The Role of NGOs in Urban Poverty Reduction A Case Study of Kasokoso, Kampala - Uganda

ABSTRACT 

NGOs have been regarded as the new ‘panacea for people centered pro-poor development’ in urban poverty. This research investigates the role of NGOs in urban poverty reduction in Kasokoso from the perceptions of low-income urban households and NGOs operating in this sector. It finds that while there are some successes - in addressing the environmental risks by providing clean water, sanitation services, providing health services, and building social capital of the low-income households excluded from government services and policies on poverty reduction, for example - there are also some barriers to improving NGO programmes. These are the need to include the community in design and implementation of poverty reduction programmes, and the need to adopt an integrative approach that not only delivers programmes based on service delivery, as is the current focus, but that complements this with a stronger role in advocacy and policy influence.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

APPROVAL

DEDICATION iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v

TABLE OF CONTENTS vi

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS viii

LIST OF FIGURES ix

LIST OF TABLES

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER 1: BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Research Goal: 3

1.2 Research Questions 3

1.3 Methodology ~ 4

1.4 Chapter Outline 4

CHAPTER:2. POVERTY, URBAN POVERTY AND NGOs: AREVIEW OF THE

LITERATURE 5

2.1 Understanding Poverty 6

2.2 Defining Urban Poverty 8

2.3 The Role ofNGOs in Urban Poverty Reduction 10

Chapter Conclusion 13

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH FRAMEWORK 14

3.1 Introduction 14

3.2 Field Work Methodology 15

3.2.1 In-depth Interviews 16

3.2.2 Focus Group Discussions 16

3.2.3 NGOs Interviews 17

3.3 Challenges Experienced 17

3.4 Sustainable Livelihood Framework 18

Chapter Conclusion 20

CHAPTER 4: COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS OF POVERTY AND NGOs IN KASOKOSO: CONTEXTUAL DESCRIPTION, EXAMINATION AND ANALYSIS 21

4.1 Introduction to Kasokoso 21

4.2 Community Perceptions on Poverty and Poverty Reduction 24

4.3 Community Perceptions on the Role ofNGOs 26

4.4 Community Perceptions on the Effectiveness ofNGOs 26

CHAPTER 5: NGO PERCEPTIONS ON POVERTY REDUCTION PROGRAMS IN KASOKO5O: EXAMINATION AND ANALYSIS 33

5.1 NGO Perceptions of Poverty 33

5.2 Role of NGOs in Poverty Reduction 34

Chapter Conclusion 39

CHAPTER 6: MAJOR RESEARCH FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS 40

6.1 Research Findings 40

6.2 Conclusion and Policy Implications 43

References 44

1. Appendix 51