Wits School of Governance (ETDs)

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Evaluating the influence of stakeholder participation in the m&e process of green technology projects (A case study of the SANEDI Biogas Digester Projects in South Africa)
(University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Ndlovu, Linah
Green technology projects have become more recently one of the best alternative strategies for sustainable development against the growing concerns and threats of energy crisis, climate change, population growth and wealth disparity. In the endeavour to fulfil this essence over the past two decades, South Africa has fallen short and demonstrated below average uptake of green technologies compared to other developing countries. Research evidence supports the effective use of participatory M&E of projects and programmes in promoting better project performance, sustenance, and greater adoption of projects. To explore the influence of stakeholder participation levels on the implementation of green technology projects, a qualitative research approach making use of SANEDI’s biogas digester projects as a case study was adopted by this study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews from eight participants representing internal and external stakeholders. The findings reveal that the level of stakeholder participation in M&E of projects was low to medium amongst external stakeholders during early project stages of inception and planning through to project implementation, monitoring and close out whereas internal stakeholders had high level of participation throughput the project cycle. among internal stakeholders. The low level of participation created downstream challenges in maintaining and operating the biogas digesters, low project acceptance and ownership levels by the community. The study concludes that meaningful stakeholder participation with balanced power dynamics is required throughout the project life cycle. A high level of stakeholder participation amongst internal and external stakeholders in M&E of projects from project inception to closeout allows stakeholders to enjoy decision making benefits that can help create more aligned stakeholder priorities and needs, build better community ownership levels and greater project uptake. The study also concludes that meaningful stakeholder participation supported by the provision and planning of financial resources, training and awareness create an enabling foundation for the sustainable implementation and uptake of green technologies.
Land management and the use of communal land: The case of the Mchunu Traditional Authority and Alfred Duma Municipality
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Khanyile, Nonkululeko Nomfundo; Abraham, Caryn
For centuries, traditional leadership in Africa was the sole authority over traditional land. They were in charge of allocating and managing land. The beginnings of colonisation and, later, apartheid in South Africa, disrupted these functions by traditional authorities. This posed a significant challenge to the traditional authorities. African countries were decolonized in the years that followed. Following decolonisation and the apartheid government, the citizens in South Africa elected a democratic government that established laws that could regulate how traditional leaders performed their duties in areas under their jurisdiction. However, in 2013, the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) was introduced, and this act presented conflicts between traditional authorities and the local government. The conflict emanates as a result of ambiguities in the act that do not specify the particular roles of local government and traditional authorities in relation to land use management. The research looked into how the Mchunu Traditional Authority (MTA) and Alfred Duma Municipality in Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal, interact on land governance issues. The study employed a qualitative research methodology and utilised snowball sampling. It used in-depth interviews to gather primary data. The questions focused on the governance interface between the two institutions and their distinct functions and roles. The study found that the local government and the traditional authorities are knowledgeable about their functions, which is contrary to some of the findings in studies referenced in the literature. It also found that the institutions have never experienced conflict on issues of land governance and continue to efficiently co- govern
Public Private Partnerships for Municipal Waste Management in the City of Johannesburg
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Madiba, Dineo
Municipal solid waste management is increasingly becoming a burden while population growth, urbanisation and economic growth have overwhelmed the municipalities capacity to deliver waste services. In response municipalities are increasingly implementing public private partnerships to meet the growing demand for waste services. This qualitative study was conducted in the City of Johannesburg and focuses on investigating the challenges of public private partnerships for the delivery of waste services more specifically the study will focus on the Separation at Source program. Thirteen interviews were conducted involving participants from Pikitup, co-operatives, private companies, and an NGO. Interview guides were developed and interview questions were informed by the theoretical framework and themes identified in the literature review. Other sources of information consulted included legislative frameworks as well as Pikitup’s business plan. The results of this study indicate several challenges in the partnership model used to implement the Separation at Source program and the challenges can be summarised as institutional, financial, operational, and technical all of which are preconditions necessary to make partnerships work. It was also observed that stakeholder consultation and participation was inadequate leading to a lack of buy-in from key stakeholders
The role of institutional arrangement in the development of the agro-processing sector (2011-2015)
(2020) Moyo, Cynthia
The study unpacks institutional arrangements which were available when developing the agro-processing manufacturing sector with the milling industry as a case study in the period 2011-2015. In-depth interviews were conducted with the respondents from five institutions (DTI, DAFF, IDC, NAMC and GDARD), FABCOS and Old Mutual Masisizane Fund respondents did not owner the interview invitation which led to the study relying more on secondary data. The key findings revealed that there are common factors that have been contributing to the inefficiencies in policy implementation which includes territorial disputes and policy inconsistency. The study also learnt that there were no concrete institutional arrangements on the ground, thus the network was weak or non-existent. Issues of coordination, information sharing, business practices and moral hazard among the few factors contributed to little or no current visible successes to date which led to policy and network failure. Therefore, industrial policy durations must be introduced to the project at planning phase to avoid lack of participation at implementation phase. Involved institutions need to understand and play their roles rather than focus on how well institutional arrangement is integrated to avoid weak network systems (Provan & Milward, 1995). The institutional arrangements between government and private sector need to be strengthened to avoid or minimize poor business practices on entrepreneurs once they have received funding. Thus, within network systems, mentoring institution need to be included to ensure that businesses are run effectively. Moreover, government need to work together with DFIs for funding purposes as this will ensure that their priority areas are also considered by DFIs when identifying their strategic areas. Agricultural policies must be drafted together with industrial policies because both policies strive to contribute to the national long-term vision such as job creation, poverty alleviation and reduction in inequality (Briones & Felipe, 2013)
Social capital in community food gardens in Alexandra Johannesburg
(2020) Bhayla, Schlain Andrea
Social capital is a common outcome in community food gardens, yet detailed measurement of the concept is often unclear. Little is known about social capital in Johannesburg gardens and how it is mobilised. This research used both qualitative and quantitative methods to understand how gardeners mobilised social capital, and how Nan Lin’s weak-tie position emerged in Greater Alexandra Greening Route gardens. Further, it sought to understand what the theoretical and policy implications of measuring social capital were. Lin’s conceptualization of social capital, resources embedded in a network, was used. The Resource Generator, a social capital measurement tool, was adapted using findings from focus groups and used to measure access to social capital. Semi-structured interviews were used to understand the mobilisation of social capital. Findings suggest social capital is present in GAGR gardens and mobilised to achieve gardeners’ aims. Gardeners may also benefit from expanding gardens to serve a community purpose
Transforming natural resource dimensions of the armed conflict in the Central African Republic
(2021) Mhlanga, Vonani Aretha
The transformation of contemporary conflicts poses challenges owing to the complexities of the natural resource dimensions of armed conflict. Yet, it presents opportunities for addressing the root causes of protracted conflicts. This study explores how the government of the Central African Republic (CAR) has sought to address natural resource dimensions of the armed conflict in the country and, based on lessons arising, determine the possibilities of conflict transformation. Drawing from the conflict transformation concept, an analytical framework highlighting the interaction of three key elements (actors, context and institutions) guides a qualitative analysis on the positions and interests of the various actors around natural resources. How natural resources are regulated and managed in the country is also examined. I find that it would be challenging to have a national consensus to transform the conflict due to the plurality of actors competing over control of natural resources while also forming opportunistic alliances

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Browsing Wits School of Governance (ETDs) by SDG "SDG-15: Life on land"

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