Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Outcome of the High level Forum (HLF) held in Accra in 2008. In support of the Paris Declaration, the key points agreed upon include ownership, capacity, predictability, (use of) country systems, (relief of) conditionality, untying, and transparency.
An Activity is an instrument for partner (donor and non-donor) support aimed to promote development. NZAID uses the term Activity (with a capital ‘A’) to include projects and other aid modalities such as programmatic approaches and sector wide approaches. (Source: Activity Cycle Management Guideline)
DAC Definition: Actions taken or work performed through which inputs, such as funds, technical assistance and other types or resources are mobilized to produce specific outputs.
Activity design is the process whereby all of the information gathered during the programming and identification stages, including information from past evaluative processes, is drawn together to produce an Activity design document (ADD). (Source: Activity Design Guideline)
Activity Design Document (ADD)
An Activity Design Document (ADD) contains all the information gathered during the programming and identification stages, including information from past evaluative processes. This should provide sufficient detail for a decision on whether to fund the Activity or not. The ADD will become the base document for the implementation of the project. (Source: Activity Design Guideline)
Activity Management Cycle (ACM)
Managing an Activity through each of the main stages. Identification, design, implementation and evaluation (Source: Activity Cycle Management Guideline)
DAC Definition: There is no agreed-to-definition of aid effectiveness, but a widely held consensus about the different changes in behaviour and practice which are together taken to comprise effective aid.
An aid modality is: the high level approach agreed between the partners to a development activity, indicating its general scope and where the governance, leadership, and facilitation reside. Aid Modalities are chosen based on an assessment of the desired scope and relationships, as well as the nature and capacity of the partner to lead the activity. NZAID has identified 10 broad Aid modalities they use. (Source: Aid Modalities Guideline)
An overall assessment of the relevance, feasibility and potential sustainability of a development activity prior to a decision of funding and/or implementation.
DAC Definition: An overall assessment of the relevance, feasibility and potential sustainability of a development intervention prior to decision of funding.
Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS)
The Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) is a pool of pre-selected contractors who are available to undertake short to medium term assignments. (Source: Contract Management Framework)
An appropriation is the authority given by the NZ Parliament to allocate spending up to a specified amount, for a specific purpose within an agreed financial period. See Public Sector Financial Management.
A financial/performance audit is an independent, objective assurance activity designed to assess and improve the operations of Government organisations. See Public Sector Financial Management.
DAC Defintion: An independent, objective assurance activity designed to add value and improve an organisation’s operations. It helps an organisation accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to assess and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes.
B
Budget Support is a form of programmatic aid in which a) funds are provided in support of a Government programme that focuses on growth and poverty reduction, and transforming institutions, especially budgetary and b) the funds are provided to a partner government to spend using its own financial management and accountability systems. (Source: DFID)
C
In international development the term “civil society” can mean different things. It often refers to that part of society that is separate from the state and the private sector - egg associations and groups that operate within society to advance common interests and facilitate collective action. The term ‘civil society’ can be used to refer to the public arena for debate on societal issues, as well as the values and institutions that enable citizens to participate in political and social decision making. (Source: Working with Civil Society Organisations Guideline)
This term is used to describe organisations that are voluntary, governed by non-government actors, not-for-profit, and do not seek to replace the role of the government. They exist to promote particular issues and activities, represent groups and/or provide services. Examples of CSOs include: non-government organisations (NGO), community based groups, women’s groups, youth groups, professional organisations, activist groups, faith-based groups, unions, and media organisations. (Source: Working with Civil Society Organisations Guideline)
An Activity concept note provides a summary of the analysis undertaken during identification stage and proposes the goal, objectives, outputs of the proposed activity with an indication of resource implications, financing and management arrangements.
The individuals, groups and institutions who contribute to conflict and/or are affected by conflict (in a positive or negative manner), and/or are engaged in dealing with conflict. It is important to understand their motives, the incentives they respond to, and the roles they play. (Source: Conflict Risk Assessment Guide)
The systematic study of the profile, causes, actors and dynamics of conflict. It helps us gain a better understanding of the context in which we work and our role in that context. (Source: Conflict Risk Assessment Guide)
DAC Definition:
An examination of the conflicting parties, their ideology and relations with local populations; their aspirations with regard to international acceptance; their tactics; their resource flows; and the regional dimension. Donors should give the positions of all major relevant parties a ‘sympathetic’, fair analysis.
The resulting interaction between the conflict profile, the actors and causes (Source: Conflict Risk Assessment Guide)
A brief characterisation of the context within which the intervention will be situated. It includes historic, economic, political, ecological and socio-cultural aspects. (Source: Conflict Risk Assessment Guide)
The process of analyzing a country situation in order to assess better the conflict-related risks associated with development Activities and humanitarian assistance. (Source: Conflict Risk Assessment Guide)
The process of understanding the context in which you operate; understanding the interaction between your intervention and the context; and acting upon the understanding of this interaction, in order to avoid negative impacts (“do no harm”) and maximise positive impacts. (Source: Conflict Risk Assessment Guide)
consultant">Consultant
A consultant or contractor is an independent person (or legal entity) who provides services to NZAID.
An established pool of funds which is allocated via a contestable mechanism involving agreed systems for establishing eligibility, assessment against criteria, reporting, monitoring and evaluation. This can be partner led, NZAID led, or jointly managed.
A cluster of Aid Modalities which include: Contestable Funds and Scholarships and Training. Contestable Modalities offer a means to support many smaller discrete partner led initiatives. With good modality design, they can foster ownership and active participation by stakeholders and reduce administrative burden to NZAID. (Source: Aid Modalities Guideline)
A contract is a legally binding agreement between parties for the performance of a specified act (usually delivery of goods and services) in return for consideration (usually money). Where NZAID purchases goods or services from ‘for profit’ contractors, it will enter into a documented contract. Key components comprise: parties, service, price, delivery dates and conditions. (Source: From MSG FAQs)
The particular type of contract for services/grant a funding arrangement which NZAID uses to resource an aid modality with ODA funds and which establishes appropriate accountability for these funds. (Source: Aid Modalities Guideline)
A consultant or contractor is an independent person (or legal entity) who provides services to NZAID.
Untagged grant contribution to an agency’s organisational programme and budget. The implication is that it is not tagged to specific budget items and that the organisation acquits the funding through standard whole of organisation reporting and accounts.
D
DAC Definition: A method of financing a partner country’s budget through a transfer of resources from a donor to the partner government’s national treasury.
E
empowerment" name="empowerment">Empowerment
Empowerment is individuals acquiring the power to think and act freely, exercise choice, and to fulfil their potential. (Source: Gender Analysis Guideline)
DAC Definition: a) It is intended to produce an improvement, or something that is diagnosed as an improvement, in the physical and/or biological environment of the recipient country, area of target group concerned, or b) It includes specific action to integrate environmental concerns with a range of development objectives through institution building and/or capacity development.
An assessment, as systematic and objective as possible, of a planned, on-going or completed development intervention. (Source: Evaluation and the Activity Cycle Guideline)
DAC Definition: The systematic and objective assessment of an on-going or completed project, programme of policy, its design, implementation and results. The aim is to determine the relevance and fulfilment of objectives, development efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability. An evaluation should provide information that is credible and useful, enabling the incorporation of lessons learned into the decision making process of both recipients and donors.
Evaluation (More specific NZAID sense)
Assessments of outcomes and/or impact carried out after an activity or programme has become fully operational, during the completion stage, or some time after the intervention has been completed. (Source: Evaluation and the Activity Cycle Guideline)
The range of evaluative processes occurring over the course of the programme or activity cycle. (Source: Evaluation and the Activity Cycle Guideline)
Extreme poverty is an inability to meet basic needs. (Souce: Poverty Analysis Guideline)
F
This is a detailed study undertaken, ideally in country, to assess whether a proposed activity is feasible and, if so, to prepare a detailed design in the form of a draft design document.
The Forward Aid Programme outlines the indicative allocations for each activity within a programme over a 3-year cycle. An agreed budget generally looking out three years, showing how NZAID plans to use the funds allocated under a particular country strategy or programme.
G
Gender is the social attributes opportunities and roles associated with being female and male. Gender determines what is expected, allowed and valued in a woman, man, boy or girl in a given context. (Source: Gender Analysis Guideline)
Gender equality is the equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities of women and men, girls and boys not dependent on whether they are born male or female. (Source: Gender Analysis Guideline)
DAC Defintion: Gender equality as a goal of development and development assistance aims to achieve equality of benefit, resources and opportunity between women and men in aid recipient countries. Gender disparities may be addressed by: a) mainstreaming gender equality into all development co-operation efforts; and/or b) positive actions to promote gender equality incorporating women in development (WID) activities.
Gender equity recognises that different approaches may be needed to produce equitable outcomes addressing the differences between and amongst the lives of women and men, girls and boys and the diversity of different groups of women/girls and men/boys. (Source: Gender Analysis Guideline)
Gender mainstreaming is a strategy to ensure that both women’s and men’s needs, priorities, and experiences are taken into account in all development planning, policies, and programming. (Source: Gender Analysis Guideline)
DAC Defintion: Gender mainstreaming is the integration of gender equality concerns into the analyses and formulation of all policies, programmes and projects; and initiatives to enable women as well as men to formulate and express their views and participate in decision-making across all development issues.
Gender relations are the economic, social and power relationships between males and females. (Source: Gender Analysis Guideline)
H
A small discretionary funding scheme (usually grants) overseen by MFAT and NZAID at posts. (Source: HOMF Guidelines)
Strategic discussions on the aid programme with a bilateral or regional partner held at senior official’s level every 1-2 years.
A cluster of four NZAID Aid Modalities which include: International Pooled Funds, National Poverty Reduction Support, Sector Support and Organisational Support/Strategic Partnership. Higher order modalities aim to allow for larger and more strategic programmes with a high degree of partner ownership. In line with the Paris Aid Effectiveness targets, NZAID is seeking the move much more of its activity support to these high order modalities which are expected to become the default rather than the exception. (Source: Aid Modalities Guideline)
Human Rights-Based Approaches to Development
Development policies, processes and programmes are based on international human rights norms and standards.
Or:
As development policies and programmes are formulated, the objective should be to reach (the relevant) human rights standards.
Or:
Understanding human rights as both the means and the goal of development.
I
The wider, deeper and long-term effects of a development Activity. (Source: Evaluation and the Activity Cycle Guideline)
DAC Defintion: Positive and negative, primary and secondary long term effects produced by a development intervention, directly and indirectly, intended or unintended.
The financial, human, and material resources used for the development activity.
DAC Defintion: The financial, human, and material resources used for the development intervention.
Funds pooled at the international or regional level to support a particular theme, sector, country, or purpose and which seek to coordinate the work of a range of agencies and allocations. International Pooled Funds are one of the four identified NZAID high order modalities. (Source: Aid Modalities Guideline)
J
Joint Project (NZAID Facilitated)
A discrete jointly managed Activity where NZAID takes an active role in supporting the delivery or project management, such as involving NZAID staff or NZAID funded contractors in the “design and build” and/or activity cycle management.
K
L
Letter outlining small allocations for attendance at conferences/meeting attendance etc. (Source: Aid Modalities Guideline)
Livelihood outcomes may include:
- more income
- increased well-being
- reduced vulnerability
- improved food security
- more sustainable use of natural resources. (Source: Sustainable Livelihoods Approach Guideline)
Livelihood strategies include productive activities, investment strategies and reproductive choices. (Source: Sustainable Livelihoods Approach Guideline)
M
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
In the NZAID contracting sphere, Memoranda of Understanding are used as the form of contact outlining procurement of services from a New Zealand Government Department. Functionally they provide a similar role to a Contract for Services however the latter is not used because the Government cannot contract itself. (Source: Aid Modalities Guideline)
A milestone is a key deliverable under a contract for services. Payment of fees is normally linked to delivery against milestone tasks.
The systematic collection of data to provide management and the main stakeholders of an on-going development intervention with indications of how allocated funds are being used and progress towards achievement of expected outcomes. Monitoring may be formal and/or informal. (Source: Evaluation and the Activity Cycle Guideline)
DAC Definition: A continuing function that uses systematic collection of data on specified indicators to provide management and the main stakeholders of an ongoing development intervention with indications of the extent of progress and achievement of objectives and progress in the use of allocated funds.
N
National Poverty Reduction Support
National Poverty Reduction Support is support provided to a bilateral partner government for implementation of national level macro-economic and social policy usually on the basis of a national development plan or poverty reduction strategy and associated development policy dialogue. (Source: Poverty Analysis Guideline)
A non-governmental not-for-profit organisation. If it has an overseas development focus it may be called a development NGO. (Source: Working with Civil Society Organisations Guideline)
O
Organisational Support / Strategic Partnership
This modality covers a range of engagements all of which focus on support for the partner organisation or its work as a whole. It may involve core or programme funding as a contribution to their organisational budget and strategic direction. A strategic partnership is organisational support where there is a long term engagement between NZAID and a trusted and important not-for-profit partner with whom we share policies, goals and values and find a mutual benefit from a formal partnership. It would likely involve collaboration to further their and our strategic organisational objectives and overall development contribution.
Short and medium term effects of a development Activity. (Source: Evaluation and the Activity Cycle Guideline)
DAC Definition: The likely or achieved short-term and medium term effects of an intervention’s outputs.
Outputs are the deliverable elements of a contract for service. They are directly related to ‘inputs’ (activities, materials etc) and lead to ‘outcomes’ (the impacts and long term changes).
DAC Definitions: The products, capital goods and services which result from a development intervention; may also include changes resulting from the intervention which are relevant to the achievement of outcomes.
P
Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness
Declaration of the High Level Forum (HLF) held in Paris in 2005. The Declaration includes a commitment to 5 key principles (ownership, alignment, harmonisation, managing for results, and mutual accountability) and 12 indicators to monitor progress in achieveing results.
A discrete Activity (not a sector programme or a strategic partnership) where the key developing country partner (government or NGO) takes the leadership and responsibility for delivery and is directly funded by NZAID.
A document or set of documents formally agreed between partners which generally include the following: a) the nature and intent of the partnership. b) key partnership principles. c) expectations and obligations of each partner. d) governance and management of the partnership (as opposed to any specific activity). e) processes for review or change in the partnership. Partnership documents provide a key means to promote strong development relationships and to strengthen mutual accountability but they are not contracts. In practice partnership documents take many forms depending on the nature of the partnership. (Source: Aid Modalities Guideline)
Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment (PCIA)
A means of evaluating and anticipating the impacts of proposed and completed development Activities on:
1. those structures and processes which strengthen the prospects for peaceful coexistence and decrease the likelihood of the outbreak, reoccurrence, or continuation, or violent conflict and;
2. those structures and processes that increase the likelihood that conflict will be dealt with through violent means.
It examines five areas of potential impact;
- institutional capacity
- military and human security
- political structures and processes
- economic structures and processes
- social reconstruction and empowerment
DAC Definition: Poverty denotes inability of an individual or a family to command sufficient resources to satisfy basic economic and social needs. Poverty results from people having insufficient assets, being unable to secure employment, facing difficulty marketing their products or services, and/or being subject to discrimination because of disibility, ethnicity or gender.
Poverty of opportunity is where opportunities to participate in economic, social, civil and political life are seriously limited. (Source: NZAID Poverty Analysis Guideline)
DAC Definition: a) The poor have been identified as the primary target group of the activity, and b) The activity includes specific action to remedy causes of poverty (e.g. structural reforms favouring the poor), or to deal with the consequences of poverty (e.g. direct poverty reduction).
Refers to the collection of NZAID activities in a particular country or thematic/regional programme. These are normally guided by a high level strategy that provides direction.
Programme Activity Authority (PAA)
The PAA is the stop/go point where we commit to spend public monies. The PAA is authorised by an officer that has the delegated financial authority (see procurement policy for financial delegations) from the Executive Director. The PAA should stand alone as the ONE source where the authorising officer should be able to find or be directed to understand the judgements, tools, and use of Agency policy and practice to assess that the activity is an effective (development impact) and efficient (public sector compliant) use of public monies on the basis of information available. The PAA should also be clear about responsibilities following the authorisation including clarity on responsibilities for monitoring and evaluation, contract management e.g.; Post or Wellington and name of responsible officer e.g.: Development Programme officer - Samoa will manage the contract. The PAA is not a financial delegation. Anyone who signs a contract/GFA, or who approves a payment under a contract/GFA can only do so when they are acting upon a prior properly authorised PAA (financial authority and they have an approved budget.
Programme - Based Approach (PBA)
DAC Definition: A way of engaging in development co-operation based on the principles of co-ordinated support for a locally owned programme of development, such as a national development strategy, a sector programme, a thematic programme or a programme of a specific organisation.
For NZAID, this is management of a development programme which includes the development, implementation, and review of programme strategy, ensuring NZAID policy and quality standards are pursued throughout the programme, managing the budget allocation and expenditure, programme level reporting, managing relationships and policy engagement with principal partners, (HLCs, sectoral policy engagement, donor harmonisation, trade etc).
The Programme Strategy is the guiding document for each NZAID country, sectoral or thematic programme. The strategy outlines how NZAID’s engagement aligns with partner country or partner agency development priorities (as reflected in their own development strategies and plans) and how the NZAID programme will provide support based on NZAID’s guiding principles, policies, strategies and areas where New Zealand has a comparative advantage to offer. The aim of a programme strategy is to give clear guidance and rationale for the objectives of the programme and the key areas of support as well as describing broadly how this will be achieved.
Q
R
An evaluative activity taking place at a key point during the lifetime of an Activity to gain a better understanding of what is being achieved and to identify how implementation can be improved. Reviews lie in between monitoring and full evaluations. They check that the overall direction is still relevant and ask whether the development Activity is likely to meet the purpose for which it was planned. (Source: Evaluation and the Activity Cycle Guideline)
S
Specific support for the costs of training and study by individuals, including how they are selected, supported, and assessed. (Source: Scholarships and Training Monitoring and Evaluation Framework)
A scoping study may precede and prepare for a feasibility or feasibility/design study. The main outcomes of a PFS are a detailed analysis of the development situation being addressed and a clear description of the activity proposal and terms of reference for the feasibility/design study.
Support at the sector level which enables a partner government to lead, manage, implement and resource a strategic sectoral plan. (Source: Sector Wide Approaches (Swap) Guideline)
Big programmes that endeavour to consider all aspects and actors in a sector and support a coordinated country led response as a whole rather than as separate projects. A sector-wide approach (SWAp) is a way of providing development assistance that strengthens national ownership, and helps build nationally managed systems, with the support of development partners and lenders. (Source: Sector Wide Approaches (Swap) Guideline)
Sex is the physiological, biological and hormonal characteristics that define and differentiate humans as either female or male. (Source: Gender Analysis Guideline)
A Strategic Partnership is organisational support where there is a long term engagement between NZAID and a trusted and important non-for-profit partner with whom we share policies, goals and values and find a mutual benefit from a formal partnership. (Source: Aid Modalities Guideline)
T
A technical advisor is a person contracted on a short or long term basis to provide expertise to a development partner or project.
One-off advisory or technical support which is requested and responded to outside of any broader activity or programmatic involvement in the sector.
State clearly the requirements and expectations of a specific assignment or a contract for services: its purpose and scope, the methods to be used, the resouces and time allocated, and reporting requirements.
The assignment may be undertaken by a contractor, NZAID staff, or a combined team involving development partners and other donors. NZAID may also be involved in developing TOR for Activities using our funding but which are to be led and/or managed by our partners. TOR can be developed at all stages of the Activity Cycle. Assignments can range from specific tasks (e.g assessment of an Activity report) to multi-year management of service consultancies. Although each TOR document is unique, there are a number of common elements in the information to be included and the process to be followed.
A discrete grant funded Activity where a non-developing country partner takes some leadership and would be the key contractual party with NZAID.
U
V
Using resources effectively, economically, and without waste, with due regard for the total costs and benefits of the arrangement, and its contribution to the outcomes the entity is trying to achieve. In addition, the Principle of value for money when procuring goods or services does not necessarily mean selection of the lowest process but rather the best possible outcome for the total cost of ownership (or whole of life cost). Value for money is achieved by selecting the most appropriate procurement method for the risk and value of the procurement, and not necessarily by using a competitive tender. (Source: OAG)
Value for Money (NZAID Defintion, in evaluation context)
An assessment of how the money that has been spent on intervention(s) compares qualitatively with the broad outcomes, impacts or changes brought about by the work. Generally, a evaluation or review should examine value for money in two ways: a) if possible, comparisons of value for money should be drawn with experience or norms in other activities (in the same country/region or internationally), where similar outcomes or impacts have been aimed for and/or achieved. b) the activity’s own cost structures should be analysed to identify cost effectiveness issues, including whether savings could have been made (without disproportionately compromising outcomes) through different methods or management, procurement, prioritisation, design, etc. (Source: Guideline on Developing Terms of References for Reviews and Evaluations Evaluations)
Vulnerability to poverty is where individuals, communities and countries are particularly vulnerable to circumstances likely to damage their:
- livelihoods
- ability to meet basic needs
- ability to participate in economic, social , civil and political life. (Source: Poverty Analysis Guideline)
W
X
Y
Z