Page 21 - Research Report 2025.1

Theme 2:
Heavy Reliance on Government Grants
This theme explores the socio-economic vulnerability in rural areas, particularly the widespread dependence on government social grants to sustain livelihoods. The grants include disability, COVID-19 relief and other welfare payments that provide a financial safety net for a significant portion of the population.
Heavy Reliance on Social Grants
A recurring theme across participants was the significant reliance on social grants to sustain livelihoods. Participant 2 mentioned that a large proportion of the population depends on government grants, including disability and COVID-19 relief grants. Participant 4 explained that many households, particularly those with elderly or disabled members, rely entirely on these grants for survival, underscoring the lack of viable economic alternatives in the region. This was also echoed by participant 3, participant 5 and participant 6. The results indicate that for a significant portion of the population, grants provide a crucial financial safety net due to high unemployment rates and limited formal employment opportunities. From the results it is clear that for many, these grants are essential for household survival, as the local economy does not generate enough opportunities to sustain livelihoods without external assistance. This dependency highlights the socio-economic vulnerability of rural areas and the limited employment opportunities available.
Participant 2
You have, people to, live on Grant. Many of them got there’s a huge population that lives on government grant.
Participant 3
The only thing that, rural people are dependent on social grants. Yeah. They do go on social grants, disability grants.
Participant 4
And on based on that, economically, we are not very strong. There has to be financial injections. We can’t say we are surviving. Each household is surviving from its own production. There has to be grants, you know and the the the the government is financially supporting them. Alfred Nzo, it’s it’s it’s regarded as a as an area that doesn’t generate a lot of income. Most of the people most of the of the of of our population is either old persons who are grant dependent or young persons who are also grant dependent.
Participant 5
I would say the people of south of Alfred Ndzo mostly are dependent on social grants. That’s how they that’s how, like, their livelihoods are sustained.
Most people are dependent on social grants... They’re also the one that has just been introduced after the pandemic, the 350 ones.
Participant 6
They depend on grants.
Participant 7
Yes. The area is having a high unemployment rate and most people are dependent on government grants.
Theme 3:
Role of Local Government in Supporting Livelihoods
This theme addresses the initiatives and programs undertaken by local governments to support economic development and improve livelihoods in rural areas.These include forming agricultural cooperatives, implementing Local Economic Development (LED) programs, and encouraging community-based planning.
Forming co-operatives
Participant 1
“And the role of local government is that, sometimes they form co-operatives which the municipality will inject some funding into it. So maybe the national government, can identify small, medium enterprises or NGOs and then fund them so that they can be able to sell on a larger scale.”
The role of agricultural cooperatives was discussed by several participants. Participant 6 emphasised the importance of agricultural trusts and cooperatives in organizing activities like maize production,wool farming,poultry and piggery.These cooperatives foster collaboration and resource-sharing, making them crucial for local economic development.
Local economic development Programmes
Participants also discussed the role of Local Economic Development (LED) programmes in supporting livelihoods. Participant 6 noted that LED is a key performance area for local governments, and programs are in place to help communities participate in activities that can improve their economic standing. This includes providing financial support and programs aimed at transforming livelihoods.
A Focus group participant added that section 152 of the Constitution promotes local economic development, ensuring that sectors like agriculture and mining are supported based on the community’s strengths. This shows that the local government recognizes its responsibility to foster economic resilience through targeted development programs and efforts are being made to align these initiatives with national legislation.
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