Social Welfare Projects Research Articles

Why do funders support social welfare crowdfunding platforms? An elaboration likelihood perspective

AbstractCrowdfunding entails small funds or contributions collected from the public to support and develop certain services or products. It has been widely adopted as an alternative method to fund social, cultural, and technological projects. Crowdfunding platforms can capitalize the social and digital networks, making them more efficient in targeting funders with minimum operational costs. The emergence of crowdfunding platforms as social information systems attracts researchers and academicians to study their increasing acceptance. In complement to qualitative and big‐data analyses, behavioral models can offer robust insights into why individuals like to participate in the activities generated on these platforms. Prior research focuses on the user's acceptance of these platforms, but less attention has been given to users' engagement in crowdfunding‐based social welfare projects. The study highlights people's crowdfunding intentions to fund social welfare projects based on the elaboration likelihood model. The study hypothesizes argument quality and technical advantage as central signals and shared value and reputation as peripheral signals, where outcome efficacy and social consciousness directly affect intentions to participate and moderate the relationship between signals and intentions. We collect data from 467 potential donors from China's 30 online crowdfunding platforms. The results indicate a more significant peripheral route effect on donation participation in social welfare crowdfunding. Social consciousness significantly predicts donation intentions where outcome efficacy and social consciousness strengthen the relationship between argument quality, shared values, and donation intentions to participate in socially responsible crowdfunding. The study provides implications for social collaboration for welfare projects through these platforms in light of these dynamic factors.

Determining Contribution of Savings and Credit Groups on the Social Welfare Projects in Rural Rwanda. A Case of Umuzabibumwiza Organization, Musanze District

Determining Contribution of Savings and Credit Groups on the Social Welfare Projects in Rural Rwanda. A Case of Umuzabibumwiza Organization, Musanze District

Gender and public works intervention in rural Ghana: An empowerment framework perspective

Transformative social protection requires an understanding of how interventions affect women and men. Gender inequality remains pervasive in societies. However, mainstream social protection evaluations have seldom been informed by gender analysis beyond sex categorisation. This paper focuses on the Labour Intensive Public Works Programme in Wa West District of Ghana to discuss the gender dynamics in participation outcomes. We analysed data from ten in-depth interviews with district assembly's social welfare and LIPW project staff and eight focus group discussions with programme participants and nonparticipants. In-depth interviews with the key informant clearly show that though the programme implementers acknowledge differential labour demands among participants, it is carried out in a manner that sustains gender inequalities through the endorsement of social stereotypes. The analysis revealed that an increase in women's income did not augment their ability to bargain in household decision-making. The study draws on Longwe's Women Empowerment Framework to discuss the results. This paper explains why and how this new knowledge can be used to inform theoretical and future policy debates on social protection.

The Efficiency of Waqf Practice in Human Resource Development: Evidence from Different Countries

Waqf is as an Islamic charity foundation for the realization of goals through property and finance allocated to a legal foundation. In Muslim countries, there are many projects [1]that are operated through waqf benefices and assets. Waqf is often channelled to humanitarian projects, cultural, economic, health, education and training, among other social welfare projects. This paper discusses the efficiency of waqf practice in human resource development, particularly in Algeria, Bangladesh, Sudan, Morocco, Indonesia, Singapore, Kuwait and Malaysia. The significance of this paper manifests in its analysis of the waqf models practiced in the sampled countries from which the paper concludes that waqf is inefficiently managed in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Algeria and Morocco. However, waqf is efficiently practiced in Singapore, Kuwait, Sudan and Malaysia. The study raises awareness of the role of waqf in social development. It attempts to define a new approach which attempts to merge waqf models from successful countries with those in which waqf appears to be inefficient particularly in regards to its application for the development of human resources. Furthermore, the paper claims that waqf is the most suitable mechanism for poverty alleviation.

Quantifying Social Value Information Using Analytical Hierarchy Process Method

This study aims to develop a methodology that can quantify social value at the practical level, considering that it is difficult to quantify the social value information of individual businesses despite the importance of social value both in practice and academia. As people’s living standards rise, the gap between rich and poor has widened, and this phenomenon is broadening the scope of the social welfare projects that central and local governments must carry out. In this context, quantifying the social value information that each project will have is extremely important. However, the reality is that the social value quantification work undertaken in academia has up until now been carried out on an abstract level, because the methodology has not been established. In addition, established social value quantification methodologies embody a problem: it is difficult for policymakers to utilize them, because they represent difficult processes that, in respect of each individual project, require large amounts of professional knowledge, data, time and money if they are to be carried out satisfactorily. Against this background, this study aims to present a single social value quantification methodology that policymakers can employ easily in all circumstances. If the social value quantification method presented in this study, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method, is properly applied, then, since it is information and data -based methodology, it should prove meaningful as a practical alternative to existing methods.

A real options-based investment-income valuation model for old community renewal projects in China

PurposeTo propose a new investment-income valuation model by real options approach (ROA) for old community renewal (OCR) projects, which could help the government attract private capital's participation.Design/methodology/approachThe new model is proposed by identifying the types of options private capital has in the OCR project, selecting the option model most suitable for private capital investment decisions, improving the valuation model through the triangular fuzzy numbers to take into account the uncertainty and flexibility, and demonstrating the feasibility of the calculation model through an actual OCR project case.FindingsThe new model can valuate OCR projects more accurately based on considering uncertainty and flexibility, compared with conventional methods that often underestimate the value of OCR projects.Practical implicationsThe investment-income of OCR projects shall be re-valuated from the lens of real options, which could help reveal more real benefits beyond the capital growth of OCR projects, enable the government to attract private capital's investment in OCR, and alleviate government fiscal pressure.Originality/valueThe proposed OCR-oriented investment-income valuation model systematically analyzes the applicability of real option value (ROV) to OCR projects, innovatively integrates the ROV and the net present value (NPV) as expanded net present value (ENPV), and accurately evaluate real benefits in comparison with existing models. Furthermore, the newly proposed model holds the potential to be transferred to various social welfare projects as a tool to attract private capital's participation.

How do photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects relieve household energy poverty? Evidence from China

Energy poverty is a serious problem worldwide and has attracted the attention of policymakers. As a type of social welfare project, photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects (PPAPs) are expected to achieve high-quality poverty alleviation and an energy transformation in China. By the end of 2019, in China, the task of PPAP construction had been fully completed, with 26.36 million kWh of (PV) photovoltaic power plants having been built and 4.15 million households benefitting. This paper aims to explore the effect of PPAPs on energy poverty alleviation in poor areas. Based on 2010–2018 panel data from a tracking survey, this paper adopts a high-dimensional fixed effect model and finds that PPAPs reduced household energy poverty by 6.32%. Specifically, the mechanism included promoting the diversification of household energy sources and improving the disposable income of residents. Furthermore, the policy effect was more significant in regions with greater sunlight resource endowments. The findings of this paper provide implications for developing countries facing similar difficulties in improving people's livelihoods and in promoting sustainable development.

N-Acetylcysteine and Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation: Comment.

We read the article by Amar et al.1 with great interest. Their trial addressed whether N-acetylcysteine can prevent atrial fibrillation after thoracic surgery. A secondary analysis examined perioperative systemic markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and the incidence of atrial fibrillation after discharge. We thank the authors for contributing to our understanding on this important topic. However, we have two questions regarding subgroup analysis.First, the primary endpoint analysis included surgical procedures such as open thoracotomy, minimally invasive video-assisted thoracoscopic, robotic-assisted approaches, and Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. However, there was not a subgroup analysis by surgical modality. Of note, the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation is influenced by the extent of lung resection2 and by the operative site (left more than right lobectomy).3 Moreover, lobectomy removes more lung tissue than segmentectomy, which may induce myocardial hypoxia, thereby triggering atrial fibrillation.2,4 A subgroup analysis of N-acetylcysteine effect according to surgical approach may be informative.Second, the conclusion that N-acetylcysteine did not result in lower systemic markers of inflammation and oxidative stress should be interpreted with caution given the lack of power to identify these secondary outcomes. Perioperative drugs such as opioids and dexmedetomidine may affect intraoperative stress and inflammatory response. Oxycodone, for instance, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against surgical stress by inhibiting the production of proinflammatory cytokines and lipid peroxidation.5 Therefore, it would be of interest to perform a more comprehensive analysis of potential pharmacologic influence on the results.Postoperative atrial fibrillation is an important clinical outcome in patients undergoing noncardiac thoracic surgery, and there is growing interest in its prevention and treatment. However, multiple factors contribute to postoperative atrial fibrillation and inflammatory response. If there is substantial heterogeneity of these risk factors in the study population, risk-stratified analysis is especially important for enhancing the credibility of clinical trials.Supported by Zhongshan City Social Welfare project No. 2020B1002.The authors declare no competing interests.

Community-Based Development Program and Projects of the University of Makati in Porac, Pampanga: An Evaluative Study

This study aimed to evaluate the extent of benefits gained by the indigenous people of the resettlement area in Barangay Camias, Municipality of Porac, Pampanga, in the community-based development programs and projects of the University of Makati as to entrepreneurial and livelihood programs, infrastructure developments, health services, and social welfare projects. Descriptive-survey design was used to describe the present situation of the barangay and the help that these community-based programs and projects gave after these were realized. The findings revealed that the program-recipients benefited from the community-based development programs and projects; positive feedback was received from them; and perceptions and responses of the program-recipients, therefore, attested the responsiveness of the community-based development program and projects of the University of Makati to the needs of the Aeta Community. The researchers humbly recommend that a periodic impact assessment must be conducted (at least annually) in order to maintain and sustain the community-based development program and projects of the University; and immersion and community-based extension programs for adopted communities shall be conducted regularly and continuously which involves all colleges, centers, administrative departments and students of the University.

Charitable Schools as a Social Welfare Project in the Ming Dynasty

Abstract This article aims at discussing charitable schools in the Ming dynasty, which was one form of primary schooling beside the village schools. Focus is on their aims, founders, teachers, and students, as well as what is possible to infer from the material about the content of studies and the pedagogy. Furthermore, the relation between Neo-Confucianism and primary schooling will be discussed. Several well-known works have been written on the higher levels of education and the examination system, but lower levels such as village schools and charitable schools are still not sufficiently studied. In the present article, I argue that the charitable school as a school form is a part of larger charitable projects established by local officials to improve social welfare. The locations of those schools were not necessarily in rural areas as was the case with the village schools, but more often in urban areas. However, the aims were the same, that is, to transform poor boys into well-behaving and morally good adults and to make them literate, most likely in that order, that is, moral transformation first and practical skills next.

Will legalizing corporate social responsibility get businesses to participate in welfare activities – the case of India

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the role and impact of state regulation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending on company actions and to examine whether making mandatory CSR encourages businesses to engage in social welfare projects. Additionally, the authors also investigate whether these CSR expenditures can enable India to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.Design/methodology/approachCSR expenditure data from the government repository of 22,531 eligible companies in India were studied from FY2014–2015 to FY2019–2020. CSR spending is further classified according to development areas of Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013, and mapped with the SDGs to see which ones the corporations have prioritized.FindingsCSR spending increased from INR 10,066 crore in 2014–2015 to INR 24,689 crore in 2019–2020. Companies have prioritized CSR expenditure on education, followed by health care and rural development. The number of companies spending more than the mandated expenditure increased by around 75% from 2014–2015 to 2019–2020. However, the “comply or explain” approach of the law has led to a major number of companies spending zero on CSR. Companies have generally concentrated on moving CSR funds to designated funds rather than using them for capacity development to instill social responsibility culture.Originality/valueThis study provides evidence of the impact of mandatory CSR expenditure on welfare activities and SDGs. Unlike previous research, the results of this study are based on CSR expenditures rather than voluntary CSR scores.

Enhancing Livelihood and Biodiversity Through Caritas Intervened Project in the Northeastern Region of Bangladesh: A Case Study

In the last two decades, many development projects have been undertaken by different GOs and NGOs in diverse areas of the world with the expectation that they will simultaneously address the challenges of declining rural livelihoods and biodiversity. Caritas Bangladesh, a leading national and non-profit organization, has implemented several social welfare and community development projects since the 1970s. Accordingly, Caritas implemented a noble project in 2019, namely: Improving the livelihoods of extremely poor people by promoting green energy and biodiversity in the aspect of climate change in disaster-affected areas of Bangladesh (ILPGB). Therefore, the objective of the study was to evaluate the impacts of the ILPGB project on the livelihood and biodiversity improvements of the rural farmers in the Netrokona and Sunamgonj districts of Bangladesh. The assessment was done through random samplings of 60 stakeholders using a semi-structured questionnaire for livelihood analysis and quadrat (10 x 10 m2) plotting techniques in the farmer's homestead for biodiversity analysis. The results showed that the ILPGB project had brought changes, most of which have had positive impacts on the human, social, physical, economic, and natural capital of the participants, and the process of livelihood development was slow but showed improving trends. Nevertheless, a platform for social relations and networks has been created among the participants in the project implementation areas. On the contrary, a total of 34 plant species were identified in the participants' homestead, of which 18 were trees, 6 shrubs, and 10 herb species. The species dominance showed that farmers tend to grow fruit tree species for their family's needs, and the general plant diversity in the northeastern region of Bangladesh was moderate to low. So, the study strongly recommends that the ILPGB project should continue for another two to three years. During this time, farmers could easily build their livelihood capital and improve their homestead biodiversity with the help of the project's planting materials and agricultural inputs.

Организация социального консультирования семей «группы риска»

The aim of the study is to develop a model of organization of social counseling for families at risk. The main reasons for the increase of families at risk are revealed. The problems of families at risk are listed: demographic, medical, housing, social deviation and psychological. Types of counseling for families at risk are distinguished, social counseling is defined as the leading one. The technology of social counseling is presented. It includes the following steps: identifying the reasons that prompted the family at risk to apply for counselling, diagnosing the problem, formulating the problem and setting goals, developing a specific action plan. It is revealed that the organization of social counseling for families at risk is a multi-level system. The federal level is represented by a system of regulation of the activities of social welfare institutions, social pro-grams and projects, and training of specialists. The application of projects, programs and norma-tive-legal acts adopted at the federal level is explained at the regional level along with develop-ment and implementation of a comprehensive program in these programs and projects. A direct application of legislative and regulatory legal acts with families at risk in the conditions of social service happens at the municipal level, as well as studying the reasons for families getting into the “risk group”. The following conclusions are made: an effective method of solving the problems of families at risk is the organization of social counseling; when developing social counseling pro-grams for families at risk social modeling based on systemic, comprehensive and project ap-proaches is used; the model consists of components, the content of which is aimed at solving the problems of families at risk.

한반도 통일 유형별 북한지역의 대순진리회 3대 중요사업 추진 여건과 방안 연구

The main theme of this paper centers on how to promote Three Major Works of Daesoon Jinrihoe, charity aid, social welfare, and education projects, during the unification period. Determining the best methods of promotion is crucial because the Three Major Works must be carried out after unification, and the works must remain based on the practice of the philosophy of Haewon-sangsaeng (the Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence). The idea of Haewon-sangsaeng is in line with the preface of the U.N. Charter and the aim of world peace. North Korean residents are suffering from starvation under their devastated economy, which is certain to face a crisis of materialistic deficiency during reunification. In this study, the peaceful unification of Germany, unification under a period of sudden changes in Yemen, and the militarized unification of Vietnam were taken as case studies to diagnose and analyze the conditions which would affect the implementation of the Three Major Works. These three styles of unification commonly required a considerable budget and other forms of support to carry out the Three Major Works. Especially if unification were to occur after a period of sudden changes, this would require solutions to issues of food, shelter, and medical support due to the loss of numerous lives and the destruction of infrastructure. On the other hand, the UNHCR model was analyzed to determine the implications of expanding mental well prepared and sufficiently qualified professionals, reorganizing standard organizations within complex situations, task direction, preparing sufficient relief goods, budgeting, securing bases in border areas with North Korea, and establishing networks for sponsorship. Based on this, eight detailed tasks in the field of system construction could be used by the operators of the Three Major Works to prepare for unification. Additionally, nine tasks for review were presented in consideration of the timing of unification and the current situation between South and North Korea. In conclusion, in the event of unification, the Three Major Works should not be neglected during the transition period. The manual “Three Major Works during the Unification Period” should include strategic points on organizational formation and mission implementation, forward base and base operation, security and logistics preparation, public relations and external cooperation, safety measures, and transportation and contact systems.

Sasta Bhojan Sewa: the pricing dilemma

Learning outcomes After studying this case, students should be able to: understand the process of opportunity identification for forming social enterprises (knowledge), discuss various concepts related to social entrepreneurship and not-for-profit firms (comprehension), apply tools to differentiate between social and commercial enterprises (application), analyze the role of environmental factors like culture in influencing business (analysis) and develop decision-making skills by critically evaluating the options (evaluation). Case overview/synopsis Sasta Bhojan Sewa (SBS) was one of the key projects of Parupkar Sewa Society. The social venture initiated by Jaswinder Singh, a young resident of Ambala (a small town in Haryana, India), got registered as a not-for-profit society in the year 2018. Mr. Singh initiated various social welfare projects since the year 2006 when he got inspired from the history of Sikh Gurus. As years passed, he was able to employ more and more people. This led to the development of a social venture, which had 33 employees at the end of the year 2019. The society was running seven major projects with the help of dasvandh (donations). Project SBS was about providing home-like hygienic meals to people at merely INR10. There were 11 canteens in Ambala city and cantonment, which were being run under that project. Around 1,500 people were eating daily in those canteens, out of which around 70–80 people were not able to pay even INR10. The project had employed 30 people. The salaries of the staff and other operating expenses like liquid petroleum gas (LPG) expense, transportation cost and electricity were met through dasvandh (donations) from the local households. When the project was initiated, the cost of preparing a meal was INR10, but by the end of 2019, the cost went up to INR12 per meal due to food inflation. The meal was still being sold at INR10 at a loss of INR2 per meal. On December 28, 2019, as founder of the society, Mr. Singh was thinking of raising the selling price to INR12 per meal, which had to be implemented on January 01, 2020 but he was doubtful in doing so. He thought increasing the price might defeat the purpose of starting SBS as he was reflecting on how poor people were and how each rupee mattered to them. He was also considering that it might affect the goodwill of the society that was known for selling food at an extremely low price. By using the example of SBS, we explain various concepts of not-for-profit social enterprises like opportunity identification, key drivers, business model canvas and environmental effects in this teaching note. The teaching note also provides cost–benefit analysis of the available options to facilitate effective decision-making. Complexity academic level Undergraduate and graduate-level business programs. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

Derivative character investments: social impact bonds as path-changing devices

ABSTRACT Since 2010, social impact bonds (SIBs) have invited investors to ‘do well by doing good’: injecting capital into social welfare projects, and gaining returns based on successful attainment of impacts. A foregrounded interest in behavioral change typifies much of this market (with SIBs aiming to reduce recidivism, truancy, and addiction, for example). Commentators have situated these behavioral concerns within debates on nudging, ‘caring capitalism’, and the financialization of social welfare. Lesser attention has been paid to how SIB promotional materials transpose behavioral interests into narrative and representational terms. Given their role in fabricating consent for social impact investing, this article questions how promoters narrate SIBs’ construction of behavioral changes as objects of investment, both drawing from and reshaping conventions for representing character in the process. Analyzing three examples, I argue that behavior-focused SIB promotional videos depict societal improvement as ‘improved character’ at scale. By depicting beneficiaries as better able to morally direct their lives, they represent SIBs as path-changing devices, threading more fulfilling life paths through society. They encourage derivative character investments in bundles of bettered behavior, narratively linked to changed life paths at scale.

불교사회복지 사업의 수행도에 미치는 영향 요인 연구

불교사회복지 사업의 수행도에 미치는 영향 요인 연구

Entitlements, Capabilities, and Crisis in the United Kingdom

This paper examines whether Amartya Sen’s entitlements and capabilities concepts can be transferred in their application from low-income countries to high-income countries, specifically Cumbria, Northern England. Originally used to understand the causes of famine, these concepts have previously been used in several different geographical contexts to broadly understand poverty and inequality but almost entirely in low-income countries. This paper applies these concepts to a United Kingdom context in an attempt to understand the causes of poverty and inequality among people experiencing “livelihood crisis.” The research uses data from two nongovernmental social welfare projects to examine the causes of crisis and the remedial effects of the intervention. Our findings indicate that these concepts can help to explain how people find themselves in crisis in Cumbria. On a broader level, they can also be used to explain poverty, inequality, and disadvantage in communities in the United Kingdom. The authors put forward that entitlements and capabilities provide a useful framework to advance the policy and political debate on the causes of poverty by providing a straightforward language and broad application. Entitlement and capabilities can also assist social welfare programs in framing their aims and objectives and through improved understanding about the causes of inequality, will be better able to support people out of disadvantage by strengthening entitlements and building capabilities, without the necessity of large-scale investment.

China’s Shan’erdai: the Formation and Transformation of Philanthropy

Abstract China’s economic reform since the late 1970s has inaugurated a societal restructuring, with profound changes taking place in the outlook on wealth and fortune. In recent years, a distinct group of social actors, the shan’erdai, comprised of the children of the super wealthy, has emerged to play a significant role in social welfare and charity projects. Though there has been some discussion about philanthropy in general and its realization in China in particular, the shan’erdai has received little scholarly attention. This paper identifies some of the defining characteristics of the shan’erdai and examines a modern form of Chinese philanthropy that the shan’erdai practice. Drawing on interviews and publication reviews, we specifically address two central questions: What are the motivations, values, and practices of the shan’erdai? How do the motivations, giving patterns, and modes and technologies of the shan’erdai differ from the parental generation? We sketch the contours of the shan’erdai as a social group and explore the ways through which this shan’erdai experiments with new forms of philanthropy, charity, and social entrepreneurship. Shaped by social and historical formations domestically and on the global stage, we argue that the shan’erdai proactively reformulates the logics of social action for the public good and inspires a novel form of philanthropy in China.

Will Foreign Aid Foster Economic Development? Grid Panel Data Evidence from China’s Aid to Africa

ABSTRACT The fast growth and unique model of Chinese aid provide new perspectives and empirical evidence for the study of aid effectiveness. This paper employs GIS technology to match Chinese aid projects in Africa with satellite-measured nighttime lights – a proxy of economic development and converts them into 0.5° (longitude) x 0.5° (latitude) panel data. First, we find that Chinese aid projects are positively correlated to Africa’s economic development. Second, we gain a deep understanding of the mechanisms and find that the aid-growth relationship is mostly attributed to economic infrastructure aid rather than social welfare projects, direct aid as well as production and other types of projects. Spatial panel regression further validates the robustness of the empirical results and sheds light on the spillover effects of Chinese aid. Moreover, our results also suggest that Chinese aid brings some side effects on the recipient countries, as it may intensify the spatial economic inequalities.