HIV/AIDS Programs and Microfinance

Here is a link to my dissertation proposal...

digaproposalfinal.doc 103 Kb

My objective is to examine which features will likely make a microfinance institution a suitable venue for providing HIV/AIDS programmes. My study hopes to achieve this objective by measuring the following broad indicators: a) financial performance of MFI, b) the management capacity of the MFI and c) the integration of MFI in community’s social network. After this examination, I hope to critically determine to what extent is the MFI able to undertake an HIV/AIDS programme given the necessity to act upon the relatively high prevalence rates of Mozambique. I will be particularly focussing my work in Male Yeru within the main offices at Bela Vista, Matutuine district, in Mozambique. Male Yeru is part of the Mozambique Microfinance Facility (MMF) network which received MMF staff technical training on HIV/AIDS in February 2006. As the study focuses solely on one microfinance institution, it may not be possible to provide general conclusions about conditions for success for all microfinance institution, but will at least develop a strong understanding of conditions for protection against vulnerability.

Dissertation proposal....Participation and accountability in outcome based planning

For full dissertation proposal, click here.

Participation and accountability in outcome based planning

Posted by Musyoka Jason M,
Masters student, and researcher,
School of development studies
University of Kwazulu Natal

Title.
Participation and Accountability in outcome-based planning: A case study of eThekwini’s small business-related Local Economic Development programmes outlined in the Integrated Development Plan.

1. Outline of research topic
This research will examine eThekwini municipality’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) with the intention of making explicit the relationship between the IDP’s Local economic development (LED) commitments and outcome indicators of eThekwini municipality. Additionally, the project seeks to investigate the degree in which relationships between LED small business- related programmes and outcome indicators linkages are articulated in the IDP. The paper will reflect on the adequacy or otherwise in this articulation, based on experiences of various role players, including those involved in small businesses. In this regard, the study will also examine the extent to which the linkage between LED and outcomes is clearly understood, endorsed and shared by stakeholders. Of central importance to the study is the nature of participation and accountability of and by stakeholders, and the degree in which these two processes influence LED outcomes. Ultimately the study will seek to determine if eThekwini’s normative development practice deepens democratic processes as outlined in the South African municipal legislation, or alternatively, reinforces managerial[1] or bureaucratic processes.

The research will seek to understand existing practice by local government officials around matters of accountability and participation through examining processes to identify development outcomes in the Integrated Development Plans and related Local Economic Development programmes. Within these areas the study will focus primarily on small business development related LED commitments by eThekwini. The project will then relate eThekwini’s small business LED practice to community participation and accountability. Below is a brief outline of the dominant themes as well as the working definition of ‘small businesses’.