IASC Needs Assessment Task Force
Abridged Glossary
A
ALERT
Advisory that hazard is approaching but is less imminent than implied by warning message. See also "warning" (Material II - IDNDR, 1992).
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
ANALYSIS PLAN
A framework providing details of the information that needs to be collected from primary and secondary sources.
Glossary of Food Security Terminology
WFP
ARMED CONFLICTS
State of hostilities in which two or more organized armies are at war against each other. In modern warfare the attack may be with conventional weapons, chemical and/or biological weapons or nuclear weapons (Material V - Gunn, S.W.A. Multilingual Dictionary of Disaster Medicine and International Relief, 1990)
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
ASSESSMENT (and RE-ASSESSMENT)
The set of activities necessary to understand a given situation, entails the collection, up-dating and analysis of data pertaining to the population of concern (needs, capacities, resources, etc.), as well as the state of infrastructure and general socio-economic conditions in a given location/area.
Master Glossary of terms
UNHCR
ASSESSMENT (3)
Survey of a real or potential disaster to estimate the actual or expected damages and to make recommendations for prevention, preparedness and response.
Internationally agreed glossary of basic terms related to Disaster Management
DHA-Geneva - December 1992
ASSETS
Anything that is considered valuable or useful, such as a skill, a quality, a person, etc. (Source: Chambers Compact Dictionary). In the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, assets are defined under the following five categories:
-Human: health and nutrition status; physical capacity; skills; level of education; etc.
-Social: household, gender, kinship and other networks; community groups; values and attitudes; etc.
-Financial: income; credit and loans; savings; liquid assets; etc.
-Physical: productive assets, such as tools and equipment; stores; housing; livestock; infrastructure; etc.
-Natural: land; water; forests; etc.
Glossary of Food Security Terminology
WFP
ASSISTANCE
Aid provided to address the physical, material and legal needs of persons of concern. This may include food items, medical supplies, clothing, shelter, seeds and tools, as well as the provision of infrastructure, such as schools and roads. “Humanitarian assistance” refers to assistance provided by humanitarian organizations for humanitarian purposes (i.e., non-political, non-commercial, and non-military purposes). In UNHCR practice, assistance supports and complements the achievement of protection objectives.
Master Glossary of terms
UNHCR
ASYLUM
The grant, by a State, of protection on its territory to persons from another State who are fleeing persecution or serious danger. Asylum encompasses a variety of elements, including non-refoulement, permission to remain on the territory of the asylum country, and humane standards of treatment.
Master Glossary of terms
UNHCR
ASYLUM-SEEKER
An asylum-seeker is an individual who is seeking international protection. In countries with individualized procedures, an asylum-seeker is someone whose claim has not yet been finally decided on by the country in which he or she has submitted it. Not every asylum-seeker will ultimately be recognized as a refugee, but every refugee is initially an asylum-seeker.
Master Glossary of terms
UNHCR
B
C
CAPACITY, ADAPTIVE
“...defines adaptive capacity as a combination of a society’s ex ante vulnerability to damages from natural hazards and its ex post resilience or ability to cope with the damages that result.”
(Dayton-Johnson, 2004)
Components of Risk A Comparative Glossary
United Nations University –Institute of Environment and Human Security
CAPACITY BUILDING
A process by which individuals, institutions and societies develop abilities, individually and collectively, to perform functions, solve problems and set and achieve their goals.
Master Glossary of terms
UNHCR
CAPACITY, COPING
“Refers to the manner in which people and organisations use existing resources to achieve various beneficial ends during unusual, abnormal, and adverse conditions of a disaster event or process. The strengthening of coping capacities usually builds resilience to withstand the effects of natural and other hazards.” (Europ. Spatial Planning Observ. Netw., 2003)
Components of Risk A Comparative Glossary
United Nations University –Institute of Environment and Human Security
CAPACITY, COPING
“Is a function of: perception (of risk and potential avenues of action – the ability to cope is information contingent); possibilities (options ranging from avoidance and insurance, prevention, mitigation, coping); private action (degree to which special capital can be invoked); and public action” (e.g. Webb, and Harinarayan, 1999; Sharma et al. 2000) quoted in IPCC (2001). (IPCC, 2001)
Components of Risk A Comparative Glossary
United Nations University –Institute of Environment and Human Security
CIVIL DEFENCE MANAGEMENT PLAN
Global plan of all civil defence action which should consider a systematic approach to disaster planning and management. It covers the reduction in the number of disasters, including the prevention of disasters and programs for emergency care and disasters. Response to disasters including relief activities, population assistance and rehabilitation of affected area. Reconstruction which aims to fully re-establish public services, local economy, social morals and the wellbeing of the population.
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
CIVIL PROTECTION
The organized actions of planning, training, preparedness and response to all emergences at the local and national levels, with the view to protecting the civilian population in case of natural catastrophe, man-made disaster or war. (V - Gunn, S.W.A. Multilingual Dictionaryof Disaster Medicine and International Relief, 1990).
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
CHRONIC FOOD INSECURITY
A long-term or persistent inability to meet minimum food requirements.
Glossary of Food Security Terminology
WFP
CLASSIFICATION OF MEANS AND RESOURCES
Classification, ordering and detailed register of persons and materials available to meet the needs of the implementation of civil protection programmes, specifically the relier subprogramme in cases of emergency. (Material IV- Civil Protection Glossary, OPAS, 1992).
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
CLUSTER SAMPLING
The sample is defined in stages, usually as: geographical areas, locations, and groups/households/individuals.
Glossary of Food Security Terminology
WFP
CODE OF CONDUCT
A common set of principles or standards that a group of agencies or organizations have agreed to abide by while providing assistance in response to complex emergengencies or natural disasters.For example, the Principles of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organisations in Disaster Response Programmes, and the IASC Core Principles of a Code of Conduct for Protection from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
Master Glossary of terms
UNHCR
COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION
Discussion with a mixed group of community members that includes men, women and young people from all subgroups within the community (village, camp, urban neighbourhood, etc.).
Glossary of Food Security Terminology
WFP
COMMON COUNTRY ASSESSMENT (CCA)
The common instrument of the United Nations to analyze the development situation in a certain country and identify key national development issues in the context of both the Millennium Development Goals and other commitments, goals and targets of the Millennium Declaration, international conferences, summits, conventions and human rights instruments.
Master Glossary of terms
UNHCR
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL
All policies, precautions and measures taken to prevent the outbreak or spread of communicable diseases (Material II - IDNDR, 1992).
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
Existing organization processes in the communities, districts or villages, based on common interests and identity, aimed at intervening in the dynamics of developing the place.
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
COMPLEX EMERGENCY
A humanitarian crisis that requires an international response that goes beyond the mandate or capacity of any single agency. (IASC, December 1994) Complex emergencies are typically characterized by: extensive violence and loss of life, massive displacements of people, widespread damage to societies and economies, need for large-scale, multi-faceted humanitarian assistance, hindrance or prevention of humanitarian assistance by political and military constraints and significant security risks for humanitarian relief workers in some areas.
FTS Definition of humanitarian aid for statistical purposes.
OCHA
COMPOSITE SHOCK
A variety of different shocks that interact.
Glossary of Food Security Terminology
WFP
CONSEQUENCE ANALYSIS
Studies or forecasts of the economic, human, material or moral damage resulting from the impact of a disaster used to estimate the resources necessary to reduce or face its effects and the preparation of preventive, operational and support programmes. (Material IV – Glossary of Civil Protection, OPAS,1992).
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
CONTINGENCY PLANS
Plan aimed at dealing with the possible occurrence of a disaster, addressing such matters as forecasting, assessing the development and possible intensity of its effects, if the conditions remain variable.
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
CONTROLLED ZONE
Area subject to supervision and a series of special protection control measures due to a risk. (Material IV – Glossary of Civil Protection, OPAS, 1992).
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION
Details of the processes that led to the current emergency and the reasons why it is occurring; factors that help to explain the emergency and give insights into the responses that may be appropriate.
Glossary of Food Security Terminology
WFP
CONVENIENCE SAMPLING
Households and individuals are selected on the basis of ease of access.
Glossary of Food Security Terminology
WFP
COPING STRATEGIES INDEX (CSI)
A methodology for estimating the food security status of households according to the coping strategies to which they resort.
Glossary of Food Security Terminology
WFP
COORDINATION
The bringing together of organisations and elements to ensure an effective response, primarily concerned with the systematic acquisition and application of resources (organisation, manpower and equipment) in accordance with the requirements imposed by the threat or impact of an emergency. Coordination relates primarily to resources, and operates, vertically, within an organisation, as a function of the authority to command, and horizontally, across organisations, as a function of the authority to control. See also control and command.
Australian Emergency Management Glossary (Australian Emergency Manuals Series Part I: The Fundamentals, Manual 3)
Emergency Management Australia
CROSS TABULATION
The process of combining two or more indicators; used, for example, to gain insights into the prevalence and causes of malnutrition and food insecurity.
Glossary of Food Security Terminology
WFP
D
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
The role of the relief subprogramme which consists of the development of mechanisms to allow the physical and social dimension of the catastrophe, the estimate of the loss of human lives and natural wealth, the needs which must be satisfied and the idenfication of possible risks (Secondary Effects or Damage) (MaterialIV – Glossary of Civil Protection, OPAS, 1992)
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
DAMAGE PREDICTION
Survey of a real or potential disaster to estimate the actual or expected damages and to make recommendations for prevention, preparedness and response (Material II -IDNDR, 1992).
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
DATA
The pieces of information collected from primary or secondary sources.
Glossary of Food Security Terminology
WFP
DEMOGRAPHY
The quantitative study of human populations and of their variations (Material V - Gunn,S.W.A. Multilingual Dictionary of DisasterMedicine and International Relief, 1990).
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
DEPOPULATION
A fall in the population of a region due to migrations or to deaths in excess of births (Material V - Gunn, S.W.A. MultilingualDictionary of Disaster Medicine andInternational Relief, 1990).
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
DIRECT PARAMETERS
Factors determining the manifestation of a disaster to a large extent are the characteristics used to evaluate disasters.
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
DISASTER A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
Terminology: Basic Terms of Disaster Risk Reduction (Annex 1)
ISDR Secretariat
DISASTER “For a disaster to be entered into the database of the UN’s International Strategy for Disaster
Reduction (ISDR), at least one of the following criteria must be met:
– a report of 10 or more people killed
– a report of 100 people affected
– a declaration of a state of emergency by the relevant government
– a request by the national government for international assistance” (IRIN/OCHA, 2005)
Components of Risk A Comparative Glossary
United Nations University –Institute of Environment and Human Security
DISASTER AREA SURVEY TEAM
A group that is deployed in an area after a disaster to ascertain the extent of damage to population and property and to recommend appropriate responses (Material II - IDNDR,1992).
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
DISASTER DEVELOPMENT SPEED
Time elapsed from the first indication of a disaster to the appearance of its maximum speed.
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
DISASTER EVALUATION / SOCIAL SECTOR DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
Post disaster appraisal of all aspects of the disaster and its effects (Material II - IDNDR,1992).
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
DISASTER EVALUATION CHARACTERISTICS
Intrinsic qualities of a disaster, which allow for the recognition of its own features, for example, its physical, chemical, bacteriological characteristics, etc. There are two basic types of parametres for its evaluation: direct and indirect. Magnitude, intenity, development speed and frequency are found among the direct, general parametres. The indirect parametres are those which calculate the manifestation of the disaster through its effects on the system likely to be affected (population and environment) (Material IV- Civil ProtectionGlosary, OPAS, 1992)
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
DISASTER IMPACT
Any incidence of an agent, element or event on the vulnerable system (population and environment) producing undesirable effects (earthquakes, high temperatures, hurricanes, etc.). There are primary or elementary impacts and aggregate impacts.
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
The body of laws and regulations that govern and designate responsibility for disaster management during the various phases and levels of disaster (Text II - IDNDR, 1992).
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT
The systematic process of using administrative decisions, organization, operational skills and capacities to implement policies, strategies and coping capacities of the society and communities to lessen the impacts of natural hazards and related environmental and technological disasters. This comprises all forms of activities, including structural and non-structural measures to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) adverse effects of hazards.
Terminology: Basic Terms of Disaster Risk Reduction (Annex 1)
ISDR Secretariat
DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
The conceptual framework of elements considered with the possibilities to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society, to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impacts of hazards, within the broad context of sustainable development.
Terminology: Basic Terms of Disaster Risk Reduction (Annex 1)
ISDR Secretariat
DISASTERS IDENTIFICATION CHARACTERISTICS
Data giving the time and place of a specific disaster, such as its name, date of occurrence, place of origin, coverage and path of the phenomenon (Material IV- Civil ProtectionGlosary, OPAS, 1992)
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
DISASTER STAGES
These are the specific activities which take place before, during and after a disaster with the aim of better defining and organizing those actions which must be carried out throughout the process. It includes: prevention, mitigation, preparation, warning, health care, rehabilitation, reconstruction. (Costa Rica.National Emergency Commission. Cycle ofDisasters, 1993)
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
DISASTER ZONE
Vulnerable system area (population and environment) which suffers damage defects and deterioration of its structure and normal function due to the impact of a disaster. The area of a disaster zone may be divers for example a district, colony, town, city or a region. It varies according to different factors, among them, the type of disaster, its force and duration, the vulnerability of the system affected, etc.
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
DISPLACED PERSONS
Persons who, for different reasons or circumstances, have been compelled to leave their homes. They may or may not reside in their country of origin, but are not legally regarded as refugees (DM) (Material II -IDNDR, 1992).
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
Direct sampling
Households and individuals are selected directly from the entire sampling frame.
Glossary of Food Security Terminology
WFP
E
ELEMENTS AT RISK
The population, buildings and civil engineering works, economic activities, public services and infrastructure, etc. at risk in a given area - UNDRO (Material V - Gunn, S.W.A.Multilingual Dictionary of Disaster Medicineand International Relief, 1990).
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
Officially designated facility for the direction and coordination or all activities during the response phase of a disaster (Material II -IDNDR, 1992).
Controlled Vocabulary on Disaster Information
Caribbean Disaster Information Network (CARDIN)