A review of the strategies used by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) use to reduce vulnerability to poverty in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This review paper examines the strategies, strengths and weaknesses, contradictions and controversies in literature on nongovernmental  organizations (NGOs) and vulnerability. The identification of gaps in literature sets the context for an in-depth study that will investigate the role of NGOs in reducing rural vulnerability. The paper adopts a semi-systematic literature review methodology where recent literature is reviewed and synthesised to understand the strategies that NGOs use to reduce rural vulnerability to poverty. Based on six (6) University of Johannesburg online databases, as well as four (4) interdisciplinary journals, a total of 25 relevant journal articles published from 2009-2019 were reviewed. Evidence from literature suggests that the role of NGOs is prominent in poverty reduction using top-down strategies. Few scholars have examined how NGOs reduce vulnerability. The paper argues that in the context of climate change, vulnerability cannot continue to be overlooked. This points to the need to shift focus from poverty to include vulnerability. In practice, it means policy makers should enact vulnerability propoor policies that are designed to protect rural communities from shocks and stresses.