Participatory Experiences of Women in Economic Development Cooperatives in Bhambayi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

Nation states in both the Global North and South have debated the human rights and liberatory function as opposed to the dependency and economically viable function of social protection policy. This article is an attempt to advance empirical knowledge in the field of social protection policy and poverty alleviation. Method: Using participatory action methodology, I present evidence from 11 women who were involved in an arts and craft economic development cooperative in a community named Bhambayi in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Results: Underscored by the asset-based community development and sustainable livelihood frameworks, this article presents three themes: positive contributions to human capacity development, supportive intersectoral collaboration, and striving for economic self-reliance. Conclusions: This article proposes fresh strategies for women who find themselves outside the circle of secure economic livelihoods to move beyond short-term and survival strategies and work toward economic inclusion.

“I Don’t Know Where I Have to Knock for Support”: A Mixed-Methods Study on Perceptions and Experiences of Single Mothers Raising Children in the Democratic Republic of Congo

“…Thus, policies and programs geared toward labour market gender equity should consider upstream factors of income-generating employment ventures and productivity, such as skills training, working capital, access to resources and social support. As suggested by Raniga, transformative interventions by government, non-governmental organizations, and private sectors need to fully address the social and economic exclusion experienced by low-income single mothers [ 46 ].…”

Developmental Social Work and the Sustainable Development Goals in South Africa: Opportunities and Challenges

“…Through the formation of appropriate partnerships, SDGs can provide opportunities for the social welfare sector in South Africa to push for reforms in economic policies which make them inclusive and enable vulnerable segments of the population to benefit from the fruits of economic development. Although the commitment of the South African government to achieving social development through its NDP provides similar opportunities for developmental social work, several commentators such as Plagerson et al (2019), Raniga (2017), Mbecke (2016), and Ntjana (2014) among others have accused the government of not equipping the plan with a coherent programme of action. Some commentators such as Patel (2015) and Plagerson et al (2019) even maintain that the government has abandoned the plan in its inexorable drift towards neoliberal policies which do not accord with the agenda of social development which the NDP purports to advance.…”

“…As each of these priorities implicitly emphasises developmental social work, rather than the traditional remedial orientation of social work practice, they provide opportunities for social workers to make the transition to developmental social work and to make meaningful contributions to attaining SDGs by doing so. Despite studies such as those of Ntjana (2014), Mbecke (2016), and Raniga (2017) on the progress of social workers towards developmental social work in South Africa and that of Gray et al (2018) in Southern and East Africa, an obstacle which the social work profession faces at present concerns a lack of visibility with respect to the contributions which they make to social development. In order to receive adequate acknowledgement by relevant policymakers, it is imperative that the profession should demonstrate the crucial role which it has to play in social development.…”

Single Mothers Employed in the Formal Work Sector in Germany and South Africa

“…The sustainable livelihood approach can provide a valuable organising framework for social workers seeking to reduce vulnerability to poverty and economic insecurity in single-mother households (Raniga, 2016). This is enshrined in the developmental social welfare approach, where female-headed households are encouraged to set up economic cooperatives as intervention strategies to improve their social and economic profile and reduce poverty (Raniga, 2018).…”