Abstract
Africa faces the severe threat of poverty, inequality, high crime rate, poor governance, and political unrest, not to mention other social problems. Most people in Third World countries continue to grapple with abject poverty resulting in most of them being underfed, underhoused, illiterate, and vulnerable in spite of significant private and public investments in socioeconomic development. To that end, social work has a critical role in contributing to efforts in poverty eradication and creating equitable, fair, and just societies. This chapter argues that community social work is a critical component of the jigsaw in addressing the social ills of Africa. Community social work has its place in ensuring the realization of socioeconomic development goals and objectives which in turn assist in effective harnessing and integrating educational, socioeconomic, and cultural opportunities in underdeveloped areas. Traditional African life is communal in nature, meaning that interventions at a community level are easy to implement. Various models of community work such as community development, community education, social marketing, social action, and social planning have been applied in varying degrees. Most African countries have put in place policies that support community social work.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Ahmed, R., & Pretorius-Heuchert, J. (2001). Notions of social change in community psychology: Issues and challenges. In M. Seedat, N. Duncan, & S. Lazarus (Eds.), Community psychology: Theory, method and practice, South African and other perspectives (pp. 67–85). Cape Town: Oxford University Press.
Baiyegunhi, L. J. S. (2014). Social capital effects on rural household poverty in Msinga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Agrekon, 53(2), 47–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2014.915478.
Bornman, S., Budlender, D., Clarke, Y., Manoek, S., van der Westhuizen, C., Watson, J., Antunes, S., & Iqbal, N. (2013). The State of the Nation, Government Priorities and Women in South Africa. Cape Town: Women’s Legal Centre.
Bresnahan, K. A., & Tanumihardjo, S. A. (2014). Under nutrition, the acute phase response to infection, and its effects on micronutrient status indicators. Advances in Nutrition, 5(6), 702–711. https://doi.org/10.3945/an.114.006361.
de Holan, P. M., Willi, A., & Fernández, P. D. (2019). Breaking the Wall: Emotions and Projective Agency Under Extreme Poverty. Business & Society, 58(5), 919–962. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650317745633.
Engelbrecht, L. K. (2005). Perspectives on the community education model of social work: Implications for education and practice. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 41(2), 143–154.
Ering, S. O., & Akpan, F. U. (2012). The politics of fuel subsidy, populist resistance and its socio-economic implications for Nigeria. Global Journal of Human Social Science, 12(7), 12–20.
Ering, S. O., Out, J. E., & Archibong, E. P. (2014). Rural development policies in Nigeria: A critical appraisal. International Journal of Education and Research, 2(9), 307–320.
Gojová, A., & Gojová, V. (2008). Community social work. Ostrava: University of Ostrava.
Government of Zimbabwe. (2001). Cooperative Societies Act Chapter 24:05. Harare: Government Printers.
Harriss-White, B. (2003). Poverty and Disability, Paper presented at the Staying. Poor: Chronic Poverty and Development Conference, University of Manchester.
Homan, M. (2004). Promoting community change: Making it happen in the real world. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks.
Imandoust, S. B. (2011). Relationship between education and social capital. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science 1(12), 52–57.
Khosa, M. (2000). Empowerment through Service Delivery. Pretoria: Human Science Research Council.
Kongolo, M., & Bamgose, O. O. (2002). Participation of Rural Women in Development: A Case Study of Tsheseng, Thintwa, and Makhalaneng Villages, South Africa. Journal of International Women’s Studies, 4(1), 79–92.
Mabughi, N., & Selim, T. (2006). Poverty as social deprivation: A survey. Review of Social Economic, 64(2), 181–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/00346760600721122.
Mabvurira, V. (2016). Influence of African traditional religion and spirituality in understanding chronic illnesses and its implications for social work practice: A case of Chiweshe communal lands in Zimbabwe (Doctoral Thesis, University of Limpopo). Semantic scholar. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1ed0/8310997229f33d439547ac04d8a4befccef5.pdf
Mabvurira, V., & Makhubele, J. C. (2014). Eurocentric spiritual hegemony, an impediment to the incorporation of African spirituality in social work practice in Zimbabwe. Theologia Viatorum: Journal of Theology and Religion in Africa, 38(1), 78–95.
Makhubele, J. (2008). The impact of indigenous community based groups towards social development. Indilinga-African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge systems, 7(1), 37–46. https://doi.org/10.4314/indilinga.v7i1.26391.
Mbigi, L. (1997). Ubuntu: The African dream in management. Randburg: Knowledge Resources.
Midgely, J. (1997). Social welfare in a global context. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
Mlambo, V. (2018). An overview of rural-urban migration in South Africa: Its causes and implications. Archives of Business Research, 6(4), 63–70. https://doi.org/10.14738/abr.64.4407.
Moyo, C. S. (2013). Rural Women and Land, the Inseparable Twins: A Case of South Africa. Gender & Behaviour, 11(2), 5393–5401.
Moyo, C. S. (2014). Active Participation of Rural Women in Developmental Issues: Poverty Alleviation Lessons for South Africa. Gender & Behaviour, 12(1), 5994–6001.
Mungai, N. W. (2015). Afrocentric social work: Implications for practice issues. In V. Pulla & B. Mamidi (Eds.), Some aspects of community empowerment (pp. 65–76). New Delhi: Allied Publishers Private Limited.
Patel, L. (2005). Social welfare and social development in South Africa. Cape Town: Oxford University Press.
Pawar, M. (2014). Social work practice with local communities in developing nations: Imperatives for political engagement. Sage Publication, Sage Open. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244014538640.
Popple, K. (1995). Analysing Community Work. Its Theory and Practice. Buckingham-Philadelphia: Open University Press.
Pradeep, M., & Sathyamurthi, K. (2017). The “Community” in “Community Social Work”. IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science, 22(9), 58–64. https://doi.org/10.9790/0837-2209015864.
Republic of South Africa. (1994). The White Paper of Reconstruction and Development. Cape Town: Government Print.
Republic of South Africa. (1997). The White Paper on Social Welfare. Pretoria: Government Print.
Republic of South Africa. (1998a). The White Paper on Local Government. Pretoria: Government Print.
Republic of South Africa. (1998b). Municipal Structures Act (117 of 1998). Pretoria: Government Print.
Republic of South Africa. (2005). The Cooperatives Act (14 of 2005). Cape Town: Government Print.
Republic of South Africa. (2013). Sakhisizwe Local Municipality Integrated Development Planning, 2013–2014. Eastern Cape: Government Printers.
Rikhotso, R. H (2013). The challenges of community development workers in the implementation of the Community Development Workers’ Programme in Makhado Local Municipality, Limpopo Province (Masters dissertation, Stellenbosch University). https://scholar.sun.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10019.1/85656/rikhotso_challenges_2013.pdf?sequence=1
Ringson, J. (2017). Zunderamambo as a traditional coping mechanism for the care of orphans and vulnerable children: Evidence from Gutu district, Zimbabwe. African Journal of Social Work, 7(2), 52–59.
Roe, D., Nelson, F., & Sandbrook, C. (2009). Community management of natural resources in Africa: Impacts, experiences and future directions. London: International Institute for Environment and Development.
Schiele, J. H. (2000). Human services and afro-centric paradigms. New York: The Haworth Press.
Shava, E., & Thakhuthi, D. R. (2016). Challenges in the Implementation of Community Development Projects in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Journal of Human Ecology, 56(3), 363–373. https://doi.org/10.1080/09709274.2016.11907073.
Sheafor, B. W., & Horejsi, C. R. (2012). Techniques and Guidelines for Social Work Practice (9th ed.). New York: Allyn & Bacon.
Spicker, P. (2011). How Social Security Works: An introduction to benefits in Britain. Cambridge: Policy Press.
Swanepoel, H., & De Beer, F. (2011). Community Development: Breaking the cycle of poverty (5th ed.). Lansdowne: South Africa.
Thomas, D. N. (1983). The Making of Community Work. London: George Allen & Unwin.
Tsheola, N. M. (2012). The impact of poverty alleviation projects on women’s development in rural communities of Mogalakwena Municipality, Limpopo Province: A case study of Malokong, Masipa and Rooiwal poultry projects. Mini-dissertation Master of Development. Limpopo: University of Limpopo. Semantic scholar. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/532c/0a91075f5b4fd81fef20f7eb8bd8728c4b32.pdf?_ga=2.109112194.608032203.1594479346-480226896.1569687480
United Nations. (2018). The sustainable development goals. UN Women Headquarters: United Nations.
Uwimbabazi, P. (2012). An analysis of Umuganda: the policy and practice of community work in Rwanda. (Doctoral dissertation, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa). Semantic scholar. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/555a/89624e0a7c7d0d49fd9561391a74afb4f20b.pdf
van Rensburg, J. J. (2013). The psychology of poverty. Verbum et Ecclesia, 34(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v34i1.825.
Weyers, M. L. (2001). The Theory and Practice of Community Work: A South African Perspective. Potchefstroom: Keurkopie.
Weyers, M. L. (2011). The theory and practice of community work: A Southern African perspective (2nd ed.). Potchefsroom: Keurkopie.
Wood, G. (2003). Staying Secure, Staying Poor: The “Faustian Bargain”. World Development, 31(3), 455–471. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(02)00213-9.
World Vision. (2008). Urban Agriculture a critical Food Security and liveli-hood strategy: A case of Mthombowesizwe garden in Bulawayo. London: Department for International Development (DFID).
Zastrow, C. (1989). The Practice of Social Work (3rd ed.). Chicago: Dorsey Press.
Zastrow, C. (2017). Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare: Empowering People (12th ed.). Boston: Cengage Learning.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Mafa, P., Matlakala, F.K., Mabvurira, V., Makhubele, J.C. (2021). Enhancing Poverty Reduction Through Community Work in Low-Resourced Areas in Africa. In: Opačić, A. (eds) Practicing Social Work in Deprived Communities. European Social Work Education and Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65987-5_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65987-5_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-65986-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-65987-5
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)