Effectiveness of International Social Work in Democratic

Effectiveness of the International Social Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Effectiveness of the International Social Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Introduction
Social work form a very crucial aspect for any country or region that is recovering from a
disaster. Social work provides the affected population with the much needed services and skills that are
otherwise not accessible or available as a result of the disaster (Cavallo, 2014; Lisa, et al., 2018). Various
organizations and international bodies play a part in ensuring that affected populations have access to
social workers as a means of first response to a disaster (Alexander, 2015). This is done through
recruiting of personnel as well as through volunteer drives.
The importance of social work and social workers makes the area of social work an area of
interest. Various factors are considered for the case social work, such as viability and effectiveness of the
social work (Kanakis, 2016). These factors inform on whether the social work campaigns are successful
or decisions need to be made to facilitate the improvement and success of these campaigns.
This study is interested in determining the effectiveness of social work in the event of the
occurrence of a disaster. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will be used as a case study with the
humanitarian organizations and international bodies operating the country considered for this research.
This paper will first identify the main humanitarian actors in the DRC as well as the key roles they play in
the country. Their effectiveness will then be evaluated by looking at the status of certain factors before
and after the period a social worker worked in the country.
Aim
The aim of this study is:
1. To determine the effectiveness of the various main humanitarian actors in terms of rape cases,
cases of gender based violence, education levels, gender equality and quality of health services.
2. To determine whether the main actors significantly differ in the key roles they play in the DRC.
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Effectiveness of the International Social Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Methods
This study applied a survey research method for the collection of data to be analyzed. Survey
refers to a research technique involves the collection of data through issuing questions to participants in
the form of interviews or questionnaires (Zimek, Schubert, & Kriegel, 2012; George, Osinga, Lavie, &
Scott, 2016). The use of survey research technique results in the collection of firsthand information from
the participants, primary data (Saris & Gallhofer, 2014; Babbie, 2010; Punch, 2013). The questionnaires
approach to survey research was used for this study (See Appendix for Questionnaire). The questionnaire
had a total of 10 questions resulting in 16 variables. 20 participants were issued with the online
questionnaires with participant qualification being: to have been involved in social work in the DRC over
the past 5 years.
The resultant data had information from the 20 participants on the following 16 variables in Table
1: Variable Description below:
Table 1: Variable Description
Name Type Description
Age Categorical Age group into which the participant fell during the
beginning of their social work.
Gender Categorical Gender of the participant
Nature of Humanitarian Work Categorical Whether it was employment contract or volunteering.
Main Actors Categorical The main actor according to the participant’s
observations.
Main Actor Role Categorical The main actors’ role as observed by the participant.
RC Rank Numerical Rating of the development performance of the Red
Cross according to the participants
Before and After Variables
Rape Prev Numerical The participant’s rating of frequency of rape cases
during arrival.
Rape After Numerical The participant’s rating of frequency of rape cases
during departure.
GBV Prev Numerical The participant’s rating of frequency of gender based
violence cases during arrival.
GBV After Numerical The participant’s rating of frequency of gender based
violence cases during departure.
Education Prev Numerical The participant’s rating of education level during
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Effectiveness of the International Social Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
arrival.
Education After Numerical The participant’s rating of education level during
departure.
Gender Equality Prev Numerical The participant’s rating of gender equality level
during arrival.
Gender Equality After Numerical The participant’s rating of gender equality level
during departure.
Health Prev Numerical The participant’s rating of health services quality
during arrival.
Health After Numerical The participant’s rating of health services quality
during departure.
This study also applied quantitative analysis techniques for the data analysis of the data collected
in the online survey. Quantitative analysis refers to a data analyses that draw inferences through the
application of statistical methodologies to numerical data (Creswell, 2014; Bernard, 2012; Lisa M. P.,
2017). Two quantitative analysis techniques were applied in the study; Comparative analysis and Chi-
Square Test. Comparative analysis is a technique that is interested in comparing two numerical variables
or classes of categorical variable using statistical metrics of the numeric reference variable (Fawcett &
Provost, 2013; Everitt & Skrondal, 2010). Comparative analysis can be presented in tabular form or
graphical visualizations (Kirk, 2016; Chambers, 2017). In this study, both graphical visualizations and
tables were employed. The comparative analysis was used in achieving objective 1 to determine the
effectiveness of the various main humanitarian actors in terms of rape cases, cases of gender based
violence, education levels, gender equality and quality of health services.
The Chi-Square test is a quantitative analysis approach that makes use of count as the numerical
metrics and cross tabulation to determine how classes on one categorical variable differ in terms of the
classes of another categorical variable (Howitt & Cramer, 2010; Neil, 2016). The Chi-Square test was
used in achieving objective 2 to determine whether the main actors significantly differ in the key roles
they play in the DRC.
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Effectiveness of the International Social Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Results
Descriptive Statistics
Categorical Variables
Error: Reference source not found to Error: Reference source not found show the descriptive
statistics for the categorical variables in this study.
Table 2: Age (Source: SPSS) Table 3: Gender (Source: SPSS)
Table 4: Nature of Humanitarian Work (Source: SPSS) Table 5: Main Actors (Source: SPSS)
Table 6: Main Actor Roles (Source: SPSS)
Numerical Variables
Error: Reference source not found below shows the summary descriptive statistics for the variable
on the Red Cross’s development performance in the DRC.
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Effectiveness of the International Social Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Table 7: Red Cross Ranking (Source: SPSS)
Comparative Analysis
Before and After Variables
Error: Reference source not found to Error: Reference source not found below show the
comparisons for the variables that were collected for the Before and After Variables in Table 1: Variable
Description above.
Table 8: Before and After Comparison for Rape Cases
(Source: SPSS)
Table 9: Before and After Comparison for Gender Based
Violence Cases (Source: SPSS)
Table 10: Before and After Comparison for Education
Levels (Source: SPSS)
Table 11: Before and After Comparison for Gender Equality
(Source: SPSS)
Table 12: Before and After Comparison for Health Service Levels (Source: SPSS)
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Effectiveness of the International Social Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Main Actors
The plots in Figure 1: Main Actors (Rape Cases) Source: SPSS to Figure 5: Main Actors (Health
Service Quality) Source: SPSS show the corresponding average for the before and after variables for each
of the main actors in social work in DRC. The plots provide comparison in the performance of these
variables for each of the main actors.
Figure 1: Main Actors (Rape Cases) Source: SPSS Figure 2: Main Actors (Gender Based Violence) Source: SPSS
Figure 3: Main Actors (Education Levels) Source: SPSS Figure 4: Main Actors (Gender Equality) Source: SPSS
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Effectiveness of the International Social Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Figure 5: Main Actors (Health Service Quality) Source: SPSS
Chi-Square Test
Table 13: Chi Square Test Results (Source: SPSS) below shows for the chi-square test whether
Main Actor and Main Actor Role are significantly associated.
Table 13: Chi Square Test Results (Source: SPSS)
Discussion
The descriptive analysis of the categorical data analysis from Error: Reference source not found
to Error: Reference source not found above reveal that:
1. A majority of those working in the DRC in social work are either aged between 18 and 33 years
or 50 and 65 years, making up 30% of the population each, as seen in Error: Reference source not
found above.
2. The number of females working in social work in the DRC is slightly higher than males at 55%
as seen in Error: Reference source not found above.
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Effectiveness of the International Social Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
3. There are more social works working under employment contracts in the DRC as compared to
those volunteering, although the difference is not too large at 60% and 40% respectively, as seen
in Error: Reference source not found above.
4. Red Cross and Action Aid are jointly thought to be the main actors when it comes to social work
in the DRC, at 35% each, as seen in Error: Reference source not found above.
5. Infrastructural development is the key role of the main actors at 40% followed by Providing
Education at 30%, as seen in Error: Reference source not found above.
The descriptive statistics of the numerical variable on the Red Cross development performance in
the DRC in Error: Reference source not found above shows that on average this performance rating is
slightly above average at 2.85.
The comparative analysis from tables Error: Reference source not found to Error: Reference
source not found using the descriptive statistics and the mean in particular reveal that;
1. On average the frequency of occurrence of rape cases in the DRC has decreased from 3.4 to 2.4
as seen in Error: Reference source not found above.
2. On average the frequency of occurrence of gender based violence in the DRC has slightly
increased from 3.15 to 3.55 as seen in Error: Reference source not found above.
3. On average the education levels in the DRC have improved from 2.75 to 3.75 as seen in Error:
Reference source not found above.
4. On average gender equality in the DRC decreased from 3.10 to 2.75 as seen in Error: Reference
source not found above.
5. On average the quality of health services in the DRC has slightly increased from 3.00 to 3.30 as
seen in Error: Reference source not found above.
The comparative analysis from Figure 1: Main Actors (Rape Cases) Source: SPSS to Figure 5:
Main Actors (Health Service Quality) Source: SPSS above reveal that:
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Effectiveness of the International Social Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
1. Only areas where CARE operates have recorded increase in the number of rape cases, with the
other main actors recording a decreases, as seen in Figure 1: Main Actors (Rape Cases) Source:
SPSS above.
2. Only areas where CARE operates have recorded decrease in the number of gender based violence
cases, with the other main actors recording increases, as seen in Figure 2: Main Actors (Gender
Based Violence) Source: SPSS above.
3. All areas where the main actors operate have recorded increases in the education levels as seen in
Figure 3: Main Actors (Education Levels) Source: SPSS above.
4. Only areas where CARE operates have recorded increase in gender equality, with the other main
actors recording a decreases, as seen in Figure 4: Main Actors (Gender Equality) Source: SPSS
above.
5. Only areas where Mercy Corps operates have recorded decrease in quality of health services, with
the other main actors recording increases, as seen in Figure 5: Main Actors (Health Service
Quality) Source: SPSS above.
The statistical test results given in Table 13: Chi Square Test Results (Source: SPSS) above
indicate that the p value = 0.215. Taking the level of significance as 0.05, this would imply that the two
variable (Main Actor and Main Actor Roles) are not significantly associated with each other.
Conclusion
From the analysis in this study, we conclude that there are no significant differences in the roles
played by the different main actors in humanitarian work in the DRC. This implies that any difference in
effectiveness between the main actors will not be informed by difference in roles being played. The
analysis reveal, that in general, there has been a decrease in rape cases, a slight increase in gender based
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Effectiveness of the International Social Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
violence, an increase in the education levels, a decrease in the gender equality and slight increase in the
quality of health services in the DRC.
In addition, the analysis show that all the main actors are associated with increase in education
levels in the country. However, areas specifically where CARE operates have recorded increase in rape
cases, decrease in gender based violence cases and increase in gender equality. Also, areas specifically
where Mercy Corps operates have recorded decrease in health service quality.
Recommendation
With the increase in gender based violence, the main actors should focus efforts on mitigating
this issue through educating the locals, rescuing the survivors as well as providing legal assistance
through humanitarian lawyers to bring justice to the victim. Focus should as well be placed on improving
gender equality in the country by using education drives to advocate for greater gender equality. The
CARE organization should improve in its sensitization against rape by redirecting more funds towards
this course. The Mercy Corps on the other hand need to focus on the improvement of the quality of health
services. The Red Cross need to generally improve on its development initiatives given the dismal rating
of 2.85.
References
Alexander, D. (2015). Disaster and Emergency Planning for Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.
Natural Hazard Science, 15(2), 1-17.
Babbie, E. R. (2010). The Practice of Social Research 12th edition (1st ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Cengage.
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Effectiveness of the International Social Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Bernard, H. R. (2012). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (1st ed.). New
York: Sage.
Cavallo, A. (2014). Integrating disaster preparedness and resilience: a complex approach using System of
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Chambers, J. M. (2017). Graphical Methods for Data Analysis: (1st ed.). New York: Chapman and
Hall/CRC.
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Approaches (4th ed.).
Michigan: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Everitt, B. S., & Skrondal, A. (2010). Cambridge Dictionary of Statistics (4th ed.). London: Cambridge
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Fawcett, T., & Provost, F. (2013). Data Science for Business (1st ed.). London: O'Reilly Media Inc.
George, G., Osinga, E. C., Lavie, D., & Scott, B. A. (2016). Big data and data science methods for
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Howitt, D., & Cramer, D. (2010). Introduction to Descriptive Statistics in Psychology, 5th Edition (5th
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Kanakis, K. &. (2016). Preparing for disaster: Preparedness in a flood and cyclone prone community.
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Effectiveness of the International Social Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
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Appendix: Questionnaire (Tick where applicable)
1. Age (At start of social work in DRC)
18-33 _ 34-49 _ 50-65 _ 65+ _
2. Gender
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Effectiveness of the International Social Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Female _ Male _
3. Nature of humanitarian work
Volunteer _ Employment _
4. Who would you say is the main actor in humanitarian and development work in the DRC?
CARE _ Red Cross _ ActionAid _ Mercy Corps _
5. What roles did the main humanitarian actors in the DRC play?
Providing Education _
Refugee Work _
Rescue Work _
Providing Health _
Infrastructural Development Work _
6. How would you rank the frequency of the occurrence of the following at your arrival?
(1- Rarely, 5- Very Often)
Rape 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
Gender Based Violence 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
7. How would you rank the frequency of the occurrence of the following at your departure?
(1- Rarely, 5- Very Often)
Rape 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
Gender Based Violence 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
8. How would you rank the following at your arrival?
(1- Very Unsatisfactory, 5- Very Satisfactory)
Education Levels 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
Gender Equality 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
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Effectiveness of the International Social Work in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Health Services 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
9. How would you rank the following at your departure?
(1- Very Unsatisfactory, 5- Very Satisfactory)
Education Levels 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
Gender Equality 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
Health Services 1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
10. How would you rate the performance of the Red Cross in contribution to development in the
DRC? (1- Very Low, 2-Very High)
1_ 2_ 3_ 4_ 5_
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