| 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.
Access to safe water = This term identifies the estimated percentage of the population
having access to improved drinking water sources, such as household
connections, public standpipes, boreholes, protected dug wells,
protected springs, and rainwater collection. These sources tend
to provide safer drinking water than unimproved sources such as
rivers, ponds, or unprotected wells. Source: UNICEF and WHO
Access to sanitation = This term refers to the estimated percentage of the population with
access to improved sanitation facilities, including connections to
public sewers or septic systems, pour-flush latrines, and simple or
ventilated improved pit latrines. These are more likely to ensure
privacy and hygienic use than unimproved facilities, such as open
pit or bucket latrines. Source: UNICEF and WHO
Adult literacy rate = This rate identifies the percentage of the population, aged 15
and over, who can read and write with understanding a simple statement
about their everyday life. See Literacy and Youth
literacy rate. Source: UNESCO
Aid effectiveness = This notion
rests on the application principles defined in the Paris
Declaration. It refers to improvement in the quality and
impact of development aid through partnership commitments organized
around five key principles: ownership, alignment, harmonization,
managing for results, and mutual accountability. Source: Organisation
for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
AIDS = This stands for “acquired immune deficiency syndrome” and
describes the associated collection of symptoms and infections.
Infection with HIV has been established as the
underlying cause of AIDS. The level of HIV in the body and the appearance
of certain infections are used as indicators that HIV infection
has progressed to AIDS. Source: UNAIDS
Anti-malarial bed nets = These are insecticide-treated
nets that provide a protective barrier against mosquitoes that spread malaria during
the night. They are a low-cost, safe, and highly effective method
of preventing this deadly disease. The insecticide-treated nets
last for up to five years and have been shown to reduce malaria-related
infections by 50 percent. See Parasitic diseases. Source:
the Canadian Red Cross
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B.
Basic education = This involves literacy, numeracy, and life skills. Life skills,
such as decision making, problem solving, critical thinking, and
effective communication, enable individuals to deal with the demands
and challenges of everyday life. The generally accepted definition
for literacy is a Grade 5 education. (The second Millennium
Development Goal is to achieve universal primary education
by 2015.) Source: CIDA
Basic human needs = These include nutrition, health care, safe drinking water and sanitation,
primary education, employment, housing, equality between women and
men, and participation in cultural, social, and political life. Basic
human needs are interrelated, and meeting them is necessary in order
to achieve sustainable development and poverty reduction. Source: CIDA
Bilateral aid = This is government-to-government
assistance, provided directly by a donor country
in response to a developing country's request for
economic and social development assistance. In this
type of aid, the donor country maintains control
over its contributions. Bilateral aid includes a
wide range of activities from large irrigation projects
to the supply of paper for printing textbooks. Source:
CIDA
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C.
Canadian Geographic = One of the partners in the creation of the Developing World Map,
Canadian Geographic is a magazine that features the latest science,
environment, travel, and human and cultural stories from across the
country. It is owned by The Royal
Canadian Geographical Society, a not-for-profit educational organization
that channels proceeds from the magazine into research, grants, education,
and expeditions in order to advance geographical knowledge and stimulate
awareness of the significance of geography in Canada's development,
well-being, and culture. Source: Canadian Geographic
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) =
This is the primary federal government agency administering Canada’s development assistance program. Its goals are to reduce poverty,
promote human rights, and support sustainable development in developing
countries. The Agency also responds to humanitarian emergencies, provides
training and technical assistance, and shares its experience
and knowledge about development with its partners. CIDA
delivers Canada’s development assistance program with
the help of experienced partners in Canada and abroad.
Source: CIDA
Capacity development = Refers to the process through which individuals, organizations, and
societies obtain, strengthen, and maintain the capabilities
to set and achieve their own development objectives over time. Source: UNDP
Child mortality rate = Refers to the probability of dying between the ages of one and five,
if subject to current mortality rates for specific age groups. Used
interchangeably with the under-five mortality rate,
the term is expressed as the number of deaths per 1,000 live births.
It is a leading indicator of the level of child health and overall
development in countries. (The fourth Millennium Development
Goal is to reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among
children under five.) See also Infant mortality rate. Source: WHO and World
Bank
Child protection = This term refers to assistance provided to children marginalized
by armed conflict, natural disasters, sexual exploitation and trafficking,
and HIV/AIDS. The objective is to improve their lives through programs
in health, education, nutrition, access to water and sanitation,
and family incomes. Canada is a world leader in child protection.
The global community has made strong commitments to the rights of
children through the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child and the Millennium
Development Goals, most of which involve the fulfillment of
the rights of children. Source: CIDA
Continent = The seven principal land masses of the Earth—Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South
America—are known as continents.
Countries in transition = This term is used to describe countries at different stages of the
transition from communism to democracy and from planned to market
economies. See Democratization. Source: CIDA
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D.
Democratization = Refers to the process of making the transition to democracy. It depends
on an effective legislature that is supported by strong constitutional
and procedural systems sustained by capable legislators, a free
media, a strong civil society, and effective citizen engagement.
Countries in transition. Source: CIDA
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) = This federal government department is responsible for representing
Canada around the world through its network of embassies and trade
and diplomatic offices, and by participating in multilateral institutions
and international treaties and arrangements. Source: DFAIT
Department of National Defence (DND) = This
federal government department and the Canadian Forces exist
to protect Canada, defend North America in co-operation with
the United States, and contribute to international peace.
Source: DND
Developed country = This is a term used to refer to relatively wealthy and technologically
advanced countries in which most people have high life expectancies,
access to education, and a gross national income per capita of more
than US$ 11,115 in 2008. Source: CIDA and World
Bank
Developing country = This is a term used to refer to low- and middle-income countries
in which most people have a lower standard of living with
access to fewer goods and services than do most people in high-income
countries. Source:
World Bank and CIDA
Development = This long-term process begins with meeting the most basic human needs of people—food, clean water, good health, shelter. It includes the chance to
get an education and earn a living in a society where human rights are respected and where women, as well as men, can participate fully
in the life of their communities. At the same time, it also involves building an infrastructure that provides essential services for all and an economy that encourages innovation and respect for the environment. Source: CIDA
Development assistance = Basically, this means
helping people to help themselves. Countries that can meet
the needs of their own people often provide development assistance
to poor countries and fragile states to help them reduce poverty,
increase access to basic education and health services, and
improve the standard of living. See Bilateral aid. Source: CIDA
Diarrheal diseases = This term refers to diseases that affect the intestines and result
in dehydration. The diseases are caused by unsafe drinking water
and inadequate sanitation and account for nearly two million deaths
a year among children under five. After pneumonia,
they are the second most common cause of child death worldwide.
See also Access to safe drinking water and Access to sanitation. Source:
World Bank and CIDA
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E.
Economic growth = Through this process, a
country increases its ability to produce goods and services. Source: World Bank
Ecosystem = A biological community of interacting
organisms and their physical environment. Source: Environment
Canada
Environmental sustainability = This term refers
to the management of ecosystems and the environment so that the quality of land, air, and water can be protected. Source: CIDA
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F.
Fertility rate = This refers to the average number of children a woman will have during
her lifetime. The total fertility rate in developing countries is
between three and four children per woman; in industrial countries
it is less than two. Source: World
Bank
Food security = This exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social,
and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that
meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and
healthy life. Source: FAO
Fragile and failed states = In countries that have experienced years of extreme poverty, or have
suffered social, political, or military strife, the government may
have lost the will or capacity to be in control of its territory. “Failed
states” refers to countries where large areas are not under
the authority of any formal, organized government. “Fragile
states” refers to countries that have not deteriorated to this
point, but are at risk of doing so. Source: CIDA
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G.
Gender disparity = This refers to the imbalance of power between women and men in economic, social, and political sectors of society. This unequal distribution of power arises from barriers related to beliefs, stereotypes, and discriminative practices. Eliminating gender disparity helps to empower women but does not necessarily ensure equality. Source: CIDA
Gender equality = This exists when women and men have equal conditions for realizing
their full human rights and potential to contribute to national, political,
economic, social, and cultural development and to benefit equally
from the results. Source: Status
of Women Canada and CIDA
Globalization = This term describes the increased
mobility of goods, services, labour, technology, and capital
throughout the world. Source:
Government of Canada
Governance = This refers to the values, rules, institutions, and processes through
which people and organizations attempt to work towards common objectives,
make decisions, generate authority and legitimacy, and exercise
power. Democracy is a critical element in good governance. Source: CIDA
Gross domestic product (GDP) = The GDP is one of the ways of measuring the size of a country’s economy. It is defined as the total market value of the goods and
services produced within a country and by this country abroad during
a given period of time, usually a year. The GDP is often contrasted
with the gross national product (GNP), now called the gross
national income (GNI). Source: UNDP
Gross national income (GNI) = This is the value of a country’s final output of goods and services
in a year. It is the gross domestic product plus
what a country’s residents earn abroad and minus what is paid
out abroad. The GNI has replaced the term GNP. Source: World Bank and UNDP
Gross national product (GNP) = This term has
been replaced by Gross national income (GNI).
GDP or GNI per capita = This refers to a country's
GDP or GNI divided by its population. It reflects the average
income of a country's citizens and provides an understanding
of the country's economic strengths and needs. Source: World Bank Youthink
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H.
High human development index = This is one of three categories in the UNDP's Human Development Index. On CIDA’s map, countries that have a high human development index appear in yellow. Source: UNDP
HIV or human immunodeficiency virus = This
virus steadily weakens the body's defence (immune) system until
it can no longer fight off infections, and this eventually leads to diarrhea, tumors and illnesses such as pneumonia. Source: WHO and World Bank
Human Development Index (HDI) = This is an index created by the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP). It measures the quality
of life in United Nations member countries and is based on three aspects of human development:
longevity (measured by life expectancy at birth),
knowledge (measured by a combination of adult literacy and school
enrolment) and standard of living (measured by GDP
per capita in US$ purchasing power parity).
See also Adult literacy rate and Net primary enrolment rate.
Source: UNDP
Humanitarian assistance = This refers to appropriate, timely, and effective assistance provided
to developing countries in need, in order to ease human suffering
resulting from conflicts and natural disasters. When the needs of
the affected communities exceed the capacity of their government
to respond, Canada and governments around the world provide assistance
through an established international humanitarian response system.
Donors to this system include countries like Canada, United Nations
organizations such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),
and non-governmental organizations. Source: CIDA
Human rights = This refers to the economic, social, cultural, civil and political
rights and freedoms of all individuals as outlined in the United
Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and detailed in
many human rights conventions negotiated amongst national governments.
Source: CIDA
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I.
Illiteracy = The inability to read and write
a simple statement about one's everyday life and do simple
mathematical calculations is called illiteracy. Source: UNESCO
Immunization = This refers to a medical procedure, usually a vaccine, that builds up a person’s resistance to contagious diseases such as polio, measles, and tuberculosis. Source: WHO and World Bank
Industrialized countries = This term refers
to countries with a history of high industrial outputs. Today,
it tends to refer to high-income countries. Source:
World Bank
Infant mortality rate = The probability of dying between birth and the age of one, according
to current mortality rates and expressed as a rate per 1,000 live
births, is called the infant mortality rate. The lower the rate,
the greater the likelihood that basic health care is widely available
throughout the country. See also Child mortality rate and Under-five
mortality rate. Source: World
Bank
Infrastructure = This refers to such things as roads, electricity, water systems,
telecommunication services, and public transportation, which play
a key role in reducing poverty by helping to increase productivity
and improve the quality of life in a community. Source: World Bank Youthink
International cooperation = This refers to
countries around the world working together to provide development
assistance to less-developed countries and/or fragile states. Source: CIDA
International development = See Development
assistance.
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L.
Less-developed country = This term refers
to a developing country lacking significant economic growth,
with a very low per capita income, and a low literacy rate.
Countries classified as less developed tend to have the following
characteristics: extreme poverty, inadequate health, education, and
transport facilities, geographical or climate barriers, and economies
based primarily on agriculture. Source: CIDA
Life expectancy at birth = The number of years
a newborn infant would be expected to live if health and living
conditions at the time of birth stayed the same throughout
the child’s life, is known as life expectancy at birth. Source:
UNDP
Literacy = The ability to read and write a
simple statement about one’s everyday life and do simple mathematical
calculations is called literacy. See Illiteracy. Source:
World
Bank and UNESCO
Low human development index = This is one of three categories in the UNDP’s Human Development Index. On CIDA’s map, countries that have a low human development index appear in red. Source: UNDP
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M.
Malaria = This is a life-threatening, parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. See Anti-malarial bed nets and Parasitic diseases. Source: WHO
Malnutrition = This is a general term used to indicate that a person does not have
enough nourishing food to support a healthy active life, or that
a child does not have enough food to support growth and development. Undernourishment,
excessive eating, or having an unbalanced diet that lacks essential
nutrients such as protein, vitamins, and minerals, can cause it.
Source: FAO
Maternal mortality ratio = This refers to the number of deaths of women from pregnancy-related
causes per 100,000 live births in a particular year. In many poor
countries, one of the main causes of maternal mortality is the lack
of a trained doctor or midwife to deliver the baby. (The fifth Millennium
Development Goal is to reduce the maternal mortality ratio
by three quarters.) Source: WHO
Medium human development index = This is one of three categories in the UNDP's Human Development Index. On CIDA’s map, countries that have a medium human development index appear in orange. Source: UNDP
Microfinance = These are small loans that
help poor people who want to start or expand a small business,
but are not able to get banks to lend to them. Source:
CIDA
Micronutrients = These are nutrients needed only in miniscule amounts to enable the
body to produce enzymes, hormones, and other substances that are
essential for proper growth and development. Even though the amount
of micronutrients required is quite tiny, the consequences of their
absence are severe. Iodine, vitamin A, and iron are the most important
micronutrients in global public health terms. A lack of these nutrients
presents a major threat to the health and development of populations
all over the world, particularly for children and pregnant women
from low-income countries. See Malnutrition. Source: WHO
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) = These are a set of time-bound
goals to reduce poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental
degradation, and discrimination against women by the year 2015.
They were agreed upon by the world’s leaders at a special United
Nations assembly in September 2000, to mark the turn of the century.
Source: United Nations
Multilateral development bank (MDB) = This
term refers to lending organizations that are not owned by
any one country, but by a number of countries. Members include
both countries that borrow money from the bank, and donor countries
who define lending policies and provide capital. The World
Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are two examples. Source: CIDA,
World
Bank and ADB
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N.
Net primary enrolment rate = This represents the number of children enrolled in primary school
who are of official primary school age, expressed as a percentage
of the total number of children of official primary school age. Source: UNESCO
Non-governmental organization (NGO) = This
term refers to organizations that are not for profit and independent
of the government. Many Canadian NGOs carry out projects to
help people in developing countries meet their basic needs,
but they also raise awareness in Canada about development issues
and raise funds for projects. Source: CIDA and World Bank Youthink
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O.
Official development assistance (ODA) = This
term refers to the grants and low-interest loans that government
agencies in developed countries provide to developing countries
to help their development in such areas as basic education and health (HIV/AIDS), private sector development, and good governance. Source: CIDA and OECD
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P.
Pandemic = This refers to the widespread outbreak of a new infectious disease
against which the human population has no immunity. It presents
as several simultaneous epidemics worldwide and results in enormous numbers
of illnesses and deaths. Source: WHO
Parasitic diseases = These diseases are transmitted
by consuming contaminated food and water or through direct contact
with a parasite (an organism that gets nourishment from feeding
off a host organism). This type of disease can be transmitted to
and from animals or humans. See Malaria.
Source: CIDA and WHO
Paris Declaration = Endorsed
on March 2, 2005, this is an international agreement on reforming
aid delivery and aid management. It promotes cooperation between
donors and partner countries as well as transparency and accountability
on the use of development resources. Over 100 ministers, heads of
agencies, and other senior officials committed their countries and
organizations to abide by its principles.
See Aid effectiveness.
Source: OECD
Peacekeeping = This term refers to a way of helping countries torn by conflict create
conditions for sustainable peace. United Nations peacekeepers—soldiers
and military officers, civilian police officers, and civilian personnel
from many countries—monitor and observe peace processes that
emerge in post-conflict situations and assist ex-combatants to implement
the peace agreements they have signed. Such assistance comes in
many forms including confidence-building measures, power-sharing
arrangements, electoral support, strengthening the rule of law,
and economic and social development. Source: United
Nations and United
Nations Association of Canada
Pneumonia = This is a severe form of acute lower respiratory infection that specifically
affects the lungs. It is estimated that over 150 million cases occur
every year among children in developing countries and that over
two million children die from pneumonia each year. Pneumonia is
the leading cause of child death worldwide, killing more children
under five years of age than AIDS, malaria,
and measles combined. Despite this, there has been very little research
done on the disease. Source: WHO
and UNICEF
Population growth rate = This refers to the
increase in a country's population during one year, divided
by the population at the start of that year. It reflects the
number of births and deaths during the period and the number
of people moving to and from a country. Source:
World
Bank
Poverty = There are many definitions of poverty,
but the most commonly used is that of extreme poverty. This is defined as living on less than a dollar a day. About one
billion people in the world—nearly one in six—live in
extreme poverty. Source: World
Bank
Primary health care = This term refers to essential health services for the prevention
and treatment of disease that are locally accessible, affordable,
practical, scientifically sound, and socially acceptable. Source: WHO and World
Bank
Private sector development = This means the creation of employment opportunities and higher income jobs in less-developed countries by helping markets function well
and by stimulating the growth of private sector businesses. See Less-developed
country. Source: CIDA
Purchasing power parity (PPP) = This is a
method of measuring the relative purchasing power of different
countries' currencies for the same types of goods and services. Source:
UNDP and World Bank Top
R.
Reconstruction = This is long-term development assistance after an emergency situation. It helps people in the affected areas
rebuild their lives, and addresses current as well as future needs.
Reconstruction usually occurs after the needs for humanitarian relief
and rehabilitation are met. See Humanitarian assistance.
Source: CIDA
Rehabilitation = This type of development assistance restores local services required to meet the basic needs of people
after an emergency situation. It can include sanitation, power, transportation, and law and order. Rehabilitation is usually provided
after humanitarian relief and before reconstruction. See Humanitarian assistance. Source: CIDA
Robinson projection = This is a type of map projection that aims to create a realistic,
visually appealing, flat image of the entire globe. It isn’t
possible to develop a flat map without distortion in size, shape,
or distance. The Robinson is a compromise projection
that does not totally eliminate these types of distortion but is
successful at keeping the distortion level relatively low over most
of the map. Source: Arthur H. Robinson Map Library
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S.
Safe water = See Access to safe water.
Sanitation = See Access to sanitation.
Standard of living = Refers to the amount of goods and services that a person can buy
with the money that he or she earns. It depends on the value of
goods and services produced per person in a particular population.
Reaching an acceptable standard of living for all people includes
having access to the basics: food, housing, employment, health services,
education, safety and security. Source: World
Bank Youthink
Sub-Saharan Africa = This term refers to countries
in Africa that are located below the Sahara Desert. It does
not include the countries of North Africa. Source: United Nations
Sustainable development = This is development that meets the needs of today, without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It includes
addressing environmental, economic, and community issues. Source: World Bank
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T.
Tuberculosis (TB) = This is an illness of
the respiratory system, spread by coughing and sneezing. Each
year about two million people die from TB, which is a curable
disease. Source: WHO
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U.
Under-five mortality rate = This is the probability of dying between birth and five years of age, expressed as a rate per 1,000 live births. It is otherwise known as the Child mortality rate. See also Infant mortality rate.
Source: WHO
Undernourishment = This refers to the condition of people whose dietary energy consumption
is continuously below the minimum requirement for carrying out light
physical activity and maintaining good health. See Malnutrition.
Source: FAO
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V.
Vaccine = This refers to a preparation of micro-organisms administered by injection
in order to produce or increase immunity to a particular disease. Source: WHO
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Y.
Youth = The United Nations defines a youth
as a person between the ages of 15 and 24. Generally, it is
the time in a person's life between childhood and adulthood. Source:
United
Nations
Youth literacy rate = This is the number of literate persons, aged 15 to 24, expressed
as a percentage of the total population in that age group. A person
is considered literate if he or she can read and write with understanding
a simple statement related to everyday life. See Adult
literacy. Source: UNESCO
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photos: 1-Pedram
Pirnia; 2, 3 -Roger Lemoyne; 4-Pierre
St-Jacques
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