, with their vulnerability exacerbated by
policies of the erstwhile apartheid government. Many rural communities, a high
percentage of which occupy these naturally harsh areas, have low skills levels, with a
high proportion of unemployed people, low or no income and low services delivery.
Infrastructural development, which relates to municipal service delivery, is often
made prohibitively expensive by the rugged terrain in which many people live. As in
other catchments in South Africa, the Thukela is affected by policies and initiatives
aimed at accomplishing the objectives of post-1994 legislation such as the South
Africa Constitution and the National Water Act. The potential of the WPI to assess
the impacts of these initiatives on human wellbeing and to inform decision .making in
the Thukela catchment was investigated.
An analysis of a 46 year long series of monthly summations of daily values of
streamflows output by the ACRU agrohydrological simulation model has shown that
the Thukela, in its entirety , is a water-rich catchment. The reliability of the
streamflows, which has implications for communities who collect water directly from
1
streams, is high along main channels but can be considerably less along low order
tributaries of the main streams. The flow reliability along the small tributaries is less in
winter than in summer. A high percentage of the catchment's population, in addition
to being poor and not having access to municipal services, live near, and rely on, the
small tributaries for their water supplies. Admittedly, this analysis addresses only one
dimension of water poverty, viz. physical water shortage. Nevertheless, the study
revealed that despite the Thukela's being a water-rich catchment, many communities
are still water stressed. A more holistic characterisation of the water scarcity situation
in the Thukela catchment was achieved using the WPI.
A review of possible information sources for computing the WPI in South Africa found
that many monitoring programmes, information systems and databases are either in
existence and are active, or being restructured, or are under different stages of
development. If and when they are all fully functional , they should be able to support
national assessments of the WPI at meso-scale without the need to collect additional
information. A combination of information from some of the active databases and
secondary data from other local studies was used to compute the WPI in the Thukela
catchment. The assessment uncovered the following:
• There is an apparent association between water poverty and socio-economic
disadvantage in the Thukela catchment.
• There was an improvement in the water poverty situation in most parts of the
Thukela catchment between 1996 and 2001, although the degree of improvement
varied from subcatchment to subcatchment. Climate change, if it manifests itself by higher temperatures and reduced rainfall,
will most likely worsen water poverty throughout the Thukela catchment, with the
subcatchments in which many of the poor communities are located being more
likely to experience the most severe impacts as the coping capacities of those
communities are already strained under current climatic conditions.
The findings of this study illustrate the potential of WPI as a tool for informing
decision making and policy evaluation at the meso-catchment scale at which many
water-related decisions are made.<br>Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.
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Tassew, Derb Tefera. "The Nexus between water supply infrastructure and socio-economic developments in Amhara Region, Ethiopia, 1941-2005." Thesis, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/23127.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis examines the historical introduction and spatial expansion of modern water supply infrastructure in Amhara region across the three successive regimes: imperial, military, and EPRDF. It attempts to explore the institutional setup of the three governments together with their policies and strategies. The study also aims at giving an idea about the socio-economic changes registered because of improved access to safe water. Furthermore, it assesses the water consumption and conservation pattern of the society and the environmental impact of the water infrastructure development.
Modern infrastructure development in Ethiopia traced its beginning back to the late 19th century. Safe drinking water supply had been one of those modern infrastructures introduced in Addis Ababa. Not long afterwards, it proliferated to the provinces. In Amhara region, drinking water supply infrastructure construction began in the early 20th century. However, this thesis inquired whether there was a programmed water supply infrastructure development before the mid-1950s or not. The water supply work started gaining momentum and became a state program in the late imperial period. However, it was affected by financial, technological and trained human resource constraints, lack of appropriate institution, defective management systems, and improper implementation methods.
The military government had strengthened water supply institutions and improved workers'
expertise. These developments helped the water supply infrastructure work to be executed in a programmed manner. Yet, financial restraints, the incessant political chaos of the time and the accompanied disruptive working environment had greatly impacted the temporal and spatial coverage of the water supply infrastructure development.
The promising start of the Derg period did not continue with similar pace during the early years of the EPRDF rule. Despite the efforts made to set up water institutions at Regional, Zonal and Woreda (district) levels, no significant achievement was recorded in the field. The aftermath of the civil war together with internal and external challenges epitomized the transition period had impinged on the water supply work.
This thesis testifies to the emergence of some socio-economic changes in the region. Yet, the slow progress of the water supply infrastructure work had stalled the socio-economic change that should have been registered through improved access to safe water supply. Despite the observable environmental degradation, the thesis argues that the retarded water supply work had nothing to do with the dearth of fresh water. While the trend shows steady growth of water consumption level across the three regimes, the conservation habit of the population remained low.<br>D.Litt. et Phil. (History)
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Tekwa, Newman. "Gender, land reform and welfare outcomes : a case study of Chiredzi District, Zimbabwe." Thesis, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/27126.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis explores questions of gender equality in social welfare theory; methodologies;
approaches and policymaking in the Global South in the context of land reforms. This stems
from the realisation that gender equality issues in social welfare are increasingly receiving
greater attention in the context of the Global North and less in the South. By adopting a
Transformative Social Policy framework, the research departs from hegemonic livelihoods,
poverty reduction and the ‘classical models’ of land reforms often designed from the mould
of the neoliberal discourse of individual tenure to focus on land reform as a relational
question. Empirical data was gathered using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods
approach involving survey questionnaires; in-depths interviews; focus group discussions; key
informant interviews and field observations. A total of 105 randomly selected households,
comprising 56 male-headed households (MHHs) and 49 female-headed households (FHHs)
participated in the quantitative component of the study, comprising a control group of nonland
reform beneficiaries. Additionally, 30 purposively selected in-depths interviews
comprising 20 FHHs and 10 MHHs were conducted in resettlement study sites. Findings
from this this study indicates that despite the country’s depressed economic environment and
the effects of climate change, transfer of land enhanced the productive capacities of
individuals and rural households, including those headed by females. At micro-level, in-kind
transfer of land to rural households proved to be a more superior social protection measure
compared to either food or cash transfer. However, social relations and institutions proved
resistant to change, posing a greater obstacle to social transformation. And more importantly,
from a social reproductive perspective, the same land reform that enhanced the productive
capacities of women, inadvertently, increased their social reproductive work with
implications on the welfare of women relative to men. The thesis makes a contribution to
social policy debates in Africa, which hitherto have been dominated by the introduction of
cash transfers as witnessed in many countries across the continent. The transformative social
policy approach brings novelty to the study of land reforms. By Conceptualising gender as a
relational and social construct, the study adds knowledge on the nexus between gender, land
reform and welfare using the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) as reference.
With the FTLRP––as a leftist policy in a liberalised economy––there is a need for the government to re-align its social and economic policies to avoid inconsistencies in the
country’s development path. On the gender front there is need to legislate resettlement areas
as outside the jurisdiction of traditional structures; promulgate statutory instruments dealing
with land and setting up designated land claims courts linked right up to the Constitutional
Court. Specifically, for Chiredzi, there is a need to establish a corporate body to administer
the affairs of Mkwasine following the pulling out of the Estate.
Keywords: gender, land reforms, water reforms, transformative<br>Sociology<br>Ph. D. (Sociology)
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Nyakurimwa, Marvis. "Analysis of the local understanding of food insecurity and the socio-economic causes of food insecurity in Ward three of the Jozini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal." Thesis, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/8457.
Full textAbstract:
Although food insecurity is a major problem in South African society, there is limited community level information on what constitutes it and related causative socio-economic factors. This study fills this information gap by analysing food insecurity in Ward 3 of Jozini Local Municipality in uMkhanyakude district in KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. Specifically, the study explored the local understanding of food security and its socio-economic causes. A qualitative study was conducted using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques through a four-day workshop, supplemented with stakeholder interviews. The techniques used were historical timeline, seasonal calendar, focus group discussions, transect walk, problem tree analysis, social and resource mapping and semi-structured interviews. A four-day workshop was conducted with 44 participants that included traditional leadership, adult men and women, and young members of the community.
The people of Ward 3 of Jozini Municipality regarded food insecurity as hunger that resulted in many socio-economic effects such as collapse of household unity and stability that enhanced erosion of dignity among household members. Hunger was commonly associated with “not eating enough”. Other effects of hunger included household heads, especially men resorting to alcohol and drug abuse as a way of escaping from indignity. The youth were said to be involved in crime, prostitution and alcohol abuse. As result of hunger, sick people defaulted from taking treatment against tuberculosis and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Indicators of food secure households were access to funds, ownership of cattle, possession of arable land and access to water. Very irregular emissions of smoke from kitchens of food insecure households indicated that they had nothing to cook and eat. The people of Ward 3, Jozini revealed the choices made in the context of limited income to buy food. The choices included migration to urban areas in search of employment, women resorting to sex work, livelihoods activities such as gardening and craftwork. In the absence of an adult, many child headed households were said to be food insecure.
The socio-economic factors causing food insecurity were poverty, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and AIDS pandemic, unemployment, illiteracy, low household food production, limited access to resources such as water and land. The HIV and AIDS pandemic exacerbated food insecurity at household level. Furthermore, poverty forced women into sex work which places them at high risk of contracting HIV and spreading it to
their multiple partners. In addition, as a coping mechanism men committed crime such as poaching of animals from game reserves which further expose them to loss of livelihoods and food security options.
The socio-economic factors contributing to food insecurity were so intertwined such that an integrated approach is recommended as the best approach for solving the compounded problems. Further local population should be engaged to define solutions to the problems. To enhance self-reliance and self-drive among communities, adult basic education training should be incorporated to reduce the high illiteracy rate. The local leaders should be engaged to bring the large tracts of land owned by old people into full utilisation. The non-government, government and institutions working in the area should strengthen and diversify livelihoods to promote livelihoods sustainability and enable communities to survive shocks by reducing asset poverty.<br>Thesis (M.Agric)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermarizburg, 2011.
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Lushaba, Vusumuzi. "Coping strategies of low-income households in relation to HIV/AIDS and food security." Thesis, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/4094.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate coping strategies employed by low-income
households of Sweetwaters KwaZulu-Natal, who have members who are infected with
HIV in ensuring food security when dealing with HIV/AIDS. This study was based on
households who have members living openly with HIV/AIDS and who were members
of a support group of HIV positive people.
This study was conducted between July 2003 and June 2004. Focus group meetings
were conducted with a support group of 26 members (Philani Support Group).
Questionnaires, group discussions and observations were used to collect data from
households. In order for the study to investigate coping strategies, the following sub-problems
were investigated to measure changes before and after illness or death in
household: changes in finances, changes in food habits, social aspect of studied
household which included infrastructure (housing, roads, water, sanitation and energy);
external and internal support.
There were no major differences in coping strategies, but the structure, resources and
size of households informed their coping strategies. Food was the centre of all activities
of households. As the ability of the household to produce food or earn income
decreased, the need for food increased. Government social grants have been shown to
be the main resource for coping (they enabled households to cope or survive).
It is recommended that low-income households affected by HIV/AIDS and totally
dependent on grants should be helped not to develop a dependency syndrome by
implementing strategies that will encourage active participation and deal with
passiveness that exists within low-income households of Sweetwaters affected by
HIV/AIDS. As this study indicates that there are no resources on which concerned
households depend, it suggests a greater need for capital to boost the household and
strategies for households to be able to sustain themselves.<br>Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.
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Musonda, Kennedy. "Issues regarding sustainability of rural water supply in Zambia." Diss., 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1243.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this dissertation was to identify factors that contribute to the sustainability of rural water supply facilities (WSFs). Twenty-four interviews were conducted: 16 from rural communities and 8 from water supply agencies. Key findings are that in order to achieve sustainability of WSFs, there is need to ensure that (1) there is an effective community organisation; (2) communities have the ability to operate and maintain WSFs; (3) communities are able to raise adequate user fees for purchasing spare parts; and (4) that there is a strong backup support at the district level to carry out major repairs. Major threats to the sustainability of WSFs include high poverty levels in communities, weak institutional framework and inability of communities to handle major breakdowns.<br>Social Work<br>M.A. (Social Work)
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Balfour, Alison Faye. "Free basic water implementation in selected rural areas of KwaZulu- Natal and the Eastern Cape." Thesis, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/3568.
Full textAbstract:
Water is both a human right and a valuable commodity. Access to water for the rural poor is
an international development concern that has been highlighted by the Millennium Development Goals adopted at the Millennium Summit in 2000 in Dublin, Ireland. South Africa's Free Basic Water policy is the government's response to assuring access to water for all - especially those who cannot pay. The policy, however, is required to work within an
economic framework that promotes cost recovery and privatisation. The Free Basic Water Policy was officially implemented in July 2001. The policy was rolled out in most urban areas on or near this date. However, in rural areas it has proven much more difficult, and there are many areas that have not yet seen the implementation of Free Basic Water (FBW). This is partly due to varying financial, technical, political and logistical problems at the local and district municipality level. This research investigates the current situation in rural municipalities, looking specifically at FBW policy, institutional arrangements, operation and maintenance costs, cost per capita and affordability in relation to the Equitable Share allocations. Five case studies - compiled through interviews, document analyses, Participatory Rural Appraisal, and workshops provide a broad scale research base from which to analyse the current implementation of FBW in rural municipalities and ascertain whether this policy is affordable at this level. Water Service Authorities (WSA) are at varying levels of implementation, with few having a
fully operational policy that is reaching rural areas. A costing exercise revealed that the service delivery price of water varies, but does follow a trend. From this trend a benchmark cost per capita of R5.84/month was determined. This price, although low, is not currently affordable in some municipalities due to insufficient government grants from National Treasury. These grants are fundamental to the sustainability of FBW and the situation must be resolved if FBW is to reach its target market - the poorest of the poor. The mixed success in the implementation of Free Basic Water in rural areas of South Africa should not be taken as indicative of future trends. As the local government transition to newly devolved powers and functions is completed, the capacity at this level to resolve the challenges is more likely. Subject to the continued strength of the South African economy,
this policy could be a solution to the historical failure of service delivery to rural areas.<br>Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.
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Maodzwa, Tongai Leslie Tendai. "The effects of the municipal water crisis in Harare, Zimbabwe: a case study of Greendale and Mabvuku residential suburbs." Thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10539/21893.
Full textAbstract:
A research report submitted to the Faculty of
Humanities, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Arts in Development Studies
March 2015<br>The research report presents an analysis to, responses to and dynamics around the
municipal water problems in Harare, Zimbabwe using the case of two residential suburbs
namely Mabvuku and Greendale (one high density and the other one low density
respectively). The key questions that inform this research report are as follows: How has
the on-going urban water crisis affected residents‟ lives in the suburbs of Greendale and
Mabvuku in the city of Harare, Zimbabwe?; how does party politics affect the delivery of
municipal water in Greendale and Mabvuku?; and, what are the environmental
consequences of the municipal water crisis? The findings from this study contribute
immensely to an understanding of the consequences of and various issues and, the key
players underlying the protracted problem of municipal water availability in the city of
Harare. The study argues that the prevalence of partisan politics and political power
struggles in Harare are at the heart of the municipal water problems faced by Mabvuku
and Greendale. In this regard, the study critically interrogates the relationship between
the central ZANU–PF government and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)-led
local government and tries to understand the ramifications it is having on municipal water
services. Interestingly the study also reveals that, despite the differences in coping
strategies by residents of Mabvuku and Greendale, both locales have not been passive
victims of the municipal water crisis. Instead, residents from both suburbs employ
strategies according to their needs to ensure survival. However, despite some of the
coping strategies (such as borehole and well drilling) significantly helping residents to
manage and avert the water stress in light of the absence of municipal tap water, the
study presents, explores and discusses the environmental consequences that are likely to
happen as a result of the high concentration of these alternative water sources.<br>GR2017
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Mahlawe, Nomaxabiso K. "The empowerment approach as a way of connecting women to rural water supply." Thesis, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/4055.
Full text
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Busch, Kelly. "Water and social activism in Canada." Thesis, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/1828/34.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis on water and social activism in Canada is a journey into the realm of shared social understanding. Water is too precious to all forms of life to simply permit commodification for the benefit of a few at the expense of the many. The Sun Belt case adjudicated under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) when compared with what prevailed under previous Canadian national law reveals severe limits to state sovereignty. A high measure of support has already been manifest around concerns and considerations which pertain to water and the potential for the growth of social activism with reference to water may well be unprecedented in Canada. There are fundamental inequalities found within the Sun Belt case. Current international trade policy coupled with private banking practices does not value the principles of sustainability, equality and justice because it is committed to the commodification of the “commons”. This thesis uses a variety of sources to oppose the present discourses followed by governments according to the doctrines found in the study of classical economics within a capitalist context.
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Nkabalaza, Sylvia Thandeka. "An investigation of problems associated with water projects in the rural areas that lead to unsustainability of water services : a case study the of Umfundweni area, in the Eastern Cape." Thesis, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/10379.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis examines the problems facing many of the rural water projects,
especially in terms of their planning and implementation . There is a strong
belief that water services in the rural areas are often not sustainable, and
this is one of the major questions facing policy-makers over the last few
years.
The complexity of this problem has necessitated the development of a
research project which will enable the assessment of various problems that
become a barrier to the sustainability of water projects. The present study
was carried out in Emfundweni administrative area of the Umzimkhulu
district in the Eastern Cape Province.
The methodology was based on a study of opinions, beliefs, ideas and
realities as examined through research amongst community members, water
department officials, local government staff in the form of the T.L.C's and
engineers who were involved with the Emfundweni water project.
One of the key aims of the study was to examine what problems affected the
sustainability of water projects in rural areas, with the Emfundweni as a case
study. The decision to include community members in the study is based on
the fact that people involved in this water project hold their own perceptions,
attitude and bias regarding what factors constituted problems that led to the
lack of sustainability of the water project.
The method that was used in the study allowed the researcher to compare the
perceptions of the T.L.C's with those held by the community members
engineers and water department officials.
The findings supported the five hypotheses set out by the researcher in order
to test the working model.<br>Thesis (M.A.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2003.
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Naude, Dean Charles. "Impact of the Turn Table Trust Working for Water Project on fuelwood supply and household income of the rural Bulwer community." Thesis, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/4706.
Full textAbstract:
In the context of the post-apartheid era and under the new Government of National Unity, the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) was initiated in 1994. To assist in the realisation of the goals of this programme the macro-economic strategy, Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR), was implemented in 1996. It was within these frameworks that the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) launched its Working for Water (WFW) programme in October 1995. This programme was based on three pillars, namely: enhancing water supply and water security; creating jobs, building communities and improving quality of life and; conserving ecological functioning and biological diversity. Since October 1995 the Working for Water Programme has created 42 059 jobs, 220 884 hectares have been cleared with follow-up clearing in 55 731 hectares as part of the programme strategy to enhance water supply. Investment has been made in 240 projects, with a budget of R365 147 259 as at 31 March 1998. The impact of the Turn Table Trust WFW Project, a sub-project of the Central
Umkomaas WFW Project, was examined in terms of fuelwood supply and household income of three small rural communities, namely: Xosheyakhe, Intabamakhaba and Mkhohlwa, referred to in this dissertation as the Rural Bulwer community. The research was carried out by means of questionnaire interviews and a workshop held at the Pholela Tribal court.
The results of this study indicate that the Bulwer community depend on four energy types, in order of importance; wood, paraffin, dung and electricity. Many of the households perceive that, since the Turn Table Trust WFW Project began in the area in November 1995, there is less wood available and trees which are used for fuelwood are being cleared. Certain areas have felt the impacts of the clearingprogramme. People who have access to electricity still rely on fuelwood as they can not afford to use electricity exclusively. Indigenous forests are important as a source of fuelwood and for the harvesting of medicinal plants. The indigenous forests could be put under severe stress if wattle becomes unavailable forfuelwood purposes. The impact of the Turn Table Trust WFW Project on the fuelwood supply of the Bulwer community is small at present, but likely to increase. Households that have members employed by the Project, rely on this income to cover most household expenses. These households struggle to survive if or when employment by the Turn Table Trust WFW Project is periodically terminated. The businesses in Bulwer have also come to rely on the income earned by those employed by the Project. The Working for Water programme has far reaching implications for a local
community and its surrounds and these need to be taken into account when both beginning and, importantly, ending a project in an area.<br>Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.
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Archer, Lynette Deborah. "Identifying the prevalence of and pathways to diarrhoeal disease in rural KwaZulu-Natal and the implications for evaluating the impact of water supply schemes on community health." Thesis, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/4946.
Full textAbstract:
Since the establishment of a democratic South Africa in 1994, a number of rural
water supply schemes have been implemented. A specific aim of these schemes is
to improve the health of the population. The underlying assumption is that a supply
of reticulated water will improve the quality of water used by the community, reduce
the exposure of the community to contaminated water supplies, and reduce water
related diseases, in particular diarrhoea.
This research thesis focuses on two rural water supply schemes in KwaZulu-Natal:
Mpolweni and Vulindlela, both being developed by Umgeni Water, the regional water
utility. These communities depended variously on rivers, rain harvesting, and
springs for their water supply. For sanitation, the majority of people used
unimproved pit latrines.
This research thesis is based on information gathered from the communities prior to
the installation of the water supply schemes. It focuses on the linkage between water
supply and health by examining diarrhoeal morbidity as a measurable disease
outcome and by identifying possible pathways to the prevalence of diarrhoea.
Questionnaire and observational surveys were undertaken of 181 households in
Mpolweni and 100 households in Vulindlela. From these surveys, the prevalence of
diarrhoea in Vulindlela households was found to be 40.4% and in Mpolweni to be
49%. Children under the age of five years old are the most vulnerable, with 20.1% of
children in Mpolweni and 21 .3% of children in Vulindlela reported as having had
diarrhoea in the recall period prior to the surveys.
The Mpolweni study considered eighty exposure variables, finding an association
between diarrhoeal disease and sixteen of these variables (p value < 0.05). The
Vulindlela study considered fifty-five exposure variables, of which eight were
considered significant (p value < 0.05). In regard to water and diarrhoea:
• no association was found between the prevalence of diarrhoea and the source of
water in either Mpolweni or Vulindlela.
• using water to wash nappies was associated with diarrhoeal disease in Vulindlela.
However, it is postulated that it is the faecal contamination in the nappy, rather than
the water, that is problematic. No association between water use and diarrhoea
was established in Mpolweni.
• poor disinfection of stored water supplies was associated with diarrhoeal disease in
both Mpolweni and Vulindlela. In addition, the use of plastic storage containers to
store water at the household provided additional risk in Mpolweni. However, once
the reticulated system is installed, the communities are likely to continue to store
water due to a distrust of the reliability of water supply.
The above surveys form the baseline for additional studies currently being
undertaken by Umgeni Water that are intended to measure the effectiveness of the
water supply schemes on community health.
However, from this thesis, it is concluded that many of the risk factors associated
with diarrhoeal disease in both Vulindlela and Mpolweni will not directly be addressed
by the introduction of the water supply schemes.<br>Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.
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Khomo, Mlethwa Beatus. "The impact of water service provision on the quality of life of the eMalangeni and eMahlongwa rural communities." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/9155.
Full textAbstract:
Through a case study of the Umdoni Local Municipality the study assessed the claims made in the Ugu District Municipality 2008 Report that eMalangeni and eMahlongwa communities have achieved 100 percent water provision. Furthermore, the study used the Rostowrian‟s four of the five-stage model of development to interrogate whether water service provision has improved the standard of living of the people in these two communities. The findings of this study reveal that there is a positive correlation between the installation of water standpipes and an improvement of the standard of living, though it is spread unevenly in these areas. The study concludes that government departments such as the Departments of Water Affairs and Forestry, Agriculture and Rural Development and Land Reform should forge strong relationships aimed at assisting the UDM to achieve its prime objective of improving the quality of life of all who fall under its jurisdiction.<br>Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.
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Eidem, Nathan T. 1978. "Enhancing social-ecological resilience in the Colorado River Basin." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/1957/28678.
Full textAbstract:
This research presents the Colorado River basin as a social-ecological
system. Utilizing event data on cooperative and conflictive interactions over fresh water, the system is decomposed to look for evidence of outcomes of resilience enhancement. The Animas-La Plata Project in the upper San Juan basin is presented as a case study, and qualitative methods are used to analyze interactions that led to its construction in order to assess social-ecological outcomes.
In the upper San Juan basin, cooperative interactions over fresh water
outnumbered conflictive ones. Interactions over water rights and
infrastructure were most common, and the most cooperative interactions
focused on these issue types. Many of these interactions focused on the
Animas-La Plata Project compromise, which ultimately enhances social-ecological resilience in the Colorado River basin.<br>Graduation date: 2012
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Mahlangu, Themba Oranso. "Design and evaluation of a cost effective household drinking water treatment system." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6293.
Full textAbstract:
M.Sc.<br>The world is focusing on increasing the number of people who have access to safe drinking water due to the ascending numbers of drinking water related illnesses reported annually in rural areas where water is not treated before consumption. To meet this goal, household water treatment has to be introduced especially in places where homes are wide apart making centralised water treatment improbable. Most readily available household water treatment systems (HWTS) such as membrane filters may not be affordable in rural areas due to power requirements and degree of ability to use and maintain them. This study was therefore aimed at designing and constructing HWTS using readily available material such as sand, gravel, zeolites and clays. Five HWTS were designed, built, evaluated and compared based on their ability to remove chemical contaminants such as iron, arsenic and fluorides from drinking water. The types of filters that were used during this study are the biosand filter (BSF), a modified biosand filter with zeolites (BSFZ), a silver impregnated porous pot (SIPP) filter, a ceramic candle filter (CCF) and a bucket filter (BF). Effectiveness of the filters in reducing physical parameters such as turbidity and visual colour was also assessed. The water treatment devices had the following flow rates; 1.74 L/h – 19.20 L/h (BSFZ), 0.81 L/h – 6.84 L/h (BSF), 0.05 L/h – 2.49 L/h (SIPP) and 1.00 L/h – 4.00 L/h (CCF). The flow rates were high at the early stages of filter use and decreased with increase in the volume of water filtered through. The flow rates of the filters were affected by the turbidity of intake water which was between 1.74 NTU – 42.93 NTU and correlated to chlorophyll a concentrations. The household water treatment technologies reduced turbidity to levels less than 1 NTU (> 90% reduction) in the following order SIPP > BSFZ > BSF > CCF > BF. The filters achieved greater than 60% retention of calcium, magnesium, iron and arsenic. These contaminants with the exception of arsenic were reduced to acceptable levels of the South African National Standard of drinking water (SANS 241, 2004). Compared to the other filters, the BSFZ performed better in removing nitrates, phosphates and fluorides although the overall retention efficiency was low. Total organic carbon was removed greatly by the CCF (39%) and the least removal was by the BF. The overall performance of the filters in reducing contaminants from drinking water was in the order BSFZ > BSF > SIPP > CCF > BF. Filter washing vi resulted in an overall increase in the flow rates of the filters but negatively affected turbidity reduction. The filters still removed contaminants after total cumulative volumes of 1200 L (BSFZ, BSF, CCF and BF) and 300 L (SIPP) were filtered through the devices. The five evaluated filters have several advantages to the readily available technologies and the advantages include ease of construction, operation and maintenance. The filters are gravity driven and work independent of temperature. These HWTS incorporate safe storages fitted with spigots to eliminate recontamination of water when it is drawn for use. The filters can produce enough drinking and cooking water for a family of six members due to their high flow rates. The BSFZ, BSF, SIPP, CCF and BF may therefore be considered for treating contaminated water at household scale in places where water is taken directly from the source without treatment.
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Devnarain, Bhanumathi. "Poor access to water : the experiences of learners and educators within a rural primary school in Jozini, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa." Thesis, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/2748.
Full textAbstract:
Water is an indispensable basic human need which is protected by several
provisions within legislation. However, despite extensive legislation access to water
is problematic for many rural schools in South Africa. The achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals and national goals that are time bound are not
possible with the structural barriers that loom. This research study, sketches the
experiences of learners and educators who have been exposed to poor access to
water within a rural primary school in Jozini, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This
research study employs a qualitative research paradigm using a case study method
to provide an in-depth understanding of the schooling context where there is poor
access to water. The main aim was to explore in-depth how the schooling community
is affected and what coping strategies are employed to deal with poor access to
water. The research study was approached using ecological systems and social
justice perspectives.
Findings suggest that the consequences of poor access to water at school level are
numerous and become even more complex when there is a lack of water at
community level. In a compounding manner the consequences have the potential to,
in the long term, have irreversible negative effects on learners and their potential to
access quality education. Furthermore educators and management are placed in an
invidious position to accommodate the challenges associated with poor access to
water at school as part of their everyday teaching routine. Educators are failing to
teach and learners are failing to learn thus the education system is rendered
dysfunctional. The recommendations echo those of the participants who maintain
that the community and the school must have access to water in order to improve
the quality of life of all. Changes at the structural level in terms of how access to
education is defined are a necessity. Co-operative governance, more stringent
monitoring and evaluation of the education system, approaching education from a
child-friendly perspective, adopting a human rights approach to fiscal spending and
the involvement of chapter 9 institutions to ensure social justice are examples of the
structural changes required and are part of the recommendations.<br>Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.
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Ingman, Mark Christian. "The role of plastic mulch as a water conservation practice for desert oasis communities of Northern China." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/1957/34311.
Full textAbstract:
China's Minqin Oasis once welcomed traders along the ancient Silk Road with rivers, lakes, and lush forests, yet today the region's farmland and grassland are increasingly being engulfed by the sands of the Gobi Desert. The severity of this incremental catastrophe for a declining population of 300,000 residents has brought forth a host of recent water policies to include agronomic water conservation through plastic mulch use, computerized regulation and pricing of groundwater, and water diversions from the Yellow River. This study uses a multi-disciplinary and mixed methods approach to better understand farmer perspectives on why they implement certain water and land use practices in agriculture. The world's farmers currently use the majority of the world's available freshwater and arable land. Modern agriculture and its continued intensification also lead to increases in petroleum based inputs such as agrochemicals and agricultural plastics (plasticulture). Despite the large of impact of the decisions made by the world's farmers on natural resources, little research to date has sought to better understand farmers' perceptions and decision-making processes. Plastic film mulch is a technology that has existed since the 1940's and it has been used in places such as rural China for over five decades. This technology conserves a considerable amount of irrigation water and it increases harvests, however, use of plastic for mulch causes waste disposal problems and is an expenditure of petroleum through plastic manufacturing. Without a fundamental understanding of why farmers perceive plastic mulch to be valuable to their households and communities, we may not fully grasp why its global application continues to increase year after year. Moreover, a focused study of plastic mulch use at the local level may also allow researchers and entrepreneurs to develop a suitable alternative mulch that does not consume non-renewable resources or result in detrimental plastic waste after its utility has been exhausted. This study uses household level interviews, surveys, and participant observation to better understand why Minqin County farmers in rural China continue to use plastic mulch and how it may influence their standard of living.<br>Graduation date: 2013
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Mohammed, Abdulwahid Idris. "Assessing environmental sanitation in Urban setting of Duken Town, Ethiopia." Diss., 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/6296.
Full textAbstract:
The aim of this study was to assess the environmental sanitation conditions with regard to water, sanitation, waste management and personal hygiene of households of Dukem town in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study design was used to conduct the research. A total of 391 households had participated in the study. Majority of households had access to improved source of drinking water. The mean per capita per day water consumption of the households was low. Two-thirds of households had improved toilet facilities. Availability of improved waste management was grossly inadequate. Two-thirds of households had washed hands after visiting toilet. Generally households had good domestic environmental sanitation conditions but it also emerged that the households were deprived from full range of access to the most essential environmental sanitation services. Therefore, the inadequate level of service to the study area could be seen as opportunity for further focused improvements towards universal access to improved environmental sanitation.<br>Health Studies<br>M.A. (Public Health)
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Bakre, Olayemi Rahman. "Water resource management for subsistence farming in Ward 19 of KwaZulu-Natal." Thesis, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10321/1305.
Full textAbstract:
Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Technology: Governance and Economic Development, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa. 2015.<br>South African rural areas are amongst the poorest in the world, as there is still a wide gap in terms of development with their urban neighbours. With an estimated 6.4 million South Africans falling below the national poverty line in 2010, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) remains the province with the highest number of poor people. The majority of rural dwellers in South Africa and KZN rely on subsistence farming, while others depend on government grants or family members living and working in urban areas to sustain a living. However, the income received is often insufficient to cater for their daily needs. In consonance with the high prevalence of poverty and the stagnation of subsistence farming, this study aims to examine the role of water supply in rural agricultural development in the Ward 19 area of Mtubatuba Municipality, which is situated along the north eastern region of KZN. To accomplish this aim, a mixed research approach with elements of qualitative (interviews) and quantitative (questionnaire) research techniques was used to obtain relevant information. A total of 50 participants took part in this study, all of whom were subsistence farmers in Ward 19 of Mtubatuba Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. Furthermore, interviews were conducted with three senior officials from the regional office of the Department of Water Affairs in Durban; three staff members from the Mtubatuba Municipality; two individuals from Ward 19; two senior staff members from the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development in Mtubatuba; as well as two senior staff members from Umkanyakude water services provider in Mtubatuba.
The study revealed that water shortages have adversely undermined the development and growth of subsistence farming in this poor community. Furthermore, the difficulties experienced by the marginalised people of Ward 19 are typical of many rural areas which have not fully benefitted from transformation in a post-apartheid South Africa. In order to address the defunct subsistence iii
farming in this community, the study proposed a well-tailored and effective water resource management approach with the intention of transforming subsistence farming into commercial farming, thus improving the standard of living and reducing poverty to a reasonable level. Furthermore, in recognition that the area under study is dominated by women, the study emphasised the imperativeness of empowering the women of the community as a strategy underpinning rural development.
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Motsholapheko, Moseki Ronald. "Developing integrated management of ephemeral river basins in Botswana : the case of Boteti river sub-basin." Diss., 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/2697.
Full textAbstract:
Botswana is a water scarce country. Rainfall is highly variable, leading to limited surface
and groundwater resources. Due to persistently dry conditions most rivers found in
Botswana are ephemeral. The Boteti River sub-Basin is one of the numerous ephemeral
river sub-Basins, in Botswana. Key environmental challenges, resulting from human
activities, in the sub-Basin are: increased pressure on local resources due to overstocking,
overgrazing and over-harvesting; reductions in wildlife numbers; denudation of
vegetation and the resultant exposure of the soil to wind erosion. As a major step, to pilot
implementation of river basin management in the ephemeral river basins in southern
Africa, the Boteti River sub-Basin is one of the key areas identified for study under the
Ephemeral River Basins in the Southern African Development Community SADC (ERBSADC)
Project. This study was initiated, as part of the ERB-SADC project and its aim is
to investigate the socio-economic status of the Boteti River sub-Basin and determine the
potential for developing integrated management of water and land resources in the sub-
Basin. Its key objectives are to identify and assess types and patterns of water use; to
identify and assess key livelihood activities; and to critically assess community
participation in water resources management in the sub-Basin. A questionnaire was
administered to 293 households, a focus group discussion was held with twelve
community representatives of six villages in the sub-Basin, six traditional leaders and
five local government officers were interviewed as key informants, and informal
discussions were held with three local farmers. Results from the study indicate low
livelihood levels based on livestock and arable agriculture, high dependence on natural
resources and low participation of communities in water management. The study
concludes that a livelihood approach to integrated water resources management can help
deal with environmental challenges and enhance community participation.<br>Environmental Sciences<br>Thesis (M.A. (Environmental Science))
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Ogren, Kimberly. "An investigation and analysis of the incentives and disincentives for conflict prevention and mitigation in the Bureau of Reclamation's water management." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/1957/30150.
Full textAbstract:
This study addresses the question: "What are the incentives and disincentives for conflict prevention and mitigation in the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), and how do they factor into Reclamation's management of water in the western United States?" Incentives and disincentives for conflict prevention (i.e., actions taken to avoid conflict) and mitigation (i.e., actions taken to resolve, manage, or temper a conflictive situation after conflict has occurred) are identified through a survey and focus groups of Reclamation employees. The two dominant disincentives identified are a lack of resources and Reclamation's organizational culture--specifically its reliance on crisis management, water delivery tunnel vision, and being slow to change. Other disincentives include a lack of forward planning, the existence of an acceptable bandwidth or level of conflict, a perception that conflict is unavoidable or entrenched, politics, and limits on acceptable actions associated with the legal authorization of Reclamation projects. Fewer incentives for conflict prevention and mitigation were identified, but include, pressure from higher management, the promotion of collaboration within the Bureau, and a desire to avoid litigation. The institutional analysis and development (IAD) framework offers some insight into how these incentives and disincentives factored into the implementation of the Water2025 Initiative, and Reclamation’s experience with the Middle Rio Grande silvery minnow and the Endangered Species Act. As attributes of the community and rules-in-use, incentives and disincentives such as organizational culture, politics, funding availability, the desire to avoid litigation, the promotion of collaboration within the agency, and a lack of planning effort offer possible explanations of why Reclamation chose to act as it did.<br>Graduation date: 2012
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Maponya, Phokele Isaac. "Asset portfolios and food accessibility in a village in Sekhukhune, Limpopo Province." Diss., 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/795.
Full textAbstract:
This study aims at investigating household food accessibility categories (food insecure, vulnerable, marginal and food secure) of rural households in Sekhukhune district of Limpopo province. The study is based on five wards in Mamone village in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Ten households from each ward were randomly selected for the study. Structured questionnaires administered by enumerators were used to collect information from household heads. In all 50 household heads constitutes the sample size for the study. Data was collected from 20 August 2007 to 25 August 2007. Responses in the questionnaires were tabulated, coded and processed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) programme. Based on comprehensive food security and vulnerability analysis the study showed that over 70 per cent of the sampled households were food insecure. Lack of education, income sources, water source, and infrastructure were some of the important factors contributing to food insecurity. The government should also give special attention to policy measures that guide towards the provision of household assets. It is recommended that special attention be given to measures that will provide the necessary factors that negatively affect household food security and vulnerability.<br>Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology<br>M.A. (Human Ecology)