Thèses sur le sujet « Socio-economic development in Namibia »

This report examines the role of FDI in economic growth in Namibia using annual time series data from 1980 to 2012. The relationship was explored using the VAR framework, in particular, the Granger causality. Impulse response functions and forecast error variance techniques were used for analysis. The results show that there is a positive relationship between FDI and economic growth in Namibia. The study then concluded that Namibia need more investment in other sectors such as education taking into consideration that most foreign capital is directed into the mining and manufacturing sectors. However, Namibia does not have all the necessary skill to be able to sustain the growth in GDP as a result of FDI. The study further suggested that Namibia can take advantage of export-led growth because of the positive relationship that exists between growth and export. However, there is great need to improve and diversify by focusing on exporting semi-finished and finished manufactured products instead of solid minerals and primary products that are of low value. This will enhance competitive advantage on foreign markets.

This study sets out to investigate the impact of commercial banks development on economic growth in Namibia. Using quarterly data on GDP as well as various commercial banks development indicators, covering the period March 2005 to December 2016, the study employed the Auto-Regression Distributive Lag (ARDL) methodology in determining existence of the short-run and long-run relationships. Furthermore, the study employed the Granger causality test in determining the causal relationship between banking sector development and economic growth. From the ARDL results, the study concluded that there is existence of a positive short-run relationship between banking sector development and GDP growth, channelled through net interest income and funding liabilities of banks. The causality test indicated a bi-directional causality between economic growth and the banking sector development, entailing that development of the banking sector would enhance GDP growth and vice versa. The study thus concluded that, commercial banks development has an impact on economic growth in Namibia and recommends for reforms in the banking industry to ensure increased lending in order to support the economy.

Developing countries, such as Namibia, need to bridge the existing infrastructure gap to improve the country's comparative advantage, economic growth and competitiveness, quality of life and the welfare of its citizens. As traditional sources of finance dwindle, Pension Fund savings need to be pooled to complement traditional sources of funding, such as government budgetary allocations, borrowing and user fees. Although infrastructure's economic and financial characteristics are a match to Pension Fund liabilities, Namibia's Pension Fund investment in infrastructure lags behind world-class benchmarks. This study investigated the factors that hinder Pension Fund investment in infrastructure in Namibia. The study employed a mixed-method research method and convergent parallel data collection processes. The study obtained a representative sample to participate in the survey from a population of NAMFISA registered Pension Fund and investment managers using a combination of the stratified random and simple random sampling techniques as part of primary data collection. The financial characteristics that make infrastructure assets attractive such as; long term, low sensitivity to economic swings, a low correlation with other assets and long term and inflation hedged returns makes them suitable for Pension Fund investments. The study confirms findings of previous studies by Beeferman, (2008); Ehlers, (2014); Inderst & Della Croce, (2013); Sy, (2017) and Thierie & Moor (2016), amongst others, revealed factors such as; a lack of a project pipeline, a lack of expertise by Pension Funds in infrastructure investments, Pension Fund regulation and a lack of financial instruments and assets that match Pension Funds are barriers to Pension Fund investment in infrastructure. The lack of a project pipeline is further attributable to issues such as infrastructure projects that are not sufficiently developed or viable on their own without some form of government support, inefficiencies in public procurement and public-private partnership policies and a lack of project preparation funding. The study recommends the following initiatives by policymakers and key stakeholders towards increasing Pension Fund investment in infrastructure: firstly, government and state-owned institutions responsible for public services should implement policies that will increase the pipeline of bankable and implementable projects. The National Development Plans (NDP5), the Harambee Prosperity plans and the Vision 2030 already identify projects; however, institutionstasked with infrastructure development need to develop implementation modelsthat are viable and bankable. The development plans need to be coordinated across the various levels iii of government and state-owned enterprises for effective implementation. Secondly, it is recommended that policymakers create the necessary conditions for Public Procurement and Public Private Partnership Policies to gain confidence amongst investors. Rooting out corruption and ensuring processes are transparent and fair to all stakeholders can have the effect of creating investor confidence in the two policies. The financial institutions, especially with a developmental angle, should support the public institutions with project preparation funding and technical assistance during project planning/development. Thirdly, the government, through the regulators, NAMFISA, are advised to continue with the implementation of policies aimed at increasing the limit on assets held with unlisted investment managers to allow increased Pension Fund investment in infrastructure without compromising the performance (return) and risk exposure. The financial regulators, NAMFISA and the Bank of Namibia should encourage the growth of the local financial sector to increase the quality and quantity of financial instruments available to investors and increase the depth of the financial sector to absorb local funding capacity. Lastly, the government is recommended to explore the options of partial listing infrastructure SOEs,such as NamPower, NamWater, Road Fund Administrator (RFA), NamPort, TransNamib, among others, to facilitate Pension Fund investment into infrastructure and reduce transaction cost and risks. The study identifies the need for future research opportunities with the aim of understanding issues that affect the project pipeline in the Namibian context in greater detail.

Can mining industries and mining based localities promote Local Economic Development (LED)? This case study, on the mining town of Oranjemund, seeks to examine the economic diversification prospects of the town. Stakeholder views are considered and their aspirations determined, through an interview process. Relevant theories on economic development, growth and sustainability are outline. Lessons are drawn from local and international empirical studies on mining towns. The roles and contributions stakeholders and institutions could realize that could lead to local economic diversification and LED are defined. The opportunities and threats that could affect the town’s LED process are identified. This paper concludes that it is imperative that sound relationships be developed amongst key stakeholders. It further, recommends that a strategic LED plan be designed for Oranjemund and that national government, through the regional and local authority, lead the process.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality)))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010.
Local communities in Namibia have few options for alternative income apart from selling crafts and livestock farming. The main objective of this study was to create an in-depth understanding of the perceptions of the local community at Twyfelfontein Uibasen Conservancy regarding community based tourism (CBT), and to develop strategies that could be used to influence these perceptions with the main goal of using CBT as a vehicle towards the improvement of local peoples' livelihoods. The study also examined structures and institutions that impact the direction of CBT development at Twyfelfontein Uibasen Conservancy. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed for data gathering. A survey was undertaken by means of 67 structured questionnaires among local community members and key stakeholders, which resulted in a 100% return rate. Five in-depth interviews with stakeholders from government, NGOs, the private sector and financiers were also conducted. The findings reveal that local community measure development in line with socio-economic issues since 39% strongly disagreed that their needs are being met through CBT project implementation. They feel that the infrastructure for tourist is well developed for international standards, whilst conversely, community members live in squatter camps, burn candles and live in squalid conditions. Whilst the Namibian government has recognised tourism as a potential means of poverty alleviation, issues of ownership of cultural heritage resources are still not yet in the hands of locals. The study argues that tourism development has been pursued more for economic purposes than for sustainable tourism development. Whilst the conservancies were set up as a strategy for poverty alleviation, the study concludes that development has not yet filtered down to the needy. Therefore, perceptions among the local community are negative towards CBT as a vehicle for socio-cultural and economic development. This study recommends that in order for CBT development to be meaningful, local participation through ownership, capacity building and control should have precedence over pure economic issues. Currently, the biggest beneficiaries seem to be the private tourism sector and, to some degree, foreign investors. Further research should be conducted to evaluate the impact of community perceptions on the tourist in the long - run, since tourist arrival figures continue to increase at Twyfelfontein.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study’s objective was to investigate what black economic empowerment (BEE) means to Namibians and what impact it has had on development in Namibia. The study also did research in South Africa for the purpose of benchmarking. Namibians in general understand and embrace BEE, but it is clear from the study that Namibians are highly skeptical about its impact in terms of empowering those who were previously disadvantaged. The purpose of BEE is to empower black people. The challenge, however, is that seventeen years after independence there is no policy yet on BEE in Namibia. Critics of affirmative action argue that it is not worthwhile empowering only certain groups of people and excluding the able-bodied, white male Namibians while the country has adopted the policy of national reconciliation, irrespective of what happened in the past. They argue that it would be fair to select people based on class, rather than race, gender or ethnicity. It is true that the picture painted so far on empowerment is skewed, but it is important to note that BEE is not about empowering the black elite or the middle class at the expense of those who really need to be economically empowered; it is about allowing every citizen of the country to participate fully in the economic development of his/her country. The research was conducted in Namibia and also partly in South Africa, as it used progress on BEE in South Africa as a yardstick. In Namibia, statements made by leaders in different sectors were studied and analysed, since there is no written policy on BEE. The study conducted surveys on businesses, including companies that have benefited from BEE, state owned enterprises, government institutions and small and medium enterprises. Individuals were also selected across the broad spectrum, of whom some were interviewed face-to-face and others through questionnaires. The study repeated the same process in South Africa, the only difference being that in South Africa it included study and analysis of policy documents. The aim of the study was to find out how far Namibia has gone in empowering its people and how this compares to neighbouring South Africa. The analysis was done in the following way: data from different sectors were compared and also assessed against targets set by different sectors or industries in their sectoral charters. Data from different industries in Namibia were also compared to similar industries in South Africa. In order to determine whether there has been any progress in terms of BEE since Namibia’s independence eighteen years ago, the results obtained during this study were compared to the figures that were available at the time of independence. The study has established that, although the Namibian government had set up a committee headed by the Office of the Prime Minister to come up with a legislative framework for the drafting and implementing of BEE policy in 2000, no such policy exists to date. All the companies included in this study indicated that they have submitted their affirmative action (AA) reports to the office of the Employment Equity Commissioner and that they adhere to this policy; yet the study has established that most of the companies do not adhere to the AA policy. There is a high degree of income disparity in Namibia, where the richest 10% of the population receives 65% of the total income. The study also found that Namibia does not have any shares in companies that were established after independence, especially in the mining industry, whereas mining is the backbone of Namibia’s economy. According to the findings of this study, with regard to the BEE agreements announced and signed so far, only those who already have wealth or are well-connected benefit from these deals. There is no controlling mechanism in place for BEE agreements and, as a result, companies choose who they want to do business with. In South Africa, the study has established, the majority of the companies have their own broad based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) policies and all the industries have either implemented or drafted their industry BBBEE charters. Although the government has laid down a good foundation for the rest of the institutions to build on, South Africa still has a long way to go, because the majority of its people are still living in abject poverty. The study established that people sitting on the committee to draft the BEE policy are permanently employed in other positions within the Government and when it comes to prioritizing jobs, BEE is not regarded as one of the most important topics. It recommends that the government appoint people on the committee either permanently or on a fixed-term contract basis, so that these people can concentrate only on drafting and implementing the BEE policy. In line with the annual AA reports submitted, businesses should submit annual BEE reports to the government. This would ensure that some efforts are made to address BEE and, as is the case with AA, most of the companies, if not all, should be required to appoint BEE coordinators in their structures to drive the process. It is also recommended that there must be a graduating system whereby companies and individuals who have attained a certain level with regard to BEE should graduate out of the system in order to give others a chance to benefit. Businesses that have never benefited before should get preference when awarding tenders and quotas. Lastly, the study recommends that the Namibian government create a fund to which all registered companies would be required to contribute a certain percentage of their profits. These funds would be used for skills development, since skills development and transfer are the most important components of economic empowerment. The study has found that many firms have good governance, they practice diversity, they are doing very well financially and their company policies also state that they reward their employees in an unbiased way; but that can, nevertheless, not be taken as a guarantee to success in BEE. There is a fast-growing middle class of black people in Namibia, but the most important thing for Namibia, however, is to determine how this middle class can contribute to the creation of wealth for the majority of Namibians. Although there are clear indications in South Africa that there is a strong presence of BEE, at least for middle class black people, much remains to be done to address the issue of poverty. Finally, there are government policies and legislations that were created to advance black people, but the success of these policies and regulations depends on the management strategies that can create a conducive environment for black people. The corporate culture in private and public institutions needs to change so as to accept and accommodate black people in order for them to make a significant contribution to the economic development of Namibia.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om vas te stel wat swart ekonomiese bemagtiging (SEB) vir Namibiërs beteken en watter invloed dit op ontwikkeling in Namibië gehad het. Om ‘n maatstaf te stel het die studie ook navorsing in Suid-Afrika gedoen. Hoewel Namibiërs in die algemeen SEB verstaan en aanvaar, is dit uit die studie duidelik dat hulle hoogs skepties is oor die impak wat dit gehad het in die bemagtiging van voorheen benadeeldes. Die doel van SEB is om swartmense, vrouens en mense met gestremdhede te bemagtig. Die uitdaging is egter dat daar in Namibië sewentien jaar na onafhanklikheid steeds geen beleid ten opsigte van SEB is nie. Kritici van regstellende aksie redeneer dat dit nie verdienstelik is om sekere groepe te bevoordeel terwyl bekwame blanke Namibiese mans uitgesluit word nie.; dit terwyl die land ’n beleid van nasionale rekonsiliasie aanvaar het, in weerwil van gebeure in die verlede. Hulle reken dat dit regverdig sou wees om mense eerder op grond van klas as ras, geslag of etnisiteit te selekteer. Toegegee dat ’n skewe beeld van bemagtiging sover voorgehou is; tog is dit belangrik om te besef dat die doel van SEB is om elke burger van die land die geleentheid te gee om ten volle in ekonomiese ontwikkeling te deel en nie om die swart elite of middelklas te bevoordeel ten koste van dié wat werklik behoefte aan bemagtiging het nie. Navorsing is in Namibië gedoen en ook gedeeltelik in Suid-Afrika om vordering ten opsigte van SEB in dié land as maatstaf aan te wend. Die navorsing bestudeer en analiseer uitlatings deur leiers in verskillende sektore in Namibië, aangesien daar geen geskrewe SEB beleid is nie. Opnames is gedoen van besighede, insluitend maatskappye wat bevoordeel is uit SEB, ondernemings in staatsbesit, regeringsinstellings en klein en medium ondernemings. Daar is ook insette verkry van ’n breë spektrum van individue – deur persoonlike onderhoude of deur middel van vraelyste. Hierdie proses is in Suid-Afrika herhaal, waar ’n studie en analise van beleidsdokumente ingesluit is. Die doelwit met hierdie studie was om vas te stel hoe ver Namibië gevorder het in die bemagtiging van sy mense en hoe dit met die situasie in Suid-Afrika vergelyk. Die analise is soos volg gedoen: data van verskillende sektore is vergelyk en ook evalueer teen doelwitte wat in die handves van verskillende sektore of industrieë uiteengesit is. Data van industrieë in Namibië is ook vergelyk met soortgelyke industrieë in Suid-Afrika. Om vas te stel of enige vordering ten opsigte van SEB gemaak is sedert Namibië se onafhanklikheid agtien jaar gelede, is die navorsingsresultate van hierdie studie vergelyk met syfers wat op daardie tydstip beskikbaar was. Die studie het vasgestel dat die Namibiese regering in 2000 ’n komitee onder leiding van die Kantoor van die Eerste Minister aangestel het om ’n wetgewende raamwerk vir die opstel en implementering van ’n SEB beleid daar te stel. Tot op hede is daar egter nog nie so ’n beleid geformuleer nie. Al die maatskappye wat ingesluit is in hierdie studie het aangedui dat hulle regstellende aksie (RA) verslae aan die kantoor van die Diensbillikheid Kommissaris lewer en dat hulle hierdie beleid volg. Nogtans het die studie vasgestel dat die meeste van die maatskappye nie die RA voorskrifte nakom nie. Daar bestaan groot ongelykheid ten opsigte van inkomste in Namibië, waar die rykste 10% van die bevolking 65% van die inkomste verdien. Die studie het ook gevind dat Namibië geen aandele besit in maatskappye wat na onafhanklikheid tot stand gekom het nie, veral in mynbou, wat eintlik die ruggraat van die ekonomie vorm. Volgens die bevindinge van hierdie studie bevoordeel SEB ooreenkomste slegs diegene wat reeds rykdom besit of die regte verbintenisse het. Daar is geen beheermaatreëls in plek vir SEB ooreenkomste nie en gevolglik kies maatskappye met wie hulle besigheid wil doen. Tydens die studie is vasgestel dat die meerderheid maatskappye in Suid-Afrika hulle eie beleid het met betrekking tot breë-basis swart ekonomiese bemagtiging (BBSEB) en dat die industrieë hulle BBSEB industrie handves implementeer of opstel. Hoewel die regering ’n goeie grondslag gelê het vir ander instansies om op voort te bou, het Suid-Afrika nog ’n lang pad om te gaan, aangesien die meerderheid van die land se mense nog in groot armoede leef. Die studie het gevind dat die lede van die komitee wat die SEB beleid moet ontwerp voltydse posisies binne die regering beklee en dat SEB nie as ’n prioriteit gesien word nie. Daar word dus aanbeveel dat die regering mense permanent of op ‘n vaste termyn kontrak basis op die komitee aanstel, sodat hierdie persone op die opstel en implementering van die SEB beleid kan konsentreer. Indien vereis sou word dat besighede jaarliks RA verslae aan die regering inhandig, in lyn met die jaarlikse SEB verslae, sou dit verseker dat ’n poging aangewend word om SEB aan te spreek. Soos die geval is met RA, behoort van die meeste maatskappye, indien nie almal nie, verwag te word dat hulle SEB koördineerders in hulle strukture aanstel om die proses te dryf. Daar word ook aanbeveel dat ’n graduering sisteem ingestel word deur middel waarvan maatskappye en individue wat ’n sekere prestasievlak ten opsigte van SEB bereik het uit die sisteem gradueer om ander ’n kans te gee om voordeel te geniet. Besighede wat nog geen voordeel getrek het nie sou dan voorkeur geniet tydens die toeken van tenders en kwotas. Laastens beveel die studie aan dat die Namibiese regering ’n fonds skep waartoe alle geregistreerde maatskappye ’n seker persentasie van hulle wins moet bydra. Hierdie fonds sou aangewend word vir die ontwikkeling van vaardighede, aangesien die ontwikkeling en oordrag van vaardighede die belangrikste komponent van ekonomiese bemagtiging is. Hoewel die studie gevind het dat baie firmas goeie bestuur toepas, diversiteit beoefen, finasieel goed vaar en hulle beleid voorskryf dat werknemers sonder vooroordeel beloon word, verseker dit nie suksesvolle SEB nie. Daar is ’n vinnig-groeiende swart middelklas in Namibië en dit is belangrik om vas te stel hoe hierdie middelklas kan bydra om welstand te skep vir die meerderheid Namibiërs. Ten spyte van duidelike bewyse dat SEB in Suid-Afrika toegepas word, kan baie meer nog gedoen word om die probleem van armoede aan te spreek. Die sukses van die beleid en wetgewing wat deur die regering ingestel is om swart vooruitgang te ondersteun hang uiteindelik daarvan af dat ‘n omgewing geskep word wat bevorderlik is vir die benutting van geleenthede. Die korporatiewe kultuur in beide private en openbare instellings moet sodanig verander dat swartmense aanvaar en tegemoet gekom word, sodat hulle betekenisvol tot die ekonomiese ontwikkeling van Namibië kan bydra.

The research explored the long-term relationship between FDI, GDP and host country employment by using sector-wise panel data from 1991 to 2017 in Namibia. The study applied unit root testing and Cointegration test to test for the presence of a cointegration relationship between the variables. Also, a vector autoregression model short-run causality among the variables was examined. In the end, Impulse response functions are estimated. The research found both a short term and long-term causality going from FDI inflow to employment. Impulse responses show that both GDP and employment respond positively to an exogenous shock in FDI inflow. However, the employment response to FDI inflow shock is smaller than that of GDP response. The paper also concludes that FDI has no causal effects on economic growth in Namibia. It means that economic growth is not contributed by the FDI significantly the results in this research have some significant policy implications. Therefore, as the results suggest that the FDI inflow has a positive impact on employment, because of the results, the researcher also recommends that Namibia pursue the policy of attracting foreign firms aggressively and create all the conditions required for attracting foreign direct investment in order to create further employment opportunities.

The primary purpose of the research project was to explore the impact the Namibian Youth Credit Scheme (NYCS) modelled on the Commonwealth Youth Scheme (CYS) is impacting the programme beneficiaries in the Omaheke Region. Namibia as a whole as well as the research locale has a high percentage of youth unemployment where most of the youth experience chronic poverty with limited opportunities to change their fortunes around. Through a qualitative research strategy, the researcher set out to investigate the level and type of impact the programme has had on the beneficiaries of the programme, as well as to ascertain the challenges and sustainability thereof. The researcher utilized the opportunity provided by one of the post-training workshops by converting it into two focus groups of fifteen participants in each. Two implementing agents (IAs) were individually interviewed to gain some insight from employees into the inner working and outlook of the workers in the NYCS programme. Lastly, ten beneficiaries were interviewed as a form of internal triangulation in sourcing credible data. The research found the programme has made a tremendous difference economically in the lives and families of beneficiaries. The programme not only improved their livelihood but it also contributed educationally to their knowledge base and skills formation. Psychologically the programme improved their social outlook generally and their political stance specifically, the latter as it pertains to the NYCS programme in particular. The study concluded by making several recommendations on how the programme could improve. These recommendations are not definitive; they are suggestive. In order for the recommendations to be conclusive, several other factors in terms of the research process would have to be considered. Even so, within its research dimension the research proved the programme to be highly effective.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The need for economic development is a pressing reality for many developing countries. Developing cities with a high urbanisation rate in water-scarce regions face tougher conditions in meeting their development targets according to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Creating a balance between water scarcity and the need for economic development is of the utmost importance if such regions are to grow. The City of Windhoek experienced this firsthand when Ramatex Textile was introduced. The Government of Namibia did everything in its power to secure Ramatex’s operation in Windhoek. Windhoek, however, is known for being a water-scarce area. This created competition amongst the different water users, and future establishments of such water-intensive factories became questionable. This research report studies the extreme case of Ramatex’s establishment and gives guidelines on future handling of such water-intensive establishments. The study also gives an example of how to make decisions using Multicriteria Decision Making tools, specifically the Analytical Hierarchy Process method using Ramatex’s information. The judgement values given in the MCDM process are fictitious and do not represent the true views of any of the stakeholders. The process was only conducted to demonstrate that such tools can be used to aid decision making. Surveys and workshops need to be conducted to solicit the true reflections of the stakeholders involved in any envisaged development projects.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die behoefte aan ekonomiese ontwikkeling is vir baie ontwikkelende lande ’n neerdrukkende realiteit. Ontwikkelende stede met ’n hoë verstedelikingskoers wat in waterskaars landstreke geleë is, kom voor groot uitdagings te staan om hul ekonomiese ontwikkelingsdoelwitte volgens die Millennium-ontwikkelingsdoelstellings te bereik. Die daarstelling van ’n balans tussen waterskaarste en die behoefte aan ekonomiese groei is van kardinale belang indien sulke stede wil groei. Windhoek, die hoofstad van Namibië het eerstehandse ondervinding hierin opgedoen met die opening van die Ramatex-tekstielfabriek. Die regering van Namibië het alles binne sy vermoë gedoen om die tekstielfabriek se bedrywighede in Windhoek te beskerm. Windhoek is egter bekend vir sy waterskaarste, wat tot mededinging tussen die verskillende waterverbruikers gelei het, en ook daartoe aanleiding gegee het dat toekomstige waterintensiewe ondernemings bevraagteken is. Hierdie navorsingsverslag ondersoek die besluit vir die oprigting van die Ramatex-tekstielfabriek en gee riglyne vir die toekomstige hantering van soortgelyke waterintensiewe ondernemings. Die studie gee ook ’n voorbeeld van die gebruik van multikriteria-besluitnemingsinstrumente om besluite te neem, met spesifieke verwysing na die analitiese hiërargieproses deur die gebruik van inligting aangaande Ramatex. Die beoordelende waardes in die multikriteriabesluitnemingsproses is denkbeeldig en verteenwoordig nie die ware standpunte van enige van die belanghebbendes nie. Die proses is bloot uitgevoer om aan te toon dat soortgelyke instrumente in toekomstige besluitneming gebruik kan word. Opnames en werksessies moet gehou word ten einde te verseker dat alle belanghebbendes se insette en menings aangaande toekomstige ontwikkelingsprojekte in ag geneem word.

The main objective of this study is to examine the relationship between banking development and economic growth in Namibia. Namibia has eight licenced commercial banks, four of which have been operational prior to the country's independence; Bank Windhoek Limited, First National Bank Namibia Limited, Nedbank Namibia Limited and Standard Bank Namibia Limited (BON, 2018). The other four licenced commercial banks began operating post independence. The banking development indicators employed by this study were broad money to nominal GDP (M2), private sector credit to nominal GDP (PSC), and lending interest rates (INTR). The data used in this study is annual data, covering the period 1991 to 2018, engaging the VAR/VECM framework in order to determine the presence of a long-run and short-run association. In addition, this study engaged the Granger causality methodology in order to determine the casual association between banking development and economic growth. The error correction term equation suggested a long-run relationship between the variables in the VECM, while the results indicated that there are no short run associations amongst the variables. Further, the results of the Granger causality test indicated a bidirectional causality between LNRGDP and LNPSC. In addition, the causality test showed that lags of LNINTR Granger causes LNPSC, which is consistent with the neoclassical theory of interest rate, which pronounces that interest rates are determined by the demand and the supply of loanable funds. Moreover, lags of LNINTR and lags of LNM2 granger causes LNRGDP, which suggest that banking development causes economic growth. The study recommended that the Namibian banks should reform credit policies and decrease the cost of debt in an attempt to avail more credit to the private sector in order to sustain and stimulate economic growth.

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In Namibia the small business sector is seen to play a very important role in the creation of jobs and the growth of the economy. At the same time small enterprises face a wide range of problems, which keep the failure rates of new ventures high and often prevent dynamic business growth. To address these challenges it is insufficient to have a national strategy for small businesses or to just rely on national government and other national bodies. This is particularly important in a country like Namibia which has a small population, stretched over a vast territory, with huge differences in the resources and development patterns of the various regions. Against that background this study focuses on a particular area of Namibia, viz the Erongo Region along the coastal belt. It is Namibia’s best developed region after the central Windhoek/Khomes area, with the two towns, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, the harbor of Walvis Bay, the Uranium mines and tourism being the foundation for business growth. After reviewing the spectrum of small business support bodies available in Namibia the study looked at a sample of 100 small enterprises in the Erongo area. They were asked about their business engagement, business prospects, main problems experienced and their awareness and utilization of support programmes. These needs profiles were then compared to the set of actual service suppliers found in the Erongo region. This showed that in practice very few of the problems are addressed, largely due to a lack of awareness, pro-activity and cooperation on both sides: local small enterprises and local support suppliers. The study ends with a range of proposals which should, if tackled on a partnership basis and in closer cooperation between the head offices in Windhoek and local bodies, lead to a steady improvement of the SME support process.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
Poverty reduction, employment creation and economic growth are priorities in the development of Namibia. Although Namibia has a relatively high domestic savings rate in the form of long-term insurance, unit trust and pension contributions, these savings do not translate into economic growth and job creation. Under Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act, Namibian pension funds are required to invest a minimum of 35% of pension fund assets in the domestic economy, with a minimum of 5% of assets to be invested in unlisted entities. Both measures are aimed at using domestic savings to stimulate economic growth. Regulation 28 also requires pension funds to diversify the investments of assets across different asset classes, both domestically and internationally, in order to reduce exposure to the risk posed by a specific asset class. Taking cognisance of the additional risks involved in investment in unlisted entities, Namibian legislators drafted Regulation 29 through which these pension fund investments in unlisted entities are to be made once Regulation 29 is promulgated. Such investments will take the form of private equity investments, although provision is made for debt financing of unlisted entities. This research paper investigates the potential risks and benefits associated with the requirement to invest in unlisted entities, and whether draft Regulation 29 will provide sufficient safeguards to mitigate the risks to pension funds of investing in this asset class. Regulation 29 has been drafted taking into consideration lessons learned from the experience of the Government Institutions Pension Fund in investing in unlisted entities. In order to invest in unlisted entities, draft Regulation 29 requires pension funds to invest in a special purpose vehicle through which investments are made in portfolio companies that have been identified by unlisted investment managers. Pension funds will not be allowed to make direct investments in unlisted entities. The draft regulation details the contractual relationship between the pension fund and the various parties to the unlisted investment. It imposes strict reporting requirements on the pension fund, the special purpose vehicle and the unlisted investment manager, and creates a heavy regulatory burden for the Namibian Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority as the regulator. In addition to access to sufficient funds for private equity investments, adequate investment opportunities, appropriate experience and skills of managers in the industry, and a supportive regulatory environment, private equity investors require ways to exit their investments, either through listing on a stock exchange or disposing of investments on a secondary market.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2006.
Capital flight is a serious problem for Namibia as well as other countries. If not addressed, it will continue to impede national investment, macro-economic management and economic growth. These issues are particularly pertinent to Africa in view of it is high incidence of capital flight in the presence of foreign exchange constraints, limited foreign capital flows, external indebtedness and high dependence on overseas development assistance. The purpose of the study is to determine the magnitude and determinants of the capital flight burden in Namibia for the period 1990-2005. The study consists of a literature review, identifying an appropriate model for the capital flight burden in Namibia, data collection, and estimating and testing of the model using secondary data from Namibia. The study adopts two approaches to measure the extent of capital flight from Namibia: the residual approach and the Morgan Guaranty Trust method which is modified from the residual method of calculating capital flight. The residual method is an indirect approach based on a comparison between sources of capital inflows with the uses of these inflows. This approach was changed by Morgan Guaranty to include an additional item, the change in short-term foreign assets of the domestic banking system. The estimates from the study indicate capital reversal from Namibia over the IS-year period, averaging U$88.2 million using the residual method and U$200.4 million using the Morgan Guaranty method. The findings, although different from the picture on the ground, create a very good base for future research on capital flight in Namibia, which tends to be more uniformly related to portfolio diversification. The results from the three main model variants are unequivocal and indicate that an increase in aid and concessional grants tends to reduce the capital flight burden, while on the other hand the burden is seriously increased by depreciation of the Namibian dollar and an increase in inflation. These results have important implications for the Central Bank and the Treasury in tenns of strategic economic policy reforms.

Thesis (MDF (Development Finance))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main aim of this study, firstly, is to evaluate the financial performance of the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) over the period of 2003 to 2007. Secondly, the study aims to compare financial performance of the Development Bank of Namibia with the Development Bank of Southern Africa during the same period. In recent years, there has been a number of criticisms raised against the Development Bank of Namibia. These have been noted by the political appointment of the top management in the bank who has no experience in monitoring of the funds and development projects (World Bank, 2003). In addition, the bank has been criticized for poor performance, in terms of very low returns due to poor procurement performance and weak performance of project management units (African Development Bank, 2005). The bank has also been seen undermining people's human rights through funded projects which were only given to those people who are politically connected or comrades (The Namibian, 2002). Two financial statements of the Development Bank of Namibia, namely the Income Statement and Balance Sheet of the period of 2003 to 2007, are used to evaluate the financial performance of the bank. Trend analysis, monitoring and evaluation reports, financial ratios and statistical tools are employed to conduct this study. Trend analysis, financial ratios and statistical tools indicated that there was no evidence to infer that the Development Bank of Namibia did perform poorly during 2003 to 2007. However, monitoring and evaluation reports indicated that there was inefficiency in terms of bank operations.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In a stable economic environment and enabling macro economy, such as Namibia, a small and medium enterprise (SME) sector is vital for the growth and sustainability of the economy. Although several studies have been conducted on SMEs, to the best of the researcher's knowledge, no single study has been conducted with regard to SME development in Namibia with emphasis on the Khomas region. The aim of this study was to explore the progress made, during the last decade in minimising constraints faced by SMEs in key developmental areas, such as access to finance, sound management, business processes, marketing and strategic alliances. In order to adequately address these key developmental areas the research sought to address the following questions: What strategies should SMEs adopt in terms of management, finance, marketing and networking in order to ensure their future viability? What is the institutional capacity from the sample of 50 SMEs in the Khomas region? What are the likely capital and recurrent cost implications with respect to traders wanting to form alliances in the Khomas region? What potential problems are likely to emanate from the SMEs' venturing into the export processing enclave? The government of Namibia, in 1997, recognised the important role SMEs can play in the country's socio-economic development. A number of policy documents were issued to give clear definitions of small businesses and to stipulate government programmes intended to ensure that conditions are favourable and enabling for SMEs' growth in Namibia. This research study explores the impact of the process of development since the passing of the Government SME Policy in 1997. Furthermore, this research looked at policy documents on SMEs, national development plans (NDPs), millennium development goals (MDGs), other developmental goals and government policies relevant to SME development in Namibia. The analysis indicates that the majority (74%) of SMEs in the Khomas region are involved in general dealing, like footstalls, detergent makers and the service industry. According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI 1997: 29), lack of finance is widely regarded as one of the major obstacles to the development of more advanced small businesses. Most of the SMEs do not have sufficient funds to venture into capital intensive programmes like manufacturing activities. As a result, general dealing becomes a better option since it does not require large sums of money to start operating or to expand current operations. Financial institutions have stringent collateral requirements; therefore access to finance is regarded as a major limiting factor for SME growth in the Khomas region. The survey also concluded that most SME owners act as sole proprietors and try to perform all business operations by themselves. They usually fail to keep financial records, due to ignorance of its importance. As a result most SMEs do not know how much money they have used or profits made. This research investigated, concluded and made recommendations on the factors that have assisted or impeded SME development in Namibia, with emphasis in the Khomas region.

The major aim of the study was to examine the short and long-run relationships and directional causality flow between road transport infrastructure development and economic growth in Namibia for the period 1990-2014. To achieve this objective, the study adopted the auto regression distributive lag (ARDL) Bounds testing approach to co-integration, to examine the short-run and long-run relationship between economic growth and transportation infrastructure in Namibia. The data was sourced from the World Bank Database on GDP from 1990 to 2014, the Namibia National Planning Commission MTEF (Medium-Term Expenditure Framework from 1990-2015) and the Roads Authority Annual Reports from 1999 to 2014, which were imported into the E-view tool to run quarterly regressions from 1990 - 2014. The results confirm a relationship among the variables. The Bounds test results indicated that there exists a long-run relationship among the variables under study. The estimated long-run model showed that there is a statistically insignificant positive relationship between expenditure on road transport and economic growth as well as between information communication technology and economic growth in Namibia. However, the short-run model revealed a positive and statistically significant relationship between expenditure on road transport and economic growth. Conversely, both the long-run and short-run estimates showed a statistically insignificant and negative relationship between foreign direct investment and economic growth. Lastly, the Granger causality test results showed no causality between expenditure on road transport and economic growth in Namibia. The present study offers fresh insights to policy makers on crafting appropriate policies to regulate tax consolidation revenue and infrastructure levies collection; secondly, to boost public sector borrowing on international capital markets through bond issues, infrastructure funds and revenue bonds; thirdly, to develop partner financing business models through sector budget support; fourthly, to secure private sector financing through a private debt, private equity or capital structure leveraging business model; and lastly, implementing fast-tightened fiscal and monetary policy measures on foreign direct investment which currently severely affect Namibian capital outflows.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In 1997, the Government of the Republic of Namibia launched the Policy and Programme for Small Business Development. The Ministry of Trade and Industry at the time was assigned the responsibility, together with several different stakeholders, to implement this policy. The launch of such a programme was a step taken to recognise the importance of the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector in local economic development (LED). The core of LED transformation and the implementation of any local authority is the creation of the private sector - a primary source of development – and support of the SME sector in particular. SMEs are considered one of the main driving forces in LED. The current study, which was conducted within Oshakati Town, attempted to study the role of SMEs in the LED sector and what challenges are hampering the SME sector to participate fully and to make a serious contribution towards LED implementation at the local authority level. The study considers to what extent the Namibian government and local government policies supports the SME sector development and contributes to LED and assessed issues regarding the sustainability of the measures engaged in by the government, and especially by the local government. Further, the researcher also attempted to determine how the SME sector in Namibia has responded to the LED implementation that regards SME development as the key to social and economic development through reducing poverty and increasing employment opportunities. The findings of the study indicates that, despite the nationally recognised importance of the SME sector in terms of LED, the sector still faces major challenges in regional and local government. The challenges of business entry (start-up capital), survival and growth are often substantial. The availability of financial resources and the lack of capacity to handle complex business management issues, as well as business premises also regarding the price of business land are all important in this regard. There is a continuous need to improve and maintain the required elements that bring about a good enterprises climate.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die regering van die Republiek van Namibië het in 1997 die Beleid en Program vir Kleinsakeontwikkeling bekend gestel. Die destydse Ministerie van Handel en Nywerheid is saam met etlike verskillende belanghebbendes met die praktiese inwerkingstelling daarvan belas. Met dié beleidstuk het die regering oënskynlik ’n tree nader gekom aan die erkenning van die belang van die klein-en-middelslagonderneming- (KMO-)sektor in plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkeling (PEO). Die grondslag van PEO-transformasie en die suksesvolle funksionering van enige plaaslike owerheid is die koestering van die privaat sektor – synde ’n vername bron van ontwikkeling – sowel as steun vir die KMO-sektor in die besonder. KMO’s is bekend as een van die hoofdryfkragte agter PEO. Hierdie studie, wat in Oshakati onderneem is, ondersoek die rol van KMO’s in PEO, en die uitdagings waarvoor die KMO-sektor te staan kom om as volwaardige deelnemer aan die ekonomie ’n werklike bydrae tot PEO-inwerkingstelling op plaaslikeregeringsvlak te lewer. Die studie besin oor die mate waarin Namibiese staats- en plaaslikeregeringsbeleid die ontwikkeling van die KMO-sektor sowel as dié sektor se bydrae tot PEO ondersteun. Die volhoubaarheid van die maatreëls wat die regering, en veral plaaslike regering, ingestel het, word ook verken. Voorts probeer die navorser vasstel hoe die Namibiese KMO-sektor gereageer het op die ontwikkeling van dié tipe ondernemings as sleutel tot plaaslike maatskaplike en ekonomiese ontwikkeling deur armoedeverligting en werkskepping. Ondanks die nasionaal erkende belang van die KMO-sektor in die strewe na PEO, kom die sektor volgens hierdie studie klaarblyklik steeds voor groot uitdagings op streeks- sowel as plaaslike vlak te staan. Dikwels is saketoetrede (aanvangskapitaal), -oorlewing en -groei wesenlike hindernisse. Die beskikbaarheid van geldelike hulpbronne, die gebrek aan vermoë om ingewikkelde sakebestuurskwessies te hanteer en die verkryging van ’n sakeperseel, ook wat eiendomspryse betref, is alles tersaaklike kwessies in dié verband. Dus is daar ’n dringende én voortdurende behoefte aan die verbetering en instandhouding van die vereiste elemente vir ’n goeie sakeklimaat.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
This study assessed the developments in financial intermediation services provided by Namibia’s commercial banking sector during 1995 to 2008. The study used two measurements of financial deepening in order to ascertain whether the role of the banking sector has become more important in the economy or not. These methods are the credit extension to non-finance private sector and the financial intermediation to GDP ratio. Unlike previous studies, which found that financial intermediation has not deepened before or after independence (Shiimi & Kadhikwa, 1999; Kavari, 2003), this study found some evidence of financial deepening in Namibia as indicated by the increasing credit extension and financial intermediation as shares of GDP. However, the banking sector did not perform well in terms of improving efficiency as banks continued to operate with high interest margins and became more dependent on fee income as opposed to deriving more of their income from intermediation activities. The largest chunk of bank credit was in the form of mortgage funding, allowing individuals, real estate and the business sector to be the major recipients of bank credit during the review period. The study took cognisance of recent measures aimed at enhancing the sector’s relevance and contribution to the economy. These include amendments to the statutes to allow entry of unincorporated bank branches in order to increase competition as well as requiring banks to reduce interest margins, amongst other measures. The study therefore recommends a vigorous implementation of these measures and that the regulator should extend its monitoring oversight to cover actual lending and deposit rates of interest in addition to base rates such as the prime rate and the mortgage base rate that it currently monitors. This is necessary due to weak linkages between the base rates and actual interest rates. The study further recommends a concerted national effort that seeks to ensure availability and affordability of credit on one hand, and to prepare bank clients, particularly the SME sector to be ready to take up finance on business terms on the other hand. This requires incentivising SMEs to become formal businesses and providing them with necessary training and mentoring services in order to improve their risk profiles.

Thesis (MPhil (Sustainable Development Planning and Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
Community participation is a concept adopted to ensure participation and give opportunities to communities to determine their own destination in terms of their needs. It is a means of empowering people by developing their skills and abilities to enable them to negotiate with the development delivery system and to equip them to make their own decisions in terms of their development needs and priorities. The aim of the study is to asses community participation in the development planning and service delivery system by the Omusati Regional Council. As a government institution at the grass root level, it has a task to deliver required basic services through development programmes and projects. Interviews and participatory observation, including project visits were the methods used to collect information on the implementation of community participation in the decision making processes, and project implementation by the Omusati Regional Council. The study is structured into six chapters. Chapter 1 deals with the general introduction, background to the study, the statement of the problem, the hypothesis, objective of the study, perceptions, research methodology, significance of the study and organisation of the study. Chapter 2 discusses the theory and philosophy of community participation. It conceptualizes the key terms of community participation in development planning, such as sustainable development, integrated development planning and projects, decentralised development and the building block of development integrated rural development, basic service delivery and indigenous knowledge systems. Chapter 3 highlights the policy framework on community participation in terms of international, national and regional development planning policy documents. Chapter 4 is concerned with the local context of study (Omusati Regional Council), while Chapter 5 presents the data results, interpretation and analysis. Chapter 6 reflects the conclusion and the way forward.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Approximately three out of four people in developing countries such as Namibia live in rural areas. The majority of these rural poor’s livelihoods depend directly or indirectly on agriculture. Therefore, there is an urgent need to design agricultural programmes that focus on rural communities in order to reduce incidences of poverty. Although the Namibian Government invests in the agricultural sector, hunger for both humans and animals were evident in 2012. The starvation situation was worsened by high food prices, compounded with a high unemployment rate that meant the majority of the population could not afford to pay for food. Evidence shows that Namibia is a net food importer; meaning that less local food production is taking place. Therefore, the government is trying to reverse the situation of relying on imported food, by enhancing local production, and one of the ways of achieving this goal is through the Green Scheme Programme. The research problem of this study is defined as follows: “An evaluation of the Green Scheme Programme: A case of the Kalimbeza Rice Project”. The study commences by exploring the literature on the role of the state in improving the socioeconomic status of its citizens. Many developing countries have weak private sectors; therefore, governments remain with the responsibility to spearhead development. With unrestrained unemployment, poverty and inequality, state-led development is the solution in uplifting the socio-economic status of people, especially the rural poor. Since the rural poor depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, it is necessary for Government to devise Sustainable Livelihood programmes in the sector, which many people rely upon for survival. Reducing incidences of rural poverty calls for Sustainable Livelihood programmes that the Namibian Government came up with, such as the approximately N$ 1.2 billion per annum Green Scheme Programme. This is an irrigation programme that aims at increasing agricultural production, contribute to the Gross Domestic Product, promote food security, create jobs and promote skills development. The study sought to establish whether the Green Scheme Programme is effective in achieving its intended, and at times, unintended goals. The Kalimbeza Rice Project, under the Green Scheme Programme was chosen as a case study. Evidence from the study shows that employment creation took place, because many locals have secured temporary jobs at the farm, and the salaries earned have had a positive impacts on their lives. Food security has not been fully achieved, as only about 25 per cent of the total farm area is cultivated yearly. Finally, the study suggests that there is an urgent need for the Green Scheme Programme and all its projects to speed operations in order to achieve the country’s Vision 2030.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ongeveer drie uit elke vier mense in ʼn ontwikkelende land soos Namibië is woonagtig in landelike gebiede. Die meerderheid van landelike armes se inkomste is direk of indirek afhanklik van lanbou aktiwiteite. Dus, is daar ʼn dringende behoefte aan lanbou ontwikkelingsprogramme wat spesifiek fokus op landelike gemeenskappe om sodoende die voorkoms van armoede te verminder. Alhoewel die Namibiese regering belê in die lanbousektor, was lae vlakke van voedselsekuriteit vir beide mens en dier nogsteeds sigbaar in 2012. Die kroniese hongerte situasie in Namibië word grotendeels verger deur hoë voedselpryse. ʼn Hoë werkloosheidsyfer dra ook daartoe by dat die meerderheid armes nie voedsel kan bekostig nie. Navorsing toon dat Namibië ʼn netto invoerder is van kos. Dit beteken dat Namibië minder plaaslik voedsel produseer. Gevolglik, probeer die Namibiese regering die afhanklikheid op ingevoerde voedsel verminder deur die verbetering van plaaslike produksie vermoëns. Een van die maniere wat hulle gebruik om dit te bewerkstellig is deur die regering se Green Scheme Program. Die navorsingsprobleem van dié studie word as volg gedefinieer: ʼn Evaluering van die Green Scheme Program: Die Kalimbeza Rice Project as gevallestudie. Die vertrekpunt van dié studie begin deur die verkenning van literatuur wat spesifiek handel oor die rol van die staat in die verbetering van die sosio-ekonomiese status van sy burgers. Baie ontwikkelende lande het swak of klein privaat sektore, dus bly regerings verantwoordelik om ontwikkeling moontlik te maak. Ongebreidelde werkloosheid, armoede en ongelykheid noodsaak staat geleide ontwikkeling as die enigste oplossing vir die opheffing van die sosio-ekonomiese status van mense, veral landelike armes. Die feit dat landelike armes grotendeels afhanklik is van landbou vir inkomstes en oorlewing, is dit nodig vir die regering om ʼn Volhoubare Lewensbestaan Program te ontwikkel in die sektor, waarop baie mense aangewese is vir oorlewing. Die vermindering van voorvalle van landelike armoede kan toegeskryf word aan die Volhoubare Lewensbestaan Program wat deur die Namibiese regering geïmplementeer word, soos die ongeveer N$ 1.2 biljoen per jaar Green Scheme Program. Dit is ʼn besproeiingstelsel program wat verhoogde lanbouproduksie ten doel het, as ook bydra tot die Bruto Binnelandse Produk, bevordering van voedselsekuriteit, werkskepping en die bevordering van vaardigheidsontwikkeling. Dié studie sal poog om vas te stel of die Green Scheme Program effektief is in die bereiking van beoogde doelwitte, en by tye, die bereiking van onvoorsiene doelwitte. Die Kalimbeza Rice Project, as deel van die Green Scheme Program, sal dien as n gevallestudie. Getuienis van die studie toon dat werkskepping wel plaasgevind het, omdat baie plaaslike inwoners tydelik in diens geneem is op die plaas, en die salarisse ontvang het alreeds ʼn positiewe effek gehad op hul lewens. Voedsel sekuriteit is nog nie ten volle verwesenlik nie, omdat slegs 25% van die totale plaas oppervlakte onder verbouing is. Gevolglik, dui die studie daarop dat daar ʼn onmiddelike behoefte bestaan vir die Green Scheme Program en al sy onderskeie projekte om sodoende pogings te versnel in die bereiking van die land se Visie 2030.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: The onset of globalisation has brought major shifts in business conduct where stakeholder expectations and business priorities and obligation are concerned, bringing a whole new meaning to the issue of sustainable development. In the past, sustainable development essentially concerned the environment, particularly the safeguarding of ecological interests through more responsible business practices. However, over the years, this perspective has evolved to give equal priority to economic, ecological, as well as social interests. The shift in business priorities and obligation has increased the significance of corporate social responsibility (CSR), or the discretionary contribution of corporate resources towards social, environmental and economic development, as defined by the study. The practice of CSR, too, has evolved over time – from being mostly once-off, random philanthropic donations, to a more strategic approach that aligns CSR initiatives with national and corporate objectives. Today, CSR has become an item on many corporate agendas worldwide and hence, the study seeks to explore the concept of corporate social responsibility to gain a deeper understanding of the issue. The aims of the study are to gain an understanding of Corporate Social Responsibility and its dynamics, to establish the nature and scope of CSR at NAMDEB Diamond Corporation, and to establish how CSR at NAMDEB aligns with current global approaches and practices. These will be achieved through an analytical study of CSR literature, an exploration of Government’s expectations of the private sector with regard to CSR, and by exploring NAMDEB’s CSR initiatives and practices. In Chapter 2, the meaning of CSR is explored and defined, followed by a discussion of the history, trends, approaches and practices in CSR. The chapter also presents global initiatives relevant to sustainable development and CSR. Following the literature review, Chapter 3 explores the Government’s expectations of the private sector in terms of its support and involvement in socioeconomic development in Namibia. NAMDEB Diamond Corporation (Pty) Ltd was selected for the case study, being a leading mining company in Namibia. The Company is the second-largest employer in Namibia, only second to Government, and the country’s largest single taxpayer. In Chapter 4, the study explores the Company’s CSR initiatives and practices to establish the scope and nature of CSR at NAMDEB. The study then seeks to determine the approach adopted by the Company in implementing CSR, and how it aligns with global approaches and practices. The main conclusions of the study and recommendations to the Company are laid down in Chapter 5.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die aanvang van globalisering het ‘n groot verskuiwing veroorsaak aangaande die besigheidspraktyk van belangstellendes, hul besigheidsprioriteite, verantwoordelikhede en ‘n heel nuwe betekenis vir volhoubare ontwikkeling. In die verlede was volhoubare ontwikkeling meer gemoeid met die omgewing, veral die beskerming van sekere ekologiese belange deur middel van meer verantwoordelike besigheidspraktyke. Oor die jare het die konsep van volhoubare ontwikkeling soveel verander en gee nou ook gelyke aandag aan ekonomiese, ekologiese sowel as sosiale belange. Die verskuiwing in besigheidsprioriteite en verantwoordelikhede het die belang van korporatiewe-sosiale verantwoordelikhede (KSV) verhoog, of te wel die oordeelkundige bydrae van korporatiewe hulpbronne vir sosiale-, omgewings en ekonomiese ontwikkeling, soos deur die studie gedefineer. Die praktyk van KSV het ook mettertyd ontwikkel – van eenmalige, willekeurige filantrofiese donasies, na ‘n meer strategiese benadering wat nasionale sowel as korporatiewe objektiewe met KSV inisiatiewe inskakel. Deesdae is KSV ‘n item op agendas van baie wêreldwye korporasies, en gevolglik is die studie se doel om die konsep van KSV te eksploreer en te ontleed om sodoende dit beter te verstaan. Die doel van die studie is om KSV en sy dinamika beter te verstaan asook die omvang van KSV te NAMDEB Diamand Korporasie, en om vas te stel hoe KSV te NAMDEB met huidige wêreldwye benaderings en uitvoerings inskakel. Dié word bereik met ‘n analitiese studie van KSV literatuur, ‘n eksplorasie van die regering se verwagting van die private sektor aangaande KSV, en met die ondersoek van NAMDEB se KSV inisiatiewe en praktyke. In Hoofstuk 2 word die betekenis van KSV eksploreer en gedefineer. Hierop volg ‘n bespreking oor die geskiedenis, tendens, benaderings en uitvoering van KSV. Die hoofstuk beeld ook wêreldwye inisiatiewe wat relevant is tot KSV en volhoubare ontwikkeling. Die literatuur oorsig word deur Hoofstuk 3 gevolg, wat die regering se verwagting van die private sektor in terme van dié se ondersteuning en betrokkenheid by die sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling in Namibie eksploreer. NAMDEB is vir hierdie gevalstudie geselekteer omdat dit ‘n leidende korporasie in die mynwese van Namibia is. Die Maatskappy is die tweede grootste werkverskaffer in Namibie, naas die regering, en is ook die grootste enkel belastingbetaler in die land. Hoofstuk 4 kyk na die Maatskappy se KSV inisiatiewe en praktyke om sodoende die omvang en natuur van KSV té NAMDEB te bepaal. Die studie probeer verder om die benadering wat deur NAMDEB aangeneem is met die implementering van KSV te bepaal en hoe dit met wêreldwye benaderings en praktyke inskakel. Die hoofafleidings van die studie en voorstelle oor KSV aan die Maatskappy word in Hoofstuk 5 bespreek.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was conducted in the Cuvelai Basin in Northern Namibia to assess vulnerability and socio-economic impacts of flooding on local residents, and to suggest ways to counteract the consequences of flooding in rural areas of the Basin. This followed severe flooding in 2009, 2011 and 2012. These combined flooding episodes had a substantial impact on local residents and the Namibian economy, with estimated losses of approximately US$136.4 million (NAD1364 million) in direct damage and US$78.2 million (NAD780 million) in indirect losses. The consequences of flooding amounted to ~1% of the country’s 2009 Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Rural residents in the Cuvelai Basin live predominantly on small farm holdings (‘ekove’) allocated by local village leadership, and depend heavily on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. Since higher-lying ground with soil best suited for crop production becomes scarcer, residents are allocated land in low-lying areas which are smaller and more susceptible to floods. The destruction of crops, farm and grazing land, trees and livestock, by floods and similar disasters is of a huge concern. The study sought to assess the impacts of flooding, geographical or physical circumstances that place residents at risk, and socio-economic conditions that lead to vulnerability. The study also attempted to assess whether traditional leaders (headmen) and village residents can use flood risk maps to create plans to reduce flood vulnerability. Over the past flood years, initiatives by the government to cope with floods have been response (relief), short-term and heavily donor dependent. To cope with floods and agro-climatic changes in their basin, rural residents have evolved their practices, some of which are traditional, to help lessen the impacts of floods on their livelihoods. Unfortunately such knowledge is not fully acknowledged by policy, decision makers and disaster risk managers. As a result of this knowledge gap, the study’s objective of compiling these practices, serves as a means to document localized traditional flood response, mitigation and adaptive measures. Moreover, the study will suggest contemporary adaptive measures as recommended by the local rural residents. Residents in 314 households were interviewed during August to November 2012. The households were selected following recommendations by village headmen, and consisted of 273 flooded homes, 42 village leaders, and 35 homes that were not flooded from 45 randomly selected villages. The qualitative data was captured, pre-coded, processed and analysed in Microsoft Excel, SPSS and STATISTICA to derive descriptive and inferential statistics. Following consultations with village headmen and residents, recommendations were made on practical adaptive strategies to flooding. The study found that there is a need to foster community level participation, buy-in and involvement in disaster risk management strategies in order to reduce the gap between technical early warning mechanisms and indigenous knowledge. Results revealed that households with coinciding socio-economic and geographic vulnerability are heavily impacted by flood disasters. However, these two vulnerabilities are not directly proportional to each other. Other vulnerable groups in society were outlined and structural and non-structural mitigation and preparedness measures at household level were recommended by the residents. It is the study’s intention that this will assist in strengthening local residents adaptive capabilities during events of flooding, thereby mitigating their impacts. The project’s intention of documenting this technical and indigenous knowledge, will serve as a knowledge base that can be compiled and integrated into an effective village friendly flood early warning system. It is further hoped that this initiative will garner support at the policy level and contribute to the prioritization of flood response to pending disasters being placed at the centre of development planning and execution.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is uitgevoer in die Cuvelai-opvangsgebied om die kwesbaarheid en sosio-ekonomiese impak van vloede op die plaaslike inwoners te bepaal ten einde maniere te vind om die gevolge van oorstromings in die landelike gebiede van die Cuvelai teen te werk. Ernstige oorstromings in 2009, 2011 en 2012 het 'n aansienlike impak op die Namibiese ekonomie gehad met geraamde verliese van ongeveer US$136.4 million (NAD1364 million) in direkte skade en US$78.2million (NAD780 million) in indirekte verliese vir die land. Ongeveer een persent (1%) van die land se 2009 bruto binnelandse produk (BBP) is benut om die gevolge van hierdie oorstromings aan te spreek. Landelike inwoners in die Cuvelai-opvangsgebied woon op kleinhoewes, plaaslik bekend as ekove, wat toegeken word deur plaaslike gemeenskapsleierskap. Hulle is hoofsaaklik afhanklik van bestaansboerdery. Aangesien hoër-liggende gebiede met goeie landboupotensiaal toenemend skaarser word, word nuwe kleinhoewes toegeken in laer-liggende gebiede, waar die negatiewe gevolge van oorstromings op inwoners erger kan wees. Skade aan gewasse, landbougrond en weiding, boorde en vee deur oorstromings en soortgelyke rampe is dus kommerwekkend. Die doelstelling van die studie was dus om die impak van oorstromings te bepaal, die geografiese of fisiese omstandighede wat plaaslike inwoners in gevaar stel te evalueer, en sosio–ekonomiese toestande wat lei tot kwesbaarheid te bepaal. Verdere doelwitte was om vas te stel of gemeenskapleiers en plaaslike inwoners vloedrisikokaarte kan gebruik om vloedkwesbaarheid te bepaal, in oorleg met plaaslike owerhede en inwoners alternatiewe praktiese aangepaste strategieë vir oorstromings vas te stel en aanbevelings aan die nasionale rampsbestuursbeleid en praktyk waar toepaslik te maak. Tydens die afgelope oorstromings was regeringsinisiatiewe om oorstromings te hanteer korttermyn vloedverligting, grootliks afhanlik van skenker. Om vloede en landbou-klimaatsveranderinge the hanteer, het landelike inwoners nuwe praktyke ontwikkel, sommige van tradisionele aard, om die impak van oorstomings op hulle lewensbestaan the verminder. Ongelukkig word sodanige kennis nie ten volle erken deur beleid, besluitnemers en ramprisikobestuurders nie. As gevolg van hierdie kennisgaping, dien die studiedoelwit om hierdie praktyke saam te stel die doel om gelokaliseerde tradisionele maatreëls aangaande vloedreaksie, versagting en aapasbaarheid te dokumenteer. Verder sal die studie onlangse maatreëls voorstel soos aanbeveel deur die plaaslike landelike inwoners. Ten einde kwalitatiewe data van die gemeenskappe wat in die Cuvelai woon te bekom is daar vir vier maande (Augustus tot November 2012) opnames gedoen by 314 huishoudings, gekies op aanbeveling van die plaaslike owerhede wat insluit 273 vloedslagoffers, 42 gemeenskapsleiers, en 35 huishoudings wat nie deur vloede beïnvloed is nie, vanuit 45 verskillende gemeenskappe. Die kwalitatiewe data is opgeneem, vooraf-gekodeer, verwerk en ontleed in Microsoft Excel, SPSS en STATISTICA om beskrywende en inferensiële statistieke te bekom. Die studie het bevind dat daar 'n behoefte is om die vlak van gemeenskapsdeelname te bevorder, inkoop en betrokkenheid by die ramp risikobestuurstrategieë te verkry ten einde die tegniese gaping tussen vroeë waarskuwingsmeganismes en inheemse kennis te verminder. Die studie het ook getoon dat huishoudings met ‘n gekombineerde sosio-ekonomiese en geografiese kwesbaarheid groter newe-effekte ondervind van vloedrampe. Die twee kwesbaarhede is egter nie direk eweredig aanmekaar nie. Ander kwesbare groepe in die samelewing is uitgewys, en strukturele en nie-strukturele versagting en paraatheidsmaatreëls op huishoudelike vlak is deur die inwoners aanbeveel. Die studie se doelwit is om die aanpasbaarheid van die plaaslike inwoners tydens oorstromings te bevorder, en sodoende die impak te verminder. Dokumentasie van hierdie tegniese en inheemse kennis sal dien as 'n kennisbasis wat saamgestel en geïntegreer kan word in 'n effektiewe gemeenskapsvriendelike vroeë vloedwaarskuwingstelsel. Indien hierdie inisiatief ondersteuning vind op beleidsvlak, kan dit bydra tot die prioritisering van vloed- en rampreaksie in ontwikkelingbeplanning en uitvoering.

It is a commonly held theory that population is related to levels of social and economic development within a given country or society. The work of Becker in the early 1960s gave much impetus to studies of the relationship between fertility, mortality and migration, on the one hand and their determinants, on the other. The determinants were seen as the social, economic, political and cultural settings of the countries or socities under study. The thesis attempts to apply this theory in relation to the demographic development of Zimbabwe. The thesis postulates that socio-economic differentials within Zimbabwe are sufficiently pronounced as to begin to affect the demographic structure of the country. It is with this in mind that three objectives are set for the thesis: a) the exploration of the demographic structure of the population of Zimbabwe, as a means of furthering the understanding of the nature of the demographic development of the country; b) the development and utilization of data estimation techniques as a means of overcoming the deficiencies in the data collected from official sources; and, c) the investigation of the link between population change, on the one hand, with social and economic development on the other. The hypothesis proceeds through the examination of such social and economic variables as income, education, health and other social indicators in relation to fertility, migration and mortality. Due to the inadequacy of data on the demographic variables, the thesis estimates such data using the recognized relationships among the demographic variables. The estimated demographic measures are subjected to correlation and regression analysis after the development structure of the country has been explored through factor and cluster analysis. Three geographical scales are used in the analyses viz. the province, the district and the local authority area. Use of the three geographical scales exposes the dangers of extrapolating and generalizing national patterns of demographic, social and economic development to the levels of the district and the local authority, as well as exposing different features of the development profile of the country of Zimbabwe. The thesis concludes that there is a differentiation in the demographic profile of the various geographical regions of the country, based on inequitable distribution of resources in the past when the country was under white settler colonial rule. The advent of independence and the introduction of policies designed to reduce such inequalities had not had time to work by the time the 1982 Census, from whose data the study is based, was taken. The thesis therefore recommends that further censuses are required if the effect of such policies are to be measured. It further recommends the use of cross-temporal instead of the cross-sectional data which was applied in this study.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: HIV/AIDS is one of the biggest challenges faced by many countries in this century. The rate of infection is rapidly increasing and more and more people are getting ill and dying from AIDS. Of all the people living with AIDS in the world, seven out of ten live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Namibia is one of the top five most HIV/AIDS affected countries in the world. There is therefore no question about the urgent need to accelerate actions to reduce prevalence, expand care and support and extend access to treatment. AIDS is eroding decades of progress made in extending life expectancy; thus hundreds of adults are dying young or in early middle age. The national strategic plan (2004) on HIV/AIDS indicated that the average life expectancy in Namibia is now 42 years, when it could have been 60 without AIDS. A 2003 study on the impact of HIV/AIDS on Windhoek indicated that the antenatal HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Windhoek for 2002 was 27%, while the national prevalence rate was estimated at 22.3%. The prevalence rate for Windhoek is expected to reach its peak at 38% during 2005. Even though HIV/AIDS will have a diminishing effect on population growth, Windhoek's population is expected to continue growing, particular as a result of inward migration, but at a slower pace. Similarly, HIV/AIDS will have an abating effect on GDP growth as the virus will mainly affect the economic active and available labour force of the population and result in increased labour costs and skilled labour shortages. The impact on the informal sector is potentially more damaging than on the formal economic sector, as the majority of micro- enterprises and informal businesses are build around one individual. As the breadwinner dies, household income and expenditures levels deteriorate and increase poverty levels, because households within the city are very dependent on family structures to support their income levels. Informal settlements are also more volatile to HIV transmission and the majority of HIV infected individuals are likely to be found within these areas as the populations is poorer, crowded, has fewer social services facilities and is more likely migratory compared to those in affluent formal settlements. Considering that the incubation period of HIV/AIDS from infection to death takes about ten years, the real impact of current HIV infections in Windhoek will only be experienced during 2010. Health services will have to attend to a greater demand for curative services as well as to social care and support programs. Social welfare programmes will need to find ways of caring for a large population of HIV/AIDS orphans. Municipalities can playa critically important role in addressing HIV/AIDS at a local level as they are at the interface of community and government. They are ideally placed to playa coordinating and facilitating role that is needed to make sure that partnerships are built to bring prevention and care programmes to every community affected by AIDS. Therefore, in order to succeed in confronting HIV/AIDS, it is important to work closely with all levels of government as well as working with local partners in civil society that are fighting HIV/AIDS at the community level. By taking action against HIV/AIDS, municipalities are securing the future of their towns and communities.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: MIV/VIGS is een van die grootste uitdagings wat baie lande hierdie eeu in die gesig staar. Die koers van infeksie is vinnig aan die toeneem en al hoe meer mense word siek en sterf as gevolg van VIGS. Van al die mense wat met VIGS lewe in die wêreld, bly sewe uit tien in sub-Sahara Afrika. Namibië is een van die vyf mees MIV/VIGS geaffekteerde lande in die wêreld. Derhalwe is daar geen twyfel rakende die noodsaaklikheid om daadwerklike aksies te bewerkstellig om die voorkoms te verminder, sorg en ondersteuning te verhoog en toegang na behandeling uit te brei. VIGS vernietig dekades van groei behaal in die verlenging van lewensverwagting; dus sterf honderde volwassenes vroeg of gedurende hul middeljare. Die nasionale strategiese plan (2004) rakende MIV/VIGS toon dat die gemiddelde lewensverwagting in Namibië huidiglik 42 jaar is instede van 60 sonder VIGS. 'n Studie onderneem gedurende 2003, rakende die effek van MIV/VIGS in Windhoek, dui aan dat die voorgeboorte MIV/VIGS voorkoms koers 27% vir 2002 was, terwyl die nasionale voorkoms koers slegs 22.3% was. Daar word verwag dat die voorkoms koers vir Windhoek sy maksimum van 38% sal bereik gedurende 2005. Alhoewel MIV/VIGS 'n negatiewe effek op bevolkingsgroei groei gaan het, sal Windhoek se inwoners getalle steeds groei, alhoewel teen 'n stadiger koers, as gevolg van inwaartse migrasie. Terselfdertyd, gaan MIV/VIGS 'n verminderde effek het op die groei van die Bruto Binnelandse Produk (BBP), omdat die virus hoofsaaklik die ekonomiese aktiewe en beskikbare arbeidsmag van die bevolking affekteer wat as gevolg hiervan 'n verhoging in arbeidskoste en tekort aan geskoolde arbeid het. Die effek op die informele sektore is potensieel meer skadelik as op die formele ekonomiese faktore, aangesien die meeste klein en informele besighede rondom een persoon gebou is. lndien die broodwinner sterf, versleg die vlakke van huishoudelike inkomste en uitgawes wat lei tot verhoogde armoede, omdat huishoudings in die stad baie afhanklik is op familie strukture om hulle inkomste te ondersteun. Informele vestigings is meer kwesbaar in die oordrag van MIV en die meerderheid van die MIV geïnfekteerde individue word gewoonlik in hierdie areas aangetref omdat die bevolking armer is, meer persone huisves, minder welsyn dienste fasiliteite het en meer swerwend is in vergelyking met die meer welgestelde formele vestigings. As in ag geneem word dat die ontkiemings periode van MIV/VIGS vanaf infeksie tot en met sterfte omtrent tien jaar neem, sal die werklike effek van die huidige VIGS besmettings in Windhoek slegs ervaar word gedurende 2010. Gesondheidsdienste sal moet aandag skenk aan 'n groter aanvraag vir geneeslike dienste sowel as sosiale sorg en ondersteunings programme. Gemeenskaplike welsyn programme sal maniere moet vind om vir 'n groot populasie van MIV/VIGS weeskinders te sorg. Munisipaliteite kan 'n belangrike rol speel in die aanspreek van die MIV/VIGS epidemie op 'n plaaslike vlak omdat hulle die skakel is tussen die gemeenskap en die regering. Hulle is ideaal geplaas om 'n koordineerende en fasiliterende rol te speel wat nodig is om seker te maak dat vennootskappe gebou word om voorkomings en versorgings programme te lewer aan elke gemeenskap wat deur MIV/VIGS geraak word. Dus, om sukses te behaal in die bekamping van MIV/VIGS , is dit belangrik om nou saam te werk met alle vlakke van die regering sowel as met plaaslike vennote in die gemeenskap wat MIV/VIGS bekamp op gemeenskapsvlak. Deur aksie te neem teen MIV/VIGS , kan munisipaliteite die toekoms van hulle dorpe en gemeenskappe verseker.

East Timor had been a colony of Portugal for more than four centuries when Indonesia invaded it in 1975 and began its occupation of twenty-four years. Indonesia imposed its strategy of economic development, pembangunan, with the primary objective of 'modernising' this newly occupied territory which was regarded as daerah ketinggalan (a 'backward' region) - a legacy of Portuguese colonialism. According to the Indonesian perspective, East Timor would, in the end, become daerah maju (a 'developed' region) like the twenty-six other provinces in Indonesia. In order to 'modernise' the economy and society, Jakarta transferred approximately US$1 billion into East Timor during the occupation period. Much was achieved in terms of physical infrastructure such as roads and buildings. Real GDP growth rate in East Timor averaged 5.6% during the 1983-1996 p~riod. This was above the Indonesian average over the same period. This growth wa~ not without cost, however, as human suffering also increased. For purposes of companson, East Timor was the lowest in terms of the human development index (HDI) in Asia, and identical to that of the Central African state of Rwanda. The main objective of this study is therefore to analyse the New Order's strategy of economic development by critically assessing the processes and outcome of development brought to bear upon the East Timorese economy and society. Since the Indonesian development strategy was imposed upon the East Timorese, its character could not be anything other than authoritarian. The thirteen-year 'closure' period (1976- 1989) turned East Timor into a cauldron of increasing terror and suffering. However, it also encouraged rent-seeking activities and enlarged potential monopoly .rents, which ended up in the pockets of some military groups and a few East Timorese 'loyalists'. One of the major problems faced in conducting this study was to find reliable information; and unfortunately this problem also characterises our current knowledge of the East Timorese society and economy. Indeed, East Timor has become a major focus of attention for specialists in international relations, as well as social scientists, particularly after the Santa Cruz massacre in 1991. Yet, little has been written on the impact of Indonesian development strategy upon the East Timorese economy and society. This lack remains to the present day - to which this study contributes. Consequently, this study utilises data from a household survey that was conducted in Liquica, the smallest district in East Timor and one of the coffee-producing areas. To the author's knowledge, this survey breaks new ground in trying to generate data on the rural household, as well as in trying to understand poverty and inequality at the household level, which despite its limited sa.mple, might also shed light on the issues facing by other households across East Timo:. GIven the nature of the present study, an interdisciplinary approach is adopted. The thesis consists of two parts. The first part consists of three chapters: the introduction, a theoretical analysis and an overview of East Timor's colonial history. The second part, t~e main body of the study, consists of four chapters: pembangunan in Indonesia's recent history, the impact of pembangunan on East Timor's economy, human development and examination of the findings of the household survey.

This thesis is concerned with social and economic aspects of freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) culture development in converted paddy field gher systems in SW Bangladesh, based on economic features of prawn production and social impacts within and around prawn farming communities. Based on a sample of 400 farmers from the four different zones in Bagerhat district in SW Bangladesh, 345 (86.25%) cultured prawn with fish and rice in their gher. The culture period is typically nine months, wild fry are stocked when available in May-June and harvested from November to January. A variety of feeds are used but the preferred material is the freshwater snail, Pila globosa. Productivity is variable, averaging 432 kg ha-!. The freshwater prawn is a highly valued product for international markets and is therefore almost all exported. All farmers in all zones and different gher size categories made a profit, with seed and feed dominating variable costs. Considerable variation in production costs and profitability was observed. The culture of prawn in gher systems is technically possible in a variety of conditions though expanding small scale of farming mainly depends on reducing production costs. Future targets could be to integrate with other agricultural activities especially dike cropping and rice production in the monsoon. The livelihoods of a large number of people are associated with prawn farming. Four different fry, snail and prawn markets were surveyed, including a sample of 60 fry catchers, 40 fry traders, 75 snail collectors, 40 snail traders and 40 prawn traders. A sample of 200 women, associated with gher farms was also surveyed. In spite of socio-economic constraints, most of the households of farmers (81 %) have improved their status through prawn farming where prawn have brought out clearly positive changes of economic activities and generated new employment. All appeared to have gained from their activities, women have enhanced their position in families and societies. However, concerns arise about the long-term sustainability of prawn farming due to high production costs, low supply of wild fry and snail meat, poor natural resources, poor institutional support and inadequate extension services, all of which have affected sustainable livelihoods of farmers and associated groups. It may necessary to establish local ingredients feed industries, prawn hatcheries and to provide low-interest credit with institutional and policy support for sustainable gher farming.

Contraception is said to be one of the vital determinants of fertility (Bongaarts, 1978). African nations, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa have a history of high fertility levels and low contraceptive use. However, contraceptive methods have been used one way or another throughout human history, although, due to improvements, these methods have evolved over the years. In Namibia, there tend to be a huge gap between women&rsquo
s knowledge of methods of contraception and usage thereof. For instance as per NDHS survey of 2000, 97 percent of married women knew of a contraceptive method, while 38 percent utilised them. This study aims at investigating knowledge and usage of contraceptives among women in union of reproductive age in an independent Namibia, 10 years after independence between 1992 and 2000. Socio-economic and demographic factors affecting contraceptive usage are examined in this study to determine their significance.

Regional integration has gained momentum since the 1980s and throughout the world. The new regionalism process prevailing since differs from the old one by its multidimensionality covering economic, political, social, and cultural issues within a regional setting. While the old regionalism focused on market protection using a range of tariff and non tariff barriers, the New Regionalism is reinforced by the globalisation effects and strives for efficiency in production, and market access. Using the New Regionalisms Approach, the aim of this thesis is to appreciate the actual levels of regional integration in Africa and explore plausible ways of deepening the integration process with the view that regional integration can promote socio-economic development, provided a pro-development approach is privileged in the conception and implementation of the regional integration process. Focusing on SADC as a representative regional economic community, a qualitative content analysis is used for data collection while policy analysis is carried out using the Institutional Analysis and Development framework. The results of this study reveal discrepancies between policy formulation and policy implementation when it comes to enhancing the pro-developmental aspects in the unfolding regional integration process. In spite that shortcomings in past experiences triggered dramatic structural reforms ranging from the reorganisation of the Organisation of African Unity into the African Union, the creation of NEPAD, to structural reforms within regional economic communities with the example of the 2001 restructuring of SADC, empirical evidence shows that little change has occurred at the operational level. Moreover, even policy formulation at the collective-action level still lacks concrete strategies and plans for harmonisation and implementation of regional initiatives. Some of the strategies for deepening the regional integration process would include prioritising regional commitments to external ones and improving policy formulation as well as establishing linkages between different regional policies and strategies.

Water scarcity has gained increasing awareness globally, and the small island developing states of the Caribbean, including Barbados, are not exempt from this global crisis. There is a large amount of variation to be found between Barbados' 11 parishes demographically, economically, and socially, with tourism encapsulating an especially significant sector for both the economy and water use, emphasized in certain parishes most prevalently.
Surveys were carried out in four coastal parishes and respondents were asked various water-related questions for their household. The survey addressed a myriad of issues such as water availability, quality, categorizing responsibilities of water-related tasks, as well as a number of other topics. The number of surveys conducted was equivalent to one per cent of each parish population. The chi-square test for the analysis of a two-way contingency table was conducted to determine the influence of development and gender on parish households in differential water use, access, and perceptions of water. Surveys were completed to provide clarity to the objectives of the research which were twofold: to determine whether the amount of economic, social, and physical development of a parish influences the access and distribution of domestic water to households; and to uncover gender perceptions related to water use and determine how water use patterns and water consumption vary between genders in households.
Parish development was a much stronger indicator for water usage and distribution rather than gender. All questions compared across parishes yielded at least one statistically significant response with the exception of determining whether water shortages affected lifestyles. Parish water use was highest in St. Philip (898.1 L/week/capita) and lowest in St. Lucy, (729.9 L/week/capita). The gender analysis provided statistically insignificant results except for the total respondents' water quality, and a household's satisfaction with their water situation, which were only significant for the total population and St. Lucy categories. Regarding division of labour within households, women still occupy the majority of tasks relating to water by spending on average 12.6 hrs/week on water-related domestic tasks; while males and children spend almost 5.6 hrs/week and 1.70 hrs/week respectively.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Poverty is a widespread phenomenon within the coloured community of South Africa. In 1976 the Theron Commission reported on coloured poverty and recommended widespread reform to the apartheid system to incorporate coloureds into social and economic life on an equal footing with whites. The commission was of the opinion that the poorest 40% of coloureds lived in a state of chronic community poverty. This conclusion was based on the culture of poverty approach, which states that negative external factors and an internal process of self-perpetuation can sometimes combine to cause a povertysyndrome. The original culture of poverty approach was widely misinterpreted and criticised and consequently lost much of its support. However, if properly understood, the approach can still be used effectively. Since the Theron commission made a healthy reinterpretation of this approach it also provides a good theoretical framework to analyse coloured poverty. The socio-economic position of coloureds has improved markedly since the era of the Theron commission. Total fertility rates and infant mortality rates declined, while life expectancy increased. The educational status of coloureds increased considerably. There is, however, still a large disparity between rural and urban coloureds. The per capita income of coloureds almost doubled in this period. This rise in income can be attributed to an improvement in occupational status (which was in turn influenced by an improvement in educational status) as well as a decrease in wage discrimination. In spite of the overall improvement in the socio-economic position of coloureds, poverty rates did not decrease significantly since the era of the Theron Commission. Although poverty is still more widespread in rural areas, there has been a relative improvement in the socioeconomic position of rural coloureds and agricultural labourers. This has partly been caused by the urbanisation of the rural poor. Coloured poverty is, however, still at much lower levels than black poverty. Since the era of the Theron Commission the culture of poverty has been positively influenced by several factors: racial discrimination in public education and other social spending decreased, levels of education improved and contributed to the rise in per capita income, social work has become better focussed and is provided on a more equal basis and the socio-political emancipation of coloureds were achieved with the rise of a democratic society. However, it seems that the good economic growth rates during the 1960's and early 1970's provided the biggest thrust to the upward socio-economic mobility of coloureds and played a more important role than the Theron report or any other socio-political changes. It can be concluded that the culture of poverty as it existed at the time of the Theron report has weakened considerably and that the approach should therefore not be used as the basic model to describe the socio-economic position of poor coloureds any more. Current anti-poverty measures should be focussed on job creation, community building and education.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Armoede is 'n wydverspreide probleem in die kleurlinggemeenskap van Suid- Afrika. In 1976 het die Theron Kommissie ondersoek ingestel na kleurling armoede en hulle het drastiese veranderinge aan die apartheidstelsel voorgestel om die sosio-ekonomiese vooruitgang van kleurlinge te verseker. Die kommissie het aangevoer dat die armste 40% van die kleurlingbevolking in 'n toestand van chroniese gemeenskapsarmoede verkeer. Hierdie gevolgtrekking is gebaseer op die kultuur van armoede teorie, wat veronderstel dat In armoedesiklus kan ontstaan wanneer daar 'n wisselwerking is tussen negatiewe omgewingsfaktore en In interne proses van selfvoortplanting deur middel van die gesin. Die oorspronklike kultuur van armoede benadering was onderhewig aan verskeie misinterpretasies en kritiek en het derhalwe baie aanhang verloor. Tog kan die kultuur van armoede teorie steeds met vrug aangewend word indien dit korrek toegepas word. Aangesien die Theron Kommissie die oorspronklike teorie op In gesonde manier geherinterpreteer het, verskaf dit 'n goeie teoretiese raamwerk waarbinne kleurlingarmoede ondersoek kan word. Die sosio-ekonomiese posisie van kleurlinge het In merkwaardige verbetering getoon sedert die era van die Theron Kommissie. Fertiliteitskoerse en suigelingsterftekoerse het afgeneem, terwyl lewensverwagting toegeneem het. Die onderwyspeil van kleurlinge het ook drasties verbeter, alhoewel daar steeds In groot gaping is tussen landelike en stedelike kleurlinge. Die per capita inkomste van kleurlinge het amper verdubbel in die periode. Die verhoging kan toegeskryf word aan In verhoogde beroepstatus (wat weer deur verbeterde onderwyspeile beïnvloed is) sowel as laer vlakke van loondiskriminasie. Ten spyte van die algehele verbetering in die sosio-ekonomiese posisie van kleurlinge, het armoedevlakke sedert die Theron era nie noemenswaardig verminder nie. Alhoewel armoede steeds wydverspreid is in landelike gebiede, het daar In relatiewe verbetering in die sosio-ekonomiese posisie van landelike kleurlinge en die plaaswerkersgemeenskap plaasgevind. Dit is deels veroorsaak deur verstedeliking van arm landelike inwoners. Kleurling armoede is egter steeds op 'n baie laer vlak as swart armoede. Sedert die era van die Theron Kommissie is die toestand van chroniese gemeenskapsarmoede deur verskeie positiewe faktore beïnvloed: rassediskriminasie ten opsigte van onderwys en ander sosiale besteding het verminder, vlakke van onderwys het verbeter en het bygedra tot 'n verhoging in per capita inkome, sosiale werk is beter gefokus en word op 'n meer gelyke skaal verskaf en met die demokratiseringsproses is die sosio-politiese emansipasie van kleurlinge verkry. Tog lyk dit of die goeie ekonomiese groei van die sestigerjare en vroeë sewentqerjare 'n groter invloed op die opwaartse sosioekonomiese mobiliteit van kleurlinge gehad het as die Theron verslag en ander sosio-politieke veranderinge. Die gevolgtrekking kan gemaak word dat die kultuur van armoede soos dit gemanifesteer het in die tyd van die Theron verslag in so 'n mate verswak het dat die benadering nie meer gebruik moet word as die basiese model om die sosioekonomiese toestand van arm kleurlinge te beskryf nie. Dit beteken egter nie dat daar nie nog steeds akute armoedeprobleme in sekere dele van die kleurlinggemeenskap bestaan nie. Huidige armoede-verligtingsbeleid moet fokus op werkskepping, gemeenskapsbou en onderwys.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study aims to investigate the enabling role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a tool to develop the South African economy, taking into account the change in the economy from a primary to a secondary economy and tertiary economy. It also analyses the impact of apartheid on the social and economic conditions in South Africa (SA). The legacy of apartheid is still evident if we look at the underdevelopment of basic infrastructure in the rural areas. The report studies ICT development within seven provinces and reveals that major gaps exist in the development of the rural versus the urban areas. SA has come a long way fifteen years into democracy, having developed in various areas. However, structural challenges, race, gender and economic inequalities are problems that cannot be resolved in the short term but need long term planning to see desired results. The high poverty rate, inadequately skilled workforce and high unemployment rate in SA makes it difficult to convince local communities that there is a need for ICT. Introducing the internet in rural areas for example is also a major challenge due to the poor infrastructural development and the low penetration of fixed line telecommunication services. The generation of ICT infrastructure and access to this technology is a priority for the development of the South African economy. For SA to achieve their development goals, ICT infrastructure needs to be distributed equally. This is one of the goals of the South African government, more specifically of the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA). In order for the South African government to create a competitive ICT sector, changes to the regulations and framework strategies in the telecommunications sector was necessary. The Telecommunication Act of 1996 was extensively criticized because the Telkom monopoly was viewed as a major restraint to competition for ICT development. In 2001, the Telecommunication Act of 1996 was modified to address the inequity in the ICT sector and to make telecommunications more affordable. Furthermore, SA signed the World Trade Organization Telecommunication Agreement to liberalise trade by opening up the world market to competition. There exists a lack of clear national strategy in SA that includes the input of all the stakeholders such as Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMME), government departments, private sector etc. The Information Technology (IT) strategy should have timelines with clear guidelines on where the IT industry is going. There is also a need for the identification of focus areas where high growth and development are required. South Africa has the capacity to develop into an ICT leader, but for this to happen the culture must change from being dependent on innovations of developing countries to becoming independent. ICT will not necessarily alleviate poverty, but it is merely an accelerator to develop people by changing information into valuable knowledge to empower communities. Poverty does not only refer to the lack of basic needs like water, shelter and food, but it is also prevalent when people are: • Unable to access property and credit to do business. • Vulnerable and powerless in situations like crime, economic downturns and recessions. • Socially and economically excluded from society. The ICT Charter was developed to address issues such as employment equity, skills development and socio-economic development, as well as to clarify treatment of multinational enterprises. The charter is the Code of Good Practice for the ICT sector. The automation of work processes, machinery and the use of technology has further led to obsolete positions in the workplace. The change in the structure of the South African economy and the emergence of the digital economy has brought about fundamental economic changes. For SA to keep abreast with global developments it must embrace the transformational stages and exploit the market opportunities of the digital economy. The conditions for creating an environment that is conducive to socio-economic growth include investment in ICTs, policies, human resources and a clear IT strategy. These conditions form the pillars on which the framework of this research report is built.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die bemagtigingsrol van inligting- en kommunikasietegnologie (IKT) in die ontwikkeling van die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie. Die oorgang in die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie van ‘n primêre ekonomie na ‘n sekondêre en tersiêre ekonomie word in ag geneem, en die impak van apartheid op die sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede word geanaliseer. Die nalatenskap van apartheid is nog steeds sigbaar as ons kyk hoe onderontwikkel die basiese infrastruktuur in landelike gebiede is. Hierdie studie ontleed die ontwikkeling van IKT in sewe provinsies, en dit is duidelik dat daar groot verskille bestaan ten opsigte van IKT-ontwikkeling in landelike gebiede vergeleke met dié in stedelike gebiede. Die Suid-Afrikaanse demokrasie het in die afgelope vyftien jaar baie ontwikkel in verskeie areas. Die resultate van die planne wat geïmplementeer word ten opsigte van strukturele probleme, rasseverdeling en ekonomiese ongelykhede sal egter eers oor die langtermyn sigbaar wees. Die hoë armoedesyfer en die oorwegend onvoldoende geskoolde bevolking, tesame met die hoë persentasie werkloosheid in veral landelike gebiede, maak dit moeilik om hierdie gemeenskappe te oortuig dat daar ‘n behoefte aan IKT bestaan. Dis ook moeilik om tegnologie soos die internet in dié gebiede te vestig weens die agterstand in die ontwikkeling van die nodige infrastruktuur en die klein aantal telefoonlyne wat beskikbaar is. Die ontwikkeling van IKT en toegang daartoe is ’n voorvereiste vir die groei van die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie. Een van die vereistes om dit te bereik is die eweredige verspreiding van IKT-infrastruktuur. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering, en meer spesifiek USAASA (Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa), stel dit gevolglik as een van hulle doelwitte. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering het besef dat veranderinge aan die wetgewing rakende die telekommunikasiesektor nodig was om ’n mededingende IKT-sektor te vestig. Die Telekommunikasiewet van 1996 het wye kritiek ontlok, aangesien die monopolie van Telkom geïdentifiseer is as ’n struikelblok in die ontwikkeling van IKT. Die wet is in 2001 hersien, waartydens die ongelykhede in die IKT-sektor aangespreek is, om sodoende telekommunikasie meer bekostigbaar te maak. Suid-Afrika (SA) het ook die World Trade Organisation Telecommunication-ooreenkoms onderteken, wat blootstelling aan internasionale markte en wêreldwye kompetisie verseker. Daar bestaan tans geen duidelike nasionale IKT-strategie wat insette van al die rolspelers, soos Klein- en Medium-Sakeondernemings, regeringsdepartemente en die private sektor, bevat nie. So ’n strategie sal tydroosters met duidelike riglyne aan die IKT-bedryf moet verskaf. Die identifisering van fokusareas waar vinnige groei en ontwikkeling noodsaaklik is, is ’n prioriteit. Suid-Afrika het die vermoë om ’n leier op die gebied van IKT te word, maar die kultuur van afhankliheid van die ontwikkelende lande moet omgeswaai word na ’n kultuur van onafhanklikheid. IKT sal nie noodwendig armoede in SA direk verlig nie, maar dit sal sorg vir die sneller ontwikkeling van mense wanneer inligting getransformeer word na kennis waardeur gemeenskappe bemagtig kan word. Die definisie van armoede is nie beperk tot die gebrek aan basiese lewensmiddele soos water, voedsel en huisvesting nie, maar kom ook voor wanneer mense: • Nie toegang het tot eiendom en krediet om handel te dryf nie. • Weerloos is teen geweld, ekonomiese insinkings en resessies. • Sosiaal en ekonomies afgesny is van die breër samelewing. Die IKT Handves is ontwikkel om ongelykheid op die gebied van indiensneming, vaardigheidsontwikkeling en sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling aan te spreek, en om riglyne vir multinasionale projekte te verskaf. Hierdie ooreenkoms vorm ook die gedragskode van die IKT-bedryf. Outomatisering in die werkplek het gelei tot die afskaffing van talle poste. Strukturele veranderinge sowel as die ontwikkeling van die digitale ekonomie het die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie fundamenteel verander. SA moet hierdie transformasietydperk omarm en in pas met die wêreld bly, en in die proses leer om geleenthede in die digitale ekonomie ten volle te benut. Hierdie ondersoek kyk na die voorvereistes om ’n omgewing te skep waarin sosio-ekonomiese groei kan plaasvind, insluitend beleggings in IKT, menslike hulpbronne, beleidsraamwerke en ’n duidelike IKT-strategie. Die genoemde vorm die fondament waarop die raamwerk van hierdie navorsingstudie rus.

This study questions the basic assumption on which state-centred development has been based, namely, that it acts in the general interests of society and can bring about economic development, and attempts to provide an explanation of the ineffectiveness of the state's project in restructuring the economy by analysing the development of the political economy of Jordan in the wake of the 1973-4 oil boom. This explanation rests on arguing that the state's ability to intervene in the economy is constrained by the particular power configuration that gives it its legitimacy and the necessity to maintain the prominence, influence and authority of the key social forces. In other words, the restructuring of the economy implies a change in the internal power structures of the state as well as its external linkages that have been the basis of its legitimacy and the source of its economic power. The problem, then, is not merely a matter of state inefficiency and misuse of funds but a more deep- rooted structural problem that touches on the essential features of the organisation of state power and its legitimacy and in that respect the state is not a neutral force above society but a partisan force for maintaining the existing power structures. Thus the concentration of capital in the hands of the state during the oil boom period and the expanded role of the state in the economy produced prosperity for the dominant social forces while marginalising a large part of the population and resulted in a deep rooted crisis in the state sector and the economy in general and called into question the feasibility of state-led development and required critical analysis of the role of the state in development.

This study examined the impact of crime on socio-economic development in Mdantsane Township which is an urban area under Buffalo city Municipality. The study is concerned with the growing rate of crime, which is perceived to have affected community development. A survey was conducted for this study and questionnaires were administered for data collection. The study found that Mdantsane area is fraught with problems of high unemployment, high crime levels and lack of physical infrastructure. It was shown that the levels of crime like robbery and assault cases are the order of the day. Many crimes are committed either during the day or at night. This study made several recommendations relating to what should be done to ensure that local residents, potential developers and investors feel safe in Mdantsane. Amongst other recommendations put forward are the establishment of community relations with the police, namely community policing forums (CPFs) and development community safety centres.

It is widely accepted by governments of many developing countries that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is crucial to the socio-economic development of their nations and have developed various policies in an effort to attract FDI, as a result. FDI is a crucial source of technology, capital and skills for developing countries for economic growth that may ultimately lead to poverty reduction, employment creation and modernisation. However, results from many studies have been inconclusive and have failed to find a direct link between the increase of FDI and the associated socio-economic development of recipient nations. South Africa is no exception to this debate as it seeks to turn its back on decades long apartheid, which has entrenched poverty in the majority of its population and exacerbated social tensions. The main socio-economic challenges that South Africa faces include high unemployment, skills shortages, poverty and high inequality, and the 2008/2009 global financial and economic crisis has exacerbated the crisis. Despite these challenges South Africa‘s macro-economic strategies have had a good reputation since 2000. The monetary policy has turned out to be more transparent and predictable, and a sound fiscal policy has sustained its framework. The study analyses the role that FDI plays in the socio-economic development of South Africa since 1995 by focusing on selected case studies: ABSA Bank, General Motors South Africa (GMSA) and the Mining Sector of South Africa. The research concludes that although ABSA Bank has implemented several corporate social responsibility (CSR), and various employee development programmes, there is hardly any evidence to suggest that Barclays Bank‘s takeover of ABSA Bank has positively impacted on these programmes. General Motors South Africa (GMSA), which came into South Africa many decades ago through a Greenfield Investment, has played a positive role in the economy of the Eastern Cape Province as well as that of South Africa, having created jobs directly and indirectly. The company has also designed and implemented various educational, housing as well as health and awareness programmes for its employees and for the communities. Mining companies that operate in South Africa formed partnerships in the communities in which they operate in an effort to improve the lives of people. While these various projects have been a source of employment, they have had a limited impact on the core causes of social problems surrounding the mines. Many of these root causes relate to core business practices of the mining companies, especially employee recruitment, wages and housing. These root causes where witnessed in the Lonmin tragedy and in other strikes that spread throughout the sector in 2012. The study concludes that although FDI does play a role in the socio-economic development of South Africa, especially Greenfield investment, the same argument could not be made on Mergers and acquisitions (M&As). Finally, the South African government needs to play a proactive role in ensuring that foreign companies that invest in the country need to be well aware of the socio-economic needs of South Africa, and be willing to play a positive role in that regard.

This dissertation comprises four chapters, which mainly deal with female's participation in household decision-making, a very important aspect of female's bargaining power within the household and closely linked to female's empowerment. The first three chapters, which all deal with female's participation in household decision-making, are two sides of the same coin, in that while the first one delves into the determinants of female's participation in household decision-making, the second and third chapters deal with its beneficial consequences. The fourth chapter is linked with Chapter 1. As a matter of fact, the data used in Chapter 1 has been collected in Rural Burundi, in the framework of the FNRS/FRFC-funded project “Microfinance Services, Intra-household Behavior and Welfare in Developing Countries: A Longitudinal and Experimental Approach”, which funded my PhD scholarship. In 2012, the project funded data collection in Rural Burundi. In respect to the experimental component of the project, these are baseline data. The 2012 household survey targeted a sample of rural households that have been interviewed in 1998 and 2007. This is where the longitudinal design of the project comes into play. Independently from the experimental research, the longitudinal nature of the data, that is to say three waves of data (1998, 2007 and 2012), had the advantage of allowing panel analysis of interesting and relevant issues in development, including for example the long-term welfare effects of shocks at either individual or household levels.In Chapter 1, entitled “The Power of The Family: kinship and Intra-household Decision-making in Rural Burundi” and co-authored with Bram De Rock and Philip Verwimp, we delve into the determinants of female's participation in household decision-making, by laying a particular emphasis on the role of female's kinship. We show that in rural Burundi the characteristics of the female's kinship are highly correlated with her decision-making power. First, a female whose own immediate family is at least as rich as her husband's counterpart enjoys a greater say over children- and asset-related decision-making. Second, the size, relative wealth and proximity of the extended family also matter. Third, kinship characteristics prove to be more important than (standard) individual and household characteristics. Finally, we also show that the female's say over asset-related decision-making is positively associated with males' education, more than with female's education per se. All these correlation patterns can inform policies aiming at empowering women or targeting children through women's empowerment.In Chapter 2, entitled “The Returns of I Do: Multifaceted Female Decision-making and Agricultural Yields in Tanzania?”, I use the third round of the Tanzanian National Panel Survey to investigate the effect of multifaceted female's empowerment in agriculture on agricultural yields. The classic approach in the empirical literature on gender gap in agriculture includes the gender of the plot's owner/manager as the covariate of interest and interprets the associated coefficient estimate as the gender gap in agricultural productivity. Unlike this classic approach in the analysis of productivity differentials, my approach lays emphasis on the overlapping and interaction effects of manifold aspects of female's empowerment in agriculture, including female plot's ownership, female plot's management and female output's control. I find significant productivity gaps, which the classic empirical approach does not bring out in the same context. As compared to plots (solely) owned, managed and controlled by male, (i) plots merely owned by female and (ii) those owned & managed (but not controlled) by female are less productive, but those owned, managed & controlled by female are not. Furthermore, the latter are the more productive among plots at least owned by female. All these productivity gaps are predominantly explained by the structural effect, that is differences in productivity returns to observable production factors. Our findings are robust along a number of dimensions and suggest that female's management and control rights are of prime importance. Therefore, female plot's owners should be entitled the rights to manage their plot and, subsequently and most importantly, the rights to control the (agricultural) output of their work, for their productivity to be enhanced and the gender gap in agriculture to be closed. In Chapter 3, entitled “Say On Income and Children's Outcomes: Evidence from Nigeria”, I delve into the effect of female bargaining power on child education and labor outcomes in Nigeria. Female bargaining power is proxied by “female say on labor income”, rather than by her income per se. This is motivated by the fact the female labor force participation might be low in some contexts, while control over income is by all means what matters the most. The empirical methodology accounts for a number of empirical issues, including endogeneity and sample selection issues of female say on labor income, the multi-equation and mixed process features of the child outcomes, as well as the fact that hours of work are left-censored. My findings are consistent with the overall idea that female say on income leads to better child outcomes, rather than female income earning per se. Nevertheless, the type of income under female control, child gender and child outcome matter. Chapter 4, entitled “Violence Exposure and Welfare Over Time: Evidence From The Burundi Civil War” and co-authored with Marion Mercier and Philip Verwimp, investigates the relationship between exposure to conflict and poverty dynamics over time. We use a three-wave panel data from Burundi, which tracked individuals and reported local-level violence exposure in 1998, 2007 and 2012. Firstly, the data reveal that headcount poverty has not changed since 1998 while we observe multiple transitions into and out of poverty. Moreover, households exposed to the war exhibit a lower level of welfare than non-exposed households, with the difference between the two groups predicted to remain significant at least until 2017, i.e. twelve years after the conflict termination. The correlation between violence exposure and deprivation over time is confirmed in a household-level panel setting. Secondly, our empirical investigation shows how violence exposure over different time spans interacts with households' subsequent welfare. Our analysis of the determinants of households' likelihood to switch poverty status (i.e. to fall into poverty or escape poverty) combined with quintile regressions suggest that, (i) exposure during the first phase of the conflict has affected the entire distribution, and (ii) exposure during the second phase of the conflict has mostly affected the upper tail of the distribution: initially non-poor households have a higher propensity to fall into poverty while initially poor households see their propensity to pull through only slightly decrease with recent exposure to violence. Although not directly testable with the data at hand, these results are consistent with the changing nature of violence in the course of the Burundi civil war, from relatively more labor-destructive to relatively more capital-destructive.
Doctorat en Sciences économiques et de gestion
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

The aim of the thesis is to describe and analyse socio-economic changes in northern Sweden. Focus is on the period 1985-2000. Population development, restructuring of economic activities, political and cultural changes are related to a theoretical discussion on the transformation of sparsely populated areas as an outcome of multi-dimensional and interrelated processes. Besides an introductory and concluding section, the thesis contains four papers. The first paper deals with forestry's changed role in the local economy of four municipalities located in the inland areas of upper Norrland. The changes within forestry have been driven by adaptation to global competition and rapid technical development. Even though timber production has increased in some of the municipalities, job losses have greatly reduced the importance of forestry in the local economies. Many employees have left forestry for work in other branches, unemployment or retirement However, relatively few have moved from the area. A multiplier model was employed in order to analyse the impact on the local economy. The second paper deals with population changes in the six northernmost counties. During the 1990s, most municipalities and rural areas in northern Sweden have experienced renewed depopulation. At the same time, some rural areas have shown significant population growth. Three types of rural areas with population growth have been identified. Firstly, there are rural areas within daily commuting distance from regional centres. Secondly, there is a group of rural areas, mainly a number of mountain villages close to the border with Norway, which has benefited from the tourist industry. Finally, there are a few rural areas characterised by attractive residential environments and leisure housing. The third paper is based on a classification of 500 residential areas and villages in the county of Västerbotten into seven types of housing environments. In this way, the county is broken down into a mosaic of housing environments characterised by very different prerequisites for consumption and economic development A complex and dispersed pattern of disadvantaged residential areas all over the county indicates the difficulty in treating counties and municipalities as homogeneous regions. In the fourth paper, focus is on young peoples' attitudes towards staying in or moving to small communities within a local labour market region in northern Sweden. The study is based on telephone interviews with 400 young men and women in the Umeå region. Half the interviewees lived in the university city of Umeå while the others were residents in five rural municipalities surrounding Umeå. In general, the males and females aged 19-25 had a much more positive attitude towards living in rural communities than did those aged 15-18. Nevertheless, only half of the young people already living in the rural municipalities wanted to stay there. Among the young people living in the city, slightly less than 50% showed an interest in moving to the surrounding rural areas, mainly the countryside within commuting distance from the city. The connection between higher education and out-migration of young people from rural areas is also highlighted.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Univ., 2002

digitalisering@umu

The purpose of the study was to investigate how the co-operatives can be used to uplift the standard of living in the rural, with specific reference to Dutywa villages of Ngcingwane, Mangati and Mbewuleni. In other words is ‘how do we make co-operatives work’. The overall purpose of the study was to investigate whether co-operatives have contributed to positive change in the socio-economic conditions in the three villages of Dutywa. The research further analyzes the performance of the co-operatives in terms of their leadership and management structures. The research was also to find out what the challenges are and what are the gaps associated with the performance of the co-operatives. The research was also to look at how the support from different government departments and other government agencies are used to enhance the co-operatives governance. Lastly, the research was to find the best model for co-operative development and what needs to be done to enhance the capacity of the co-operatives. In the study that was carried out, four different approaches were used. The research was based on action research which involved a range of instruments like questionnaires, focus group interviews, conversation and observation. Both comparative and qualitative research frameworks were used for different purposes and at different times. Comparative approach is used when the three co-operatives are compared to each other. Differences on governance and administrative issues on governance such as capital, market and the impact thereafter is reported on. The research assumption was that co-operative development is a viable tool for economic development of the rural areas. This can help many South Africans and many communities come out of poverty. However, there are 6 limitations that are caused by the inability of government to co-ordinate co-operative development. Despite the role that co-operatives play in South Africa, co-operatives still experience a number of challenges. These challenges are, amongst others, lack of access to finance, lack of access to market, lack of business skills, lack of infrastructural facilities and lack of knowledge about the co-operative. In view of the challenges facing the co-operatives, the government instituted a number of state departments and parastatals for funding and other necessary support. These are DTI, DEDEA (in the Eastern Cape), ECDC, SEDA, Department of Labour and municipalities. The objectives of these support institutions are to provide necessary support needed by co-operatives and to ensure that co-operative development is sustainable. The findings of this study suggest that co-operatives play a vital role in the socio-economic development of the rural villages. Co-operatives create self-employment and sometimes employment through temporary employment offered; provide space and time for socialization and lastly co-operative members are sometimes through their produce able to provide basic foodstuffs to the family. In view of the socio-economic benefits of the co-operatives in rural villages of Dutywa, it is highly recommended that various support programmes that are already there within the departments should be enhanced. Assistance to co-operatives should not only be limited to government funding for co-operatives but more concentration should be on finding market for their products.

Thesis (Ed.D.) -- Teachers College, Columbia University, 1992.
Typescript; issued also on microfilm. Sponsor: William Sayres. Dissertation Committee: Maryalice Mazzara. Includes bibliographical references (p. 173-183).