RESEARCH PROPOSAL EXAMPLE
TOPIC: THE CONTRIBUTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY FUND OF RWANDA ON HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FROM 2000 TO 2009
By Emmanuel MBONIGABA Undergraduate in Economics National University of Rwanda P. O. Box 117 HUYE RWANDA
HUYE September 20, 2010
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GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1.0 Background of the study
It is now universally admitted that no stable and sustainable development is possible without social peace, and no social peace is possible without social security for all. The role of social security is increasingly being recognized by governments and international financial organizations for its role in poverty alleviation, promotion of social justice, and economic growth. (MINECOFIN, 2009:1) Standards being developed are largely influenced by the industrialized world and the constraints imposed by attempts to control land space, determine building standards and the types of housing to be developed. That provision of homes equipped with all basic necessities for comfort health and safety is also a case where RSSF (Social Security Fund of Rwanda) intervenes with big money in home housing not only for poor citizens but for housing for business in Rwanda towns and cities. As it is much known Rwandans experience the insufficient housing equipments for shelter either at their homes or work places. This has been a big challenge for Rwanda individual investors, government, and citizens. Rwanda recognizes that planned housing is required as opposed to spontaneous or dispersed settlements. Therefore the SSFR contribution is one option to solve the problem. Real Estate investment like houses is Investments in income producing properties located in major Rwandan cities or municipalities that are expected to produce an attractive return over a long-term period. (SSFR, 2006:9). The SSFR invested its funds in construction of schools, hospitals, business buildings, etc around the country. This is not only the purpose for rising its earnings and benefits but also a lso such policy is contributing to national development o f Rwanda. 1.2. Statement of the problem
The National Housing Policy of 2004 points out that the existence of a development plan is a pre-condition to any form of development. Housing is governed by urban and construction standards which cannot be adapted to many households due to their limited access to long-term credit facilities and adequate financial resources (www.mininfra.gov.rw (www.mininfra.gov.rw,, accessed on March 23, 2010). Housing becomes a big concern for people living in urban areas one hand.
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Therefore institutions like RSSF whose facilities to invest in housing development were called to intervene in that sector. On the other hand people out of towns are experiencing same problem of being homeless and it is nearly the same case people living in urban area as well. Apart from poverty that hinders people better living standards, Homes were burnt down during the 100-days genocide, leaving the country with a severe housing problem. And, as hundreds of thousands of Rwandans returned home in the years following the killings (www.irinnews.org (www.irinnews.org,, accessed on March 23, 2010 ) needed shelter. The houses needing improvement were usually made of mud and daub, with dirt floors and no doors or windows. They were built directly onto the ground with no foundations and their roofs offered inadequate protection, rendering the structures liable to collapse (www.irinnews.org, accessed on March 23, 2010). Some use to spend night in hut during last decade but recently there has been some government improvement with the collaboration and help from its citizens during common works. Generally speaking, housing problems are part of urban development projects and are very seldom found in Rwanda rural environments (settlements). Owner of inadequate houses are strongly required to build new ones or to leave the space for those who are able to occupy the place. The justification for urban projects lies in the need for a better use of space and the integration of population into a modern economy (Agency for international development, 1982: 42-44) with access to infrastructures. The researcher wonders to find out whether or not the pensions funds accumulated by SSFR has had an impact on home equipment in case they invested in that sector. As we know, security funds specifically pension funds are an especially important financial institution and market that play a role in the reallocation of individuals expenditures over time, then after pension funds bridge the gap rising desired expenditure and the abrupt decline in income at the cessation of individual¶s work work carrier. (Peter, Kolari, Kolari, et Fraser, 1993: 632-633). To achieve the will of both parties, there should be the investment of those funds in a portfolio of financial assets (stocks and bonds) and sometimes in real assets (such as real estate) (Peter, Kolari, et Fraser, 1993: 632633).
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CSR (Caisse Social du Rwanda) was created to provide social security benefits to qualifying beneficiaries. For this to be done, the collected funds have to be productively invested. On this note, the investment policy and guidelines must be designed and investment plan drawn and its implementation monitored (SSFR, 2006:8). Therefore the RSSF is called for investing its money as pensions collected from workers into Rwanda housing development not only for better management and development. 1.3. Objectives 1.3.1. General objectives
How invested security funds in housing development are effectives and efficient is the core question in this research project and the main objective is to known the level of SSFR contribution to housing of Rwanda. Different SSFR policies concerning investment in housing were studied to answer this question. This further ensures the quality of life (shelter) now and for coming generations in Rwanda. 1.3.2. Specific objectives
Following aims are focused throughout the r esearch: y
To identify the role of SSFR in development and availability of houses and shelters in Rwanda.
y
To determine and identify the level of SSFR¶s contribution in providing shelter to business dealers and home (apartment).
y
To identify the use of funds of o f different actors towards housing development.
1.4. Research questions
Following main and further sub-questions are made to achieve the set objectives and aims of the study: How RSSF invested security funds in housing are effective and efficient to those in need of shelter like homes (apartments), offices, and business buildings? This is the main question of the research project but to answer this research question the following sub questions are formulated. y
Is the SSFR¶s contribution socio- economically significant to housing development in Rwanda?
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y
At what level the SSFR is contributing efficiently and effectively to shelter and business buildings national wide?
1.5. Research Hypothesis
How RSSF invested security funds in housing for Rwandans are effective and efficient to those in need of shelter like homes (apartments), (apart ments), offices, and business buildings. 1.6. Significance of research project
This research would be a milestone for different individuals, institutions, and organizations at different levels who are or will be interested to develop and provide good houses in Rwanda because, this project provides to them a complete feasibility assessment of different housing options with respect to housing affordability, government policies and economy of Rwanda and also tell what is really possible to implement in the presence of different conflicting interests. 1.7. Methodology
The research study employs two sources of data, the primary data and secondary source of data. In both parts, the contents include the following methods: Data collection, documentation (reports, journals, textbooks, and websites), interviews, and questionnaire. 1.8. Scope and Limitation of the research project
The study is limited to the SSFR investment in real estate particularly in housing investment for the period of 10 years (2000-2009) the study considers houses built by SSFR inside Rwanda. The study was not covered in all corners of SSFR housing investment in the sector mentioned above due to different constraints such as money and time, with the resources of the researcher which did not permit him to accomplish this study effectively and with time which was a constraint in the process of this research during this per iod.
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1.9. Outline of research project
This research consists of five chapters, chapter one is the general introduction, and this one presents the background, the statement of the problem, the objectives of the study, research hypothesis, the significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, methodology, and finally the outline of research project. Chapter two, literature review which is critical analysis of what other researchers have said on the subject and where the t he research projects fit in, the research gaps to be clearly identified. Chapter three is an explanation of why the data are collected, what data collected, from where data collected, where data are collected and how to collected data and how analyze. Chapter four presents data analysis, results and discussions of findings. Analysis of results, this chapter described the research findings their analysis and look an attempt of interpreting the main findings of the study based on o n the stated objectives. Chapter five was the summary of the major findings; conclusion and recommendations is given in this chapter.
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REFERENCES
1. Peter S. Rose, James W. Kolari, Donald R. Fraser., (1993) , ³Financial Institutions: th
Understanding and Managing Financial Services´, 4
Edition, IRWIN Homewood,
Boston. 2. Agency for international development Washington D.C, E ight ight conference on housing in Africa, Africa, Gaborone, Botswana, May 30-June 4, 1982, University of Botswana. Pp 42-44.
3. IRIN Africa | known
RW ANDA,(2004): ANDA,(2004):
as
Government implements low-cost housing scheme
Imidugudu
[Online].
Available:
http: www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=51581 [ accessed on March 23, 2010 ] 1. National Urban H ousing policy ousing policy for Rwanda. anda. Public interventions within the framework Rwanda [online]. of the urbanization process of Rw
Available:http://www Available:http://www.mininfra.gov.rw/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc .mininfra.gov.rw/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc [accessed March 23, 2010]
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ANNEXES Annex I: for example questionnaire used in research project
