Jo Vearey (FMSP-Wits & HEARD-UKZN), Scott Drimie (RENEWAL), Lorena Nunez (FMSP), Khangelani Moyo (FMSP) and Mthokozisi Hlengwa (HEARD-UKZN)

RENEWAL Regional Workshop: November 9-11, 2010, Cape Town ember 9-11, 2010, Cape Town

Urbanisation, HIV and circular migration in South Africa:Urban informal settlements, health risks and HIVInterlinked livelihood systems

Exploring the impact of HIV in urban, informal migrant households on linked, rural households: Johannesburg and rural kwaZulu-Natal

Findings from research:2008 household survey2010 in-depth qualitative research (case-studies)

Key messages for policy makers.

World Urbanization Prospects (2005 Revision), United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs

By 2030, 50% or more of the African population will be living in

a city

Urbanisation processes in South Africa

• Urban population is stabilising at just over 60% (Bocquier)

• Rural population has not decreased

• Circular migration

• Peripheral urban informal settlements

Key Findings of 2008 survey

Urban migrants residing in peripheral informal settlements are part of an interlinked livelihood system that connects them with another place.

This system involves various reciprocal relationships that change depending on the urban context and adapts to different shock and stressors.

HIV ?FOOD

An interlinked livelihood system

Remittances and networks of care connect urban migrants residing in peripheral informal settlements with their (predominantly) rural home.

$GOODSCARE

In-depth exploration of the impact of HIV on interlinked livelihood systems thatconnect urban-rural households.

Eight households in informal JHB and seven linked households in rural KZN.Five visits per household in JHB and one visit in KZN

Multi-site research team: In-depth interviews, narrative interviews, food

security assessments, household mapping, observation.

A challenging methodology Identifying respondents/selection criteria, geography,

HIV disclosure, hunger, unemployment, research ethics.

Maisy

Nembo

No longer appropriate to conceptualise rural – urban migration and urbanisation as a linear process There is a complex system of reciprocity between rural and urban

areas

The importance of an interlinked livelihood systembetween the city and another place (predominantly rural): These interlinked livelihood systems manifest in different ways in

different cities; Rural-urban linkages; Remittances; The importance of ‘care as a commodity’.

Sickness and HIV affect this livelihood system: Urban – rural linkages mitigate the ill health of urban migrants

Food security ComparisonJHB participant

Food security

Livelihood strategies

KZN Participant

food security

Livelihoodstrategies

Maisy average part time work & child grant khwezi Average

Old age pension

Linda GoodChild grant & selling liquor Jabu Average piece jobs

Bonga Good husband income Zwe PoorTaxi door operator

Mano Goodpart time gardener

Nembo PoorScavenging & selling liquor Khanya Very Poor

Old age pension

Nom Very Poorlaundry & scavenging Rosaria Very Poor

Old age pension

Mab Poor sell pillows Mpilo Very Poor Nothing

TAG Poorcleaner (municipality) Hari Good

Works for Cashbuild

Survival options in Sol Plaatjies

2. Scavenging

3. Fulltime employment

5. Part time formal work

4. Informal (piece jobs)

1. Child support grant

Reflecting on Methods

• Validating method (five visits in JHB and one visit in KZN)

• Researchers in JHB & KZN experienced ethical dilemmas and the challenge of transcending the personal during fieldwork

• Handling the fieldwork process and balancing participant expectations and need to obtain valid data proved onerous

• Challenge of attaching meaning to disclosure in HIV sensitive community

Reflecting on Methods

• Method used could be of great value in future research on the interlinked livelihood system

Policy Implications• In support of previous work, this study emphasises the need for urban and

rural social and health systems to engage across the urban-rural continuum. Policy makers and programmers must engage in developing spatially-aware policies.

• There is an urgent need to address the social security of urban and rural poor, including those residing in urban informal settlements.

• Food insecurity is a challenge facing urban and rural poor households.

• The experiences of people living with HIV in informal settlements must be incorporated into policy making and planning processes.

• People living with HIV require support in “disclosing” their status to their partners.

All participants;

Ingrid Palmary (FMSP);

Aline Philibert (CINIBOISE);

Farah Pirouz;

Technical Advisory Group: Brendon Barnes (Wits) Brigitte Bagnol (Wits/Pop

Council) Lesley Bourne (MRC) Liz Thomas (MRC/Wits)

Jacques Bezuidenhout

Survey team: Simon Mporetji Khangelani Moyo Nedson Pophiwa Morgan Theba Sizwe Myataza Mthokozisi Mlilo Chuma Nombewu Siphatisiwe Dube Sibekithemba Njani Eugene Bope

RENEWAL

IDRC

Atlantic Philanthropies