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DEVELOPMENT- TERMS |
DEFINITIONS,
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Justice |
The concept of J carries various meanings and interpretations depending on context and circumstances. It frequently appears in political as well as religious rhetoric, and is often associated with the meaning of "fairness", "righteousness" and "equity" In modern time, a primary sense of social J is the fairness of a consistent system of laws, based on general public support and impartial treatment of all people under its jurisdiction. In addition to its legal foundation, the concept of J is closely interlinked with moral and ethical concerns and sometimes even the morality of the laws themselves are questioned. Such criticism has been raised concerning laws that protect property rights without offering adequate protection for the poor, and also towards laws governing what is perceived as unfair international trade regulations. Various political and philosophical positions offer their own account of what J requires and often disagree on whether standards of J are relative to different societies or truly universal. NPA context: NPA supports the idea of social J that is embedded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and considers the solidarity based agenda of the labor movement as a manifestation to that effect. The history and struggle of the labor movement has evolved through periods of scarcity and conflict, aiming at securing social J by terms of a fair distribution of society’s rewards, burdens and basic necessities of life. As evidenced in the welfare state model, focus has been on need as a criteria for social J and distribution, while not excluding criteria of ability and merit once basic human needs have been met. Basic human needs are associated with basic human rights, and progressively a rights-based approach to development and social J has been pursued. Due to the threatened global ecology, poverty can not be eradicated solely by applying strategies for unlimited growth and continued exploitation of the world’s natural resources. In the quest for social J, NPA will pursue strategies aiming at fulfilling people’s human rights without compromising the need for sustainable development; likewise NPA will pursue growth and distribution patterns that are compatible to these overriding concerns. " When the destiny or situation of two people is strikingly different, the most fortunate of them will incessantly seek to interpret the situation as “legitimate”, as something he himself has “deserved”, and the misfortune of the other as something he is to be “blamed” for ". M. Weber " No one deserves his distribution of native endowments any more than one deserves one's initial starting point in society ". J. Rawls See: Equality, freedom, liberalism
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Least Developed Countries (LDC) |
List of countries designated by the UN as least developed based on criteria of:
To be included in the list, a country must satisfy all three criteria. UN/OHRRLS 2004
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| Legitimacy gyldighet, tilslutning |
The degree to which a government’s procedures for making and enforcing laws are acceptable to the people. A legitimate system is legal, but more important, citizens believe in its appropriateness and adhere to its rules.
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Liability |
Refers to responsibility for own actions - whether performed by a government, a company or a single person. L specifically applies to the direct and indirect effects/consequences of human activities on nature and wildlife - and the responsibility (liability) of the "owner" of the activity, in relation to potential damage caused.
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Liberalism
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Classical L (liberté; freedom) emerged in England during the 1700s, as a response to the tradition-based feudal system’s barriers to new and innovative forms of production, as well as to the unpredictable and random treatment of individuals by absolute monarchies. Abolition of traditional privileges as well as of government restrictions on human activities came to represent fundamental liberal preconditions in order to create an environment conducive to human initiative, creativity, and vitality. L is not one unified ideology or doctrine, but display many strands and varieties. However, one fundamental principle of L is to give primacy to the individual over society. The primacy of individual freedom and individual choice is usually seen to distinguish L from, for example, Socialism and Nationalism. L also differs from Anarchism by the recognition of the prime, but restricted role of the state to serve as guarantor of social stability. L upholds that any interference by the state should be based on predictable and legitimate Rule of Law. Society has therefore only secondary status, earning its legitimacy in so far as it guarantees the individual citizen the freedom of displaying and pursuing his/her own personal interests (religious, political, economical), to the extent that this does not violate the same freedom for others. Some of the many-facetted thoughts and ideas of L have had great impact on social and political development and contributed essentially to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adapted by the UN in 1948. While liberal conceptions of human rights and liberties have become widely recognised, economic L has always stirred controversy. The Scottish economist Adam Smith (often mentioned as "the father of capitalist thinking") developed a theory of motivation that tried to reconcile human self-interestedness with unregulated social order.
He explained how an unregulated marked would “naturally” regulate itself via the Invisible Hand of aggregated individual and selfishly motivated decisions. This doctrine was broadly advocated as “laissez-faire” ( let it act!). Basic principles are the concepts of hard work, the right to the fruits of your own labour (private ownership), and “ free competition ” that over time would ensure the survival of the best products only. Adam Smith believed that adaptation to these “natural
laws” of economy would create a balance that eventually would benefit all members of society. See : equity, market failure, neo-liberalism
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Lobbying |
Efforts directed towards influencing "decision-makers"/those in power on specific policies, through reasoned argument. NPA context : L and advocacy is seen as one of six "key working methods" for promoting development oriented partnership cooperation. (Policy and Strategy for NPA's International Humanitarian and development Work 2003-2007)
See : advocacy
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Logframe
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See: Logical Framework Approach (LFA)
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Logical Framework Approach (LFA) |
Management tool which facilitates planning, execution and evaluation of a project/program. LFA represents an analytical system for "planning by objectives" and implies breaking down a project into separate components
in order to examine the logic which holds them together. See: Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)
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Long term development |
NPA-context : refers to development assistance within a long term perspective; L may represent a continuation of social organisation and distribution patterns facilitated during an emergency relief program; or L takes place in various social contexts where a minimum of stability and infrastructure has been established. See : development work , partnership, sustainability
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Long term
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See : objective
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| Mainstream gjengs, almen, hovedstrømning |
The ideas, views, actions and values that are most videly accepted by a group, community or society (as opposed to being peripheral, exceptional, extreme or avant-garde).
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Mainstreaming |
See : cross-cutting issues, gender mainstreaming, HIV/AIDS-mainstreaming
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Marginalisation |
Refers to the process whereby people are gradually forced to the peripheral borders of a social context or society. Marginalised groups are often caught in the vicious circle of poverty, left with limited or no powers or influence on decisions affecting their lives, and limited access to social goods and services. See: basic needs , empowerment , poverty line
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Market adaption |
Adaptation to the wishes of the buyer. See : neo-liberalism
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| Market failure markedssvikt |
According to capitalist market theory, a free capitalist market "fails" to confront existing common welfare issues, if these are not embedded in the free market itself or satisfied through private demand and supply systems. For example, if everything was left to the free capitalist market alone, less funding would be directed in support of public roads to sparsely populated areas, public health and education, environmental support systems etc. Therefore M s are usually seen as "justifying" a certain level of government intervention in the production of goods and services.
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| Market liberalism markeds-liberalisme |
See: neo-liberalism
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| Means of verification / verifier verifisering, bevis |
the source of data or information to verify progress using certain indicators; used in analysis based on Logical Framework Approach (LFA).
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| Media |
Weapon of mass destraction J
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Micro-credit |
Credit, usually in the form of small-scale revolving loans, provided to individuals/groups who do not have access to the formal credit market. Loans/credits are relatively small, proportionate to absorption capacity; there is no formal collateral or remuneration, and the repayment period is relatively short. See : revolving loan funds , peer group
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| Millennium Goals Tusenårsmålene |
Refer to the UN Millennium Development Goals
Although not formulated as explicit rights, the MG are closely interlinked to the realisation of vital social, economic and political Human Rights. As such the MG serve as a common framework for mainstream international development work, and poverty reduction strategies increasingly refer to the MG as liaison policy framework or as a reference for policy adjustments. As pointed out by the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, the MG serve as a tool to measure to which extent human condition is improved. To that effect, 48 indicators have been worked out (by WB, IMF, DAC and UNDP under UN auspice), to monitor achieved progress. See : Advocacy, Basic needs, Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA)
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Mine clearance |
See: demining
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Mission (statement) |
Refers to formulated mandate for a duty travel, delegation or mission, specified for a limited budget and time-frame.
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Mobilisation |
See : popular mobilisation
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| Modus operandi handlemåte |
Method of operation.
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Modus vivendi |
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Monitoring |
Continuous or periodic surveillance of the physical implementation of a project to ensure that input, activities, output and external factors are proceeding according to plan. See : indicators , review
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| Monterrey Concensus Monterrey-erklæringen |
In March 2002, the United Nations hosted the International Conference on Financing for Development at Monterrey, Mexico. The
outcome – known as the Monterrey Consensus – identifies the means for ensuring the availability of sufficient financial resources to reach the goals set by the major
United
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Multiplier effect |
In a development context, M refers to the impact of a given income or investment in e.g. a project, as a result of funds put in circulation in society; investments in school buildings may lead to employment of labourers; earning an income, the labourers' purchasing power
increases and stimulates the exchange of products and services, etc. See : spin-off effect
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| Natural resources naturressurser |
all those renewable elements of the ecosphere, such as water and terrestrial and aquatic biomass; non-renewable elements, such as land in general, minerals, metals and fossil fuels; and semi-renewable elements, such as soil quality and the assimilative capacity of the environment.
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Neo-liberalism |
A political philosophy and a political-economic movement (also called "market liberalism") gaining momentum in the 1970s with "Thatcherism" and the so called TINA-doctrine:
"There Is No Alternative!". Since the era of "Reaganomics" of the 1980s, N has been growing increasingly predominant. It focuses on the establishment of a stable currency of exchange, reduction of
localised rules, regulations and barriers to commerce, and privatisation of state run enterprises. Particularly, N does not recognise any unifying or organising principle above the individual, as expresses by the often quoted Thatcher remark that "there is no such thing as a society, only individuals and their families" .
(Friedmans)
(Sarec report/B.Hettne) See : capitalism , freedom , liberalism , market failure
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Networking |
Semi-formal groupings in which each member organisation remains autonomous in its activities, but where enough common ground
exists to establish shared agendas. NPA context : N also refers to partnership cooperation affording a platform for dialogue, exchange of information and experience, advocacy and formulation of relevant democratic strategies for influencing political levels. N further refers to interaction between individuals and/or groups based on certain commonalties of objectives, ideological foundations, or a sectoral focus. As per June 2005, NPA is a registered/associated member of the following internationally oriented networks: AIDSNET, FARE, FORUM, ICBL, SOLIDAR, UNITED and VOICE. See : advocacy , campaigning , lobbying
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| New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Det Nye Økonomiske Partnerskapet for Afrikas Utvikling. |
Refers to the strategic NEPAD Framework Document formulating a mandate given to the five initiating Heads of State (Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa) by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to develop an integrated socio-economic development framework for Africa, which is designed to address the current challenges facing the African continent. The 37th Summit of the OAU in July 2001 formally adopted the strategic framework document. See : African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)
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New Public Management (NPM)
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The NPM concept denotes a direction within public management-reform and modernisation of the state, and is based on a neo-liberal approach to the economy. The ultimate objective of NPM is to avoid excess spending of government resources and limit the involvement and domain of the state by adapting the same criteria of “efficiency” as is applied in private business enterprises. Thus, NPM is furthering privatisation policies underpinned by business management rhetoric, such as “user-orientation”, “lean-management”, “outsourcing”, “benchmarking” etc. The NPM concept rests on the assumption of basic similarities between public and private sector when as it refers to the nature and characteristics of management requirements. However, while the state is typically expected to administer resources for the common good, business enterprise management is typically oriented towards maximising private profits. It has proven difficult and politically controversial to merge these two perspectives, and empirical research seems to confirm that the expected NPA benefits so far have yielded limited substance. Critics argue that the strong bias towards private business budgeting and short term demands to cost-efficiency is detrimental to the furthering of socio-economic equality, justice and equity, and that the social fabric of the welfare state thereby is being undermined. Others see the de-politisation of the state as a danger to political and democratic processes. NPM-focus and level of execution has primarily been on municipal and national levels, guided i.a. by the concept of “good governance”. While many support the idea that government reform is needed - such as cost-effective budgeting, more transparency in the management of public affairs, improved bureaucratic procedures etc.- privatisation policies and the abandoning of the welfare state is not necessarily seen as a favoured cosequence. Within contemporary management discourse, there is a growing orientation towards seeking “the best of two worlds” - i.e. to make meaningful implementation of management reform without “throwing the baby out with the bath-water”.
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Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) |
Refers broadly to the wide range of organisations that have as a common denominator their non-alignment to state or government
structures. Thus N encompasses a wide range of organisational classifications based e.g. on constitutional mandate, the nature and location
of their activities, their output and/or their constituency. - Regional and national-level NGOs : mostly membership organisations; encompass youth and women's groups, church organisations, rural development institutions, professional and cultural groups, etc. - Intermediary NGOs : exist in order to facilitate activities of smaller groups (e.g. CBO/SOs), or to mediate between such groups, governments and funding/donor agencies. - Service NGOs : provide an expanding range of support services; assist in project formulation and execution, or engage in consultancy or research activities on behalf of donor agencies. - Trusts : Included in this category are the various interest group organisations and trade unions. Although social organisations (SOs)and community based organisations (CBOs) strictly speaking also represent a form of non-governmental organisational practice, it is common in development jargon to refer to NGOs and SO/CBOs as two distinctive and even opposing organisational categories. In this context NGOs to a greater extent represent bureaucratic, administrative structures and professional management, sometimes even independence of a membership base, while SO/CBOs on the other hand are popular-, local- or community-driven by nature. However, some NGOs have started as a CBO/SO and gradually transformed into a Trust-, Service-, Intermediary- or national NGO. See : Civil society
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Objective |
NPA context : Formulated ambition. LFA-related; within the context of a project or program, objectives are usually labelled according to the following levels. |
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Utviklingsmål |
GOAL (LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE); |
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Tiltaksmål |
PURPOSE (IMMEDIATE DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE); |
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Resultatmål |
OUTPUTS (RESULTS); direct and concrete/measurable project results that can be guaranteed by the project as a consequence of its activities.
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| Opportunity Cost alternativ kostnad |
An economical term implying that the cost of making a choice is whatever must be given up to obtain it; The O of using land, labour, capital and natural resources in one specific way is that it thereby prevents the same assets from being used in another way. Hence, when choosing a specific good or service, the value of alternative goods or services is abandoned. As the relative cost of possible opportunities are weighed against each other, the term O is frequently applied in analysis based on Comparative Advantage theory. O consist of both monetary costs (e.g. building materials and energy) and non-monetary costs (e.g.the time spent completing
the activity). See: trade-off
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Organisations |
Refer to goal-oriented groups with some extent of internal division of labour, hierarchy, distribution of authority and a relatively precise delimitation of the environment determining membership of the organisation. G.Mikkelsen See : institutions , NGOs
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Organisation-building |
Development process based on the belief that it is difficult for marginalised groups to break away from the vicious circle of dependency and/or poverty; individuals are less vulnerable when they can cooperate and pool their strength; "the poor family is like a twig; alone it is easily broken. But if the individual twigs are gathered into a bundle, they cannot be broken". It is only through collective effort and organisation that they can reduce dependency and initiate a course of participatory self-reliant development. Thus, the process implies awareness-raising/mobilisation, group formation, and organisation - in that order. See : empowerment
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Organisational development |
Activities geared towards improving the quality of the work carried out by an established organisation.
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Organisational profile |
Refers to a set of particular characteristics (basic philosophy, vision, objectives, target groups, modus operandi, etc.) that establishes an organisation as more or less "unique" as compared to other organisations. See : added value, comparative advantage
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Output |
LFA : The results that can be guaranteed by the project as a consequence of its activities. See : objective
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Outsourcing
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The procurement of services or products - e.g. IT or communications operations - from an outside supplier or manufacturer, based on the assumption that this will lead to cost savings. See: New Public management (NPM)
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| Overseas Development Institute (ODI) Britisk Institutt for Internasjonal Utvikling |
ODI is a Britsh leading independant think-tank on international development and humanitarian issues. It's mission is "to inspire and inform policy and practice which lead to the reduction of poverty, the alleviation of suffering and the achievement of sustainable livelihoods in developing countries". ODI 's work centres on several research and policy groups and programmes, and it's international networks link researchers, policy-makers and practitioners. ODI manages the ODI Fellowship Scheme, which places young economists on attachment to the governments of developing countries, and the Economic and Statistics Analysis Unit, established by the Department for International Development (DFID).
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| Paradigm paradigme |
A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them. See: discourse
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Participation |
See : popular participation
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Partnership |
Development assistance characterised by cooperative and complementary endeavours by like-minded development acteurs / agencies
/ organisations /institutions for the benefit of a common target group. NPA context : "NPA and Partnership Cooperation in Civil Society", approved Dec. 2004 See : Millennium Goal no. 8 , power-relations , role
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Partnership agreement |
NPA-context : Refers to the legal document of partnership cooperation, i.a. stating:
An activity plan and budget is usually presented as an annual appendix to the Agreement.
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Peace |
The state prevailing during the absence of violence or war. P between and within national states is a goal of many persons and organisations, notably the United Nations. See : Human Rights
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Peer-group |
A limited group of individuals who share certain commonalities and support each other in the process of pursuing a common goal or attaining desired services/goods; Within the context of a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Scheme, the P (of 5-7 members) as such represents each loanee's collateral vis-à-vis the credit institution.
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Planning economy |
Refers to a situasion where - when there are no eggs available - there are also no bacon available at exactly the same time J . n.n.
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Policy |
Refers to an overall framework for course of action, based on basic philosophy and vision, which governs the total modus operandi of an organisation, institution, association, enter-prise, political party, program, project etc.
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Popular mobilisation |
A process whereby people recognise the commonalities of their situation and join in collective action for change. Also refers to situations where people mobilise to collectively put up physical infrastructure, e.g. digging ditches for water pipes, providing locally made bricks/blocks for the planned school or health clinic, etc.
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Popular participation |
"A process through which stakeholders influence and share control over development initiatives and the decisions and resources which affect them." World Bank's Participatory Learning Group
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Poverty line |
At the country level, poverty is normally based on a consumption-based income level; a person is considered poor if his/her
income falls below the minimum necessary to meet basic needs, the consumption of of own production of food included. This minimum level is usually called the 'poverty line'. What is
necessary to satisfy basic needs varies through time and across societies, and is country-specific.
Since the UN World Social Summit in Copenhagen in 1995, poverty reduction has been recognized internationally as the main development goal. The importance of poverty reduction was reaffirmed in September 2000, when 191 nations adopted the UN Millennium Declaration. The Declaration's target regarding poverty is to reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day, by 2015. "Defining and measuring poverty barely kicks off the game. Only by understanding causes can the main business begin of designing, implementing and evaluating interventions." See: marginalisation .
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Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) |
"Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) are prepared by governments in low-income countries through a participatory process involving domestic stakeholders as well as external development partners, including the IMF and the World Bank. A PRSP describes the macroeconomic, structural and social policies and programs that a country will pursue over several years to promote broad-based growth and reduce poverty, as well as external financing needs and the associated sources of financing". See : Common Country Assessment (CCA) , Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) , United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF)
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| Power relations maktrelasjoner/maktbalanse |
In development debate on North-South relations, a common notion is that "the one that holds the money holds the power". While North-South imbalances must not be ignored, analytically it can hardly be argued that the same imbalances apply to North-South
solidarity-based partnership cooperation. If there is no shared notion of being equal partners in development, then the whole partnership concept has
limited relevance. In a partnership cooperation, economic disparities or "imbalances" are not primarily between the North
and the South, but rather between any financial management and the level to which these finances are to be passed, received
and/or realised. As there are no personal or institutional "direct ownership" or conventional "profit-making interests" involved,
the financial component represents obligations as well as "power" for all stakeholders involved - ( e.g. Norwegian Government
è NORAD è NPA è local (intermediary) NGO è SO/CBO è target group) - as any "funding level" depends on cooperation with a (likeminded) partner situated closer to the target groups than itself.
All partners involved assumably share a common interest - i.e. that formulated objectives are optimally achieved (in favour of the target group) and that premature abortion of financial program support should be
prevented.
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Pre-disaster planning |
A planning process to meet future emergencies and disasters. The P concept includes:
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Precautionary principle |
Refers to the obligation to avoid environmental degradation as a result of human activities, and where doubt, plans should be "withdrawn on account of insufficient evidence". This fundamental normative environmental principle was adopted for the first time at the First North Sea Conference in Bremen. Has since been widely spread and adopted as a guiding principle for many international conventions. See : best available technology , liability
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| Primary Health Care(PHC) primærhelsetjeneste |
"PHC is essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally
accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost that the community
and country can afford to maintain at every stage of their development in the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination. Article VI/The 1978 International PHC Conference, Alma Ata
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| Privatisation privatisering |
P is the process of transferring property, from public ownership to private ownership (the opposite process is nationalisation or renationalisation). P has frequently been associated with industrial or service-oriented enterprises, such as mining, manufacturing or power generation, but also applies to any asset, such as land, roads, or even rights to water. Recent years’ trend of privatisation of government services such as health, education and sanitation has often been characterized as part of a "global wave" of neoliberal policies, sometimes also launched as a "modernisation" process. See: New Public Management (NPM) , welfare state
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| Pro-Poor Growth vekst som motvirker fattigdom |
Growth is pro-poor, relatively speaking, if it benefits the poor proportionally more than the non-poor. This implies the methodology of estimating a growth rate - the so called “poverty equivalent growth rate (PEGR)” - that gives more weight to the incomes of the poor. If PEGR is larger than the actual growth rate, which occurs when the incomes of the poor grow more than the average income, then growth is pro-poor; if PEGR is equal or less than the actual growth rate, growth is said not to be pro-poor. Growth is considered to be pro-poor if and only if poor people benefit in absolute terms, as reflected in some agreed measure of poverty. The extent to which growth is pro-poor depends solely on the rate of change in poverty, which is determined by both the rate of growth and its distributional pattern; the aim is to achieve the greatest amount of poverty reduction possible through growth and progressive distributional change. In general, countries experiencing high growth rates over a sustained period of time have typically reduced poverty dramatically. Given the importance that the World Bank gives to poverty reduction, this is the operational definition that are being used in the operationalizing pro-poor growth work program.
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| Productive sector produktiv sektor |
Collective term for the production of commodities, products and services. NPA context: Arena for operations geared to promote income-earning activities through the production and/or sales of products, commodities and services within primary (agriculture), secondary (small-scale enterprise) and tertiary (services) industries . Production may be for direct consumption and/or for sales; the main issue is that it is productive - i.e. it generates a surplus, in kind or cash.
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| Profile profil |
See : organisational profile
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| Program program |
A group of interrelated projects or services directed towards the attainment of (a) specific objective(s), e.g.:
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| Project prosjekt |
A planned undertaking designed to achieve specific project output/results within a given budget frame and within a specified period of time.
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| Project document prosjekt-dokument |
A document which presents the full project profile and justification. As a legal agreement a P binds the signatories to undertake defined activities and to provide specific resources over a fixed period of time in order to reach agreed objectives.
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| Public awareness folkeopplysning |
Refers to a population’s level of understanding, knowledge and information related to topics that influence or determine their situation (aids awareness programs, mine awareness programs etc.)
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| Public Private Partnership (PPP) Offentlig Privat Samarbeid (OPS) |
A Public/Private Partnership brings public and private sectors together in partnership for mutual benefit. The term Public Private Partnership covers a wide range of different partnerships, including the introduction of private sector ownership into businesses that are currently state-owned, the Private Finance Initiative , and selling Government services into wider markets. See: New Public Management (NPM), privatisation
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| Purpose tiltaksmål |
See : objective
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| Quality assurance kvalitetssikring |
NPA context: Refers to an established procedure for quality assessment, management and control, as an integrated aspect of a program/project cycle (incl. systems of planning, implementation, reporting, follow-up, monitoring, evaluation etc.).
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Quality control |
See : quality assurance
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Recipient orientation |
Refers to development assistance based on anticipated needs and priorities of the target groups; seeking to involve the target groups in the processes of project/program prioritising, planning, implementation and monitoring/follow-up. See : partnership , recipient responsibility .
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Recipient responsibility |
Development cooperation emphasising that the ultimate responsibility of project/program initiation, planning, implementation and monitoring/follow-up rests with the local partner.
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Refugee |
A person who "..owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his/her nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail him/herself of the protection of that country". UN/1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugee/Article 1.A(2)
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Relevance |
LFA : The degree to which the rationale and objectives of a project are, or remain, pertinent, significant and worthwhile, in relation to identified priority needs and concerns.
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Relief |
See : emergency relief
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| Research forskning |
R implies methodological investigation into a subject in order to discover facts, to establish or revise a theory, or to develop a plan of action based on the facts discovered. (Encarta Encyclopedia)
NPA-context: Country programs and thematic priorities within the NPA portfolio is to a varying degree justified, legitimised or supported by relevant R-based investigation and/or documentation material. Data may be drawn from secondary sources of information – e.g. statistics and reports prepared by the UN or other international agencies, as well as regional, national or local institutes. If there are few relevant or reliable secondary sources of data available, NPA may support or facilitate partners' own primary source data collection capacity, or liaise directly with a social research institute. To the extent that the Logical Framework Approach (LFA) is used as a tool for program planning, operationalisation, monitoring and evaluation, the very process in itself contains an element of R as basis for program design, justification and self-evaluation. Also participatory exercises involving the target groups themselves may come to constitute part of a program’s R-base, provided data and information processing is in accordance with relevant R standards. One basic R reqirement prescribes that R-related material has to be verifiable, i.e. that anyone who so wishes should be able to control the validity of the presented information and data collection. See: indicators
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Results |
See : objective
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Review |
Periodic or mid-term assessment, serving as a reference for corrective measures to formulated objectives, strategies and activities.
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Revolving Loan Funds (RLF) |
Refers to credit schemes which provide small-scale loans that are usually repaid within one year. The acquisition of loans is usually tied to an educational training program component. The loan scheme is revolving in nature; will gradually reach out to a growing number of loanees/beneficiaries. See : micro credit, peer-group, Small-Scale and Micro Enterprises (SSME)
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| Rights Based Approach (RBA) rettighetsbasert tilnærming |
R is a conceptual framework for the process of human development that is normatively based on international human rights standards and operationally directed to promoting and protecting human rights. Essentially, a rights-based approach integrates the norms, standards and principles of the international human rights system into the plans, policies and processes of development. The norms and standards are those contained in the wealth of international treaties and declarations. The principles include equality and equity, accountability, empowerment and participation. A rights-based approach to development includes the following elements:
NPA context : ...complementing the above: " R is a conscious process of incorporating Human Rights issues in development work (human face to development)" and "organisations will be at diffrent levels of conceptual-isation of the approach, but the idea is for all partners to work towards empowering marginalised and oppressed groups of society (giving a voice to the voiceless)". NPA Zimbabwe partners' definition, NPA and partners Annual Workshop, 2004 See : rights-based development cooperation.
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Rights-based development cooperation |
Refers to development cooperation that reaffirms and seeks the realisation of the UN World Declaration on Human Rights as signed by all member states in 1948. NPA context : "The international Human Rights instruments are the written documents that form the basis for a definition of what it implies
to be a rights-based organisation. The most central of these documents are the UN Declaration of Human Rights (1948), and
the following Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966). A main fundamental
principle when it comes to Human Rights is the universality of the same rights. There is an ongoing discussion concerning
the universality of the Human Rights, and it is a fact that millions of people and a number of regimes do not, even today,
accept the Human Rights as a part of their ethical framework. For NPA and the partners NPA work with, the acceptance of the
Human Rights is a basis for our co-operation. (Policy and Strategy for NPA's Interntional Humanitarian and Development Work, 2004-7). See : Adcocacy , empowerment , networking , Millennium Goals , Rights based approach
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| Rights-holders rettighets-havere |
Within a human rights context, R denotes those who can claim rights and entitlements (different from legal rights or customary laws) with reference to an internationally accepted 'normative' framework for guiding activities. Lutrell/Piron (ODI), NPA Report 2004, p.7 See: Duty-bearers
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Rights in Action |
A multi-disciplinary team established in 2003 by the British Overseas development Institute (ODI). R is comprised of economists, political and social scientists, natural resource specialists, and lawyers and seeks to assess the practical value of human rights for poverty reduction and humanitarian protection. The cross-group programme is organised around three sets of issues: (i) Human rights, aid and international politics
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Risks |
factors outside the control of the parties responsible for undertaking a programme or project that may adversely affect implementation. R can affect delivery of inputs, carrying out of activities, production of outputs and achievement of objectives. See: Logical Framework Approach (LFA)
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Role |
NPA context : refers to the obligations, and responsibilities of the respective partners involved in development cooperation. In most cases, NPA serves the role of a funding agency, catalyst, facilitator etc. The local cooperating partner has the role of project initiator, providing the main planning, operational and implementational responsibility for project operations. See: partnership
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Sector Wide Approach (SWAp)
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"a method of working that brings together governments, donors and other stakeholders within any sector. (..) The approach involves movement over time under government leadership towards: broadening policy dialogue; developing a single sector policy (that addresses private and public sector issues) and a common realistic expenditure program; common monitoring arrangements; and more coordinated procedures for funding and procurement". WHO, World Health Report 2000, p.123 Some general characteristics:
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Self-reliance |
The S concept is based on the belief that true development comes from within, and that development assistance therefore should ultimately motivate people to help themselves. S involves doing things for oneself, maintaining one's self-confidence, making independent decisions - either as an individual or within the context of a collective group to which each member has voluntarily allied her- or himself. The development of S begins with individuals through a process of human development or awareness-raising. Consequently, S comes from within each individual - through the evolution of self-confidence - but is directed outwards , towards self reliance. See : empowerment
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Self-sufficiency |
Ability to maintain operations independently of others. See : self-reliance , sustainability , interdependence
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| Service delivery tjeneste-yting |
The term S is rooted in business language where it implies a customer-oriented activity focusing on satisfying customer reqirements and expectations (delivering the goods and services). Within a development-oriented S-concept, the various government offices and officials are referred to as duty-bearers (their duty to make services available for the populace), while citizens at various levels are referred to as rights-holders (holding the rights to receive these services). Many governments in the developing world often rely on WB/IMF loans when seeking to address the basic needs of the population; The rights-based S are often organised within the framework of national Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP), and usually involves close cooperation with the private sector, e.g. through so called Public Private Partnerships (PPP).
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| Sex biologisk kjønn |
Identifies the universal biological differences between men and women, such as women can give birth, and men provide sperm. See: gender, gender roles
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| Sex-aggregated data kjønns-spesifikk database |
For a gender analysis, all data should be separated by sex in order to allow differential impacts on men and women to be measured. See: gender planning
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| Short-cut snarvei |
The longest distance between two points J
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Silence |
What you hear when you forward something for urgent consideration by the management J
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Small-Scale and Micro Enterprises (SSME) |
Usually refers to entrepreneurial activity within the informal sector, ranging from self-employment of one person to a group of 5-10 people. See: Micro-credit
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| Social-democracy sosialdemokrati |
A political label historically rooted in a socialism that advocates social progress through political and democratic reform within modern democracies, rather than through violent class struggles. Nations that over the years have been politically influenced by the reformist approach, the so called social democracies, gradually also gave rise to what has been known as the Welfare State model.
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Socialism |
a political theory, ideology or system in which the means of production and distribution are controlled by the people and operated according to equity and fairness rather than market principles S may also be seen as a collection of party-based political movements that have evolved and branched over time. Initially, it was based on the organized working class, with the purpose of building a classless society. But eventually, mainstream S increasingly concentrated on social reforms ("reformism") within modern democracies. Nations that over the years have been politically influenced by the reformist approach gradually came to be labelled "social democracies" and gave rise to what has been known as the Welfare State model. While there are many varieties of contemporary socialism, all socialists agree that a socialist economy must be run for the benefit of the vast majority of the people rather than for a small (e.g. aristocratic or capitalist) class. Many socialists tolerate capitalism, as long as the government maintains the dominant political influence over the economy; others - e.g. the communists - still insist on abolition of private enterprise. Hence, it is argued that all communists are socialists, but not all socialists are communists. NPA context: NPA is the humanitarian solidarity organisation of Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions. The LO supports the tradition of a social-democratic approach to political influence and advancement. LO’s Principle and Action Program 2001-2005 states that “..LO’s main focus is that economic development remains subject to democratic governance. The Norwegian Welfare State emerged from a dynamic process of democratic rule and a market regulated by democratically elected institutions”. The word S is not mentioned in the program, but frequent reference is made to concepts like the "welfare state", "equality", "equity" and "social justice".
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Social Organisation (SO) |
See : Community Based Organisation (CBO)
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| SOLIDAR |
an international alliance of social and economic justice non-governmental organisations (NGOs), working in development and humanitarian aid, social policy, social service provision and life-long learning. S works in Europe and worldwide in alliance with trade unions, organisations of the labour movement and civil society for an
equitable and sustainable world. S believes in the indivisibility of social, economic, civil, political, and cultural human rights and affirms that equity can best be achieved through solidarity. NPA has been a member of International Workers Aid/SOLIDAR since its inception.
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Solidarity |
- mutual agreement and support; harmony of interests and responsibilities among individuals in a group, especially as manifested in unanimous support and collective action for a common/shared goal. - From Latin origin (solidum) the concept of S came to serve as a key slogan (solidaire!) during the French Revolution (1789), likewise as strongly embedded in socialist/communist/ revolutionary ideologies - the meaning of S as unity of equals ("comrades") united in their struggle to fight for their common goods - "unity makes strong!". After the Cold War era and the "globalisation" of vital economic/socio-political conditions, the concept of S has also gradually attained a more globalistic perspective; stronger emphasis is put on solidarity of forces (individuals/groups/ networks) united across conventional "class structures" to support a "fair" cause or to fight for what is perceived as the common good of humanity . - "Solidarity is not charity, but mutual support between groups of people fighting for the same goal". Samora Machel "Solidarity – that the concerns of our members and partners and wider community are concerns for us all: we must act in solidarity and support those around us" "Solidarity is based on support and loyalty between people with mutual understanding and shared interests. Solidarity is also to empower those who are not in the position to voice their own interest and assist in making their voice heard. Solidarity holds that the integrity and the rights of the partner organisations (groups) are respected, and the partners have ownership to their own initiatives to combat injustice, uneven distribution of wealth and to promote a human right culture where political and civil rights are respected, and economic, social and cultural rights are fulfilled, within the frame of a democratic society". Policy and Strategy for NPA's International Humanitarian and Development Work, 2003-7
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| Soto |
See: Hernando de Soto
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Spin-off effect |
An effect created by a project/program in the form of a profitable by-product. See: multiplier effect
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Stakeholders |
people, groups or entities that contribute to/ participate in/benefit from a project or program. They include target groups, those responsible for ensuring that the results are produced as planned, and those accountable for the resources that they provide to the programme or project.
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Strategy |
Plan of action within a given time-frame, in accord with a defined policy and set of priorities/objectives.
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Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) |
Program designed by the WB/IMF, initiated by low- or middle-income countries, seeking to move the national economies in direction of the "free market". See: Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs)
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Sub-program |
NPA context : A group of projects representing - by thematic or geographical criteria - one program component within the total Country Program.
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Sundowner |
A drink which makes the sun go down J
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Supply driven assistance |
Development assistance basically determined by what the donor has to offer. See: demand-driven assistance, white elephant
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Survey |
A thorough and critical examination of something. See : assessment, evaluation , review
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Sustainability |
"Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (2. paragraph)". "S must include preserving peace, reviving growth and changing its quality, remedying the problems of poverty and satisfying human needs, addressing the problems of population growth and of conserving and enhancing the resource base, reorienting technology and managing risk, and merging environment and economics in decision-making" (Article 5.) World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987) " S with regard to development assistance, means that the individuals, institutions and systems continue to function effectively after external support has ceased and, in fact, have the capacity to improve continuously their ways of working. Sustainable human development refers to an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to development, which places people at the centre of the development process and advocates the protection of life opportunities for present and future generations while respecting the natural systems upon which all life depends. " Increasingly S is also applied in a wider more general context, involving elements such as financial, economic, institutional, and cultural
S of a project. See : capacity-building , institution-building , partnership
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| SWOT analysis |
A strategic planning tool used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture. Strengths and weaknesses are internal to an organization. Opportunities and threats originate from outside the organization. A SWOT analysis, usually performed early in the project development process, helps organizations evaluate the environmental factors and internal situation facing a project.
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| Synergy synergi-effekt |
interaction of two or more efforts in which the overall effect is greater than that resulting from the separate efforts.
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Target group |
Refers to the collective category of people (e.g. rural women entrepreneurs, small-scale fishermen, etc.) that the direct beneficiaries of a project/program belong to. See : objectives
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Technical support |
Assistance in the form of qualified/professional personnel for a limited period of time.
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Refers to a collaborate not-for-profit project of EUROSTEP and ICVA. The Reality of Aid Project aims to improve the quality of development assistance in the interests of eradicating poverty. A report - "The Reality of Aid" - is prepared annually.
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Top down |
Refers to a process whereby development activities are initiated at high level of society, and expected to gradually filter down to lower and marginalised levels. See : bottom-up , trickle down
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Trade-off |
A T usually refers to losing one quality or aspect of something in return for gaining another quality or aspect. It implies a decision to be made with full comprehension of both the upside and downside of a particular choice. A T may also appear as an exchange that occurs as a compromise, e.g. the T between citicens' democratic participation and influence versus decision making efficiency(time); more of the one necessarily provides less of the other. See: opportunity costs
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| Trafficking drive ulovlig (menneske)handel |
" 'Trafficking in persons' shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs;" Article 3.(a)/ 2001 United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons
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Transparency |
See : good governance
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Trickle down |
Refers to the theory that growth at higher levels of the economy subsequently - as a spin-off effect - will trigger positive development for the poorer levels of the population.
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United Nations Development Assistance Framework(UNDAF) |
U serves as the common strategic framework for the operational activities of the United Nations system at the country level. U intends to provide a collective, coherent and integrated United Nations system response to national priorities and needs within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the other commitments, goals and targets of the Millennium Declaration and the declarations and programmes of action adopted at international conferences and summits and through major United Nations conventions. U emerges from the analytical and collaborative effort of the CCA and is the foundation for the United Nations system's programmes of cooperation. See: Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs)
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Unity |
A state of being where people are united, for instance they all agree about something and organise themselves or join together as a group to reach a common goal. See: solidarity
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See : feasibility study
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Violence Against Women (VAW) |
V means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or privat life. V shall be understood to encompass, but not be limited to, the following:
V is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women. V is one of the crucial social mechanisms by which women are forced into a subordinate position comparet with men. See : equal rights , gender perspective , human rights
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Vision (statement) |
Formulated aspirations and concerns, often based on a philosophy and related to future development scenarios. A vision statement often governs the formulation of policy and long term development objectives (goals).
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| VOICE |
VOICE (Voluntary Organisations in Cooperation in Emergencies) is a network of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) throughout
Europe that are active in the field of humanitarian aid, including emergency aid, rehabilitation, disaster preparedness and
conflict prevention. VOICE was created in 1992, with a Secretariat established in 1993 under the Liaison Committee of European Development NGOs.
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A term invented by the WB economist John Williamson in 1990, referring to "the lowest common denominator of policy advice being addressed by the Washington-based institutions (WB, IMF and others) to Latin American countries as of 1989. " This policy advice included the following 10 propositions:
See: Bretton Woods institutions, liberalism , neo-liberalism
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Welfare state
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An economic system that combines features of capitalism and socialism by retaining private ownership while the government enacts broad programs of social welfare, such as pensions and health care, education, employment, public housing and social security. The W is "universal", because it covers every person as a matter of right. Ws may also be identified with "mixed systems" of social welfare, because in many "welfare states", welfare is not actually provided by the state alone, but by a combination of independent, voluntary and government services. It is, however, the state that assumes political and democratic control over and responsibility for planning, regulation and coordination of the total services to the benefit of its citizens.
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White elephant |
Refers to an unsuccessful top-down project, often voluminous and costly. Usually financed from abroad, only to a minor degree based on local needs, containing minimal future prospects for local control, maintenance and sustainability See : supply driven assistance
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Women Can Do It (WCDI)! |
A program first developed by the the Norwegian Labour party Women in the 1980s, concisting of a WCDI-manual and a series of courses combining organisational and political training with the empowerment of women. Having earned a growing reputation in Norway, the WCDI-concept has over the years also been introduced to several countries abroad, across and irrespective of party lines. Since 2001 the WCDI-program is being implemented in co-operation with local organizations i.a. in Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Albania. The WCDI-manual is translated to the local language and modified and adapted to local needs and context by local trainers and seminar participants.
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| Xenophobia fremmedfrykt |
A term derived from the Greek words xenos meaning "foreigner" or "stranger" and phobos meaning "fear", and denotes fear of strangers or of the unknown. The term is typically used to describe fear or dislike of foreigners, but racism in general is sometimes described as a form of X.
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| Young people / Youth ungdom |
NPA context: According to the UN report “World Youth Report 2005"/p.3, young people between 15 and 24 years of age currently comprise 18 % of the world’s population. Of these, 85 % live in developing countries. In addition, children below 15 comprise another 30% of the total global population. In other words, these two groups taken together represent almost 40% of the world’s population, and the percentage is growing. "NPA considers young people between 15 and 25 as a prioritised target group. This is the period from puberty till the age when many young people are married and enter into a new stage in life." Policy and Strategy for NPA's International Humanitarian and Development Work, 2003-7/p. 14 See: Young Voices
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Young Voices |
A network of youth groups, and organisations working with youth; a forum for exchanging ideas and experiences, learning new skills and working methods to enhance and strengthen youth activities and cooperation locally, nationally and internationally. NPA is supporting Y with a coordinating service. See: young people
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