UWCScholar :: Browsing by Author "Devereux, Stephen"

Browsing by Author "Devereux, Stephen"

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Assessing the parliamentary contribution to the elimination of food insecurity in rural Malawi: An historical and grassroots perspective, 1998–2018
(University of the Western Cape, 2022) Dzidekha, Gloria Kombo; Devereux, Stephen
Although Malawi is an agriculture-based economy, the country experiences extensive food insecurity, hunger, malnutrition, low productivity, and low income. Currently, food insecurity affects 58% of the population and 50.7% of the population live below the poverty line. In Malawi, parliament is key in the legal and policy-making processes. It also has a constitutional mandate to represent the people’s interests and basic needs – in this case, food security, a fundamental human right; however, food insecurity still persists. The study assesses the parliamentary contribution to the legislation of policy that aims at reducing food insecurity. It examines the trajectory of the food security policy in the Malawi Legislature and its effectiveness, from the perspectives of citizens and Members of Parliament (MPs).
Backyard Poultry Farming as a Survival Strategy for Women in Urban Areas: A Case Study of Norton Town in Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe
(University of Western Cape, 2018) Munyanyi, Fadzai Noleen; Devereux, Stephen
Early in this millennium, Zimbabwe faced economic collapses which led to a decline of formal sector employment and an increase in urban agriculture. Urban agriculture provides income and a food supply to poor, middle and higher income households. Studies throughout the world have shown that women predominate, providing the most labour and management inputs for urban agriculture. As a result, they can earn income, improve household diets, perform household duties and have increased control over decision-making within the household. One of the urban agricultural activities which has played an important role in the livelihoods of women and their households in urban areas, is backyard poultry farming. With backyard poultry farming the women can obtain income and food produce from this activity which helps them take care of themselves as well as their families in the harsh economy of Zimbabwe.
A comparative analysis of alternative food security indicators, using farm workers in the Northern Cape Province as a case study
(University of the Western Cape, 2019) Ndondo, Zona; Devereux, Stephen; Stephen Devereux
The concept of food insecurity is complex and difficult to measure. Food insecurity is measured at different levels – global, national, household and individual. In order to have appropriate assessments of food security status, it is important to use the correct measure. This study focused on explaining three major indicators of household food security in measuring the different dimensions of food security (availability, access, utilization and stability). The contribution of this study is to add to the literature and determine how appropriately different indicators measure food security. The study explored the relationship between the three alternative indicators of food security by comparing them, using data collected on farm workers in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. From the results of the study, it was concluded that most of the surveyed farm workers in the Northern Cape Province are food insecure. This conclusion was arrived at because of two indicators. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) reported 42.8% of farm workers as severely food insecure; 42.8% as moderately food insecure; and 13.9% as mildly food insecure. The Coping Strategies Index (CSI) reported 56.2% of farm workers as food insecure. The Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) reported a higher dietary diversity in farm workers (71.8%).
Conceptualising COVID-19’s impacts on household food security
(Springer, 2020) Devereux, Stephen; Béné, Christophe; Hoddinott, John
COVID-19 undermines food security both directly, by disrupting food systems, and indirectly, through the impacts of lockdowns on household incomes and physical access to food. COVID-19 and responses to the pandemic could undermine food production, processing and marketing, but the most concerning impacts are on the demand-side – economic and physical access to food. This paper identifies three complementary frameworks that can contribute to understanding these effects, which are expected to persist into the post-pandemic phase, after lockdowns are lifted. FAO’s ‘four pillars’– availability, access, stability and utilisation – and the ‘food systems’ approach both provide holistic frameworks for analysing food security. Sen’s ‘entitlement’ approach is useful for disaggregating demand-side effects on household production-, labour-, trade- and transfer-based entitlements to food. Drawing on the strengths of each of these frameworks can enhance the understanding of the pandemic’s impacts on food security, while also pinpointing areas for governments and other actors to intervene in the food system, to protect the food security of households left vulnerable by COVID-19 and public responses.
Conceptualising COVID-19’s impacts on household food security
(Springer Nature, 2020) Devereux, Stephen; Béné, Christophe; Hoddinott, John
COVID-19 undermines food security both directly, by disrupting food systems, and indirectly, through the impacts of lockdowns on household incomes and physical access to food. COVID-19 and responses to the pandemic could undermine food production, processing and marketing, but the most concerning impacts are on the demand-side – economic and physical access to food. This paper identifies three complementary frameworks that can contribute to understanding these effects, which are expected to persist into the post-pandemic phase, after lockdowns are lifted. FAO’s ‘four pillars’– availability, access, stability and utilisation – and the ‘food systems’ approach both provide holistic frameworks for analysing food security. Sen’s ‘entitlement’ approach is useful for disaggregating demand-side effects on household production-, labour-, trade- and transfer-based entitlements to food. Drawing on the strengths of each of these frameworks can enhance the understanding of the pandemic’s impacts on food security, while also pinpointing areas for governments and other actors to intervene in the food system, to protect the food security of households left vulnerable by COVID-19 and public responses.
Does the child support grant contribute towards resilience in poor households in Mitchell’s Plain? A sustainable livelihoods approach
(University of the Western Cape, 2022) Hess, Malcolm; Devereux, Stephen
This thesis draws on three concepts, Social protection, Sustainable Livelihoods Approach and Resilience, to portray how the Child Support Grant (CSG) may lead to resilience in poor households. Various definitions of social protection can be observed in literature by different development agencies. Most of the definitions of social protection steer towards enhancing human capital, by means of public activities to reduce risk and vulnerability, against declining or low living standards. The working definition that will be used for social protection, would be to define social protection as enhancing human, social, physical and financial capital, by means of public interventions (such as South Africa’s CSG), to reduce the risk and vulnerability of households (build resilience) and ensuring sustainable livelihoods.
The effect of school feeding programmes among school-going children in Khayelitsha, Cape Town
(University of the Western Cape, 2022) Sindi, Babalwa; Devereux, Stephen
School feeding programmes (SFPs) are known as a significant form of social protection that seeks to address food insecurity and educational improvement worldwide. This study seeks to evaluate the school feeding programmes in Khayelitsha, Cape Town to examine the potential effects that they have on educational improvement as well as food security among school-going children. In addition, the study determines the general effects of school feeding programmes, including challenges that the programmes encounter; it then provides recommendations on how the identified challenges can be solved. This study used the theory of change to examine the effects of school feeding programmes in Khayelitsha.
The effectiveness of child support grants in South Africa: A case study of Caledon district, Western Cape
(University of Western Cape, 2020) Volmink, Mark Fritzgerald; Devereux, Stephen
This research study addresses the effectiveness of child support grants in South Africa. It specifically asks the questions, what do social policy makers in South Africa want to achieve with the Child Support Grant (CSG) and are they achieving it? If not, how can policy makers ensure that social grants achieve the desired impact? The researcher will establish the effectiveness of the current CSG and how the CSG programme design and implementation might be improved for the CSG system to have its desired effect for children and at the family level.
The effectiveness of School Health Services delivery related to the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) and Integrated School Health Policy (ISHP) in the Western Cape’s formerly disadvantaged schools
(University of the Western Cape, 2019) Menziwa, Menziwa; Devereux, Stephen
Provision of effective school health services is fundamental to learners’ health and learning. It is obvious that ineffective or absent school health services would ultimately jeopardize the health of learners, core school activities and results. Hence, it is vital for the government departments and schools concerned, to ensure effective school health services delivery, for the benefit of all learners and to alleviate health problems in schools. The purpose of the study is to understand the effective provision of school health services related to the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) and Integrated School Health Policy (ISHP) frameworks in the selected Western Cape formerly disadvantaged schools located in both the Metro East and Metro North Districts. A qualitative research procedure was chosen utilizing qualitative research methods, individual interviews, focus group interviews and non-participant observation. The study focused on three schools, including two public primary schools and one public secondary school that were purposefully sampled to participate in the study. The research concentrated only on the views of the parents, educators, and principals. This investigation revealed that parents, educators, and principals find themselves incapacitated and helpless in addressing health issues due to inadequate school facilities, information, and support for effective school health services delivery in their schools. This study concludes by recommending that principals, teachers, and parents should be carefully trained on how to deal with learners’ health problems that may arise either from home or at school.
The effectiveness of school health services delivery related to the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) and Integrated School Health Policy (ISHP) in the Western Cape’s formerly disadvantaged schools
(University of the Western Cape, 2019) Menziwa, Mzwandile; Devereux, Stephen
Provision of effective school health services is fundamental to learners’ health and learning. It is obvious that ineffective or absent school health services would ultimately jeopardize the health of learners, core school activities and results. Hence, it is vital for the government departments and schools concerned, to ensure effective school health services delivery, for the benefit of all learners and to alleviate health problems in schools. The purpose of the study is to understand the effective provision of school health services related to the Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) and Integrated School Health Policy (ISHP) frameworks in the selected Western Cape formerly disadvantaged schools located in both the Metro East and Metro North Districts. A qualitative research procedure was chosen utilizing qualitative research methods, individual interviews, focus group interviews and non-participant observation. The study focused on three schools, including two public primary schools and one public secondary school that were purposefully sampled to participate in the study. The research concentrated only on the views of the parents, educators, and principals. This investigation revealed that parents, educators, and principals find themselves incapacitated and helpless in addressing health issues due to inadequate school facilities, information, and support for effective school health services delivery in their schools. This study concludes by recommending that principals, teachers, and parents should be carefully trained on how to deal with learners’ health problems that may arise either from home or at school.
The expected effects of the National School Nutrition Programme: Evidence from a case study in Cape Town, Western Cape
(University of the Western Cape, 2019) Sanousi, Mohammed; Devereux, Stephen
School feeding programmes have become a worldwide poverty reduction strategy that are designed to enhance human capital, i.e. nutrition and education. In South Africa, the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) began in 1994 and it was designed to enhance learning capacity, to support nutrition education in schools and to promote school gardens. The purpose of this study is to explore whether the expected impacts (nutrition and education) of the NSNP in Cape Town have been achieved. The study used the theory of change as an attempt to explore the expected impacts of the programme and it involved a qualitative research approach. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews. Note-taking and observations of non-verbal behaviour techniques were also used to capture any relevant information. The respondents were 4 school principals, 4 teacher coordinators, 4 food handlers, 4 members of the School Governing Body and one staff member from the Department of Basic Education (DBE) of the Western Cape. Findings from the global literature show that the impacts of school feeding programmes are quite mixed (between nutrition and education). This study has found that the NSNP in Cape Town has improved food security, i.e. reduced short-term hunger (but not necessarily nutrition) and it gave energy to the learners that helped them to actively participate in learning. It also eliminated some negative class behaviours and it functioned as an additional meal to some poor learners. On the education front, it enhanced school attendance, class participation and possibly improved learner performance. However, the programme has also experienced some challenges, i.e. the food quality and quantity, targeting system (the quintile system) that excluded some poor learners from receiving NSNP meals and food gardens were not producing sufficient food because they were small and poorly maintained. This study recommends that rigorous impact evaluation of the NSNP in Cape Town is required in order to address the challenges that were identified as well as to enhance the programme so that it can achieve the desired impacts.
Exploring perceptions and experiences of students’ food insecurity in residences at the University of the Western Cape (UWC)
(University of the Western Cape, 2023) Sigodi, Unati; Devereux, Stephen
There have been ongoing debates about the state of food insecurity in institutions of higher learning in South Africa but with minimal sustainable solutions found. This thesis used Sen’s Capability Approach in exploring perceptions and experiences of students’ food insecurity in residences of the University of the Western Cape. This study employed a mixed-method sequential explanatory research design through a self-administered questionnaire, with 108 participants selected using a random stratified sampling method across the senior residence community. The data were analysed using SPSS for descriptive statistics, and thematic analysis, to better understand the barriers challenging students’ in achieving their capabilities and functionings. The study used Sen’s capability approach to identify conversion factors as well as strategies that are employed by students in residences to mitigate challenges that have a negative impact on availability, accessibility, utilisation, and stability of food. The findings of the study showed strengthened ties in terms of financial support for some students when running out of food. They indicated that food insecurity is not well perceived by students in residences and that should be a significant concern for the higher education and training especially for student development. The findings provided significant insight on students’ experiences through the Capability Approach on what is lacking in providing social protection to residence students. In addition, the findings have also provided an insight on intervention strategies that could assist students to improve their social and environmental conditions in addressing food insecurity in UWC residences. The findings have also shown that students’ food insecurity has not improved, as most students have not utilized the knowledge and awareness of the importance of good nutrition to improve their capabilities and functionings.
Factors that contribute to social vulnerability in children from disadvantaged communities: A case of Atlantis in Cape Town
(University of the Western Cape, 2022) Sondwana, Buhle; Devereux, Stephen
This study aimed to explore factors that expose children to social vulnerability in Atlantis. The literature covered in this study revealed a gap in terms of the realization of children’s well-being in a disadvantaged community. The aim of this study was unlocked by three questions which were explored to understand; firstly, ‘what are the factors that expose children from disadvantaged communities to social vulnerability in Atlantis, Cape Town?; secondly, ‘what are some factors that impede with human capabilities in a disadvantaged environment, stagnate a child’s psychosocial development and their human capital’ and lastly ‘how can the effectiveness of initiatives that aim at improving the circumstances of vulnerable children in Atlantis be assessed to ensure that they respond to the challenges faced by children?
Food insecurity and dietary diversity amongst seasonal women farm workers in South Africa: The case of Cape Winelands district
(University of Western Cape, 2021) Calvert, Samantha; Devereux, Stephen
This research study explores seasonal farm working womens’ food insecurity and dietary diversity in Cape Winelands District (CWD). It describes the food difficulties seasonal farm working women are facing that prevents them from acquiring a healthy diverse diet; specify their diet choices as well as portray the current assistance they are receiving from government. The research study found that seasonal farm working women in CWD do experience food insecurity and lack dietary diversity mainly during certain months of the year when they are unemployed or underemployed due to various barriers they experience.
Impact of agricultural transformation policy on food security: Case study of selected smallholder farmers in Gicumbi District, Northern Province, Rwanda
(University of the Western Cape, 2022) Umulisa, Prudence; Devereux, Stephen
The agricultural sector significantly contributes to the economy of many countries and it arguably remains the backbone for sustainable economic growth, livelihood standards and employment opportunities among households in different societies across the world. However, an agricultural transformation policy is required, especially in developing countries where clear policies are needed to transform the agricultural sector from subsistence to a commercial market-oriented sector. This study focuses on transforming the Rwandan agricultural sector as a pivotal way to reduce poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition. In efforts to address the issue of food insecurity, Rwanda has developed an agricultural transformation policy to eradicate hunger and poverty within households, especially in rural areas.
The impact of expanded public works programme (EPWP) on food security in South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2023) Satumba, Takunda; Devereux, Stephen
This thesis aims to investigate the food security impact of public works programmes. Using the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) as a case study in South Africa, the design, implementation, and operation of public works are evaluated to determine how the programme contributes towards individual and household food security. A convenience sampling method was used to identify research participants from EPWP projects. In the study, a sample of 112 participants was interviewed to collect primary data from EPWP projects. To gather as much information as possible, the researcher captured data using a semi-structured questionnaire as well as open-ended interview questions from participants and other key informants. A mixed methods approach of analysis is used and the results are discussed using the theory of change of public works and food security via three impact channels: the wage vector, the skills vector, and the asset vector.
The political economy of social protection in Sub-Saharan Africa: Tracing the agenda in Zambia and Zimbabwe
(University of the Western Cape, 2018) Kapingidza, Samuel; Devereux, Stephen
This study traces the political economy of the social protection policy processes in the two country case studies of Zambia and Zimbabwe. It focuses on the role of global actors/external agencies (bilaterals, multilaterals and IFIs), national actors (government, parliament) and local actors (beneficiary communities, INGOs, CSOs) in social protection policy evolution. It looks at the power dynamics within the policy space: who is more powerful and who is less powerful, who voices and whose voice matters, who makes decisions and who follows decisions, who drives the policy and who follows, who has the money and who follows the money, who consults and who is consulted, and whether the rural communities (perceived beneficiaries) are active participants or ‘passive’ recipients. Therefore, the study is based on key informant interviews with officials from government, external agencies, INGOs and CSOs as well as focus group discussions with the communities. What emerges is that social protection is a policy contestation between the external agencies themselves; between external agencies and the government; between personnel of the same external agency; and within the government itself. Despite being driven by a common goal to fight poverty, external agencies have different global social protection policy positions and each would ‘push’ for the adoption of that policy position over the rest. Contestation between external agencies and the government reflect that government priorities differ from those of the external agencies. While external agencies pushed for social protection, the government would prefer agricultural subsidies to support the productive capacity of the people. Intra-government ‘struggles’ relate to the contest over which ministry is best placed to coordinate social protection and Ministry of Finance’s ambivalence over budgetary commitment to social protection. The study therefore underscores the primacy of politics in social protection.
Post–exilic an old South African returns to the new South Africa
(University of Western Cape, 2020) Devereux, Stephen; Moolman, Kobus
This portfolio of poems, prose poems and short fiction pieces is quasi-autobiographical and tracks the trajectory of my life, from childhood in Cape Town (‘pre-exilic’) to emigration abroad (‘exilic’) and return to Cape Town in late middle age (‘post-exilic’). Themes explored include the deceptive nature of memory and the risk of imbuing a childhood recollected in later life with affective or narrative nostalgia; the psychologically dislocating nature of exile on personal identity and notions of home; and Cape Town as both an imaginary construct and a multi-layered reality: specifically, ‘my’ Cape Town – now as well as half a century ago – and ‘other’ Cape Towns, reflecting a diversity of highly unequal experiences within this city. The dominant mode of expression chosen to explore these largely personal themes is confessional.
Seasonal food insecurity among farm workers in the Northern Cape, South Africa
(MPDI, 2019) Devereux, Stephen; Tavener-Smith, Lauren
Very little is known about seasonal hunger in South Africa, or about the food security and nutritional status of farm workers. This article identifies a pathway to seasonal hunger—through intra-annual fluctuations in agricultural employment and income—that is underanalyzed in the literature. We report on findings from a year-long data collection process, comprising baseline and endline surveys and monthly monitoring of three food security indicators, with a sample of 195 female farm workers in the Northern Cape province in South Africa. The three monthly monitoring indicators—the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), and Coping Strategies Index (CSI)—which measure different aspects of food insecurity, are analyzed to determine whether and to what extent food security fluctuates seasonally in our sample. HFIAS results show unambiguous evidence of seasonal food insecurity, with the highest prevalence (88 percent experiencing severe food insecurity) and severity during the low employment winter period, and lowest prevalence (49 percent) and severity during the summer harvest, which corresponds with relatively higher employment and earnings.
Seasonal food insecurity among farm workers in the Northern Cape, South Africa
(Nutrients, 2019) Devereux, Stephen; Tavener-Smith, Lauren
Very little is known about seasonal hunger in South Africa, or about the food security and nutritional status of farm workers. This article identifies a pathway to seasonal hunger—through intra-annual fluctuations in agricultural employment and income—that is underanalyzed in the literature. We report on findings from a year-long data collection process, comprising baseline and endline surveys and monthly monitoring of three food security indicators, with a sample of 195 female farm workers in the Northern Cape province in South Africa. The three monthly monitoring indicators—the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), and Coping Strategies Index (CSI)—which measure di erent aspects of food insecurity, are analyzed to determine whether and to what extent food security fluctuates seasonally in our sample. HFIAS results show unambiguous evidence of seasonal food insecurity, with the highest prevalence (88 percent experiencing severe food insecurity) and severity during the low employment winter period, and lowest prevalence (49 percent) and severity during the summer harvest, which corresponds with relatively higher employment and earnings. The DDS results show evidence of highest dietary diversity during summer and the CSI results reveal the need to employ coping strategies to deal with intensified food insecurity during winter.

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