The Role of Social Work in Poverty Reduction and Realization of MDGs in Kenya

P. Zani, G. Wairire

Description

This publication addresses the extent to which social work curricula in Kenya prepares graduates to handle issues of poverty and social development, the specific knowledge and skills that they are equipped with an existing gaps therein. In addition, the challenges that confront the training and practice of social workers and what needs to be done to ensure that there is an enabling environment for social work education and practice in the country have also been addressed. The publication, which is the outcome of a study on the promotion of professional social work towards social development and poverty reduction in East Africa, analyses the role that professional social work plays in the efforts to reduce poverty, enhance social development and realise the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Kenya. Consequently, emphasis has been laid on the status of professional social work education and practice in preparing social workers to address issues of poverty and MDGs in the country. Cross cutting gender issues that impact on social work education and practice which in turn affect the efforts to address poverty in Kenya have also been analysed. Given that the time span for MDGs was to end in 2015, the authors envisage that the lessons learnt through this study, and the gains made with regard to MDGs should not end in the set time span but rather, that social work educators and practitioners, together with other stakeholders in policy formulation and implementation, still have more to of in making sure that these gains are consolidated into social work training and practice, with additional efforts being made towards sustainable poverty reduction efforts in Kenya.

Informations

• Publié par: University of Nairobi Press
• Date de parution: 19 octobre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9789966792570
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 4 Mo

Extrait

The Role of Social Work in Poverty Reduction and Realization of MDGs in Kenya

The Role of Social Work in Poverty Reduction and Realization of Millennium Development Goals in Kenya

University of Nairobi Press

By

Gidraph G. Wairire Agnes P. Zani Mumbi Machera Pius M. Mutie

First published 2014 by University of Nairobi Press (UONP) Jomo Kenyatta Memorial Library University of Nairobi P.O. Box 30197 – 00100 Nairobi E-mail: [e-mail] | www.uonbi.ac.ke/press

© The University of Nairobi Press, 2014

The moral rights of the authors have been asserted.

The University of Nairobi Press supports and promotes University of Nairobi’ s objectives of discovery, dissemination and preservation of knowledge, and stimulation of intellectual and cultural life by publishing works of the highest quality in association with partners in different parts of the world. In doing s o, it adheres to the University’s tradition of excellence, innovation and scholarshi p.

All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of fully acknowledged short passages for the purposes of criticism, review, research or teaching, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or means without a prior written permission from the University of Nairobi Pres s. University of Nairobi Library CIP Data Wairire, Gidraph et al The role of social work in poverty reduction and realization of HV 11.8 millennium development goals in Kenya / by G. Wairireet al. – Nairobi: University of Nairobi Press, 2014 .K4W3 155p. 1. Social service – Kenya 2. Kenya – Economic conditions 3. Kenya – Social conditions I. Title ISBN 10: 9966-792-52-X ISBN 13: 978-9966-792-52-5 Printed by

ALIKI Printers and Stationers Limited P.O. Box 51762-00200 Nairobi, Kenya

Table of Contents List of Tables ......................................................................................... viii List of Figures ...........................................................................................x About the Authors .................................................................................... xi Foreword............................................................................................... xiii Acknowledgements................................................................................... xv Acronyms...............................................................................................xvii Executive Summary.................................................................................xix

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Introduction ............................................................................ 1 1.1........................ 1Historical Dimensions of Social Work in Kenya 1.2The PROSOWO Project............................................................ 3

Study Methodology and Approaches for Information Gathering ............................................................................... 7 2.1Introduction .............................................................................. 7 2.2Research Design ....................................................................... 7 2.3Study Sites and Rationale for Site Selection .............................. 8 2.4Rationale for Selection of Target Groups................................... 8 2.511Description of Tools Used for Primary Data Collection ........... 2.6Description of Secondary Sources of Data............................... 12 2.7Quality Assurance in Data Management.................................. 13

Poverty and Social Development in the Context of Millennium Development Goals........................................... 17 3.1Introduction ............................................................................ 17 3.2Defining Poverty .................................................................... 17 3.3Programmes for Poverty Reduction in Kenya .......................... 22

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3.4Major Actors in Poverty Reduction ......................................... 26 3.5..................................... 28Social Work and Social Development 3.6Programme Linkages to the MDGs ......................................... 29

Dynamics of Social Work Practice in Kenya......................... 37 4.1................................................ 37Status of Social Work Practice 4.2Social Demographic Profile of Social Work Practitioners........ 40 4.3Roles of Social Work in Poverty Reduction and Social Development .......................................................................... 46 4.4Professional Social Work and Realization of Millennium Development Goals ................................................................ 49 4.5Challenges Facing the Social Work Profession........................ 54 4.6Professional Identity of Social Workers in Kenya.................... 58 4.7Repositioning the Place of Social Workers as Agents of Change................................................................................... 60

Reflections on Social Work Education and Training............. 63 5.1Introduction............................................................................ 63 5.2Policy and Legal Environment for Social Work Education and Practice............................................................................ 65 5.3...... 67Social Work Training Curriculum in Different Institutions 5.4Perceptions of Social Work Practitioners About the Adequacy of Social Work Training......................................... 68 5.5.. 74Perceptions of Educators About the Social Work Curriculum 5.6Experiences and Perceptions of Students about the Social Work Curriculum ................................................................... 83 5.7Field Practice Education as Part of the Social Work Curriculum ............................................................................. 87 5.8Indigenization of Social Work Education and Training............ 89 5.9Areas for Improvement in the Social Work Education and Training ................................................................................. 91

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