Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ACF | Action Against Hunger (Action Contre la Faim) |
| AFD | Agence Française de Développement (French Development Agency) |
| AmCham Jordan | American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan |
| AOAD | Arab Organization for Agricultural Development |
| ASEZA | Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority |
| ASIAT | Association for Sustainable International Agricultural Technologies |
| BGA | Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V. (Federation of German Industries) |
| BGR | Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (Germany) |
| BMZ | German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung) |
| BusinessMed | Union of Mediterranean Confederations of Enterprises |
| CBOs | Community-Based Organisations |
| CSOs | Civil Society Organisations |
| CEDARE | Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe |
| CIC | International Cooperation Centre |
| COSPE | Cooperation for the Development of Emerging Countries |
| CVDB | Cities and Villages Development Bank |
| DANIDA | Danish International Development Agency |
| DRC | Danish Refugee Council |
| EAS | Engineering Axis for Studies |
| EBRC | European Bank for Reconstruction and Development |
| ECHO | European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations |
| EDAMA | Energy, Water and Environment Association |
| EDCO | Electricity Distribution Company |
| EDU-Syria | Education for Syrian Refugees Programme |
| EIB | European Investment Bank |
| EKN | Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands |
| EMRC | Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission |
| ENI CBC MED | European Neighbourhood Instrument Cross-Border Cooperation Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme |
| ERBD | European Bank for Reconstruction and Development |
| EU-NIP | European Union Neighbourhood Investment Platform |
| EU | European Union |
| FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization |
| FPEC | Foreign Projects Execution Committee |
| FCDO | Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office |
| FES | Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (Friedrich Ebert Foundation) |
| FiTEL (Spain) | Fomento de Iniciativas y Tecnología Empresarial Local (Promotion of Local Enterprise Initiatives and Technology) |
| GCF | Green Climate Fund |
| GGGI | Global Green Growth Institute |
| GIZ | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Corporation for International Cooperation) |
| GoJ | Government of Jordan |
| ICARDA | International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas |
| IDECO | Irbid District Electricity Company |
| IFAD | International Fund for Agricultural Development |
| IHD | IHE Delft Institute for Water Education |
| ILO | International Labour Organization |
| INJAZ | INJAZ Al-Arab (Junior Achievement Worldwide affiliate in the Arab World) |
| IUCN ROWA | International Union for Conservation of Nature Regional Office for West Asia |
| IUCN | International Union for Conservation of Nature |
| IWMI | International Water Management Institute |
| JEDCO | Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation |
| JICA | Japan International Cooperation Agency |
| JREEF | Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund |
| JVA | Jordan Valley Authority |
| KfW | Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (German Development Bank) |
| MED4WASTE | Mediterranean Network for Waste Management |
| MEDA | Mennonite Economic Development Associates |
| Ministry of Environment (Jordan) | Ministry of Environment (Jordan) |
| Miyahuna | Miyahuna |
| MODE | Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship |
| MoA | Ministry of Agriculture |
| MoE | Ministry of Education |
| MoLA | Ministry of Local Administration |
| MOPIC | Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation |
| MoWI | Ministry of Water and Irrigation |
| MIO | Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development |
| MDS | Ministry of Social Development |
| NARC | National Agricultural Research Center |
| NEPCO | National Electric Power Company |
| NCSCM | National Center for Security and Crises Management |
| Nuffic | Netherlands Organisation for Internationalisation in Education |
| OPEC | Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries |
| PIN-ARCO (Italy) | Polo Universitario Città di Prato - Associazione per la Ricerca e la Cooperazione (University Centre of the City of Prato - Association for Research and Cooperation) |
| PRIMA | Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area |
| PTB | Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (National Metrology Institute of Germany) |
| PVLW | Public-Private Partnership for Livelihoods and Water |
| RDPP II | European Regional Development and Protection Programme Phase II |
| REACH | Research, Evaluation and Analysis for Community Health |
| RMF (Lebanon) | René Moawad Foundation |
| RSCN | Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature |
| RSS | Royal Scientific Society |
| RVO | Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland) |
| SDC | Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation |
| SIDA | Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency |
| UN Environment | United Nations Environment Programme |
| UNDP | United Nations Development Programme |
| UNESCO | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization |
| UNHCR | United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |
| UNICEF | United Nations Children's Fund (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) |
| USAID | United States Agency for International Development |
| USDA | United States Department of Agriculture |
| USFS | United States Forest Service |
| WFP | World Food Programme |
| WB | World Bank |
| WASH | Water, sanitation and hygiene |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Accelerators and incubators | Programs designed to support the growth and success of start-ups and early-stage companies by providing resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities. |
| Agro-biodiversity | The variety and variability of plants, animals, and microorganisms used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture. |
| Agroecological practices | Farming methods that work with natural processes and ecosystems, promoting biodiversity, soil health, and sustainable agriculture. |
| Agroforestry | An agricultural approach that incorporates the planting of trees and shrubs alongside crops and livestock to create more diverse, productive, and sustainable land-use systems. |
| Biosecurity | Measures and protocols designed to protect against the spread of harmful organisms to animals, plants, and humans. |
| Blended finance | The strategic use of development finance and philanthropic funds to mobilise private capital flows to emerging and frontier markets. |
| Carbon offsetting | Compensating for carbon dioxide emissions by funding equivalent carbon dioxide savings elsewhere. |
| Carbon sequestration | The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. |
| Climate-smart agriculture | Agricultural practices that sustainably increase productivity, resilience (adaptation), and reduce/remove greenhouse gases (mitigation) where possible. |
| Corporate social responsibility (CSR) | A self-regulating business model that helps a company be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public. |
| Drip irrigation systems | A type of micro-irrigation system that allows water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, reducing water use and increasing efficiency. |
| Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) | Using biodiversity and ecosystem services to help communities adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. |
| Energy efficiency | Using less energy to provide the same service or achieve the same result, often through improved technologies or practices. |
| Environmental impact assessment (EIA) | A process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development. |
| Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies | A set of standards for a company’s operations that socially conscious investors use to screen potential investments. |
| Farmer Field School (FFS) | A group-based learning process that brings together farmers to learn about new agricultural techniques, pest management, and other farming practices through hands-on experience and observation. |
| Horticultural value chain | The full range of activities and processes involved in the production, processing, and distribution of horticultural products (fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants). |
| Hydroponics | A method of growing plants without soil by using mineral nutrient solutions in an aqueous solvent. |
| Landfills | Sites designated for the disposal of waste materials by burial, designed to manage and contain waste to prevent contamination of the environment. |
| Microfinance institutions (MFIs) | Financial organisations that provide small loans and other financial services to low-income individuals or those without access to typical banking services. |
| Native plant nursery | A facility where native plants are propagated and grown to support conservation and restoration projects. |
| Nursery management practices | Techniques and processes involved in the operation and management of a plant nursery, including planting, growing, and caring for plants. |
| Organic composting | The process of recycling organic waste, such as food scraps and yard waste, into nutrient-rich soil amendments through natural decomposition. |
| Pilot demonstration | A small-scale implementation of a project or technology to test its feasibility and effectiveness before wider application. |
| Plant microclimate | The local atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the surrounding area, often influenced by plant growth and arrangement. |
| Post-harvest management | Processes and techniques applied to agricultural products after harvest to preserve quality and extend shelf life, such as cooling, cleaning, sorting, and packaging. |
| Seed sowing | The process of planting seeds in soil or other growing media to grow new plants. |
| Smart metering | Advanced metering technology that enables two-way communication between the meter and the central system, providing detailed and real-time data on energy usage. |
| Sustainable development goals (SDGs) | A collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 for a better and more sustainable future for all. |
| Urban resilience | The ability of urban areas to withstand and recover from adverse events such as natural disasters and climate change impacts. |
| Watershed management | The process of managing the resources within a watershed to ensure sustainable water supply and quality. |
| Water harvesting | The collection and storage of rainwater for reuse on-site, rather than allowing it to run off, often used for agricultural or domestic purposes. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Agricultural value chain | The series of steps involved in producing and delivering an agricultural product, from inputs and production to processing, marketing, and distribution. |
| Biodiversity | The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. |
| Capacity building | Activities that improve an organisation’s ability to achieve its mission and sustain itself over time, often through training, skill development, and institutional strengthening. |
| Carbon footprint | The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). |
| Circular economy | An economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources through principles of recycling, reuse, and sustainability. |
| Climate adaptation | Adjusting practices, processes, and structures to mitigate or avoid harm from climate change. |
| Climate mitigation | Efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases to slow the pace of climate change. |
| Climate resilience | The ability of a system to absorb stresses and maintain function in the face of external pressures from climate change. |
| Community resilience | The capacity of a community to adapt to and recover from adversity, such as natural disasters or economic shocks. |
| Ecosystem restoration | The process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed. |
| Ecosystem services | The benefits that humans receive from natural ecosystems. |
| Energy efficiency | Using less energy to provide the same service or achieve the same result, often through improved technologies or practices. |
| Entrepreneurship ecosystem | The social and economic environment affecting the local/regional entrepreneurship, including support structures like incubators, investors, and educational institutions. |
| Food security | The state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. |
| Green financing | Financial investments that support environmentally sustainable projects and initiatives. |
| Green infrastructure | A network of natural and semi-natural areas designed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services, such as water purification, air quality improvement, and recreational opportunities. |
| Green job creation | The process of developing employment opportunities that contribute to preserving or restoring environmental quality. |
| Green jobs | Employment in sectors that contribute to preserving or restoring environmental quality, such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and environmental management. |
| Green technology | Technology that is considered environmentally friendly based on its production process or supply chain. |
| Greenhouse gas emissions | Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change; includes carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases. |
| Knowledge hub | A centralised source of information, expertise, and resources that facilitates learning and knowledge sharing. |
| Organic composting | The process of recycling organic waste, such as food scraps and yard waste, into nutrient-rich soil amendments through natural decomposition. |
| Renewable energy | Energy from sources that are naturally replenishing such as solar, wind, and hydro power. |
| Sustainable land management | Practices that maintain and improve the health of land and ecosystems while meeting human needs for agriculture, forestry, and other uses. |
| Sustainable livelihoods | Livelihoods that can cope with and recover from stresses and shocks, maintain or enhance capabilities and assets, and provide sustainable income. |
| Urban resilience | The ability of urban areas to withstand and recover from adverse events such as natural disasters and climate change impacts. |
| Water conservation | Strategies and activities aimed at managing and using water resources more efficiently to reduce wastage. |