Glossary of Development Terms and AbbreviationsA|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|ZNB: Some of these terms are specific to DFID, others are used throughout the development community. SAARC South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation SADC Southern African Development Community see SAR SADC Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation SAR Southern African Regional (country grouping formerly referred to as Southern African Development Community SADC) SATCC Southern African Transport and Communications Commission SCF Save the Children Fund SCIAF Scottish Council International Aid Fund SCB Statistical Capacity Building Scoping - a preliminary assessment to define the focus (range and depth of factors) of an environmental impact study (see also: Environmental Impact Assessment). Screening - the first level of environmental appraisal (see initial screening). SDA Service Delivery Agreement, or Social Dimensions of Adjustment Sector Aid - a mix of programme aid and TC provided to support a sector investment programme. Sector Investment Programme - is a response to problems with aid and sector performance including weak local and government commitment to projects or reform programmes and weak sector performance despite individual project successes. SIPs address these problems by adopting a comprehensive sector approach, by close co-ordination among all parties, including local stakeholders and by insisting on local ownership and management of the entire process. Sector Operations Policies - the analysis of sectors of the economy by IFIs which may determine the focus and priorities of their investments. Select Committee on International Development - see Foreign Affairs Committee. Self-Evaluation - an evaluation by those who are implementing a programme or project in he field. Sensitivity Analysis - used to test the project for changes in the assumed values of key variables. It tries to identify the events which would have the greatest effect on the outcome of a project, and test the impact of events and changes that would make or break the project. Sensitivity analysis assesses how changes in the underlying assumptions might affect project outcomes. It takes the identified risks attaching to a project option and points out which of them should be addressed. The analysis can be quantitative or qualitative, but it is really only as good as the quality of the assumptions that are made (see also: Risk Assessment). Service Charges - handling charges often imposed by financial institutions to cover their administrative costs. SFD - Saudi Fund for Development Shadow Prices - the figure derived for the economic value of a resource when the market price (or value) is inappropriate. SHO - Self Help Organisation SIA - Social Impact Analysis SID - Statistics on International Development SIDA - Society for International Development SIDA - Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency Small Credits - small loans given by banks, commonly through financial intermediaries. Social Analysis - a systematic review of the groups and communities affected by a project, and how the costs and benefits of the project impact on each of them. It assesses the likely impact of the project on their way of life, which may also include cultural considerations. Social Development - The purpose of social development is to ensure that people's needs, capacities and values are at the centre of development efforts. In DFID, the tools of social analysis are applied so that aid is socially and culturally feasible and fully effective. Social Fund - a funding facility which supports initiatives at the community level. Usually these have had the following principles:
Social Funds originated with the response by the World Bank to adverse welfare trends which accompanied the economic crisis and subsequent adjustment efforts of the 1980s in Africa and Latin America. They are often erroneously seen as safety nets, in fact they rarely provided transfers to vulnerable individuals and households, but have been predominately a means for supporting development initiatives. Social Partners - representation from the employers and unions. SOEC - Statistical Office of the European Communities Soft Loan - a loan of which the terms are more favourable to the borrower than those currently attached to commercial market terms. It is described as concessional and the degree of concessionality is expressed as its grant element. Soft Project - a project may involve 'soft' activities such as training, i.e. a revenue project. Sovereign Guarantee - the government of a country guarantees pay back of the loan; i.e. takes part in the credit risk and thus allows the project promoter to have access to capital at a price which otherwise would not have been available. SPA - Strategic Partnership with Africa SPEC - South Pacific Bureau for Economic Cooperation Special Drawing Rights (SDR) - The SDR is a composite currency unit defined in terms of five international currencies (dollar, DM, yen, franc, and sterling). So far SDR 21.4 billion has been issued by the IMF whose accounts are also maintained in SDR units. SPS - Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures SRSG - Statistical Reporting and Support Group Stabex - a European Community scheme to help stabilise the export earnings of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Countries. Stakeholders - persons, groups or institutions with an interest in, or influence over, the success or failure of the project. Stakeholder Analysis - a systematic review of the stakeholders in a project, including an assessment of the costs and benefits, advantages and disadvantages, accruing to each group. Steering Committee - a group of official representatives guiding the project and approving documents; sometimes it is constituted as an Advisory Committee, which offers advice and guidance but has no executive role. Strategic Environmental Assessment - Commonly abbreviated to SEA, this is a process using similar techniques to Environmental Impact Assessment but is applied at a strategic level to policies, programmes and sectors, rather than specific projects. The development and implementation of SEA techniques and procedures is currently at an early stage, but likely to increase in importance. The most common use of SEA is currently at a sector level or within a specific spatial area. Strategic Framework - the overall aims and objectives of a country's approach to development based on analysis of problems, and including a statement of priorities. This sets the context for programme and project development (see also: Strategy). Strategic Gender Needs - These are concerned with changing the position of women. Most governments now endorse the need to improve the status of women and have policies of equality and equal opportunity. However, the cultural and legal status of women is still often subordinate to that of men. For this reason specific interventions must be undertaken to improve women's positions in society. See also Practical gender needs. Strategy - a comprehensive set of goals and plans for their achievement (see also: Strategic Framework; Framework; Country Strategy). Structural Adjustment Facility - see enhanced structural adjustment facility. Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) - consists of a comprehensive set of macroeconomic measures designed to achieve broad economic goals, such as an improvement in the balance of payments, a better utilisation of productive potential, and an increase in the long term economic growth. Study Fellows - Public sector employees (or those expecting to work in the public sector) in developing countries, who are nominated by their governments for training in Britain and financed by DFID from technical co-operation. Subhead - Within each Supply Estimate (see Supply Estimate) the expenditure provision is broken down into "subheads". This breakdown provides Parliament with some detail of the types of activities that will be funded from the expenditure they are being asked to approve. Subsidy - a transfer of money on terms which are more favourable than those prevailing on the market. They are usually given by a public agency to stimulate the recipient to make a greater effort and to commit more of their own money than would otherwise happen. The greater the leverage the better. Requiring the recipient to contribute gives them a vested interest in the project's success. Administrative costs should be kept as low as possible. Grants and loans can both provide subsidy effects. For a loan the subsidy is the difference between the actual cost of the loan given and the same amount of money borrowed from a commercial institution/bank. A soft (or concessional) loan - the subsidy is the cumulative difference in interest payments under the subsidised loan rate and under the market interest rate. The longer the repayment period the greater the subsidy. Operating interest subsidies requires considerable financial skill and involves a high administrative cost. Supergoal - it is sometimes the case that whilst a project may be clearly defined in terms of its purpose and the goal to which it contributes, this is felt by those constructing the logical framework to be restrictive in defining the 'greater good' to which the project contributes. In this case a Supergoal may be identified to help the logic of the project outcome. It is something to which the project 'contributes to' by contributing to the goal through achieving the purpose. For example, if the purpose is 'improved management of wastewater and sludge' and this contributes to the Goal 'improved agricultural output' then the Supergoal that may be contributed to is 'alleviation of poverty'. Supply Estimates (also known as Votes) - Are the means by which the Government seeks Parliament's authority to incur expenditure in the forthcoming financial year. Parliament votes its approval of each Estimate and hence the term "Vote". A Supply Estimate or Vote normally relates to a coherent area of expenditure which is the responsibility of a single department. Sustainability Indicators - Indicators of the Sustainability of the development process in a country at a national, regional or local level. Sustainable - A sustainable project or institution will be able to continue to deliver benefits long term including after foreign assistance has lapsed. An environmentally sustainable activity or project will not be prevented from delivering benefits long term by any environmental damage it causes. Sustainable development considers the sustainability of the development process as a whole in an area, taking account of the environmental, social and economic dimensions of development. Sustainable Development. There are many different definitions, but basically this is the concept whereby improvements in quality of life through economic development are not gained at the expense of the environment or of future generations.
Sustainability Indicators. Three types of indicator may be used:
SWAPs - Sector Wide Approach SWOT Analysis - a technique for identifying the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of a situation as a basis for discussing project objectives. It can be applied to almost any set of circumstances from the strategic to the local level. Syndicated Loan - one that will be lent by a number of banks. Sysmin - The European Community scheme first established under the Second Lome Convention to assist African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries which are heavily dependent on the mining sector. Its primary purpose is to revitalise industries when productive capacity or export earnings fall for reasons beyond the control of the ACP state. System - a group or combination of inter-related, inter- dependent or inter-acting elements forming a collective entity and capable of reacting as a whole to external stimuli. System of National Accounts - consists of a coherent, consistent and integrated set of macroeconomic accounts, balance sheets and tables on a set of internationally agreed concepts, definitions, classifications and accounting rules. It provides a comprehensive accounting framework within which economic data can be compiled and presented in a format that is designed for purposes of economic analysis, decision taking and policy making. Systems Approach - a scientific method which seeks to understand the complexity of systems through studying their inter-relationships rather than simply studying their constituent components, as for example in Farming Systems. |