Page 1 of 4

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 01 Issue 05

June 2015

Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 466

Aquaculture Projects and Social Capital: A Case Study of

NGO Funded Programming in Masvingo District.

Kudzayi Savious Tarisayi1

Foundation Training Institute, Zimbabwe Doctoral Candidate, University of Kwazulu-Natal,

South Africa

kudzayit@gmail.com

Abstract

Implications of NGO programming have

been widely studied from the livelihoods

perspectives in general and the sustainable

livelihoods approach in particular by

numerous scholars. This study focuses on

analysing the implications of NGO

aquaculture projects using the social

capital theory. Authoritative research on

NGO projects in Zimbabwe has confined

itself largely to livelihoods ramifications

without necessarily delve into the social

capital perspective. The study was carried

out in two wards in Masvingo district which

benefited from aquaculture projects

implemented by NGOs. The data for the

study was obtained through the use of

questionnaires that were administered by

the researchers on the sampled

participants. The study revealed that NGO

aquaculture projects in Masvingo district

increased the social capital of the

beneficiaries to a greater extent.

Keywords: NGOs; aquaculture;

social capital; Masvingo

1.0 Background

Implications of NGO programming have

been widely studied from the livelihoods

perspectives in general and the sustainable

livelihoods approach as propounded by Ian

Scoones (Scoones, 1998) in particular. This

study focuses on analyzing the implications

of NGO aquaculture programming from a

social capital theory. Authoritative research

on NGO projects in Zimbabwe has

confined its analysis to livelihood

implications while negating the social

capital implications of the NGO

intervention. Thus, it is imperative that a

social capital perspective be pursued in this

study. Bourdieu (1986:244) argues, “ it is in

fact impossible to account for the structure

and functioning of the social world unless

one reintroduces capital in all its forms and

not sorely in the one form recognized by

economic theory”. Hence, this study is

premised in the inadequacy of the

livelihoods approach in account for NGO

programming.

2.0 Purpose of the study

The overall aim of the study was to analyze

the implications of the NGO aquaculture

programming in Ward 15 and Ward 18,

Masvingo.

3.0 Context of the study

The study was carried out in two wards,

Ward 15 and Ward 18 in Masvingo district.

Masvingo district the two wards were

selected because they aptly reveal the

phenomenon under study due to the

implementation of NGO aquaculture

Page 2 of 4

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 01 Issue 05

June 2015

Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 467

projects. Ward 15 and Ward 18 lie within

the region which receives annual rainfall of

between 450-650 mm, experiences dryness

during the summer season and recurrent

droughts (Kamanga et al, 2003). While,

Chikodzi and Muttowo (2013:57) state the

area, “is predominantly semi-arid; rainfall

is minimal, highly variable/erratic and

uncertain making the province prone to

droughts.” Hence, the study area is

generally dry and receives was erratic rains.

4.0 Sampling

The area under study has four NGO funded

aquaculture projects. Siririka (2007:34)

views sampling as, “the procedure a

researcher uses to select people, places, or

things to study.” The researcher

purposively sampled two aquaculture

projects, one in each Ward. Each

aquaculture had 100 beneficiaries, thus the

researcher purposively sampled 20

participants from each of two sampled

projects. This selection resonates with the

point raised by Johnson and Christensen

(2000:75) that, “Purposeful sampling

constitutes the selection of information-rich

cases.” Therefore, these wards can be

argued to be information-rich cases in terms

of the implications of NGO aquaculture

projects.

5.0 Instruments and reliability

For the pilot study, the researchers used

three questionnaires to establish which

among them was the most reliable. The one

with the highest reliability was used for the

study. The questionnaires were designed to

collect information on the implications of

NGO aquaculture projects on the

dimensions of social capital as espoused by

the World Bank's Social Capital Initiative

(Grootaert and van Bastelaer, 2001).

6.0 Theoretical Framework

This study is guided by the social capital

theory. In contemporary discourse the

concept of social capital has become one of

the most popular exports of sociological

theory into everyday language and

literature. Social capital, in its best forms

contributes to economic, social and

political development by enabling

information-sharing, mitigating

opportunistic behavior, and facilitating

collective decision-making (Woolcock and

Narayan, 2000). Portes (2000) avers that

the concept of social capital is arguably one

of the most successful “exports” from

sociology to other social sciences and to

public discourse during the last two

decades. Dika and Singh (2002) in Oztok et

al (2015:19) state, “the central tenet of the

social capital theory is different

relationships hold different values.” The

theoretical development of the concept of

social capital can be traced to the work of

French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu (1980)

as well as contributions by American

sociologists James Coleman (1993) and

later on political scientist Putnam expanded

the concept. Bourdieu (1985:248) defines

social capital as, “the aggregate of the

actual or potential resources which are

linked to possession of a durable network of

more or less institutionalized relationships

of mutual acquaintance or recognition.”

Hence, from Bourdieu’s conceptualization

it can be reasoned that social capitals entails

a means by which individuals get access

through social connections to economic and

cultural resources. Oztok et al (2015:20)

argues, “For Coleman (1988), social capital

in an attribute of any given community and

is inherent in the structure of relations

Page 3 of 4

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 01 Issue 05

June 2015

Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 468

between and among actors.” Thus,

Coleman’s understanding of social capital

as a community can be utilized to shed light

on the implications of NGO aquaculture on

the social capital of the beneficiaries.

Whereas, Pig and Crank (2004:60) state

that Putnam (2001) views social capital as

a, “function of network qualities, norms of

reciprocity and trust.” Bullen and Onyx

(1998) argue that social capital is not

located within the individual person or

within the social structure, but in the space

between people. In addition, it originates

with people forming social connections and

networks based on principles of trust,

mutual reciprocity and norms of action.

7.0 Significance of the study

The study is important to all individuals,

groups and organisations involved in or

benefiting from NGO interventions.

Donors and organisations will benefit from

this study in that they will strive to build

more social capital in communities. In

addition, NGOs will increase investment in

social capital, because in a livelihoods- driven era, social capital will be relegated

to the second-tier in Ngo programming.

8.0 Findings of the study

8.1 Networks

80 % of the respondents revealed that their

involvement in the NGO aquaculture

project had enlarged their network of

connections. Therefore, this study reveals

that the social capital of the beneficiaries of

the NGO aquaculture project in Ward 15

and Ward 18 had been increased

significantly. This findings is consistent

with Bourdieu (1986:249) who posits, “The

volume of social capital possessed by a

given agent...depends on the size of the

network of connections that he can

effectively mobilize.” Therefore, it can be

argued that the NGO intervention has

expatiated the size of the network of

connections that beneficiaries of the

aquaculture project can access from

resources and information.

8.2 Trust and Reciprocity

The majority (90%) of the respondents

indicated that there was increased trust and

reciprocity amongst the beneficiaries of the

NGO aquaculture project. Bullen and Onyx

(1998) view reciprocity as the individual

provides a service to others, or acts for the

benefit of others at a personal cost, but in

the general expectation that this kindness

will be returned at some undefined time in

the future in case of need. While, trust

entails a willingness to take risks in a social

context based on a sense of confidence that

others will respond as expected and will act

in mutually supportive ways, or at least that

others do not intend harm. One respondent

said, “Now we can leave our livestock in

the care of our colleagues without any

uneasiness. If you do a favour to a colleague

you are guaranteed the favour will be

returned some day.” In the light of the

foregoing submissions, one can reason that

the NGO aquaculture programming in

Ward 15 and Ward 18 has improved trust

and reciprocity of the beneficiaries.

8.3 Participation in the local community

The majority of respondents (80%)

revealed that due to membership in the

NGO aquaculture project they now help out

in the local community as volunteers.

Moreso, (0 % of the participants in this

study indicated that they are now active

members of local organizations or clubs.

8.4 Neighbourhood Connections