Poverty Reduction in Informal Settlements of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: Role of Personal Conversion Factors

Abstract

The impact of personal and household characteristics, referred to as personal conversion factors, on poverty in informal settlements in Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) was determined. The achievement of capabilities for poverty reduction and the access to resources were investigated using the explanatory potential of the capability approach, critical realist research methodology and multi-case study design. Interviews and discussions were held with 243 conveniently sampled households, four focus groups comprising informal settlement leaders, and four key informants from government and non-governmental organisation representatives to acquire data. Methods of critical realism analysis, including retrodiction, abduction, and retroduction, were employed for data analysis. The study found that most personal factors were perceived as having no individual effects. However, complex interactions of several personal, social and environmental factors influenced access to resources and achievement of capabilities. This study contends that poverty reduction strategies and policies in poor informal settlements should view conversion factors as contexts and structures.