Browsing by Author "Balyejjusa, Senkosi Moses"

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A Conceptual analysis of the nature of relationship between human needs and human well-being in social work
(SAGE Journals, 2022-07-22) Balyejjusa, Senkosi Moses
The concept of human need and human well-being are commonly used in social work literature. However, their relationship remains unexplored. Although there is some literature on the relationship between human needs and human well-being in other fields, there is little literature explicitly analysing the nature of this relationship. Drawing on literature on both human needs and human well-being scholars from disciplines such as development studies, social policy, psychology, social work and so on, I argue that the relationship between human needs and human well-being is constitutive and instrumental-normative; and it is a two-fold relationship. Human needs are constitutive of human well-being, and human needs are preconditions for realising human well-being; they result into human well-being when adequately satisfied. I conclude by noting that this nature of relationship demonstrates that human needs are fundamental in promoting and realising human well-being. One cannot talk about human well-being without human needs. Therefore, social workers should focus on identifying and meeting clients’ human needs in order to promote their well-being.
From human needs to social needs in African social work: the ubuntu perspective
(EricksonRelational Social Work, 2025-10) Balyejjusa, Senkosi Moses; Venesio Bwambale Bhangyi
This conceptual article argues that focusing on human needs as a guiding post for Africa’s social work mission creates a vacuum in understanding needs. Hence, human life is wrongly conceptualized as individualistic rather than a social phenomenon. Using the Ubuntu perspective, we articulate that an individuals’ humanity is embedded in relationships and connections with other people in the social environment. Thus, being human in Africa cannot be detached from the social. As such, our conceptual analysis proposes that the social work profession in Africa could reframe human needs as social needs. This reframing is based on four conceptual logics: the embedded-ness of being human in social relations; the knowledge of needs being social knowledge; the satisfaction of needs being social actions; and the resources-institutional framework that addresses needs being social. This reconceptualization contributes to new ways of thinking about needs and practice actions through which the society can tackle the needs of all people, thereby enhancing social work as a social justice profession.
Social needs framework : an alternative framework to analyzing and addressing social problems
(SpringerLink, 2022-10) Balyejjusa, Senkosi Moses
Every community has its own social problems. These may be common across communities but may be experienced in unique ways. Indeed, social work as a profession focuses on addressing social problems. Drawing on concepts used by the social workers during social work practice and the meanings of the needs concept, the purpose of this chapter is to present and discuss a practice framework (social needs framework) that can be used to analyze and address social problems during social work practice. The social needs framework integrates all tasks social workers engage in during social problem-solving. A qualitative analysis of concepts used during social work practice shows that social work practice focuses on social needs as social problems, social solutions, social resources, and social ends while solving clients’ social problems. It is these four practice concepts and meanings of the concept of human needs that constitute the social needs framework. Social workers must focus on all the four social needs concepts during practice if they are to enhance the well-being of clients. It is concluded that adopting the social needs framework makes social work practice coherent, systematic, and holistic where the social worker and client start from social problems to social solutions through social resources in order to achieve the social ends.
Uganda’s vision 2040 and human needs promotion
(Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, 2015) Balyejjusa, Senkosi Moses
In 2013 the President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni launched Uganda’s Vision 2040, a thirty-year development master plan which has received both praise and criticism from Ugandans. Although Vision 2040 has received both praise and criticism in almost equal measure, in this article I argue that Vision 2040 does not adequately promote the satisfaction of the human needs of Ugandans, yet the satisfaction of these needs is a prerequisite for achieving genuine development. Using a human needs framework in general, and Doyal and Gough’s intermediate needs in particular, I show that the Vision’s strategies adequately promote the satisfaction of only three intermediate needs of Ugandans, partially promote the satisfaction of seven intermediate needs of Ugandans, and that there is no single strategy to promote the satisfaction of one of the intermediate needs. This is because some of the Vision strategies do not adequately tackle the current and likely future challenges and bottlenecks to the satisfaction of the human needs of Ugandans. This is mainly due to the central role placed on the private capital (sector) in Vision 2040. I argue that in order for Vision 2040 to adequately promote the satisfaction of the human needs of Ugandans, all and not just some of the needs must be adequately satisfied since human needs are interrelated and interdependent. In addition, Vision 2040 should also be in position to satisfy the human needs of all Ugandans and not just some.