Glossary of Development Terms and Abbreviations

NB: Some of these terms are specific to DFID, others are used throughout the development community.

NAFTA - North American Free Trade Agreement

NAO - National Audit Office

NARS - National Agricultural Research Systems

NARSIS - Natural Resources Information System

National Audit Office - carries out audits of government departments, a wide range of other public bodies, examines revenue and stores accounts. Audits about 500 accounts and publishes about 50 'value for money' audits a year. The primary concern is accountability to Parliament and ultimately the taxpayer, to assure them that public funds and resources are used properly and to good effect. (See also Comptroller and Auditor General).

National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) - This provides a comprehensive framework for environmental policy, strengthening of institutions and making investments. The overall goal is to develop a comprehensive programme for the reduction of environmental pollution and improvement of the environment at the lowest possible cost. The NEAP should interpret strategies and policies in terms of practical problem-oriented programmes, with an emphasis on the efficient use of available financial and human resources. They should contribute towards the achievement of sustainable environmental policies.

National Environmental Funds - set up in several countries to ensure that money collected for environmental purposes e.g. through fees, charges and fines, are available for investment in environmental projects. (see also Environmental Funds).

National Forest Programme -a generic term for a wide range of approaches to sustainable forest management within different countries, to be applied at national and sub-national levels. FAO has defined basic principles and operational guidelines. NFPs have evolved form Tropical Forest Action Plans, a term which is no longer in use.

National Loans Fund - through this passes most of the UK governments' borrowing transactions and some domestic lending transactions.

National Strategies for Sustainable Development - the main vehicle for integrating pro-poor economic growth with social improvement and environmental management, with an emphasis on local ownership and strengthened national capacity. At UNGASS (Rio plus 5 1997), countries agreed to have national strategies in place by 2002.

Natural Disaster - The impact of a natural hazard upon a population or area leading to severe damage, destruction and casualties which overwhelms local coping capacity.

Natural Hazard - A natural phenomenon that is potentially damaging.

Negotiation Skills - most project development activity involves dealing with different people and organisations with different corporate cultures. Before a project can come to fruition there will usually be a long period of negotiation. Negotiation skills are therefore very important for an effective project sponsor (see: Project Negotiation/Presentation).

Net Benefit - the amount remaining after all payments that are made are subtracted from all payments that have been received. The net cash flow (may be negative).

NEPAD - New Partnership for Africa's Development 

NERC - Natural Environment Research Council

Net Present Value - a method which discounts all the cash inflows and outflows over the life of the project to their present value. The choice of discount rate reflects the cost of capital (see also: Discounted Cash Flow; Discount Rate; Internal Rate of Return).

NGO - Non Government Organisation

NIB - Nordic Investment Bank

No Aid Common Lines (NACLs) - A mechanism by which OECD countries agree to prohibit the use of tied aid for certain named projects. Often proposed by a donor to support an exporter who may be in a strong position to win a contract on commercial terms.

Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPB) - such as the British Council. These bodies have been created by Statute either by specific legislation or Royal Charter. They have no legal powers to enter into commitments outside their defined powers as laid down in the Statute.

Non Governmental Organisation (NGOs) - Sometimes called the voluntary agencies. Private independent, non-profit organisations of a charitable, research or educational nature.

Non-Project Aid - Financial aid other than project aid, and includes programme aid, budgetary aid, debt relief, food aid and disaster relief, very often a major component of sector aid.

Non-Recourse Loans - a loan where the repayment is wholly dependent on the profitability of the project.

NRI - Natural Resources Institute

NRIL - Natural Resources International

NSOs - National Statistics Offices

 

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