Research on Poverty and Chronic Poverty
Researchers: Dr Andries du Toit;
David Neves
PLAAS’s research on poverty and chronic poverty intends to inform policymaking by grounding debate in a detailed understanding of the livelihood activities and strategies of poor and vulnerable people, and the ways in which those livelihoods are embedded in the broader political economy of South Africa. Its research is directed particularly at understanding the links between chronic and structural poverty. This requires closely integrating qualitative and quantitative research approaches, and linking the analysis of poverty to a thorough understanding of the role played by local history, gender, identity, and the broader economic and institutional context.
PLAAS situates this work within a broader commitment to ‘public sociology’; an aims to strike a balance between scholarly publication, policy advice to government and donor agencies, and intervention in public debates and public education about the causes and dynamics of poverty.
PLAAS activities are contained in several key projects
PLAAS’s research on poverty and chronic poverty intends to inform policymaking by grounding debate in a detailed understanding of the livelihood activities and strategies of poor and vulnerable people, and the ways in which those livelihoods are embedded in the broader political economy of South Africa. Its research is directed particularly at understanding the links between chronic and structural poverty. This requires closely integrating qualitative and quantitative research approaches, and linking the analysis of poverty to a thorough understanding of the role played by local history, gender, identity, and the broader economic and institutional context.
PLAAS situates this work within a broader commitment to ‘public sociology’; an aims to strike a balance between scholarly publication, policy advice to government and donor agencies, and intervention in public debates and public education about the causes and dynamics of poverty.
PLAAS activities are contained in several key projects
- Most important is its partnership with the Chronic Poverty Research Centre (CPRC), an international network of researchers funded by DFID and centred at the IDPM in Manchester (for more information, see www.chronicpoverty.org). PLAAS has been working with the CPRC since 2000, and the year under review saw the inception of the third phase of CPRC research.
- Another important project has been PLAAS’s research on the Vulnerability, Labour Markets and Chronic Poverty (VLMSP) project for the National Treasury. This project is funded for Treasury by USAID working through SEGA.
- Work funded by FinMark Trust on Social Grants
Partnerships
- The Chronic Poverty Research Centre (CPRC) continues to be a major partner in our work on poverty and structural poverty.
- A close relationship has also continued with the School of Public Health (SOPH), UWC. PLAAS helped SOPH secure funding for a report on chronic poverty and the social dynamics of health systems, and will continue to work closely on this area with SOPH.
- A closer relationship was also formed with SALDRU at the University of Cape Town. PLAAS is part of the consortium tendering with SALDRU for the National Income Dynamics Study proposed by the office of the President.
- A close working relationship also continued with the Centre for Popular Memory at UCT. PLAAS used CPRC funds to subcontract the CPM to archive qualitative field material from the VLMSP study will be archived at the Centre for Popular Memory.
- The Isandla Institute is partnering PLAAS in proposals for a conference on Living on the Margins planned for March 2007.
- Centre for the Analysis of Southern African Social Policy (CASASP). Andries du Toit plans to spend two months writing up research at Oxford, working closely with CASASP in late 2006.
WORKSHOP: Can land and agrarian reform in South Africa create opportunities for smallholder farmers and help reduce rural poverty?