The Elderly and Development
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School of Social Sciences Masters Programme in Peace and Development Work Masters Thesis The Elderly and Development --- a field study on elderly people’s livelihoods in Ribáuè district, Mozambique Malin Bernerson & Caroline Mortlock July 2007 Tutors: Anders Nilsson & Gunilla Åkesson Examiner: Kenneth Hermele Bernerson & Mortlock ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost we would like to thank the people of Ribáuè for giving so much time and attention to answering all our questions so carefully. We are honoured that you allowed us into your lives with such warmth and openness. We hope our engagement in issues important to you can make some difference. Many representatives of the administration, NGOs and other organisations in Maputo, Nampula and especially Ribáuè allocated considerable time and effort to arranging a rewarding visit schedule and to explaining the work of their organisations at informative meetings. As our translator Benedito, you were our invaluable link with the Macua- speaking elderly population. Nelia we appreciate you inviting us into your home at short notice and also helping us with further valuable contacts. A big thanks to Gunilla and Anders for all the time you invested in preparing this very special experience and guiding us with such expertise and enthusiasm throughout the field-work and report writing. Finally thanks to all our fellow students for your company, helpful advice and a lot of laughs. Malin and Caroline, Växjö, 2007-07-04 2 Bernerson & Mortlock ABSTRACT This report presents findings from research in Ribáuè district, Nampula province, in northeast Mozambique. Our aim was to understand the living conditions of the impoverished elderly and identify strategies that may improve their situation. We conducted semi-structured interviews with elderly people, including some of the most vulnerable and some who receive income from the social assistance programme. To gain a wider context we met representatives of governmental and non-governmental organisations and referred to secondary sources. We use the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods framework to present the capital assets (natural, social, financial, physical and human) of Ribáuè district and of its elderly inhabitants. We consider how access to assets is affected by political, economic and cultural factors in the community. We set the situation of the elderly against the development history of post- independence Mozambique, and international concern about poverty, the ageing population and their human rights. We find that social assets in the form of human relationships, and natural assets in the form of land, are essential for elderly people’s livelihoods. Most of the elderly have very limited access to financial assets, apart from the few who receive social assistance. This programme makes a very small but appreciated contribution to family welfare. However the programme’s reach has been limited geographically and eligibility regulations tend to obstruct access for the very poorest. In general the human capital of the rural and uneducated elderly is declining, as society increasingly values modern skills and knowledge. However the Ribáuè residents we met experience some benefit from infrastructure modernisation. Elderly people are receiving more attention, especially as carers of children. We have identified existing strategies for improving elderly people’s livelihoods. We suggest ways to build on these, as well as possible new strategies. If development policies are both equitable and successful, increased employment and taxation should enable formal pension and social security systems to provide for the elderly in the long-term future. In the short to medium term, expansion of the social assistance programme must be prioritised, as it is vital to the most vulnerable. It is also important that people’s customary engagement in mutually supportive social networks is strengthened rather than undermined by development changes. Key words: Mozambique, Nampula, elderly, social assistance, the food subsidy program (PSA), Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (SRL) 3 Bernerson & Mortlock Table of contents 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................8 1.1 AIM AND OBJECTIVES .........................................................................................................................9 1.2 LIMITATIONS .......................................................................................................................................9 1.3 STRUCTURE OF THE STUDY ...............................................................................................................10 1.4 THE HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT OF THE AREA ............................................................10 2 METHODOLOGICAL AND ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK.............................. 13 2.1 METHOD ..........................................................................................................................................13 2.1.1 Interview guide ...................................................................................................................................... 13 2.1.2 Selection of respondents ........................................................................................................................ 14 2.1.3 Interviews .............................................................................................................................................. 14 2.1.4 Secondary material................................................................................................................................14 2.1.5 Criticism of sources............................................................................................................................... 14 2.2 ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK ................................................................................................................15 3 TRANSFORMING STRUCTURES AND PROCESSES ...................................... 18 3.1 LEGISLATION AND POLICIES ON SOCIAL PROTECTION ..........................................................................18 3.1.1 Global level ........................................................................................................................................... 18 3.1.2 Regional level ........................................................................................................................................ 19 3.1.3 National level......................................................................................................................................... 20 3.2 GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURES AND PROCESSES ................................................................................22 3.2.1 Levels of government: provincial, district, and administrative post...................................................... 22 3.2.2 Traditional community leadership......................................................................................................... 23 3.2.3 Consultative councils.............................................................................................................................23 3.3 PRIVATE SECTOR STRUCTURES AND INSTITUTIONS .............................................................................24 3.4 FAITH BASED INSTITUTIONS ...............................................................................................................25 3.5 NON -GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS ..............................................................................................25 4 THE CAPITAL ASSETS OF THE ELDERLY IN RIBÁUÈ ................................. 27 4.1 NATURAL CAPITAL ASSETS ...............................................................................................................27 4.1.1 Natural resource access issues.............................................................................................................. 28 4.1.2 Gender aspects of natural resource exploitation................................................................................... 28 4.2 SOCIAL CAPITAL ASSETS ..................................................................................................................29 4.2.1 Traditional and modern social attitudes................................................................................................ 29 4.2.2 Family mutual support networks ........................................................................................................... 30 4.2.3 Gender specific mutual support networks ............................................................................................. 30 4.2.4 Mutual support networks between neighbours ...................................................................................... 31 4.2.5 The elderly as community leaders ......................................................................................................... 31 4.2.6 Community leadership support for the elderly ...................................................................................... 31 4.2.7 Community leadership and selection of elderly beneficiaries of INAS – food subsidy.......................... 32 4.2.8 The elderly and access to decision making processes ........................................................................... 32 4.2.9 Non-profit organisations and the elderly............................................................................................... 33 4.2.10 Faith based