Glossary
a
Alignment
Involves donor countries supporting the policies, strategies and systems of recipient countries. Alignment strengthens local ownership over aid and reduces transaction costs. Alignment and harmonisation are central elements of NZAID's development policy and strategy. (see also harmonisation)
Asia Development Assistance Facility (ADAF)
ADAF is a regional programme under which funding from New Zealand's Official Development Assistance (ODA) can be disbursed to New Zealand individuals, businesses and organisations that have an established partnership with an organisation in Asia to respond to development needs identified by the Asian partner.
b
Bilateral aid
Official development assistance provided to a partner country as part of a country-to-country programme agreed between the respective national governments.
Biodiversity
The number and variety of plant and animal species that exist in an environment or in the world generally.
Beijing Platform for Action
The Beijing Platform for Action was adopted by 189 UN member states at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. The Platform established a global agenda to promote equality and empowerment for women and provides the international blueprint for the protection of women's rights.
c
Civil society
Non-government groups in a society. These include community-based groups, women's or youth groups, professional organisations, rights organisations, business groups, activist groups and media organisations.
d
Development Assistance Committee (DAC)
The Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development is a forum for consultation among 22 donor countries and the European Commission, on how to increase the level and effectiveness of aid flows to all aid recipient countries. The member countries are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and United States.
Debt relief
Debt relief may take the form of cancellation, rescheduling, refinancing or re-organisation:
- Debt cancellation is relief from the burden of repaying both the principal and interest on past loans
- Debt rescheduling is a form of relief by which the dates on which principal or interest payments are due are delayed or rearranged
- Official bilateral debts are re-organised in the Paris Club of official bilateral creditors. The Paris Club has devised increasingly generous arrangements for reducing and rescheduling the debt of the poorest countries, most recently agreeing new terms for the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative
e
Education for All (EFA)
An internationally agreed programme which emphasises improved access to quality education that is accessible to all children. NZAID is working with partner countries to make sure they have the resources and technical support they need to achieve the EFA goals by 2015. Countries can achieve the EFA goals by
- developing priorities for the effective delivery of basic education;
- maintaining support for education up to tertiary level; and
- supporting initiatives that improve access for women and girls.
g
Good governance
The exercise of economic, political and administrative authority to manage a country's affairs at all levels in a manner that is participatory, transparent and accountable.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
The total value of goods and services produced within a country.
Gross National Income (GNI)
Gross National Income comprises the total value of goods and services produced within a country (i.e. its Gross Domestic Product), together with its income received from other countries (notably interest and dividends), less similar payments made to other countries.
h
Harmonisation
Involves donor countries working together to produce common strategies, processes and practices. Harmonisation and alignment are central elements of NZAID's development policy and strategy. (see also alignment)
Head of Mission Fund
Each year, the heads of New Zealand's diplomatic posts in partner countries are allocated funds for small-scale development activities at grassroots level in their countries of accreditation.
Human resource development
A broad term encompassing education and training for all ages, and can include education programmes, short-term training and long-term scholarships.
Humanitarian assistance
Humanitarian assistance comprises disaster relief, food aid, refugee relief and disaster preparedness. It generally involves the provision of material aid (including food, medical care and personnel) and finance and advice to save and preserve lives during emergency situations and in the immediate post-emergency rehabilitation phase; and to cope with short and longer-term population displacements arising out of emergencies.
m
Maternal health
The prevention of complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
A set of eight international development goals for 2015, adopted by the international community in the UN Millennium Declaration in September 2000, and endorsed by the IMF, World Bank and OECD.
Multilateral aid
Aid channelled through international bodies for use in or on behalf of aid recipient countries.
n
Non-communicable disease
Non-communicable diseases have emerged as a significant threat to health and poverty elimination. Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and obesity now represent the greatest burden to the health of Pacific communities and place enormous pressure on health systems and economies. Growing rates of mental illness, substance abuse and psychological stress, also classified as non-communicable diseases, intensify this burden and add to the difficulties Pacific nations face in effectively eliminating poverty.
Non-Government Organisations (NGOs)
Private, not-for-profit groups, which are active in development work.
o
Official Development Assistance (ODA)
Official development assistance is defined as those flows to developing countries and multilateral institutions provided by official agencies or by their executive agencies, which meet the following tests:
- It is administered with the promotion of the economic development and welfare of developing countries as its main objective
- It is concessional in character and conveys a grant element of at least 25 percent
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
A group of major industrial countries promoting growth and high employment among its members, fostering international trade and contributing to global economic development.
p
Partners
The individuals and/or organisations that collaborate to achieve mutually agreed objectives.
Poverty
The Copenhagen Declaration describes absolute poverty as "a condition characterised by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information." The World Bank identifies "extreme poverty" as being people who live on less than US$1 a day and "poverty" as less than US$2 a day.
s
Sector Wide Approach (SWAp)
A SWAp is a process designed to increase local leadership and achieve greater integration of funding agency and government effort in a given sector. It is a comprehensive sector strategy that is
- owned, coordinated and led by the partner government;
- aligned with a sound macroeconomic framework;
- linked to a well-managed sector expenditure programme;
- supported by significant donor funding to the sector;
- managed through existing partner government systems; and
- participated in by all key stakeholders
Sustainability
The continuation of benefits from a development intervention after major development assistance has been completed; the probability of long-term benefits; the resilience to risk of the net benefit flows over time.
Sustainable livelihoods
Approaches to ways of living that are ecologically sound, economically viable and socially responsible.
t
Trade Aid
New Zealand's leading alternative trading organisation
W
World Food Programme (WFP)
The WFP was established by the UN in 1963 and is dedicated to eradicating world hunger. The WFP endeavours to provide food aid and save lives in refugee and emergency situations, and to improve the nutrition and quality of life of the world's most vulnerable people.
Page Last Reviewed: 13 July, 2006
Document URL: http://www.nzaid.govt.nz/library/glossary.html