This research introduces the concept of a community fund as an enhancement of the new Child Support Grant System. The thesis starts by analysing the welfare policy context in South Africa, namely the White Paper and its concept of "developmental social welfare" as developed by James Midgley. This analysis singles out the framework against which a new child support policy has to be evaluated.
The thesis discusses the proposal of the Lund Committee and the subsequent decision by Cabinet on the new policy in detail. It highlights the critique civil society put forward on the policy proposal in terms of the contents and analyses the policy process. On this basis, it becomes obvious that very little of the framework laid in the White Paper has been integrated into the new Child Support Grant policy. The link to economic development, the adaptation of a people-centred approach and the institutional combination of different strategies by various role-players through the partnership between the state and civil society have not been realised.
Due to the seriousness of the divergence of the CSG policy from the policy guidelines the thesis advocates that the policy should be revised and brought in line with the promises made in the White Paper. In an effort to retain the positive aspects of the new policy, but also to address the above mentioned shortcomings, a community fund is suggested: In addition to the CSGs, a government fund providing seed-money for community projects run by NGOs should be established. Such a concept, it is argued, is in line with developmental social welfare. It would combine social and economic development, be people-centred, redistributive, it encourages empowerment and would include different role-players and different strategies. Existing structures within NGOs are utilised and they are encouraged to draw in outside funding from business and overseas donors.