Masters Degrees (Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC))

Permanent URI for this collection

http://hdl.handle.net/11660/419

Browse

Browsing Masters Degrees (Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC)) by Author "Jordaan, Andries"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Assessing non-governmental organizations (NGOS) drought risk management strategies in Gwanda District, Zimbabwe
    (University of the Free State, 2014) Bhebe, Babra Ontibile; Jordaan, Andries
    Drought represents a major constraint on agricultural production in Zimbabwe. Every year, NGOs intervene in drought affected areas to alleviate hunger and starvation. According to the Zimbabwe VuLnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) (2012) approximately 1 million people (12 per cent of the population) required food assistance at the peak of the 2011/2012 dry season. It is argued that, this number increased in 2013 to 1.6 million - which accounted to nearly one in five rural people in Zimbabwe (ZimVAC, 2012). Drought has had wide ranging effects to communities including; widespread malnutrition, deaths of livestock, loss of income, declining environmental health standards and massive migration. Amongst the factors that worsen drought impact in Zimbabwe are HIV/AIDS, massive dependence on rain fed agriculture and climate change. Past studies have focused on coping strategies adopted by drought distressed communities covering different case studies. Although this has been useful in understanding the survival strategies of communities, researchers have not studied the drought problem and how non- governmental organizations have contributed in mitigating it. This thesis therefore contributes new and unique evidence on the approaches employed by NGOs in mitigating drought in Zimbabwe. The study is specifically based on a case study which was conducted in Masholomoshe village located in Ward 1 of Gwanda rural district. Through the use of both secondary and documented evidence and primary data the study found out that, most NGO drought interventions are short term relief measures and do not focus on preparedness, prevention, or mitigation aspects of drought management. This thesis also reveals the need to promote proactive drought risk reduction strategies and activities to address community vulnerabilities to drought rather than relying solely on emergency response measures. This entails a 'transition from crisis management' to 'drought risk management'. The conclusions from this large and original dataset are placed within the context of the wider academic debates. The need for new, relevant and more diverse samples is emphasized to advance discussions on the effectiveness of NGO strategies in drought risk management in Gwanda.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Impact of floods on rural livelihoods of people residing in flood prone areas: the case of Luhonono community in the Zambezi region of Namibia
    (University of the Free State, 2015) Mashebe, Mashebe Percy; Jordaan, Andries
    This study examined the impact of floods on the livelihoods of the community of the Luhonono area, formerly Schuckmannsburg, in the Kabbe constituency in the Zambezi region of Namibia. The problem identified is the persistent flooding in the Luhonono area, giving rise to the need to examine the impact of floods on the livelihoods of the local community. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches, utilising both descriptive and exploratory designs. The target population for the study was all the heads of hou eholds, community leaders and political counci llors of government in Luhonono area. The study applied both purposive sampling and simple random sampling techn iques. Purposive sampling was used to select three, in formation-rich key info rmants; the area Headman, the Councillor and the Community Development Committee member (CDC). A simple random sampling technique was used to choose a sample of 169 participants from a total of 800 households in the area. Structured questionnaires and an interview guide were used as research instruments to collect the data from the sample. The data collected was computed using the Excel computer program and the data was analysed by both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Chi Square tests were carried out to determine the association of villages and severity of the flooding to the respondents. Hypotheses to test this association were examined using the Chi Square method. It was established that there is no association between the villages and the overall severity of the floods in the Luhonono area. This implies that all the villages were equally affected by the flood. On the other hand, the results of the study showed that floods impacted more severely on one or more of the crops, livestock, water quality, child education, livelihoods and dwellings. The results have shown that crops and child education were the most affected. The study further recommended that the Government of the Republic of Namibia should step up the relocation drives (considering the willingness of the affected people), linked to positive incentives which would be a longterm solution, unlike the temporary provision of utilities during times of flooding.