6 - ‘Surviving like a Bird’: Livelihood Coping Strategies in an Informal Settlement of Windhoek, Namibia
African Sociological Review,
Vol. 24 No. 1 (2020): African Sociological Review
Abstract
Thisstudy was done to investigate different types of sustainable livelihoods in an informal settlement of Windhoek, Namibia, and to identify and describe the coping mechanisms of these households. The study used mixed research using descriptive and exploratory designs. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires, while qualitative data was collected through in-depth interviews with seven heads of households. A sample of 150 households was randomly selected to allow representation of the population. The descriptive statistic approach wasusedintheanalysisofdata,usingtheStatisticalPackagefortheSocialScience(SSPSversion 23). Qualitative data analysis was done through thematic content analysis of transcribed data. Thestudy revealed that people migrate to the city in search of employment. Themost important factor for determining a positive lived experience in the informal settlement was whether a person has employment or not. Furthermore, a strong reciprocal social link between rural and urban areas has been f ound. The practice of residents in urban areas who send part of their remittance to rural areas has a positive spin-off on the rural economy, where the majority of migrants hail f rom. It was also established that rural households in the rural sending areas contributed agricultural produce to sustain the livelihoods of these urban informal dwellers. The most precarious and vulnerable group was singled headed unemployed elderly women, a clear indication of the gendered nature of poverty. Based on the study findin s, various types of livelihoods and coping strategies have been identified from the study, namely rural-urban food transfer, informal sector activities, social network and remittance.
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- Alcock,GG.(2015) Kasinomics:AnAfricanInformalEconomyandPeoplewhoInhabitedthem.Johannesburg: Tracey Macdonald.
- Baum, F. (2008). The ew Public Health. Third Edition. Oxford: Oxford University.
- Biko,H.(2019).Africareimagined:Reclaimingasenseofabundanceandprosperity.Johannesburg:Jonathan Ball.
- Botes L, Arntz T, Booysen F, Burger P, Pelser A. and Moses J. (2001). Payment of municipal services. [For the Joint Centre for Political and Economic Studies and Nathan Associates sponsored by USAID] Centre for Development Support: Bloemfontein.
- Brandell, J.R. (2010). Theo y and practice in clinical social work. California: SAGE. Charman, A. and Petersen, L. (2014). Informal micro-enterprises in a township context:A spatial analysis of business dynamics in five Cape Town localities. REDI3x3 Cape Town: Sustainable Livelihoods Foundation.
- Cresswell, J.W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. 4th ed. Los Angeles: SAGE.
- Ellesberg, M. and Heise, L. (2005). Researching violence against women: A practical guide for researchers and activists. Washington D.C: World Health Organisation, PATH.
- Fourie,F.(2018). TheSouth African Informal Sector: Creating Jobs Reducing Poverty. HSRC: Pretoria.
- Frayne, B. (2004). Migration and urban survival strategies in Windhoek, Namibia. The International Development Research Centre, 15(4), 133 -158.
- Frayne, B. (2007). Migration and the changing social economy of Windhoek, Namibia.Development Southern Africa, 24(1), 91-108.
- Grobler, W. (2015). Urban food insecurity: A case for conditional cash grants? Unpublished Inaugural Lecture, School of economic Sciences, North-West University, Vaal, 12 November 2015.
- Gukurume, S. (2012). Protracted struggles for basic social services and amenities in Zimbabwe’s informal settlements. International Journal of Politics and Good Governance, 3(3),976 - 1195.
- Indongo, N., Angombe, S. and Nickanor, N. (2013). Urbanisation in Namibia-Views from semi-formal and informal settlements.
- Windhoek: University of Namibia.
- Lincoln, Y. and Guba, E. (1985). Naturalistic Inquiry. London, UK, Sage Publication.
- Magalhaes, F. and Eduardo, R. (2012). Facing the Challenges of Informal Settlements in Urban Centers: The Re-urbanization of Manaus, Brazil. Washington, D.C: Inter-American Development Bank.
- Maritz E. (2020). Personal communication during presentation at the UNDP Offices in Windhoek Namibia, 12 March 2020.
- Mazibuko, S.G. (2010). Development of pro-poor tourism: The livelihood strategies of Amazizi in Northern Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal. Unpublished.
- Mhalanga, E. (2012). Adaptive or coping livelihood strategy: Bulawayo’s community gardens. Unpublished.
- Ministry of Health and Social Services. (2010). Namibia Global Fund Programme TB Annual Report. Windhoek: Ministry of Health and Social Services.
- Ministry of Health and Social Services. (2014). The Namibian Demographic and Health Survey 2013.Windhoek: Ministry of Health and Social Services. Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation. (2017). Namibian Informal Economy Caste Study Report 2016/17. Windhoek: Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment.
- Namibia Housing Action Group. (2015). Namibia Housing Action Group Mid-term oek: Namibia Housing Action Group.
- Namibia Statistic Agency. (2012). Namibia 2011 Population and Housing Census Main Report. Windhoek: Government printers. Namibia
- Statistic Agency. (2016). Namibia Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2015/2016 Report. Windhoek: Government printers.
- Namibia Statistic Agency. (2019). Labour Force Survey Report of Namibia, 2018.Windhoek: Government printers.
- Newaya, T. P. (2010). Rapid urbanization and its influence on the growth of informal settlements in Windhoek, Namibia. Unpublished.
- Ndiweni, K.J., Mashonganyika, J., Ncube, N. and Dube, N. (2014). Informal economy as a source of livelihood in Zimbabwean urban
- areas: A Case study of Bulawayo Metropolitan Province. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publication, 4(1), 1 - 8.
- Niikondo, A. (2010). Migrants to cities and towns in Namibia. What their interests are?Windhoek: Polytechnic of Namibia.
- Pope, C.S. and Mays, N. (1995). Qualitative Research: Reaching the parts other methods cannot reach: Introduction to Qualitative Methods in Health Services Research. British Medical Journal, 311:42-45.Ricci, L. (2011). Peri-urban livelihood and adaptive capacity: the case of Dar es Salaam.
- Paper presented at the 5th AESOP young academics network meeting 2011, the Netherlands.
- Schurink, W., Fouche, C. and Delport, C.S.L. (2011). Qualitative data analysis and interpretation. In De Vos, A.S., Strydom, H., Fouche, C.B. and Delport, C.S.L. (2009). Research at grass roots: For the social sciences and human professionals (fourth sedition). Pretoria: Van Schaik.
- Soudien, C., Reddy, V,. & Woolard, I. (eds.) (2019). Poverty and Inequality: Diagnosis, Prognosis Responses. Cape Town: Human Science Research Council.
- Taukuheke, S. (2010). A study on poverty alleviation in the informal settlement communities in Windhoek: a case study of Babylon community. Unpublished.
- United Nations Human Settlement Programme. (2012). 2012 UN-Habitat Report. Nairobi: United Nations.
- Retrieved from http://www.unhabitat.biz/unhabitata- annual-report-2012/.pdf
- Westoby, P. (2014). Theo ising the Practice of Community Development: A South African Perspective. Surrey, UK: Ashgate.
- World Bank. (2018). World Development Indicators. World Bank: Washington, D.C., ted States.
References
Alcock,GG.(2015) Kasinomics:AnAfricanInformalEconomyandPeoplewhoInhabitedthem.Johannesburg: Tracey Macdonald.
Baum, F. (2008). The ew Public Health. Third Edition. Oxford: Oxford University.
Biko,H.(2019).Africareimagined:Reclaimingasenseofabundanceandprosperity.Johannesburg:Jonathan Ball.
Botes L, Arntz T, Booysen F, Burger P, Pelser A. and Moses J. (2001). Payment of municipal services. [For the Joint Centre for Political and Economic Studies and Nathan Associates sponsored by USAID] Centre for Development Support: Bloemfontein.
Brandell, J.R. (2010). Theo y and practice in clinical social work. California: SAGE. Charman, A. and Petersen, L. (2014). Informal micro-enterprises in a township context:A spatial analysis of business dynamics in five Cape Town localities. REDI3x3 Cape Town: Sustainable Livelihoods Foundation.
Cresswell, J.W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. 4th ed. Los Angeles: SAGE.
Ellesberg, M. and Heise, L. (2005). Researching violence against women: A practical guide for researchers and activists. Washington D.C: World Health Organisation, PATH.
Fourie,F.(2018). TheSouth African Informal Sector: Creating Jobs Reducing Poverty. HSRC: Pretoria.
Frayne, B. (2004). Migration and urban survival strategies in Windhoek, Namibia. The International Development Research Centre, 15(4), 133 -158.
Frayne, B. (2007). Migration and the changing social economy of Windhoek, Namibia.Development Southern Africa, 24(1), 91-108.
Grobler, W. (2015). Urban food insecurity: A case for conditional cash grants? Unpublished Inaugural Lecture, School of economic Sciences, North-West University, Vaal, 12 November 2015.
Gukurume, S. (2012). Protracted struggles for basic social services and amenities in Zimbabwe’s informal settlements. International Journal of Politics and Good Governance, 3(3),976 - 1195.
Indongo, N., Angombe, S. and Nickanor, N. (2013). Urbanisation in Namibia-Views from semi-formal and informal settlements.
Windhoek: University of Namibia.
Lincoln, Y. and Guba, E. (1985). Naturalistic Inquiry. London, UK, Sage Publication.
Magalhaes, F. and Eduardo, R. (2012). Facing the Challenges of Informal Settlements in Urban Centers: The Re-urbanization of Manaus, Brazil. Washington, D.C: Inter-American Development Bank.
Maritz E. (2020). Personal communication during presentation at the UNDP Offices in Windhoek Namibia, 12 March 2020.
Mazibuko, S.G. (2010). Development of pro-poor tourism: The livelihood strategies of Amazizi in Northern Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal. Unpublished.
Mhalanga, E. (2012). Adaptive or coping livelihood strategy: Bulawayo’s community gardens. Unpublished.
Ministry of Health and Social Services. (2010). Namibia Global Fund Programme TB Annual Report. Windhoek: Ministry of Health and Social Services.
Ministry of Health and Social Services. (2014). The Namibian Demographic and Health Survey 2013.Windhoek: Ministry of Health and Social Services. Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation. (2017). Namibian Informal Economy Caste Study Report 2016/17. Windhoek: Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment.
Namibia Housing Action Group. (2015). Namibia Housing Action Group Mid-term oek: Namibia Housing Action Group.
Namibia Statistic Agency. (2012). Namibia 2011 Population and Housing Census Main Report. Windhoek: Government printers. Namibia
Statistic Agency. (2016). Namibia Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2015/2016 Report. Windhoek: Government printers.
Namibia Statistic Agency. (2019). Labour Force Survey Report of Namibia, 2018.Windhoek: Government printers.
Newaya, T. P. (2010). Rapid urbanization and its influence on the growth of informal settlements in Windhoek, Namibia. Unpublished.
Ndiweni, K.J., Mashonganyika, J., Ncube, N. and Dube, N. (2014). Informal economy as a source of livelihood in Zimbabwean urban
areas: A Case study of Bulawayo Metropolitan Province. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publication, 4(1), 1 - 8.
Niikondo, A. (2010). Migrants to cities and towns in Namibia. What their interests are?Windhoek: Polytechnic of Namibia.
Pope, C.S. and Mays, N. (1995). Qualitative Research: Reaching the parts other methods cannot reach: Introduction to Qualitative Methods in Health Services Research. British Medical Journal, 311:42-45.Ricci, L. (2011). Peri-urban livelihood and adaptive capacity: the case of Dar es Salaam.
Paper presented at the 5th AESOP young academics network meeting 2011, the Netherlands.
Schurink, W., Fouche, C. and Delport, C.S.L. (2011). Qualitative data analysis and interpretation. In De Vos, A.S., Strydom, H., Fouche, C.B. and Delport, C.S.L. (2009). Research at grass roots: For the social sciences and human professionals (fourth sedition). Pretoria: Van Schaik.
Soudien, C., Reddy, V,. & Woolard, I. (eds.) (2019). Poverty and Inequality: Diagnosis, Prognosis Responses. Cape Town: Human Science Research Council.
Taukuheke, S. (2010). A study on poverty alleviation in the informal settlement communities in Windhoek: a case study of Babylon community. Unpublished.
United Nations Human Settlement Programme. (2012). 2012 UN-Habitat Report. Nairobi: United Nations.
Retrieved from http://www.unhabitat.biz/unhabitata- annual-report-2012/.pdf
Westoby, P. (2014). Theo ising the Practice of Community Development: A South African Perspective. Surrey, UK: Ashgate.
World Bank. (2018). World Development Indicators. World Bank: Washington, D.C., ted States.