Abstract

SITSHANGE, Madoda. A thematic synthesis of studies on income-generating activities conducted from 2007 to 2012 in Gauteng, Limpopo and Kwazulu-Natal: a systematic review of the qualitative evidence. Social work (Stellenbosch. Online) [online]. 2022, vol.58, n.4, pp.382-393. ISSN 2312-7198.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15270/58-4-1072.

This paper describes a systematic review of studies on income-generating projects in poor communities. The review found that the beneficiaries experienced their participation in such activities as empowering, particularly in terms of accessing moral support. Their self-esteem was enhanced by their ability to contribute to their family's livelihood. Yet it also emerges from the evidence that the long-term impact of income-generating projects is uncertain, because of concern about the beneficiaries' abilities to independently sustain the gains. The paper recommends more complex and large-scale qualitative and quantitative systematic reviews to test more accurately whether systematic reviews of the data from income-generation programmes make better sense of developmental interventions.

Keywords : systematic review; thematic synthesis; income generation; poverty alleviation; social development.

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