Poverty reduction policies in Lesotho: the case of self-help projects

[摘要] English: Lesotho has grappled with poverty reduction since independence 1966. Poverty reduction initiatives include a variety of policies and strategies including self-help projects. The self-help projects purport to reduce poverty particularly in the rural areas where the majority of the poor people live. However, despite the wide application of these projects, evidence suggests that poverty is increasing in Lesotho both in absolute and relative terms. This study focused on the performance of the self-help projects and argues that the self-help projects do not reduce poverty because they are deficient in terms of both their design and implementation. Specifically, the study sought to establish: - Whether the self-help projects in Lesotho are geared to poverty reduction; and - Whether political dominance of self-help issues hampers poverty reduction. The study used two approaches to address the research questions namely, a literary search and an empirical investigation. The literary search involved a theoretical analysis of poverty reduction policies, programmes and strategies in Lesotho. Government documents and reports as well as reports by donor agencies were helpful in this regard. An analysis of the policy making process in Lesotho was also undertaken with the view to establish the extent the policy process impacts on poverty reduction policies including self-help projects. At the empirical level a survey of the participants in self-help projects and the government officials involved in the administration of self-help activities was undertaken. Data was collected through personal interviews. Evidence from the two approaches suggests that development activities that have a poverty reduction focus are highly politicized. Such activities are marked by direct and intense involvement of self serving political figures. More often than not affiliation to the ruling party has been a requirement for people to participate in development activities. This practice has excluded many of those in need. It has also been established that the self-help projects are defective in their design as they offer a modicum of benefits that do not support the lives of the beneficiaries on a sustainable basis. Further, implementation of the projects is politicized turning them into instruments for enhancing political interests. For these reasons the projects fail to reduce poverty in the rural areas. Thus, the thesis explains the nature and content of the self-help projects in Lesotho, establishes the reasons for the failure of the self-help projects as instruments for poverty reduction and provides recommendations thereof.

[发布机构] University of the Free State