THE IMPACT OF GREEN SCHEMES ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF COMMUNITIES IN THE KAVANGO REGION, NAMIBIA

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the impacts of the Green Scheme on the livelihood of communities through a comparative study of households that surrounds the Green Scheme (village with GRN intervention) to a village with no GRN intervention. In particular it sought to ask the following: are there economic benefits to people living around the Green Schemes; is there a change in the diversification of food stuff by people surrounding the Green Schemes; and what challenges do the people around the Green Schemes experience? A survey was conducted on 30 households in each village setting. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select Green scheme and households respectively. Personal interviews were undertaken using structured and unstructured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, frequencies and cross tabulations were used to outline respondents according to the impacts of the Green Scheme. The study revealed that there was no significant association between economic activities of the two village settings (p>0.05). Most variables were the same before and after the scheme for both village settings. Changes in food diversification for people were assessed and results indicated that food items for consumption reduced for Sikondo and increased in Siyandeya. The study further highlights community’s assertion that Green Schemes are not adding significant improvements or changes to community livelihoods as no significant developments in the surrounding villages have been attributed to the Green Schemes. While there are benefits from the Green Schemes to the communities, these are minimal and are not worth their losses and expectations for improved livelihood. Study shows communities surrounding the Schemes continue to face challenges such as water, sanitation, jobs and energy. Significantly this study highlights the need to inculcate a change in attitude so as to encourage collaborative efforts between communities and the Green Scheme management which will impact on the livelihood of people positively.