Humanitarian acronym & jargon decoder

The outsourcing of transport, warehousing or other logistics functions to an external specialist company. Agencies use 3PL providers when they lack their own capacity in a particular area.

A coordination dataset tracking which organization is doing what activity in which location. It helps avoid gaps and duplication across a response.

An extended 3W that adds timing to who is doing what and where. Some responses instead use the fourth W for 'for Whom' (which people are reached).

A further extension of 3W/4W that also records which population group is being served. It gives the most detailed picture of activities across a response.

The commitment to use power responsibly by involving crisis-affected people in decisions that affect them, providing information, and listening to their feedback. In practice it means communities can influence and hold aid agencies to account.

Laws and controls requiring financial institutions to prevent illicit money flows, which shape the identity checks and reporting attached to cash payouts. AML rules drive the KYC steps recipients must pass.

Routine health care and check-ups a woman receives during pregnancy to protect her and the baby and to detect problems early. The number of recommended visits is a common maternal health indicator.

A USAID funding announcement that stays open for a longer period and invites applications on a rolling or multi-round basis, often starting with a concept note. It is used when the donor wants flexible, ongoing ideas rather than one fixed deadline.

A structured exercise to find out what affected people need, what they already have and what gaps exist. Its findings guide the design and prioritisation of a response.

The sudden onset of frequent watery stools, which can cause rapid, dangerous dehydration. It is used as a surveillance term because it may signal cholera before laboratory confirmation.

Data collected at the start of a project to capture the situation before any activities begin. It provides the reference point against which later change is measured.

USAID's office that leads U.S. humanitarian relief overseas, created in 2020 by merging the former OFDA and Food for Peace offices. It is a major funder of emergency and food-security programs.

A simpler assessment of a child's situation to guide day-to-day protection decisions and actions. It is less formal than a Best Interests Determination and is used for most routine casework.

A formal, documented process with strict procedural safeguards used to make major decisions affecting a child, such as care arrangements or resettlement. It weighs all relevant factors to decide what best serves the individual child.

Products marketed to replace breast milk, such as infant formula. Their distribution in emergencies is tightly controlled because unsafe use can sharply increase infant illness and death.

Germany's government ministry responsible for development policy and much of its development funding. It sets Germany's development priorities and channels funds through partners and implementing agencies.

A way of planning assistance around the full range of a household's essential needs and the money required to meet them, rather than one sector at a time. It underpins multipurpose cash and the Minimum Expenditure Basket.

A programme that provides supplementary food to all members of a vulnerable group, such as all young children, regardless of individual nutrition status. It is used to prevent malnutrition when rates are high or the lean season is severe.

The pace at which a project is spending its budget, usually compared against the plan and time elapsed. Spending too slowly or too quickly can signal problems and may need to be explained to the donor.

A structured way of helping an individual or family by assessing their needs, agreeing a plan, coordinating services, and following up over time. It is widely used in child protection and gender-based violence response.

The joint planning and alignment among agencies delivering cash so that transfer values, targeting, and data are consistent across a response. It is typically organized through a Cash Working Group.

A cash transfer combined with a complementary service or support, such as training, counseling, or information. The added component aims to increase the impact of the cash.

The direct provision of money to recipients so they can buy what they need themselves. It can be conditional or unconditional, restricted or unrestricted.

Assistance delivered as cash or vouchers instead of physical goods, letting affected people buy what they need locally. Largely interchangeable with CVA, which is now the more common label.

A humanitarian fund managed by UN OCHA at country level that pools money from multiple donors and allocates it to aid organizations responding to that country's crisis. It gives local and international partners access to coordinated funding.

The humanitarian sector responsible for improving living conditions and services in sites hosting displaced people, from formal camps to collective centres. It coordinates the agencies working in a site and helps ensure residents have a say in how it is run.

A global UN emergency fund, managed by OCHA, that releases money quickly to start relief when a crisis strikes or a chronic emergency is underfunded. Its purpose is fast, life-saving response.

A UNHCR announcement inviting NGOs to express interest in partnering to deliver specific humanitarian services in a location. It is the first step in UNHCR's competitive partner-selection process.

A safe, accessible channel through which affected people can raise concerns, complaints, or feedback about aid, including reports of misconduct. It is a core tool for accountability and for detecting sexual exploitation and abuse.

A public announcement by a donor inviting organizations to submit project proposals for possible funding. It usually sets out priorities, eligibility rules, a budget ceiling, and a deadline.

The proportion of people with a particular disease or condition who die from it, usually shown as a percentage. It indicates how deadly an outbreak is and how well cases are being treated.

A safe, supervised place where children can play, learn, and receive psychosocial support during an emergency. It helps restore a sense of normalcy and lets staff identify children who need extra protection.

A program that pays people cash in exchange for participating in work, often community projects such as rebuilding infrastructure. It is a conditional transfer that combines income support with a public benefit.

A severe diarrhoeal disease caused by bacteria in contaminated water or food that can kill within hours through dehydration. Outbreaks are common where water and sanitation are poor, making it a joint health and WASH concern.

A widely-used standard setting out nine commitments on the quality and accountability of humanitarian action, against which organisations can assess and be independently verified.

A trained member of the local community who provides basic health education, screening, and simple treatments and connects people to health facilities. CHWs extend health services into areas with few clinics.

An approach that mobilises whole communities to end open defecation by building and using their own latrines, driven by local action rather than subsidies. Success is often marked by reaching open-defecation-free status.

A group of humanitarian organisations working in the same sector, such as shelter, logistics or health, that coordinate together under an agreed lead agency. Clusters aim to avoid gaps and duplication in a response.

The organization accountable for a given cluster's functioning, including facilitating coordination and acting as provider of last resort. For example, UNICEF leads the WASH cluster and WHO leads the Health cluster.

An approach that treats most acutely malnourished children close to home rather than in hospital, using ready-to-use therapeutic food and regular outpatient visits. Only complicated severe cases are referred for inpatient care.

The set of medical services provided to survivors of sexual assault, including treatment of injuries, emergency contraception, and prevention of HIV and other infections. Time-sensitive care such as post-exposure prophylaxis is most effective within 72 hours.

A set of rules describing the standards of behaviour expected from staff and representatives of an organisation. Breaching it, for example through abuse or exploitation, can lead to disciplinary action or dismissal.

The unbroken system of refrigerated storage and transport that keeps temperature-sensitive items such as vaccines and some medicines within a safe range. A single break in the cold chain can spoil the products and make them unusable.

A pre-existing building such as a school, warehouse or public hall used to house displaced people, often as a temporary group shelter. Managing these sites is a core part of CCCM work in urban and non-camp settings.

A voucher that can be exchanged only for specific, predetermined goods or services, such as a set food ration. It restricts what recipients can obtain more tightly than a value voucher.

Cash or vouchers that recipients receive only after meeting a requirement, such as attending training, enrolling children in school, or completing work. The condition concerns what people must do to qualify, not what they can buy.

Keeping a person's information private and only sharing it with their informed consent and on a need-to-know basis. It protects survivors and at-risk people from stigma, retaliation, and further harm.

A type of U.S. government assistance award, similar to a grant, but where the donor stays substantially involved in the work. It is used when the funder wants a more hands-on role than a standard grant allows.

The part of a project's cost covered by the organization or another source rather than the main donor. Some donors require it as a condition of funding to show shared commitment.

Preventing and responding to abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence against children in humanitarian settings. It covers services such as case management, family tracing, and safe spaces for children.

A secure case management and data system used to manage individual child protection cases such as separated children. It supports consistent casework and safe information sharing across agencies.

A globally agreed set of standards defining quality child protection work in emergencies, covering principles, response, and cross-cutting concerns. They are commonly called the Child Protection Minimum Standards.

Any non-state, non-profit group formed by citizens, including NGOs, community associations, faith groups, and unions. The term is broader than NGO and emphasizes community roots.

An older term for using cash, and sometimes vouchers, as humanitarian assistance. It has largely been replaced by CVA but still appears in guidance and job titles.

An umbrella term for all programs that provide people with cash or vouchers rather than in-kind goods, so they can meet their own needs. It is the standard sector term for cash-based programming.

A coordination body bringing together organizations delivering cash and voucher assistance in a country or response to align approaches, transfer values, and data. It is the main forum for cash coordination.

The committee at the OECD where major donor governments coordinate development aid, set standards, and compile official aid figures. Its definitions shape what counts as ODA.

A standard indirect (overhead) rate that organizations without a negotiated rate may use on U.S. federal awards. It was historically 10% of modified total direct costs and was raised to 15% in the 2024 update to the Uniform Guidance.

A collaborative online tool for compiling, tagging, and analyzing qualitative information from many documents. It is often used to support joint needs analysis.

The method used to get cash or vouchers to recipients, such as mobile money, prepaid cards, bank transfers, or cash-in-hand at a payout point. It is chosen based on context, FSP options, and recipient access.

The sending of staff, teams or resources to a location to support a response, often at short notice. Deployments are usually time-bound and governed by security clearance and duty-of-care rules.

The former UK government department in charge of international development aid, merged into the FCDO in 2020. The name still appears in older agreements and reports.

An evaluation method that compares how much a treated group changed versus a comparison group over the same period. The gap between the two changes is attributed to the program.

A work plan that breaks a project down into specific activities with timelines, responsibilities, and milestones. It turns the overall design into a schedule teams can follow.

Breaking data down into subgroups, such as by sex, age, or disability, instead of reporting only totals. It reveals who is being reached and who is being left out.

The organised handover of relief items to selected people or households, usually at a set site and time. Good distribution planning covers crowd safety, targeting lists and reporting on what was given out.

The principle that humanitarian action must avoid exposing people to further harm as a result of aid, and must weigh unintended negative effects. It requires analysing how assistance interacts with tensions, power, and risks in a community.

A review that checks whether reported data is accurate, complete, reliable, and timely. It helps organizations trust the numbers they report to donors and use for decisions.

An organisation's legal and moral responsibility to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of its staff. In humanitarian work it covers security, medical support, mental health and safe working conditions.

A voucher delivered digitally, usually on a card or mobile phone, that recipients redeem with approved vendors. It can be a value or commodity voucher and simplifies tracking and reconciliation.

The cluster that helps affected communities begin restoring livelihoods, services, and governance while emergency relief is still ongoing. It is led by UNDP.

When a donor restricts its funding to a specific country, sector, or activity rather than letting the organization decide how to use it. Heavily earmarked funds are harder to move to where needs are greatest.

Feeding an infant only breast milk, with no other food or drink (not even water), for the first six months of life. It is one of the most effective ways to protect young children from illness and malnutrition.

The European Commission department responsible for EU humanitarian aid and civil protection, and a leading humanitarian donor. It funds partners under framework agreements and publishes its priorities in HIPs.

The cluster that coordinates efforts to keep children and young people learning during emergencies, including safe temporary schools. It is co-led by UNICEF and Save the Children.

A rapid toolkit for understanding how key markets work in a crisis and whether they can meet people's needs. It helps decide whether cash, vouchers, or in-kind aid is most appropriate.

Life-saving medical care for complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and the newborn period. Basic EmONC is delivered at health centres, while comprehensive EmONC adds surgery such as caesarean sections and blood transfusion.

Data collected at the end of a project to measure the situation after activities are complete. Comparing it to the baseline shows what changed.

A short submission in which an organization signals it wants to be considered for a funding or partnership opportunity, usually before a full proposal is requested. It lets donors shortlist candidates early.

Activities that teach communities to recognise the danger of mines, unexploded ordnance, and other explosive hazards and to behave more safely. It aims to reduce deaths and injuries in contaminated areas.

The routine childhood vaccination programme that protects against diseases such as measles, polio, and diphtheria. In emergencies, restoring or running EPI activities is a core health priority.

Unexploded and abandoned explosive weapons left behind after a conflict, such as shells, grenades, and bombs that failed to detonate. They pose a lasting danger to civilians long after fighting ends.

A commonly combined programming area covering both temporary shelter solutions and the household goods people need alongside them. It is often organised as a single cluster or working group in a response.

The cluster that provides shared internet, radio, and communications services so responders can operate in crisis zones. It is led by WFP.

A disease surveillance system used in emergencies to detect outbreaks quickly by tracking a defined set of priority diseases and triggering a rapid response. It helps stop epidemics such as cholera or measles from spreading.

A higher-energy therapeutic milk used in the recovery phase of inpatient treatment for severe acute malnutrition, providing 100 kilocalories per 100 millilitres. It helps children regain weight once stabilised.

A low-energy therapeutic milk used in the first, stabilisation phase of treating severe acute malnutrition with complications. The number refers to its energy content of 75 kilocalories per 100 millilitres.

A U.S. grant type that pays a set amount tied to completing agreed milestones or outputs rather than reimbursing actual costs line by line. It reduces detailed financial reporting but requires proof that milestones were met.

The UN agency for food, agriculture, and rural livelihoods, which helps people keep farming and producing food in a crisis. It co-leads the Food Security cluster with WFP.

The UK government department responsible for foreign policy and international development, formed in 2020 by merging the Foreign Office with DFID. It is a major bilateral donor for aid and humanitarian response.

A stock rotation rule that releases the items with the earliest expiry date first to reduce waste. It is especially important for medicines, food and other perishable supplies.

A USAID-funded network that monitors food security, prices, and climate to warn of looming food crises. Its reports and price data inform cash programming and transfer values.

The former USAID office that managed U.S. international food assistance, now merged into the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). It funded food aid and food-security programs.

A guided group conversation with a small number of people to explore their views on a topic. It is a qualitative method for gathering community perspectives.

A rapid inter-agency appeal issued in the first days or weeks of a sudden emergency to request urgent funding. It is later replaced by a fuller Humanitarian Response Plan if the crisis continues.

The cluster that coordinates food assistance and support to agriculture and livelihoods so people can eat and feed themselves. It is co-led by FAO and WFP.

The amount of chlorine left in treated water that remains available to kill germs, measured to confirm water is safely disinfected. Recommended levels are typically around 0.2 to 0.5 mg/L at the tap, and higher during outbreaks.

The safe collection, transport, treatment, and disposal or reuse of the waste that builds up in pit latrines and septic tanks. It prevents that waste from contaminating the environment and water sources.

A company or institution, such as a bank, mobile network operator, or money transfer agent, that delivers cash or e-vouchers to recipients on behalf of an aid organization. The choice of FSP shapes the delivery mechanism and KYC requirements.

The process of locating the families of separated or unaccompanied children and, when it is in the child's best interests, safely bringing them back together. It is a core child protection service in emergencies.

The Canadian government department responsible for foreign affairs, trade, and international development and humanitarian assistance. It is Canada's main channel for funding aid organizations.

A measure of the total burden of acute malnutrition (wasting) in a population, combining moderate and severe cases. A GAM rate above set thresholds signals a nutrition emergency.

Any harmful act directed at a person because of their gender, rooted in unequal power relations. It includes sexual violence, intimate partner violence, forced marriage, and denial of resources, and disproportionately affects women and girls.

A standardised system for safely collecting, storing, and sharing data on reported cases of gender-based violence. It helps agencies understand trends and coordinate services while protecting survivor confidentiality.

Germany's foreign ministry, which funds humanitarian assistance and crisis response abroad. It is a major humanitarian donor alongside the development ministry, BMZ.

OCHA's yearly report that combines country response plans into one global picture of humanitarian needs and funding requirements. It serves as the main global appeal for humanitarian funding.

Donated goods or services rather than cash, such as medicines, food, equipment or transport. GIK must be valued, tracked and reported so it can be accounted for like any other resource.

Software used to map and analyze data by location, producing maps that show where needs and activities are concentrated. It is a core tool for information management.

A 2016 agreement between major donors and aid organizations to make humanitarian action more efficient, including a commitment to scale up cash assistance. It is a key reference point for why CVA has grown.

A document that records what was actually delivered when a shipment arrives, including quantities and condition. It is checked against the purchase order and waybill to confirm the order was received correctly before payment.

The most senior humanitarian official in a country during a crisis, responsible for leading and representing the overall response. The role is often held by the same person as the Resident Coordinator.

The senior in-country group of UN agencies, NGOs, and often the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement that makes strategic decisions for a humanitarian response. It is led by the Humanitarian Coordinator.

The idea that emergency relief, longer-term development, and peace efforts should work together rather than in silos, especially in protracted crises. It is often called the triple nexus.

An open online platform managed by OCHA where humanitarian organizations share and find datasets. It is a central hub for crisis-related data.

The cluster that coordinates medical care and public-health services during emergencies. It is led by WHO.

The strategy document from the EU's humanitarian aid department (DG ECHO) that sets funding priorities, target countries, and budgets for a given crisis or region. Partners design proposals to fit the relevant HIP.

The area of humanitarian work dealing with people's rights to their homes, land and possessions, including tenure security and restitution after displacement. HLP issues often determine whether displaced families can safely return or rebuild.

The system used to collect, report, and analyse routine health data from facilities, such as consultations, diseases, and immunisations. It helps managers track service delivery and detect problems.

An annual document that presents the analysis of a crisis, including how many people are in need and how severe their needs are. It provides the evidence base for the response plan.

The standard process for running a coordinated response: needs assessment, strategic planning, resource mobilization, implementation and monitoring, and review. The HNO and HRP are its main products.

The annual plan setting out what humanitarian actors in a country will do and how much money they need to meet the most urgent needs. It is based on the Humanitarian Needs Overview.

Methods households use to make drinking water safe at the point of use and keep it clean, such as filtering, boiling, chlorinating, and storing water in covered containers. It is promoted where piped safe water is unavailable.

A simple standard for labeling columns in humanitarian spreadsheets with special tags, so different datasets can be combined automatically. It makes data easier to share and merge.

The main forum where the heads of UN and non-UN humanitarian organizations set common policy and standards for emergency response. It created and oversees the cluster system.

A global standard and open data system through which aid organizations publish details of their funding and activities so the information is comparable and public. Many donors require partners to report their data to it.

A working-level group that brings cluster coordinators together to align plans and resolve cross-cutting problems. It supports the Humanitarian Country Team.

The portion of shared overhead costs, such as head-office administration and finance, that an organization recovers through its grants rather than charging directly to a project. It is how core running costs get partly funded by donors.

Someone forced to flee their home by conflict, violence or disaster who remains within their own country's borders. Unlike refugees, IDPs have not crossed an international border.

The work of collecting, organizing, analyzing, and sharing data so responders can make good decisions. IM teams produce the maps, dashboards, and datasets a response relies on.

A framework that brings the treatment of acute malnutrition into routine health services rather than running it as a stand-alone programme. It links outpatient, inpatient, and supplementary feeding components.

The global standards that guide how mine action is planned, carried out, and managed to keep it safe, effective, and consistent. They cover clearance, risk education, victim assistance, and related activities.

Aid given as physical goods, such as food, blankets, or hygiene items, rather than cash or vouchers. It is the traditional alternative against which CVA is often compared.

A set of standard trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce that define who pays for shipping, insurance and duties, and where risk passes from seller to buyer. They reduce confusion in cross-border purchasing by using agreed codes such as EXW, FOB and DAP.

A specific, measurable sign used to track progress, such as the number of people trained or the percentage of children vaccinated. Indicators turn goals into numbers you can report.

A person's voluntary agreement to a service or to sharing their information, given after they understand what will happen, the options, and any risks. For children and others unable to consent, informed assent plus a guardian's consent is sought.

A non-profit aid organization that operates across multiple countries, such as Oxfam or Save the Children. INGOs are major implementers alongside UN agencies.

The UN migration agency, which assists migrants and displaced people, including managing displacement sites. It co-leads the CCCM cluster in disaster settings.

Practices and procedures in health facilities that prevent infections spreading to patients and staff, such as hand hygiene, waste management, and isolation. It is critical during outbreaks. Note: IPC can also mean the food-security classification, a different term.

A common scale for classifying the severity of food insecurity and malnutrition, from Phase 1 (Minimal) to Phase 5 (Famine), used to compare needs across areas and trigger response.

A table that lists each project indicator alongside its targets and actual results over time. It shows at a glance whether a program is meeting its planned numbers.

Physical, sexual, emotional, or economic abuse by a current or former spouse or partner. It is one of the most common forms of gender-based violence worldwide.

Guidance and support to ensure infants and young children are fed appropriately, promoting exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and suitable complementary foods afterwards. Good feeding practices are central to preventing malnutrition.

The protection, promotion, and support of safe infant and young child feeding during a crisis, including safeguarding breastfeeding and controlling donations of breast-milk substitutes. It aims to prevent excess illness and death among young children in emergencies.

A shared method for combining data from all sectors to estimate how many people are in need and how severe that need is. It underpins the Humanitarian Needs Overview.

A coordinated effort, often led by REACH with a Cash Working Group, that regularly tracks prices and availability of key goods across multiple markets. Its data helps agencies set and update transfer values.

The global programme that monitors and reports on access to drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene worldwide. Its service ladders (for example safely managed, basic, and limited) are the standard way to classify WASH access.

A type of survey that measures what people know, how they feel, and what they do about a topic (for example hygiene or health). It is used to design and evaluate behavior-change programs.

An in-depth interview with someone who has particular knowledge of a topic or community, such as a local leader or health worker. It is a common qualitative data source.

A free, widely used platform for building survey forms and collecting field data, including offline on phones. It is a humanitarian standard for mobile data collection.

The identity checks a financial service provider must perform before paying out cash, to comply with banking and anti-money-laundering rules. Strict KYC requirements can be a barrier for recipients without formal ID.

The highest level of emergency declared under the IASC system, triggering a system-wide surge of staff and resources. It is now referred to as a Humanitarian System-Wide Scale-Up activation.

The final and often hardest stage of delivery, getting supplies from a local warehouse or hub to the people who need them. It is frequently the most costly and difficult part of the supply chain in remote or insecure areas.

A measure of how much of a population has access to a functioning toilet, often expressed as people or households per latrine. It is a core sanitation indicator in camps and communities.

A system for collecting and using data on stock levels, consumption and movement of supplies to keep the pipeline running. In health settings it helps ensure medicines and commodities are available where and when they are needed.

A non-profit aid organization rooted in and operating within a single country or area. Strengthening the role of LNGOs is a key goal of localization.

A written agreement between two parties recording what each will do, often used with partners or suppliers. It can be lighter than a full contract but still sets out commitments and expectations.

The shift toward giving local and national organizations a bigger role, more funding, and more decision-making power in humanitarian response. It is a central commitment of the Grand Bargain.

A table summarizing a project's goal, outcomes, outputs, activities, indicators, and assumptions. It is a standard planning and monitoring tool required by many donors.

The cluster that coordinates shared transport, warehousing, and supply-chain services so relief goods reach affected people. It is led by WFP.

A measure of how much water each person has available per day, used to plan and assess water supply. Minimum humanitarian targets are often cited around 15 litres per person per day.

The practice of tracking a project as it runs (monitoring) and judging how well it worked (evaluation). It tells teams whether activities are on track and whether they made a difference.

A moderate degree of wasting, less severe than SAM but still raising a child's risk of illness and death. It is typically treated with supplementary feeding.

A legal or organisational duty requiring staff to report certain concerns, such as child abuse, to authorities or focal points. It can conflict with a survivor-centred approach, so its limits should be explained to people before they disclose.

An analysis of whether local markets have enough goods, supply capacity, and functioning to meet people's needs if given cash or vouchers. It is a key step in choosing the assistance modality.

A broader version of M&E that adds being answerable to affected communities (accountability) and using findings to improve (learning). It is the umbrella term for how organizations measure and improve their work.

The estimated monthly cost of the goods and services an average household needs to meet basic needs in a given market. It is used to set the value of cash transfers, especially multipurpose cash.

M&E plus a deliberate focus on learning from results to adapt programs. Often used interchangeably with MEAL, minus the explicit accountability element.

Information that describes a dataset, such as when it was collected, by whom, and what each field means. Good metadata lets others understand and reuse the data correctly.

Ensuring women and girls can manage their menstruation safely and with dignity, with access to clean materials, private facilities to change and wash, and a means of disposal. It is increasingly referred to more broadly as menstrual health and hygiene (MHH).

Any local or outside support that protects or promotes psychosocial well-being and prevents or treats mental health conditions. It spans community and family supports through to specialised clinical care.

The work of reducing the harm caused by landmines and explosive remnants of war, including surveying and clearing land, educating communities about risks, assisting victims, and advocating against these weapons. The goal is to make areas safe for people to live and work.

A set of priority sexual and reproductive health activities delivered at the onset of an emergency to prevent maternal and newborn deaths, sexual violence, and the spread of HIV. It is the minimum standard in place before more comprehensive services are established.

A service that lets people receive, store, and spend money using a mobile phone without a traditional bank account. It is a common delivery mechanism for cash assistance where phone coverage exists.

The form assistance takes: cash, vouchers, in-kind goods, or a mix. Choosing the modality is a core early decision, guided by market assessments and people's preferences.

A baseline set of security measures, such as communications, vehicles and site protection, that an office or team must have in place to operate in a given area. Meeting MOSS is often a condition for staff to be deployed.

A written statement of intent between two or more parties describing how they plan to cooperate. It signals commitment and shared understanding but is usually not a legally binding contract.

The source or method used to prove an indicator's result, such as a survey, attendance sheet, or distribution record. It answers the question: how do we know this number is true?

An unrestricted cash grant meant to cover several basic needs at once, such as food, rent, and health, rather than a single sector. The amount is usually set against a Minimum Expenditure Basket.

A qualitative evaluation method that collects stories of change from participants and selects the most important ones through discussion. It captures impact that numbers alone may miss.

A large household survey that measures needs across many sectors (food, health, water, shelter, etc.) at once. It gives a shared evidence base for planning a response.

A quick screening measurement taken around the upper arm to detect acute malnutrition, often using a colour-coded tape. It is simple enough for community workers and caregivers to use.

An approved extension of a grant's end date without additional money, giving the organization more time to finish planned activities using the remaining budget. It requires the donor's prior written approval.

Essential household goods that are not food, such as blankets, cooking sets, jerry cans, sleeping mats and hygiene items. They are distributed to help families meet basic daily needs after a crisis.

Essential household goods that are not food, such as blankets, cooking pots, jerry cans, soap, and hygiene kits. In WASH they include the buckets, water containers, and soap people need to stay clean and healthy.

A non-profit organization that is independent of government and delivers services or advocacy, including much of the world's humanitarian aid. NGOs can be international or local.

A formal agreement between an organization and a U.S. federal agency that fixes the percentage the organization may charge to cover indirect (overhead) costs. Once set, it can be applied across that organization's U.S. government awards.

The formal document a U.S. government agency publishes to announce that grant or cooperative-agreement funding is available. It contains the full application instructions, eligibility criteria, and evaluation approach.

The cluster that coordinates the prevention and treatment of malnutrition, especially in young children and pregnant or breastfeeding women. It is led by UNICEF.

The UN body that brings humanitarian actors together so emergency response is coherent rather than duplicated. It leads coordination, advocacy, information management, and pooled funding for crises.

The practice of defecating outside in fields, bushes, or water bodies rather than using a toilet. It spreads disease by contaminating the environment and water sources.

Government aid designed to promote the economic development and welfare of lower-income countries, tracked internationally by the OECD. It is the main measure of how much donor governments give in aid.

A status a community reaches when no one defecates in the open and everyone uses a latrine or toilet. It is the main goal of sanitation approaches such as CLTS.

A free, open-source suite of tools for collecting survey data on mobile phones and tablets, including offline. Many humanitarian data-collection platforms are built on it.

The former USAID office that led U.S. responses to disasters overseas, now part of the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). The name still appears in older awards and guidance.

A basic, community-level station set up during a diarrhoea or cholera outbreak where people can quickly receive oral rehydration solution and be referred if severely ill. It brings early treatment closer to affected communities.

A pre-mixed sachet of salts and glucose dissolved in clean water to replace fluids lost through diarrhoea and prevent dehydration. It is a low-cost, front-line treatment often paired with zinc.

The outpatient service that treats severely malnourished children who still have an appetite and no medical complications, using ready-to-use therapeutic food and weekly check-ups. Children remain at home during treatment.

An evaluation approach that first identifies changes that actually happened, then works backward to see how a program contributed. It is useful when outcomes are hard to predict in advance.

Unique codes assigned to administrative locations (regions, districts, villages) so places can be matched reliably across datasets despite spelling differences. They are key to combining geographic data.

Checks done after aid is delivered to confirm recipients received what they should have and to learn how it was used and whether it met their needs. It is a standard monitoring step for cash and voucher programs.

The third dose of the pentavalent vaccine, which protects infants against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b. Penta3 coverage is a widely used indicator of how well routine immunisation reaches children.

A short course of medication given after possible exposure to HIV to reduce the chance of infection, most effective when started within 72 hours. It is a time-critical part of medical care for rape survivors.

A humane, supportive first response to a person in distress after a crisis, involving practical care, listening without pressure, and connecting people to information and services. It is not professional counselling and can be delivered by trained non-specialists.

A participatory approach that helps communities understand how diseases spread and decide for themselves to improve hygiene and sanitation behaviours. It uses group activities and visual tools rather than lectures.

Essential, first-level health services provided close to where people live, covering prevention, basic treatment, maternal and child health, and referrals. It is the backbone of most humanitarian health responses.

Any data that can identify a specific individual, such as a name, phone number, or ID number. It must be protected carefully to keep affected people safe.

The safe and principled collection, sharing, and use of data about protection risks and incidents to inform action. It sets standards so that gathering information never puts people at greater risk.

The estimated number of people who require humanitarian assistance in a given crisis. It is a headline figure used to plan and appeal for a response.

The full flow of relief goods from procurement through storage and transport to final delivery. Monitoring the pipeline helps managers spot shortages or delays before they interrupt distributions.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, a group with higher nutritional needs and a common priority for nutrition and health programmes. Sometimes written PLW/G to include girls.

A document detailing how a project will collect, analyze, and report data for each of its indicators. It defines who measures what, how often, and using which method.

An official document a buyer issues to a supplier confirming an order, with the items, quantities, prices and delivery terms agreed. It creates a binding commitment to purchase once the supplier accepts it.

An umbrella term used mainly by UNHCR for the categories of people it seeks to protect and assist, including refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced and stateless people. The same abbreviation is also used for "Protection of Civilians" in peacekeeping contexts, which is a separate meaning.

The official start and end dates during which grant activities may take place and costs may be charged. Spending outside this window is normally not allowed without a formal extension.

A payment card loaded with a set amount of value that recipients use to withdraw cash or buy goods. It is a common delivery mechanism for both cash and e-voucher programs.

Storing relief supplies in strategic locations before a crisis so they can be released immediately when needed. It cuts response times, especially in disaster-prone or hard-to-reach areas.

The cluster that coordinates efforts to keep people safe from violence, abuse, and exploitation and to uphold their rights during a crisis. It is led by UNHCR.

Building safety, dignity, meaningful access, participation, and accountability into all humanitarian activities, whatever the sector. It means every programme, from food to shelter, is designed and delivered so it does not create or worsen risks.

Measures to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse of affected people by aid workers and related personnel. It is a core accountability obligation for all humanitarian organisations.

A broadened version of PSEA that explicitly covers sexual harassment of personnel in the workplace as well as exploitation and abuse of affected people. Some organisations use this term to signal that both are addressed together.

Activities that help individuals and communities recover their emotional well-being and social functioning after adversity. Examples include support groups, structured play for children, and community activities.

Scheduled paid breaks away from a demanding or high-stress duty station to help staff recover and avoid burnout. It is a standard part of staff care in hardship and emergency postings.

An ICRC market assessment tool used early in an emergency to quickly judge whether local markets can support a cash or voucher response. It is lighter and faster than a full EMMA study.

The most senior UN official in a country, who leads the UN development team and represents the UN to the government. In many crises the RC also serves as the Humanitarian Coordinator.

A study design that randomly assigns people to receive a program or not, then compares the two groups. Random assignment makes it a rigorous way to show a program caused an effect.

An agreed route for safely connecting a person to the services they need, such as health, psychosocial, legal, or security support. It sets out which organisation does what and how cases move between them with consent.

Assistance that limits what recipients can buy or where they can spend it, such as a voucher usable only for certain goods or at certain shops. Restriction concerns use, not qualifying conditions.

A diagram showing how a project's outputs lead to outcomes and ultimately to a goal. It maps the logical chain of results a program aims to achieve.

A donor announcement inviting organizations to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement. It is typically used for assistance awards where the donor supports the applicant's program rather than buying a specific service.

A solicitation inviting organizations to bid on delivering specific goods or services, usually leading to a contract. Unlike a grant application, it is focused on procuring a defined deliverable for the donor or client.

A document sent to suppliers asking them to quote a price for specified goods or services. It is a standard early step in procurement, letting an organisation compare offers before choosing a vendor.

A prefabricated, flat-pack modular shelter with a hard frame and lockable door, more durable and private than a tent. It is used as a family living unit or as space for clinics, offices and other services in displacement sites.

A pre-arranged system for delivering aid very quickly to newly displaced or newly accessible populations, usually within days of an alert. It typically provides a standard package of emergency items while fuller assessments are still under way.

An inter-agency plan, coordinated by UNHCR, setting out how organizations will assist refugees and the communities hosting them. Multi-country versions are called Regional Refugee Response Plans.

A fortified food supplement used to treat moderate acute malnutrition, similar to RUTF but with a different nutrient composition. It is used in supplementary feeding programmes.

An energy-dense, fortified paste (often peanut-based) used to treat severe acute malnutrition without needing refrigeration or preparation. It allows most children to be treated at home.

Data broken down by both sex and age group, so results can be seen for women, men, girls, and boys separately. It is essential for gender- and age-sensitive programming.

Recognising people at heightened protection risk and connecting them to help in a way that does not expose them to further harm, stigma, or breaches of confidentiality. It is a core skill for frontline staff who are not protection specialists.

The measures organisations take to prevent their staff, programmes or operations from harming the people they serve, especially children and vulnerable adults. It covers protection from sexual exploitation and abuse as well as other forms of harm.

The official U.S. government website where organizations must register to be eligible for federal grants and contracts. Registration must be kept active and renewed to keep receiving U.S. funds.

The most severe form of wasting, where a child is extremely thin or has nutritional oedema and faces a high risk of death without treatment. It is identified by very low MUAC, very low weight-for-height, or bilateral oedema.

An inpatient facility that treats severely malnourished children with medical complications or no appetite until they are stable enough for outpatient care. It provides 24-hour medical and feeding support.

Actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, power, or trust for sexual purposes, including profiting from the sexual exploitation of another person. In humanitarian settings it refers specifically to such acts committed by aid workers or associated personnel against affected people.

A coordination group that works like a cluster but is used mainly in UNHCR-led refugee responses rather than under the formal cluster system. Sectors and clusters serve the same purpose of organizing agencies by area of work.

A feeding programme that provides additional nutritious food to prevent or treat moderate malnutrition among vulnerable groups. It can be targeted (TSFP) to malnourished individuals or blanket (BSFP) to a whole group.

An umbrella term for violence that is sexual in nature or driven by gender inequality, used interchangeably with GBV by many agencies. Some organisations use it to emphasise the sexual violence dimension explicitly.

The cluster that coordinates emergency shelter and household items for people who have lost their homes. It is convened by IFRC in disasters and led by UNHCR in conflict situations.

Sweden's government agency for development cooperation and humanitarian aid, and a significant donor known for flexible funding. It supports NGOs and multilateral partners around the world.

An approach that uses schools and schoolchildren to drive better sanitation and hygiene in the wider community. It is a school-focused variant of community-led total sanitation.

A checklist for writing good objectives and indicators so they are clear and trackable. A SMART indicator states exactly what, how much, and by when.

A standardised household survey method used to measure malnutrition and mortality rates in a population. Its results guide decisions on whether and how to scale up nutrition programmes.

A reduced MEB covering only items essential for immediate survival, such as food, water, and shelter. It sets a lower, life-saving threshold for transfer values in acute emergencies.

A household water treatment method that fills clear plastic bottles with water and leaves them in full sunlight for several hours to kill germs. It is a low-cost option where other treatment is unavailable.

A written, step-by-step guide describing how a specific task or process should be carried out consistently. SOPs help staff act the same way across an organisation and are common for referrals, procurement and security.

A document that spells out the specific tasks, deliverables, and timeline expected under an award or contract. It defines exactly what the organization is being funded to do.

The best-known set of minimum standards for humanitarian response — covering WASH, food security and nutrition, shelter and health — with quantified benchmarks programmes aim to meet.

Health services relating to reproduction, including family planning, safe pregnancy and delivery, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections. In emergencies these services are prioritised through the MISP.

The structured process of identifying, assessing and reducing security risks to staff and operations. It produces plans and measures that let programmes continue as safely as possible in insecure environments.

A portion of a grant that the main recipient passes on to another organization to carry out part of the work. The lead (prime) recipient remains responsible to the donor for how sub-award funds are used.

A way of working with people who have experienced violence that puts their rights, needs, wishes, safety, and dignity first. It rests on respect, confidentiality, non-discrimination, and the survivor's right to make their own decisions.

A description of how and why a project is expected to lead to change, mapping the steps from activities to long-term impact. It makes the assumptions behind a program explicit.

A document setting out the purpose, scope, roles, deliverables and responsibilities for a piece of work, a role or a group. It defines what is expected before an assessment, consultancy or committee begins.

The specific amount of cash or voucher credit given to each household or individual per distribution. It is usually calculated from the MEB or SMEB and household size.

An upgradable shelter that bridges the gap between emergency tents and permanent housing, designed to be reused, relocated or built upon. It gives displaced families a more durable place to live while longer-term solutions are found.

Cross-checking a finding using more than one source, method, or person to increase confidence that it is true. If different data agree, the conclusion is stronger.

A programme that provides extra nutritious food to children and pregnant or breastfeeding women identified as moderately malnourished. It aims to treat MAM and prevent it worsening into SAM.

Children who are without any adult caregiver (unaccompanied) or who are separated from their previous legal or customary caregiver but may be with other relatives (separated). They are a priority group for child protection because of heightened risk.

A 12-character code that identifies an organization in the U.S. government's award system, assigned through SAM.gov. It replaced the older DUNS number in 2022.

Cash or vouchers given with no requirement for recipients to do anything in return. Most emergency cash assistance is unconditional.

The team of UN agencies working in a country, usually focused on longer-term development and led by the Resident Coordinator. It operates alongside the Humanitarian Country Team during a crisis.

A standby team of experts that OCHA can deploy within hours of a sudden disaster to assess needs and set up on-site coordination. It supports national authorities in the first phase of an emergency.

The UN agency for sexual and reproductive health, which supports maternal care and services for survivors of gender-based violence in emergencies. It leads the gender-based violence area of responsibility within the Protection cluster.

The UN refugee agency, which protects and assists people forced to flee across borders and, in many crises, those displaced within their own country. It leads the Protection cluster and, in conflicts, the Shelter and CCCM clusters.

The UN agency for children, working on their survival, health, nutrition, education, and protection. It leads the WASH and Nutrition clusters and co-leads Education.

The set of U.S. federal rules governing how recipients manage, spend, and account for federal grant money. It covers allowable costs, procurement, and audit requirements for organizations receiving U.S. funds.

Assistance, typically cash, that recipients can spend on anything they choose, anywhere they choose. Multipurpose cash is the classic example.

The U.S. government's main agency for international development and humanitarian assistance, and historically one of the largest bilateral donors worldwide. It funds NGOs through grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts.

Explosive weapons that were fired or dropped but did not go off, remaining live and dangerous. Coming across them is a serious threat during and after conflict.

All forms of physical, sexual, or emotional harm, neglect, and exploitation affecting people under 18. Preventing and responding to it is central to child protection work.

A voucher worth a fixed cash amount that recipients can spend on any goods offered by participating vendors, up to that value. It gives more choice than a commodity voucher but less than cash.

An approach to judging whether funds are spent well, weighing economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and often equity. Donors such as the UK's FCDO require organizations to demonstrate value for the money spent.

An improved pit latrine with a vent pipe that reduces odours and traps flies, making it more hygienic than a basic pit latrine. It is a common sanitation option in humanitarian settings.

A paper or electronic token that recipients exchange for goods or services from approved vendors, up to a set value or for set items. Vouchers restrict spending more than cash does.

The sector covering safe drinking water, toilets and safe waste disposal, and hygiene practices such as handwashing. Good WASH is essential to prevent disease, especially in outbreaks and displacement.

The cluster that coordinates safe water, toilets, and hygiene support to prevent disease in emergencies. It is led by UNICEF.

How safe and clean water is for drinking, judged by tests for germs (such as E. coli), chlorine levels, turbidity, and taste or smell. Monitoring water quality is essential to prevent waterborne disease.

A transport document that travels with a shipment listing what is being moved, from where, to where and for whom. It is signed at each handover and used to confirm delivery and reconcile stock.

The United Nations agency responsible for food assistance, and a lead provider of logistics and supply-chain services in emergencies. It leads the Logistics Cluster on behalf of the wider humanitarian community.

A dedicated place where women and girls can gather safely, access information and support services, and rebuild social networks. It is a common entry point for gender-based violence prevention and response.

The UN agency responsible for global public health, including coordinating the health response in emergencies. It is the lead agency for the Health cluster.

A measurement that compares a child's weight to the expected weight for their height, used to identify wasting. Scores well below the reference median indicate moderate or severe acute malnutrition.

A standard way of designing digital survey forms using a spreadsheet, which is then converted into a mobile data-collection form. It is the common format behind KoBo and ODK.