Social Justice and the responsibility of the State: The Triple Burden of Poverty, Inequality and Unemployment in Southern Africa
Apart from presenting some interesting country case studies, these were the questions we tried to answer at the FES conference organised in February 2011 in Windhoek. Participants included representatives of governments and civil society from eight Southern African countries. In addition, various regional organisations dealing with social and economic issues participated as well. The case studies and new approaches were evaluated, focussing on their suitability for Southern Africa. The discussions brought up various fundamental questions about inequality, redistribution and social protection in Africa. Hence, this booklet is not a conference report but rather takes the deliberations as a starting point for general considerations and information on the topic. We hope to provide some thought-provoking ideas on redistribution, social protection and structural changes in Southern Africa and trust that this booklet will stimulate discussions on possible socio-economic and political changes in the region.
Herbert Jauch & Phanuel Kaapama
http://www.fesnam.org/pdf/2011/publications/SocialJustice.pdf
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
2011
© Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, 2011
PDF
English
Making the difference! The Basic Income Grant in Namibia
This report is part of a series of publications on the Basic Income Grant in Namibia. It reflects the results of the Pilot Project in Otjivero-Omitara in particular. This one year report attempts to give an overview over the new findings, and possible lessons for national implementation of a BIG in Namibia.
Claudia Haarmann, Dirk Haarmann, Herbert Jauch, Hilma Shindondola-Mote, Nicoli Nattrass, Ingrid van Niekerk and Michael Samson
http://www.fesnam.org/pdf/2009/publications/BIG_Assessment_report_08b.pdf
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), Namibia NGO Forum, Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI)
2009
© Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, 2009
PDf
English
A Place We Want to Call Our Own: A Study on Land Tenure Policy and Securing Housing Rights in Namibia
At independence, apartheid policy was abolished and the new Constitution introduced the right of all Namibians to reside and settle in any part of the country. This provoked a dramatic increase of informal settlement in Windhoek, mostly around Katutura. Many living in overcrowded conditions in Katutura moved onto vacant land nearby and many migrants from impoverished rural areas joined them. These newly settled urban residents lived in very unhygienic conditions, without easily accessible water and sewerage facilities. In the early days of informal settlement in Windhoek, the Windhoek City Council (WCC) seemed powerless to stem the tide. Currently, the growing poorer city population profile points at a lower capacity of the city to generate income from rates and taxes annually. The WCC has attempted in recent years to match affordability levels (ability to pay) with an appropriate basic service for the city’s poor population.
Willem Odendaal
http://www.lac.org.na/projects/lead/Pdf/aplacewewanttocallourown.pdf
Legal Assistance Centre
2005
© Land, Environment and Development Project, Legal Assistance Centre, 2005
PDF
English
Prostitution in Windhoek, Namibia: An exploration of poverty
Merab Kambamu Kiremire
http://www.nid.org.na/images/pdf/analysis_views/Prostitution_in_Windhoek.pdf
Namibia Institute for Democracy & Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
2007
© Namibia Institute for Democracy & Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
PDF
English
'One Namibia - One Nation' - A Qualitative Study of the Official Nation-building Process and Experienced Participation among Rural San in Namibia.
Namibia won its independence in 1990 after a long liberation struggle lead by the – since independence ruling party – SWAPO. There is an ongoing nation-building process in the multiethnic country ever since, with a vision about a unified nation. This study examines the relationship between the nation and one of its ethnic minority groups; the San. From a socio-economic perspective the San is the most disadvantaged ethnic group of contemporary Namibia. How do members of San experience national participation? How does the nation handle the ethnic diversity? This study illustrates that a national identity is promoted by the government and that the struggle for an unified nation is legitimized with the liberation struggle and its won independence. At the same time members of San seem to identify their living situation with ethnicity and are more concerned about the survival of their closest community than national participation. The discussion is based on qualitative interviews where experiences among San-members and one NGO-volunteer are analysed with inspiration of the method Grounded Theory, related to earlier research on the field and theories of nationalism and ethnicity.
Jenny Schwerdt
http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:278876/FULLTEXT01
Linköping University
2009
PDF
English
Master (One Year) Thesis in Social and Cultural Analysis (Social Science): Linköping University
Basic Income Grant Towards Poverty Alleviation in Namibia - A discourse analysis of conceptions of poverty and poverty alleviation within the BIG Coalition
Master (one year) Thesis in Social and Cultural Analysis Year 2010 - "Namibia is one of the most unequal countries in the world and has high rates of poverty. In the thesis the proposal for a basic income grant as a strategy for poverty alleviation in Namibia is analyzed. The study is based on six interviews with the Basic Income Grant Coalition in Namibia and their four publications. The theoretical and methodological framework is Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis and social theory of discourse. Conceptions about the economical and political situation of Namibia in relation to inequality are discussed, as well as the image of the desired citizen in neo-liberal societies. Poverty is conceptualized as a trap where the BIG is regarded as a way out from poverty to a situation of confidence, engagement and economic activity. Contemporary classifications and means testing for social grants are problematized as inefficient and discriminative. The BIG is regarded as right in the context of the big inequalities in Namibia. It is suggested that the BIG Coalition with the proposal for the grant also offers alternative conceptions about Namibia and about the possibilities for change in the situation of poverty."
Sofia Littmarck
http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2%3A353810/FULLTEXT01.pdf
Linköpings universitet
2010
PDF
English
Breaking the chains of bondage - a field study of empowerment projects in Namibia
Part of M.A. degree, Högskolan Väst
Anna Karlsson, Martin Lind
http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A216014&dswid=-957
Högskolan Väst
2004
PDF
English
One Namibia - One Nation' - A Qualitative Study of the Official Nation-building Process and Experienced Participation among Rural San in Namibia.
Master (One Year) Thesis in Social and Cultural Analysis (Social Science): Linköping University - "Namibia won its independence in 1990 after a long liberation struggle lead by the – since independence ruling party – SWAPO. There is an ongoing nation-building process in the multiethnic country ever since, with a vision about a unified nation. This study examines the relationship between the nation and one of its ethnic minority groups; the San. From a socio-economic perspective the San is the most disadvantaged ethnic group of contemporary Namibia. How do members of San experience national participation? How does the nation handle the ethnic diversity? This study illustrates that a national identity is promoted by the government and that the struggle for an unified nation is legitimized with the liberation struggle and its won independence. At the same time members of San seem to identify their living situation with ethnicity and are more concerned about the survival of their closest community than national participation. The discussion is based on qualitative interviews where experiences among San-members and one NGO-volunteer are analysed with inspiration of the method Grounded Theory, related to earlier research on the field and theories of nationalism and ethnicity."
Jenny Schwerdt
http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:278876/FULLTEXT01
Linköping University
2009
PDF
English
Perception on Support Provided to Orphan Children in Foster Care Placement in an Urban City of Windhoek (Namibia)
M.A. Thesis: Linköping University (Child Studies) - "The overall aim of this study is to investigate the perception of support provided to orphan children in foster care placement in terms of education, care and support as well as protection by orphan children themselves, foster parents and social workers. Due to HIV/AIDS many children are being orphaned and are left behind without any visible means of support. HIV/AIDS remains undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges of the world today, as there is no part of the world that has not felt the devastating impact of the pandemic. This is already evidenced by the increase in number of orphans, child headed households and other vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS and the inability of the extended family system to provide such children with basic requirements such as shelter, food, medical care, education, love and support. The first chapter is focusing on the Magnitude of OVC in general and Namibia in particular. According to the National Plan of Action for OVC in Namibia, the total number of orphans and vulnerable children was estimated at 128 000 in 2007 (MGECW, 2007). According to 2001 Population and Housing Census the whole Khomas region had 6674 OVC, while Khomas urban had 5708 OVC, which means that in the Khomas region more OVC in an Urban areas while rural areas had less number which was 389 OVC (NPC, 2005). Chapter two presents a literature review and focuses on the phenomena of foster care placement. It includes the definition of terms such as an orphan child, a vulnerable child and foster care placement. It gives background details of foster care placement in general and foster care placement in the Namibia context. Also the support (care and support, education and protection) being offered to children in foster care placement are discussed. Chapter three focuses on the research methods and data collection of this study. The following elements are described in this chapter: Setting and samples, procedure, methods and methodological consideration, the role of the researcher, the limitations of the study and the ethnographic situation. Chapter four is devoted to the foster care placement legal framework in Namibia where the current foster care placement processes to access government grant to support foster families are discussed as well as foster care placement policy implications in Namibia. The conclusion of the findings on foster care placement processes is included. Chapter five consists of the analysis of the study. It provides the background information of the samples, questions, responses and interpretations of the main views of the respondents on the support provided to children in foster care placement in terms of care and support, education, protection as well as foster care placement process are provided in this chapter. Chapter six is focuses on discussions and conclusion. It includes major views of the respondents and the understanding of different voices of orphan children in foster care placement, foster parents and social workers who are professionals in this matter."
Brigitte Nshimyimana
http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:2081/FULLTEXT01.pdf
Linköping University
2008
PDF
English