scholarly journals Fish farming as an innovative strategy for promoting food security in drought risk regions of Zimbabwe

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elvin Shava ◽  
Constance Gunhidzirai
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Fish Farming ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Drought Risk ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
The Government

This article examines the implementation of fish farming as an innovative and economic strategy for promoting food security and dietary diversities among vulnerable households in drought risk areas of Zimbabwe. The declining climatic conditions and lack of economic opportunities in Mwenezi district of Zimbabwe attracted the attention of three nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) to implement fish farming as an innovative mechanism to stimulate food security and generate employment in the district. The article used a qualitative research approach that includes semi-structured interviews and secondary data. The purposive sampling technique was adopted to interview participants in Mwenezi district who were involved in fish farming to assess and explore the experiences and benefits they derive from such development projects. Results for the article revealed that fish farming was well embraced by local communities as it led to improvements in food security, household income and employment regeneration. The local government including traditional leadership (Chiefs and Headmen’s) supported the NGO activities as they benefited local communities. The article concludes that although fish farming was instrumental in regenerating employment, some participants still fail to participate because of laziness and desire to maintain dependency syndrome. The article recommends the NGOs to launch awareness campaigns in rural communities and increase networking with the donor community which is fundamental in attracting sustainable funding. The government can also promote fish farming in vulnerable rural communities by providing funding and capacity building programmes.

Management of Records in Adapted Buildings as Records Centres in Zimbabwe

Mousaion ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samson Mutsagondo ◽  
Getrude Maduyu ◽  
Godfrey Tsvuura
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Records Management ◽  
Personal Observation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Professional Management ◽  
The Government

This paper discusses the challenges of records management that arise from the use of adapted buildings as records centres in Zimbabwe, despite the advantages of using such buildings. A qualitative research approach was used as well as a case study research design. Data were collected from seven officers of the Gweru Records Centre through semi-structured interviews. Personal observation was used to triangulate findings from interviews. It was found that the use of adapted buildings as records centres was a cheaper and quicker way of establishing records centres throughout the country. However, a number of preservation, security and management challenges cropped up as the conditions of the buildings and the environment of the adapted buildings were not conducive to the proper and professional management of records. This study is important in that it explores the prospects and challenges of using adapted buildings as records centres in Zimbabwe, an area that has not been researched by many authors. This provokes archival authorities and the government to seriously consider establishing purpose-built records and archival centres.

scholarly journals Managing corporate identities of non-profit organisations in the social welfare sector

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lida Holtzhausen
Keyword(s):  
Social Welfare ◽  
Identity Management ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Corporate Identity ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Government

Present-day South Africa is characterised by many societal and developmental issues, such as HIV awareness and prevention, child-headed households, environmental protection, poverty alleviation, violence and victim aid. However, it is widely acknowledged that government alone cannot address these issues effectively. The role of non-profit organisations (NPOs) in addressing social and development issues is increasingly emphasised. NPOs work at grass-roots level and they can therefore, on the whole, identify societal vulnerabilities and risks earlier than the government sector. However, due to the economic recession, NPOs operate in a competitive environment where an increasing number of NPOs rely on a small number of donors and other resources. NPOs should therefore differentiate themselves from the competition in order to obtain public legitimacy and funding. Corporate identity management is important for NPOs to fulfil their role in social welfare and thus contribute to disaster risk reduction. The exploratory nature of this study dictates a qualitative research approach. Semi-structured interviews with management of five NPOs in the social welfare sector were conducted in order to provide an answer to the study’s research question: ‘To what extent do NPOs in the social welfare sector practise corporate identity management, in order to prevent and address social welfare risks?’ The research found that NPOs do not realise the full potential of managing their corporate identities. NPOs therefore do not take advantage of a strong and distinct corporate identity which would allow them to ensure their ability to assess, address, reduce and/or alleviate vulnerabilities and disaster risks.

scholarly journals Exploring the Roles, Functions and Competencies of Library and Media Teachers in Managing School Resource Centers and Supporting 21st Century Learning in Malaysian Schools

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 176
Author(s):  
Husain Hashim ◽  
Shamila Mohamed Shuhidan
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Global Knowledge ◽  
School Students ◽  
Essential Information ◽  
The Government ◽  
School Resource

21st century skills are embedded in the Malaysian school curriculum to prepare and produce knowledgeable and responsible young citizens in coping with the challenges of the global knowledge economy. The trend has an impact on the roles of school resource centers (SRC), which are currently managed by the so-called library and media teachers (LMT). As the LMTs are appointed among school teachers who need to allocate and divide their responsibilities into academic teaching and SRC management, several issues are found from literature pertaining to their overburdened teaching tasks, lack of time and inadequate library management competencies. This has caused further shortcomings in service provision including poor implementation of information literacy and reading programs for school students. A qualitative research approach is adapted to investigate the roles, functions and competencies of LMTs in managing SRCs and supporting 21st century teaching and learning in the school setting. This study uses semi-structured interviews for data collection involving five (5) LMTs who provided insightful feedback towards understanding the aforementioned issues. The findings reveal essential information with respect to the roles, functions and competencies of LMTs and also identify relevant challenges that can disrupt the provision and delivery of SRC services, facilities and programs. This requires the attention of the government and school administration to enforce a better platform that enables the LMTs to uphold their roles and functions accordingly towards enhancing the 21st teaching and learning environment in Malaysian schools.

scholarly journals Diversity and potential contribution of wild edible plants to sustainable food security in North Wollo, Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Hassen
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Wild Edible Plants ◽  
Preference Ranking ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Edible Plants ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
North Wollo

Hassen A. 2021. Diversity and potential contribution of wild edible plants to sustainable food security in North Wollo, Ethiopia. Biodiversitas 22: 2501-2510. Rural communities in different parts of the world use WEPs as supplementary food to increase dietary diversity. The findings of this study showed that 40.7% of the participants were food insecure in the study area. They are significantly dependent on WEPs when sudden drought exists. There were no significant studies conducted about ethnobotany in the study area. Therefore, this study was the first attempt to survey the perception of local people towards the potential resources of WEPs for sustainable food security, and conservation and management trends in North Wollo. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews (135 participants), tour-guided field observation, and focus group discussion (45 participants) to get relevant and adequate data. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and preference ranking were used to analyze and interpret the quantitative data. A total of 66 locally available WEPs belong to 30 families found in the study area. Respondents’ preference revealed that O. ficus-indica, Z.spina-christ, C. spinarum, F. sur, and U. sinesis were ranked first, second, third, fourth, and fifth, respectively. Hence, this study will provide relevant information for policy-makers and managers to combat food insecurity in the study area.

Integrating Clean Energy Use in National Poverty Reduction Strategies

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chika Ezeanya ◽  
Abel Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Cow Dung ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Reduction Strategies ◽  
The Government

The disappearance of Rwanda’s forests and attendant change in climatic conditions prompted the government to explore clean energy alternatives such as biogas. Unlike at any other time in Rwanda’s history, more and more Rwandans in rural areas are becoming owners of cattle because of the Government of Rwanda’s agricultural direct assistance and poverty reduction programme known as Girinka. This chapter focuses on the various strategies employed by the government of Rwanda in achieving increased biogas use among the rural poor Girinka beneficiaries who use cow dung for their domestic biogas plants. Conditions necessary for successful implementation of clean energy pro-poor reforms in rural communities are explored.

The consumption of wild meat in Madagascar: drivers, popularity and food security

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
KIM E. REUTER ◽  
HALEY RANDELL ◽  
ABIGAIL R. WILLS ◽  
BRENT J. SEWALL
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Meat Consumption ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Luxury Good ◽  
Wild Pigs ◽  
Rural Settings ◽  
Wild Meat

SUMMARYThe role of wild meat for subsistence or as a luxury good is debated. We investigated the role of wild meat in food security in Madagascar, where consumption is poorly understood in urban areas and at regional scales. Using semi-structured interviews (n = 1339 heads-of-households, 21 towns), we aimed to: (1) quantify the amount and purpose of, (2) understand the drivers of, and (3) examine changes in wild meat consumption. Few respondents preferred wild meat (8 ± 3%) but most had eaten it at least once in their lifetime (78 ± 7%). Consumption occurred across ethnic groups, in urban and rural settings. More food insecure areas reported higher rates of wild meat consumption in the 6–8 months prior to interviews. Consumption was best explained by individual preferences and taboos. Less than 1% of respondents had increased consumption during their lifetimes. Wild meat prices showed no change from 2005–2013. Most consumption involved wild pigs and smaller-sized animals, though they were consumed less in the years following the 2009 coup. These data illustrate the differences between urban and rural communities, the occasions in which wild meat is used a source of food security, and provide evidence that some taxa are not hunted sustainably in Madagascar.

scholarly journals Institutional Development for Good Governance: the role of intermediary NGOs in Pará state, Amazonia

2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 793-815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Maria de Albuquerque Vasconcellos ◽  
Mário Vasconcellos Sobrinho
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Institutional Development ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Environmental Development ◽  
Family Based

The paper analyses the roles of intermediary NGOs for linkages between government and rural communities in carrying out socio-environmental development programs as a mean of institutional development for good governance. In particular, the paper focuses on the Proambiente program that was carried out in Pará State, Amazonia, Brazil. This program was the first experience of a socio-environmental development program in Brazilian Amazonia that took into account local communities' demands to link environmental conservation and small-scale family-based rural production. Methodologically, the research was based on qualitative analysis and used semi-structured interviews for data collection. The paper shows that NGOs as intermediaries between government and rural communities is a significant mechanism to promote the strengthening of the power of local communities, to create bridges between federal government and local communities; and to stimulate participatory processes by engaging rural communities' culture and knowledge in socio-environmental development program as Proambiente.

scholarly journals The relation between innovation sources and ICT roles in facility management organizations

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 368-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ada Scupola
Keyword(s):  
External Source ◽  
Facility Management ◽  
Strategic Orientation ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovation Activities ◽  
The Government

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present research findings on the relation between internal/external sources of innovation and information and communication technology (ICT) as a supporter/enabler of facilities management (FM) organizations, as well as on the strategic orientation towards open innovation of FM organizations. Design/methodology/approach – This study uses a qualitative research approach. The data collection includes qualitative semi-structured interviews with key FM managers and directors and secondary material such as company brochures, reports and information provided on the participating companies’ websites. Findings – The results show that the FM organizations in the study sample are starting to develop and engage in open FM service innovations, even though they still mostly conduct closed innovation activities. The findings show that FM organizations mostly take an ambidextrous strategic orientation towards FM service innovations, while they also embrace an exploration approach. Concerning the role of ICT in FM service innovations, the study shows that in the explorative organizations, ICT was mostly an enabler, while in the ambidextrous organizations, ICT mostly supported and enabled the innovations in question. Only in two innovation instances was ICT identified as having a utility role. Practical implications – The findings of this study challenge researchers and managers to rethink how and why a strategic orientation towards innovation, the sources of innovation and the role of ICT might affect service innovation in FM organizations. One important implication for FM managers and researchers is the importance that the government might have as an external source in fostering FM service innovations, especially in light of changing environmental requirements, such as energy consumption. FM managers should also consider how they could use ICT to improve and innovate FM services and service delivery and the kind of sources (external/internal) they should use to carry out this task. Originality/value – This paper contributes to the empirical and theoretical understanding of the sources of innovation and ICT as a supporter/enabler, as well as the strategic orientation towards innovation in FM organizations.

scholarly journals What's missing from ‘What's missing’? A reply to C. Cramer and N. Pontara, ‘Rural poverty and poverty alleviation in Mozambique: what's missing from the debate?’

1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-709 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Anne Pitcher
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Structural Adjustment ◽  
Rural Poverty ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
The Government ◽  
Private Investors ◽  
Democratic Elections

Mozambique has undergone some dramatic changes in recent years. The government concluded a 17-year-old civil war in 1992 and held democratic elections in 1994. Following the adoption of structural adjustment policies after 1987, the government eliminated subsidies on food and consumer items, pledged its support for emerging markets, and has now sold most state companies to private investors. These changes have generated much interest among researchers and policymakers, particularly with regard to their impact on the countryside, where the majority of Mozambicans live and work. Recent studies have focused on the most appropriate rural development strategy for Mozambique now that the war has ended, or examined ways to alleviate the widespread poverty that still exists in rural areas. Other work has analysed the structure of agrarian relations or how to ensure food security. Additional research has criticised the government's on-going policy of encouraging and granting land concessions to private investors. It claims that the policy lacks transparency and fails to consider the rights of local communities.

scholarly journals Approaches for enhancing information sharing between government and communities in Western Cape

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Murendeni Nelwamondo ◽  
James K. Njenga
Keyword(s):  
Information Sharing ◽  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Computer Training ◽  
Provincial Government ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Government

Background: The Western Cape Provincial Government uses digital intermediaries to facilitate information sharing between individuals, communities and the government. Digital intermediaries are shared facilities where communities can visit and have access to information and communication technology (ICT) and the internet. Communities benefit economically, socially and politically by using free access to ICT and the internet from intermediaries’ facilities to share information with the government. There seem to be disparities between the roles of the different stakeholders in information sharing. These disparities often result in poor communication between the government and communities, and also poor government services delivery.Objectives: This research investigated how intermediaries can enhance information sharing between government and communities in the Western Cape Province.Method: This study adopted a qualitative research approach by using semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used to collect qualitative data from 15 participants from different intermediaries’ staff in the Western Cape Province. A narrative analysis approach was used to analyse the data.Results: The study found that intermediaries intermediate between communities and the government by providing free access to ICTs, provide basic computer training and access to computing resources and serving as an information hub. The study also found that operating hours, lack of resources, skilled staff and communication challenges adversely affect information sharing.Conclusion: This study recommended that intermediaries are supported to increase the number of resources and facilities and the number and levels of training in the province to cater for more communities. This study further recommended an increase on operational hours, and communication channels between the government and intermediaries.

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