{"title":"Informality in Zimbabwe’s Urban Areas and the Resilience of Indigenous Solutions to Risk During the Pandemic","authors":"Sikanyiso Masuku, Abigail Benhura, Lena Gronbach","doi":"10.1007/s41134-023-00257-0","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This study examined the role of networks and reciprocated assistance in curtailing the risk arising from an absence of centralised social protection programmes. Given how non-state interventions constitute a key part of the endogenous networks to social risk reduction, we also explored how the knowledge of exogenous emergency relief is localised and utilised. In examining these issues, in-depth interviews were done with a purposively selected sample of informal workers, their representative associations, and development partners. Amongst other factors, the findings showed that (i) informal mutual assistance networks are more adaptive, responsive, and inclusive and thus more preferred over exogenous relief — with complementarity between the two being low (ii) ex-post bereavement mutual assistance networks have stronger ties with a more versatile, knowledge sharing–centred utility that transcends the circulation/sharing of cash, food, and credit. The findings contribute to the scholarship on social welfare rights and networks in the context of reciprocated assistance and emergency relief.","PeriodicalId":15919,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Human Rights and Social Work","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.4000,"publicationDate":"2023-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Human Rights and Social Work","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-023-00257-0","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"SOCIAL WORK","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Abstract This study examined the role of networks and reciprocated assistance in curtailing the risk arising from an absence of centralised social protection programmes. Given how non-state interventions constitute a key part of the endogenous networks to social risk reduction, we also explored how the knowledge of exogenous emergency relief is localised and utilised. In examining these issues, in-depth interviews were done with a purposively selected sample of informal workers, their representative associations, and development partners. Amongst other factors, the findings showed that (i) informal mutual assistance networks are more adaptive, responsive, and inclusive and thus more preferred over exogenous relief — with complementarity between the two being low (ii) ex-post bereavement mutual assistance networks have stronger ties with a more versatile, knowledge sharing–centred utility that transcends the circulation/sharing of cash, food, and credit. The findings contribute to the scholarship on social welfare rights and networks in the context of reciprocated assistance and emergency relief.
期刊介绍:
This journal offers an outlet for articles that support social work as a human rights profession. It brings together knowledge about addressing human rights in practice, research, policy, and advocacy as well as teaching about human rights from around the globe. Articles explore the history of social work as a human rights profession; familiarize participants on how to advance human rights using the human rights documents from the United Nations; present the types of monitoring and assessment that takes place internationally and within the U.S.; demonstrate rights-based practice approaches and techniques; and facilitate discussion of the implications of human rights tools and the framework for social work practice.