scholarly journals Social Solidarity Economy and Village-centric Development in North-West Cameroon

2021 ◽  
pp. 251660262110154
Author(s):  
Charles Fonchingong Che ◽  
Marcellus Mbah
Keyword(s):  
Community Development ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Community Relations ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Solidarity Economy ◽  
North West ◽  
Secondary Sources

Amidst shrinking budgets for community development in most of sub-Saharan Africa, the social solidarity economy is touted as a model in local development. This article situates solidarity initiatives and capability-focused outcomes that deliver enhanced livelihoods, social security and community development. The conceptual framing of social theory, social capital and social economy informs this case study with focus on the Ndong Awing Cultural and Development Association, North-West region, Cameroon. The analysis of semi-structured interviews and secondary sources suggests that solidarity networks such as njangis, cooperatives, quarter development unions and diaspora networks promote village-centric development. These overlapping networks generate scarce financial and human resources–essential packages for livelihoods and welfare. Emerging state policy is yet to calibrate these mechanisms of ground-up, mutual development drives. Galvanising these solidarity assets require meaningful co-productionand revamped state−community relations. This article offers a paradigm shift in how village groups mobilise income, capital and financing of village projects, nurtured through human development and agency.

scholarly journals Sustainable Development in Island Communities: The Case Study of Postira

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Željka Tonković ◽  
Jelena Zlatar
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sustainable Community Development ◽  
Island Communities

Abstract The article shows the results of the case study of Postira, a village and a municipality on the island of Brač (Croatia) and presents a positive example of sustainable community development on islands in the post-transition social context. Based on the theory of sustainable local community development and its four pillars (economic, ecological, social and cultural), we analyse both the secondary data and the primary data collected from semi-structured interviews with the key actors of local development. The study shows that economic, ecological, social and cultural domaines are connected in Postira which allows for sustainable development of the place. By examining various aspects of sustainable development in Postira, we present the general framework of sustainable island development. It is based on integral development of the local community on sustainability principles, it defines key processes and guidelines and can be applied to rural and island areas, taking into account the specificities of each community.

scholarly journals Sustainable Development in Portuguese Social Economy Entities: The Environmental Responsibility of Private Social Solidarity Institutions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graça Azevedo ◽  
Denise Curi ◽  
Alberto J. Costa ◽  
Ana Maria Bandeira ◽  
Augusta Ferreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Environmental Management Systems ◽  
Environmental Responsibility ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Environmental Behaviour ◽  
The Social

Social Economy institutions seek to provide answers to social problems, given that they naturally have a socially responsible mission. This study aims to answer the research question: how sustainable practices, namely environmental behaviour, have been adopted by Portuguese Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS) with the purpose of contributing to Sustainable Development? To achieve this objective, qualitative research was carried out in 31 IPSS, which was framed within the scope of the TFA project (Theoretical framework for promotion of accountability in the social economy sector: the IPSS case). Semi-structured interviews were conducted, with a script based on the literature review, from May to July 2019, with those responsible for the management of these entities. A content analysis was conducted, using the NVivo12 Version 12.6.0 software, which enables data to be coded and categorised, reducing any researcher bias. The results indicate that most entities carry out activities of an environmental nature, related to the reuse of materials, the recycling of waste, the sale of materials for recycling, and user awareness. Several entities expressed financial limitations to the implementation of Environmental Management Systems and their accomplishment. However, the objections presented are not impossible to overcome, according to studies presented in other countries.

Mapping social economy discourses in Chile

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Beatriz Cid ◽  
Eduardo Antonio Letelier Araya ◽  
Pablo Saravia ◽  
Julien Vanhulst ◽  
Nelson Carroza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Transformation ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Solidarity Economy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Discourse ◽  
Key Informants ◽  
Economic Diversity ◽  
Alternative Economies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the social economy discourses in four regions of Chile, characterized by their internal economic heterogeneity. Design/methodology/approach Using an intentional sample, semi-structured interviews were applied to 45 key informants from the public sector, universities, consultant enterprises, cooperatives and civil society organizations. Through a content analysis, thematic axes were identified that allowed to characterize and to recognize the narratives that key informants held about their initiatives, experiences or ventures. Findings The results allow us to understand the diversity of discourses and practices about alternative economies, being able to organize them from two axes: the tension between molar and molecular subjectivities; and the tension between reform and transformation (which refers to a transformative type of institutional and socio-material change). These axes propose an interpretative framework that integrates a diversity of distinctions and/or polarities and problematizes the homogeneity of formal economic discourse. Research limitations/implications The discourses analyzed by this paper offers representativeness by saturation. It do not allow to ponder for sure the relative presence of each of these discourses in the field of economic diversity. The analysis of what type of actors sustain each type of discourse remains pending. Social implications The high discourse heterogeneity makes it possible to foresee major difficulties in terms of political articulation and the visibility of various alternative economic experiences, initiatives or ventures as part of a social transformation movement. Originality/value Previous studies developed in Latin America about social and solidarity economy have been focused in objective dimensions as the volume of incomes, expenditures or jobs. This is the first study aimed at characterizing the subjective field of discourse held by different actors who recognize themselves as part of an alternative economy movement.

scholarly journals The Experiences of Development Practitioners and Challenges in Community Engagement in Laos

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Phothong Chanthavilay
Keyword(s):  
Community Development ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Participatory Development ◽  
Problem Analysis ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Government ◽  
Development Practice

<p>Poverty alleviation is a top priority of the global development agenda. Laos is still on the list of Least Developed Countries as measured by the United Nations. Poverty in the Lao context is socially and culturally unique. The Government of Laos works collaboratively with development partners and non-governmental organisations to overcome poverty through development programmes throughout the country. However, the universal development and poverty definitions, including the development and poverty interventions which are influenced by such definitions, do not necessarily match the local contexts and practices.  This thesis examines development practice and community engagement in the Lao context through exploring experiences and perspectives of development practitioners who have worked in and engaged with community development in Laos. The thesis adopts a qualitative approach, drawing upon a social constructivist epistemology and a postcolonial framework. Semi-structured interviews, a form of qualitative methodologies, were employed for data collection. The interviews involved thirteen participants from both governmental and non-governmental organisations, and included both local development workers and expatriates. The focus of interviews was to investigate experiences of and opinions about their development practice and community engagement in Laos.  The findings reveal that development practice in Laos requires sufficient time to understand and learn about communities and their actual problems. Development discourses have conceptualised understandings associated with development and this has shaped how governments, donors, development partners, policymakers and development practitioners perceive mainstream development. The conceptualisation was mainly influenced by Western ideologies and was undeniably a legacy of colonialism. Participatory development approaches have been recommended by all research participants as one of the most effective approaches to bring about success and long-term sustainability. The findings also suggest that participation is required from the beginning of the development process, including in problem analysis, planning, monitoring and evaluating stages. In short, a sense of belonging and ownership needs to be present throughout the entire process of development. Furthermore, it is important for development practitioners to thoughtfully recognise and reflect critically on their roles as to whether they are insiders or outsiders when working on the ground. This can determine development outcomes. This research recommends local people be employed more to work as part of development projects in their own communities. By using these approaches, community development can be more effective and meaningful in a sustainable manner and truly respond to the real needs of communities. This can also contribute to a new phase of participatory development practice.</p>

scholarly journals The Experiences of Development Practitioners and Challenges in Community Engagement in Laos

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Phothong Chanthavilay
Keyword(s):  
Community Development ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Participatory Development ◽  
Problem Analysis ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Government ◽  
Development Practice

<p>Poverty alleviation is a top priority of the global development agenda. Laos is still on the list of Least Developed Countries as measured by the United Nations. Poverty in the Lao context is socially and culturally unique. The Government of Laos works collaboratively with development partners and non-governmental organisations to overcome poverty through development programmes throughout the country. However, the universal development and poverty definitions, including the development and poverty interventions which are influenced by such definitions, do not necessarily match the local contexts and practices.  This thesis examines development practice and community engagement in the Lao context through exploring experiences and perspectives of development practitioners who have worked in and engaged with community development in Laos. The thesis adopts a qualitative approach, drawing upon a social constructivist epistemology and a postcolonial framework. Semi-structured interviews, a form of qualitative methodologies, were employed for data collection. The interviews involved thirteen participants from both governmental and non-governmental organisations, and included both local development workers and expatriates. The focus of interviews was to investigate experiences of and opinions about their development practice and community engagement in Laos.  The findings reveal that development practice in Laos requires sufficient time to understand and learn about communities and their actual problems. Development discourses have conceptualised understandings associated with development and this has shaped how governments, donors, development partners, policymakers and development practitioners perceive mainstream development. The conceptualisation was mainly influenced by Western ideologies and was undeniably a legacy of colonialism. Participatory development approaches have been recommended by all research participants as one of the most effective approaches to bring about success and long-term sustainability. The findings also suggest that participation is required from the beginning of the development process, including in problem analysis, planning, monitoring and evaluating stages. In short, a sense of belonging and ownership needs to be present throughout the entire process of development. Furthermore, it is important for development practitioners to thoughtfully recognise and reflect critically on their roles as to whether they are insiders or outsiders when working on the ground. This can determine development outcomes. This research recommends local people be employed more to work as part of development projects in their own communities. By using these approaches, community development can be more effective and meaningful in a sustainable manner and truly respond to the real needs of communities. This can also contribute to a new phase of participatory development practice.</p>

scholarly journals Corporate Social Responsibility and Business-Community Relations in Africa: the Case of Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-90
Author(s):  
Abdurahman Aliye
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Ethnic Diversity ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Business Community ◽  
Community Relations ◽  
Regional Government ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose: study aimed to assess the Corporate Social Responsibility practices, business-community relations, and the missing links in Corporate Social Responsibility- community development in Ethiopia. Approach/Methodology/Design: Case study and thematic analysis of data on 45 structured interviews of key informants from federal and regional government, companies, and local community was collected, transcribed, and analyzed to identify the current CSR practices and consequences, and the missing links in CSR-community development interface. Findings: The CSR is ad-hoc philanthropy activity based on neo-liberal and voluntary approach motivated by market performance, reputation and image building objectives. There is no community development orientation, no social and environmental impacts. There are tax dodging, deforestation, water and chemical pollutions, britches of labor and community rights, CSiRs; National indigenous culture based community development oriented mandatory CSR policy, coordinating agency, engaging community, measuring the implementation, rewarding good CSR performance and punishing CSiRs. Practical Implications: The study has implications for academics, managers, policy makers, public administrators, community activists and leaders. It contributes to CSR approach in developing countries, CSR theories, thinking, and practice in African context, the business community relations, the business management approaches, scope of stakeholders, in improving CSR to contribute to community development. Originality/value: This study’s originality lies in bringing Ethnic diversity, federal- regional government, political history, collective rights, power of community and nationalism in CSR to the front.

scholarly journals Perspectives of Social Entrepreneurship in Portugal: Comparison and Contrast with International Theoretical Approaches

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Parente ◽  
Mónica Santos ◽  
Vanessa Marcos ◽  
Daniel Costa ◽  
Luísa Veloso
Keyword(s):  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Social Economy ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Solidarity Economy ◽  
Third Sector Organizations ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Individual

Abstract: The aim of this article is to present and discuss the perspectives of social entrepreneurship conveyed by third sector organizations in Portugal in the context of the main international theoretical approaches. As part of a research project on social entrepreneurship in Portugal, the article analyses the content of 20 semi-structured interviews with key actors within the Portuguese third sector. It is assumed that the roles these actors play are a clear indicator of the importance their views can hold in defining the social entrepreneurship field in Portugal. This analysis enables us to conclude that heterogeneous views and blurred defined boundaries frame the debate on social entrepreneurship’s processes and definitions, with some actors even rejecting it in favour of other concepts such as “social economy” or “solidarity economy”. Nevertheless, the central issues that arose are associated with the individual qualities of the entrepreneur, as well as the sustainability of the initiatives.

Impact and Challenges of Centres for Education and Community Action in Cameroon’s North West Region

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-74
Author(s):  
Fonteh Athanasius Amungwa
Keyword(s):  
Rural Development ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Community Action ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
North West ◽  
West Region ◽  
The Impact

This paper examines the impact of community education and challenges facing Centres for Education and Community Action as a rural development strategy in Cameroon. The study was conducted in the North-West Region of Cameroon, employing field observations, semi-structured interviews with key informants using a convenient sampling technique and through elaborate review of documents. These research instruments were blended into what is termed triangulation and the data collected was analysed descriptively. The main focus of qualitative analysis is to understand the ways in which people act and the accounts that people give for their actions. This paper posits that extreme dependence on the provision of Western formal education cannot solve the problems of a rapidly changing society like Cameroon, which is facing a long-term economic crisis and persistent unemployment issues of graduates. Consequently, education should be redefined in the context of the prevailing economic crisis to make it responsive to the aspirations of rural communities. Findings showed that community education had contributed towards rural development immensely but has suffered many challenges due to neglect of the field in the policy agenda. This paper recommends the integration of community education with formal education to facilitate group and community betterment in particular and rural transformation in general.

scholarly journals An increasing role of pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles funestus in malaria transmission in the Lake Zone, Tanzania

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy S. Matowo ◽  
Jackline Martin ◽  
Manisha A. Kulkarni ◽  
Jacklin F. Mosha ◽  
Eliud Lukole ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Malaria Transmission ◽  
Anopheles Funestus ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
North West ◽  
Vector Population ◽  
Lake Zone ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets ◽  
Study District

AbstractAnopheles funestus is playing an increasing role in malaria transmission in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, where An. gambiae s.s. has been effectively controlled by long-lasting insecticidal nets. We investigated vector population bionomics, insecticide resistance and malaria transmission dynamics in 86 study clusters in North-West Tanzania. An. funestus s.l. represented 94.5% (4740/5016) of all vectors and was responsible for the majority of malaria transmission (96.5%), with a sporozoite rate of 3.4% and average monthly entomological inoculation rate (EIR) of 4.57 per house. Micro-geographical heterogeneity in species composition, abundance and transmission was observed across the study district in relation to key ecological differences between northern and southern clusters, with significantly higher densities, proportions and EIR of An. funestus s.l. collected from the South. An. gambiae s.l. (5.5%) density, principally An. arabiensis (81.1%) and An. gambiae s.s. (18.9%), was much lower and closely correlated with seasonal rainfall. Both An. funestus s.l. and An. gambiae s.l. were similarly resistant to alpha-cypermethrin and permethrin. Overexpression of CYP9K1, CYP6P3, CYP6P4 and CYP6M2 and high L1014S-kdr mutation frequency were detected in An. gambiae s.s. populations. Study findings highlight the urgent need for novel vector control tools to tackle persistent malaria transmission in the Lake Region of Tanzania.

scholarly journals Connected diagnostics to improve accurate diagnosis, treatment, and conditional payment of malaria services in Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannen M. C. van Duijn ◽  
Angela K. Siteyi ◽  
Sherzel Smith ◽  
Emmanuel Milimo ◽  
Leon Stijvers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Performance ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Malaria Treatment ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Private Providers ◽  
Provider Perspectives ◽  
Treatment Data ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background In sub-Saharan Africa, the material and human capacity to diagnose patients reporting with fever to healthcare providers is largely insufficient. Febrile patients are typically treated presumptively with antimalarials and/or antibiotics. Such over-prescription can lead to drug resistance and involves unnecessary costs to the health system. International funding for malaria is currently not sufficient to control malaria. Transition to domestic funding is challenged by UHC efforts and recent COVID-19 outbreak. Herewith we present a digital approach to improve efficiencies in diagnosis and treatment of malaria in endemic Kisumu, Kenya: Connected Diagnostics. The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, user experience and clinical performance of this approach in Kisumu. Methods Our intervention was performed Oct 2017–Dec 2018 across five private providers in Kisumu. Patients were enrolled on M-TIBA platform, diagnostic test results digitized, and only positive patients were digitally entitled to malaria treatment. Data on socio-demographics, healthcare transactions and medical outcomes were analysed using standard descriptive quantitative statistics. Provider perspectives were gathered by 19 semi-structured interviews. Results In total 11,689 febrile patients were digitally tested through five private providers. Malaria positivity ranged from 7.4 to 30.2% between providers, significantly more amongst the poor (p < 0.05). Prescription of antimalarials was substantially aberrant from National Guidelines, with 28% over-prescription (4.6–63.3% per provider) and prescription of branded versus generic antimalarials differing amongst facilities and correlating with the socioeconomic status of clients. Challenges were encountered transitioning from microscopy to RDT. Conclusion We provide full proof-of-concept of innovative Connected Diagnostics to use digitized malaria diagnostics to earmark digital entitlements for correct malaria treatment of patients. This approach has large cost-saving and quality improvement potential.

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