The implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and poverty reduction in Zimbabwe : the role of Official Development Assistance (ODA)
- Authors: Chivanga, Shylet Yvonne
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Economic development projects--Zimbabwe Sustainable development--Zimbabwe Poverty--Developing countries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Development Studies
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15605 , vital:40483
- Description: This study sought to analyse the role of official development assistance (ODA) from international developmental partnerships in reducing poverty in accordance with the aims of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Zimbabwe. A qualitative research methodology was used and interview guides were developed in order to put open-ended questions to the participants in one-on-one face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions. The data which was collected was subjected to thematic analysis. Among the findings which emerged was that the implementation of interventions to meet MDGs and reduce poverty in Zimbabwe had been hindered by both internal and external factors. Internal factors included corruption, underinvestment in industry, an untaxed underground economy, and political instability, the inconsistent implementation of policies, a weak judiciary, and excessive dependence upon ODA. Conversely, external factors included ODA which failed to enable the root causes of poverty to be tackled, attempting to remedy the symptoms of poverty rather than the real causes, the misuse of hegemonic economic and political power by foreign developmental partners, the inequitable distribution of ODA, ODA which entailed conditionalities, and soured relations with foreign donors. From the findings it was concluded that the most effective means of reducing poverty effectively in Zimbabwe lay in investing in developing internal sources of revenue. ODA should be used only to supplement interventions to reduce poverty in a sustainable manner and promote inclusive economic growth in the interests of equity. In order to generate the ODA which is needed to begin the process of economic recovery, Zimbabwe needs to re-engage with foreign developmental partners in a manner which ensures that partnerships are mutually beneficial. The injustices of the past should not be used to account for the failure to meet the MDGs and the deepening poverty in Zimbabwe, as they are not the consequences of the white minority rule of the past, but rather of present-day political ineptitude. Consequently, it is imperative that Zimbabwe should concentrate its efforts on developing the means to raise revenue for development and limit its dependence upon ODA. Holding onto the past by blaming the targeted sanctions, white minority rule, and colonialism will not enable the poverty in which many Zimbabweans in the post-independence era are mired to be meaningfully reduced through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which have superceded the MDGs to be achieved by 2030.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Chivanga, Shylet Yvonne
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Economic development projects--Zimbabwe Sustainable development--Zimbabwe Poverty--Developing countries
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , Development Studies
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15605 , vital:40483
- Description: This study sought to analyse the role of official development assistance (ODA) from international developmental partnerships in reducing poverty in accordance with the aims of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Zimbabwe. A qualitative research methodology was used and interview guides were developed in order to put open-ended questions to the participants in one-on-one face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions. The data which was collected was subjected to thematic analysis. Among the findings which emerged was that the implementation of interventions to meet MDGs and reduce poverty in Zimbabwe had been hindered by both internal and external factors. Internal factors included corruption, underinvestment in industry, an untaxed underground economy, and political instability, the inconsistent implementation of policies, a weak judiciary, and excessive dependence upon ODA. Conversely, external factors included ODA which failed to enable the root causes of poverty to be tackled, attempting to remedy the symptoms of poverty rather than the real causes, the misuse of hegemonic economic and political power by foreign developmental partners, the inequitable distribution of ODA, ODA which entailed conditionalities, and soured relations with foreign donors. From the findings it was concluded that the most effective means of reducing poverty effectively in Zimbabwe lay in investing in developing internal sources of revenue. ODA should be used only to supplement interventions to reduce poverty in a sustainable manner and promote inclusive economic growth in the interests of equity. In order to generate the ODA which is needed to begin the process of economic recovery, Zimbabwe needs to re-engage with foreign developmental partners in a manner which ensures that partnerships are mutually beneficial. The injustices of the past should not be used to account for the failure to meet the MDGs and the deepening poverty in Zimbabwe, as they are not the consequences of the white minority rule of the past, but rather of present-day political ineptitude. Consequently, it is imperative that Zimbabwe should concentrate its efforts on developing the means to raise revenue for development and limit its dependence upon ODA. Holding onto the past by blaming the targeted sanctions, white minority rule, and colonialism will not enable the poverty in which many Zimbabweans in the post-independence era are mired to be meaningfully reduced through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which have superceded the MDGs to be achieved by 2030.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
National development plan (NDP) and youth employment in South Africa. The case of Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Chivanga, Shylet Yvonne
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Dev)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/855 , vital:26503
- Description: This research study explored the inadequacies of the National Development Plan on addressing the problem of youth unemployment in Eastern Cape in South Africa. The study intended to achieve the following objectives: (i) to evaluate the employment needs of youth in relation to the identified measures of employment creation outlined in the NDP. ii) to identify the gaps in the NDP policy interventions in relation to the prospects and problems embedded in addressing the problem of youth unemployment. The literature reviewed in the study was drawn from several researchers and the study was underpinned by the human capital theory, the capability approach and the public and the private sector partnership theory. Though many theories were used, the human capital theory was the major theory adopted in this study. Since the study was qualitative in nature, an interview guide which consisted of open ended questions was used on face to face interviews and focus groups to collect data from twenty one youth and five youth representatives in the Eastern Cape. The data of this study was thematically analysed. The analysis of the study made the following conclusions about the NDP and youth employment in the Eastern Cape. Firstly, there is a problem of high youth unemployment which is above 50% in the Eastern Cape. Secondly, the NDP’s economic measures have a potential of excluding the youth and as a result, the NDP will inadequately address the employment needs of the youth. Thirdly, the youth appreciated that the NDP is realising the problem of youth unemployment but they are not happy with the NDP’s proposed employment measures of wage subsidies, low wages, labour deregulation and SMMEs because they do not solve the root causes of youth unemployment. Rather, they provide unsustainable and low quality jobs in the long run if not properly monitored. In response to the findings, the study therefore made the following recommendations: The NDP’s economic growth policy to be labour intensive compliant, human capital to match the work place skills requirements, promoting entrepreneurship skills, addressing the root causes rather than focusing on symptoms of unemployment , rethinking on SMMEs, development policies to match the local employment needs, succinct youth employment policy implementation, productivity to match the wages, complementing the private and the public sector in creating youth employment, the NDP to promote adequate link of education to self-employment from the primary level, the NDP to promote higher levels of investment for the employment benefits of the youth and the NDP to fight corruption on the misuse of youth employment grants. The study concluded that NDP’s proposed economic measures will inadequately address the youth employment needs hence there is need for relooking at the NDP to be sustainable employment responsive in nature so as to reduce poverty and inequality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Chivanga, Shylet Yvonne
- Date: 2014
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Dev)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/855 , vital:26503
- Description: This research study explored the inadequacies of the National Development Plan on addressing the problem of youth unemployment in Eastern Cape in South Africa. The study intended to achieve the following objectives: (i) to evaluate the employment needs of youth in relation to the identified measures of employment creation outlined in the NDP. ii) to identify the gaps in the NDP policy interventions in relation to the prospects and problems embedded in addressing the problem of youth unemployment. The literature reviewed in the study was drawn from several researchers and the study was underpinned by the human capital theory, the capability approach and the public and the private sector partnership theory. Though many theories were used, the human capital theory was the major theory adopted in this study. Since the study was qualitative in nature, an interview guide which consisted of open ended questions was used on face to face interviews and focus groups to collect data from twenty one youth and five youth representatives in the Eastern Cape. The data of this study was thematically analysed. The analysis of the study made the following conclusions about the NDP and youth employment in the Eastern Cape. Firstly, there is a problem of high youth unemployment which is above 50% in the Eastern Cape. Secondly, the NDP’s economic measures have a potential of excluding the youth and as a result, the NDP will inadequately address the employment needs of the youth. Thirdly, the youth appreciated that the NDP is realising the problem of youth unemployment but they are not happy with the NDP’s proposed employment measures of wage subsidies, low wages, labour deregulation and SMMEs because they do not solve the root causes of youth unemployment. Rather, they provide unsustainable and low quality jobs in the long run if not properly monitored. In response to the findings, the study therefore made the following recommendations: The NDP’s economic growth policy to be labour intensive compliant, human capital to match the work place skills requirements, promoting entrepreneurship skills, addressing the root causes rather than focusing on symptoms of unemployment , rethinking on SMMEs, development policies to match the local employment needs, succinct youth employment policy implementation, productivity to match the wages, complementing the private and the public sector in creating youth employment, the NDP to promote adequate link of education to self-employment from the primary level, the NDP to promote higher levels of investment for the employment benefits of the youth and the NDP to fight corruption on the misuse of youth employment grants. The study concluded that NDP’s proposed economic measures will inadequately address the youth employment needs hence there is need for relooking at the NDP to be sustainable employment responsive in nature so as to reduce poverty and inequality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
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