African Journals Online
Journal of Social Development in Africa

Vol 17 No 1 2002

Moral theories as tools in programme evaluation

David Kaulemu

Department of Religious Studies, Classics and Philosophy, University of Zimbabwe and Regional Co-ordinator for Eastern and Southern Africa, African Forum for Catholic Social Teaching (AFCAST)

ABSTRACT

This article discusses the nature of programme evaluation. Its main focus is to explain the role of moral values in programme evaluation. It argues that the idea of value neutrality which is popular in scientific discourse is mistaken and impossible to realize. This is because evaluation necessarily involves value judgements which express the values of the evaluator. The article demonstrates how values, especially moral values, come into the scientific processes of describing, analyzing and evaluating programmes. This is done through discussion of three different types of moral theories, that is, egoism, utilitarianism and duty-focused theories.

Developing countries and incipient industrialization: a case study of enterprise clustering and inter-firm relations in small and medium-scale manufacturing industries in Lobatse, Botswana

J. Nakizito and M. B. K. Darkoh

Both in the Department of Environmental Science, University of Botswana, Gaberone

ABSTRACT

Botswana’s small and large towns offer good examples of incipient industrialization and enterprise clustering in a developing economy. Using data from Lobatse, a small industrial centre in Botswana, this brief paper shows that clustering in developing countries does not necessarily induce high inter-firm relationships as is the case in industrialized countries. Relations are limited among firms within clusters.

Making African NGOS more responsive to social needs

Kalada Godson McFubara

Health in School Project, (HISPRO), Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The development of institutionalized voluntary sector or the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Africa is a complementary response to the shortfall in public sector provision. But that development was made possible because of the existence of communitarian principles of advocacy, obligation and responsibility, already practised in the extended family before the arrival of the European Christian missions. The success of foreign NGOs is due to the management principles of openness, accountability and non-distributiveness demonstrated in their operations. It is proposed that African NGOs should apply their communitarian principles to these management principles, so as to become more responsive to the needs of their people. In this way African NGOs will be able to tap into their local resource base to fund more good causes as well as contributing towards an inclusive and sustainable bottom-up democratic welfare system.

Trends in participatory development

Kenneth B. Dipholo

Department of Adult Education, University of Botswana

ABSTRACT

Participatory development planning has increasingly gained centre stage in the development process in African countries. In advocating the involvement of community members in the process of development, participatory development as a movement has become so obsessed with the concept that it is presented as a religious theory. Yet by virtue of its broad nature, participation in development means different things to different people and the term is, therefore wide open to misinterpretation. This article provides insights into changing focus of developmental theories and the scope and focus of participatory development, together with the problems inherent in both approaches. It describes a case study to illustrate the divide between “participation” and what actually happens in practice and advocates pragmatism in developmental theory.

The impact of the structural adjustment

Joseph Kipkemboi Rono

Department of Sociology, Moi University

ABSTRACT

This article examines the effects of structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) on Kenyan society. A series of economic and political reforms initiated by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Kenya since 1988 and especially after 1991 has transformed many aspects of the daily life of Kenyan people. These programmes have been linked to the high rate of income inequality, inflation, unemployment, retrenchments and so on, which have lowered the living standards, especially, those relating to the material resources in the family. Furthermore, the SAPs in Kenya have been linked to the increasing deviant and crime rates, ethnic hatred and discrimination and welfare problems, especially in the areas of education and health.

Exploring the indigenous minefield: social policy and the marginalization of the Bushman in southern Africa

Keitseope Nthomang

School of Social Work, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

ABSTRACT

The history of the forces affecting the wellbeing of people defined as “the Bushman” in Botswana, South Africa and Namibia is well documented. The effects on their collective and individual consciousness of being victims of political, social, economic and cultural forces outside their control, have been dramatic. This paper attempts to unravel the often-unquestioned institutional assumptions that construct, entrench and perpetuate the marginalization of the Bushmen in the three countries. It argues that, until the assumptions embedded in the institution of the state are understood, governments will continue to design well-intentioned but badly-conceived social policies that reinforce rather than redress social injustices. The conclusion is that, under the current policy regime, it is unlikely that the conditions of the Bushmen will improve in the foreseeable future. A post-nationalist state model that seeks to work towards promoting inclusive social policies whose goal is to achieve equality and justice for all, is recommended.

Cross-cultural issues in counselling skills training: lessons from Lesotho

Jane Gilbert

Consultant clinical psychologist with the National Health Service, UK

ABSTRACT

 “Counselling” in many forms is now endemic in the cultures of the North. Such ways of assisting those with emotional difficulties are underpinned by very specific cultural assumptions about the “self”, based directly on the individualistic assumptions of those cultures. However, other cultures hold very different beliefs about the self, compared with those on which counselling theory and counselling training courses are based. This paper questions the relevance of the theories underlying counselling practice to cultures whose fundamental assumptions are very different. The individualistic cultural assumptions underlying counselling theory are reviewed and some of the practical and theoretical challenges in designing a workshop for counselling skills training for Basotho mental health professionals in Lesotho are outlined. Highlights of the workshop content are described and reviewed and specific suggestions from what was learned are put forward to ensure that such training can be more culturally appropriate.