At the nexus of economic independence and social cohesion: impact analysis of low input projects in Zimbabwe

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have dominated considerably in developing countries in alleviating a wide spectrum of stressors and strains that are rampant in most families. In 2008, the NGO Joint Initiative for Urban Zimbabwe initiated the low input gardens (LIGs) projects - special ways of growing many different types of vegetables in micro-gardens with minimum inputs. This paper focuses on assessing the impact of such projects akin to LIGs on the livelihood of the beneficiaries and the society at large from a theoretical perspective. The paper articulates the linkage of the family entity to the individual family members and to the community when there are coping resources injections of the LIGs projects form. Applying the double ABC-X and FAAR models, there are positive outcomes in form of socioeconomic transformations. Importantly, the study concluded that LIGs act as instruments that promote altruism, social cohesion and bonadaptation, and these traits subsequently follow economic independence.