Glossary of key terms

Capacity-building

Activities which strengthen the knowledge, abilities, skills and behavior of individuals and improve institutional structures and processes such that the organization can efficiently meet its mission and goals in a sustainable way

Innovation

New idea, method or device
For example: Rose, a small farmer in Uganda, was trained to be a volunteer Rural Development Extensionist (RDE) and in turn provide no-cost agricultural training to the members of her farmer group. However, when community members purchase her crops, she also instructs these buyers and sells them improved planting materials at below-market prices as an incentive for them to plant their own crops. These innovations that Rose developed on her own enable her to reach people beyond her farmer group.

Livelihood

People, their capabilities and their means of living, including food, income and assets (Chambers and Conway, 1991)
CSRL, therefore, considers a sustainable livelihood to be one that can effectively address needs for food and income, cope with and recover from shocks and stresses, and maintain and enhance its capabilities and assets while not undermining the natural resource base.

Non-governmental Organizations (NGO)

In the US, we commonly call such organizations non-profits - private organizations with a charitable purpose funded primarily by private gifts or grants from governments or private funders such as foundations.
For example: CSRL's partner VEDCO is an indigenous Ugandan NGO

Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation (PM&E)

Promotes the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders, employing methods that allow a more equal opportunity for the expression of views and sharing of lessons to impact direction of development activities.

Stakeholders

Includes: individuals, communities, governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), researchers, funders, etc. in a development project
For example, stakeholders in CSRL current project include: farm families in Kamuli district, Uganda, farmer groups, Kamuli's local governments and schools, VEDCO, Makerere University, CSRL, Iowa State University, university students and professors

Sustainability

An attempt to provide the best outcomes for humans and the environment both now and into the future
For example: Local farmers are trained to be volunteer Rural Development Extensionists (RDEs) within their own communities. These RDEs develop new knowledge and skills that will remain in the community after development agencies have moved on.

Sustainable Livelihoods

A holistic, systematic and participatory approach that brings together issues of poverty and hunger reduction, with environmental and social sustainability