Best Practices - Examples of field-based activities, operational procedures or capacity building approaches that are successful and sustainable in social and environmental terms and can be readily adopted by other individuals or organizations.

Capacity Building - An approach to development that aims to instill commitment and improve fundamental management and technical skills within an organization, thereby making the institution more effective and sustainable.

CBNRM Coordinating Group - A body or bodies (as yet undefined) that will have the mandate, support, resources and skills to improve the flow of information about CBNRM activities in Malawi, develop strategic plans and monitor performance and impact of CBNRM initiatives.

CBNRM Secretariat - An operational unit that will provide support services to the CBNRM Coordinating Group(s).

Community-based Natural Resource Management - An approach to the use of renewable natural resources that relies on the empowerment of community groups to use those resources as they see fit using strategies arrived at through consensus. In an ideal situation, the use of the resources is sustainable in economic and ecological terms and the distribution of benefits occurs in a manner that is socially equitable.

Community-based Organizations - Groups of individuals within a village or group of villages or residential area with similar vested interests that have established an agreement to work together in a structured manner to achieve common objectives

Community Mobilization - The process of building enthusiasm and commitment within a community or group of stakeholders to establish a formal working relationship in order to work together in order to accomplish a common goal.

Community Resource Mapping - The process of identifying the knowledge, skills and other human resources that are available within a community and the quantity and quality of natural resources that are present in the geographical area.

COMPASS Team - Technical project staff including the Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Community Mobilization Specialist and Information Management Specialist based in Blantyre at the COMPASS Offices.

COMPASS Information Network - A system of connected computer hardware and software that allows users to exchange information using electronic communications media. The network comprises a proprietary information management system (TAMIS), two sites on the Worldwide Web and a ListServ to facilitate distribution of e-mail over the Internet.

Computer Information Network - System of interconnected hardware, software and users developed for coordinating and sharing information through the use of computers and electronic communications media.

Geographic Information System - A computer based system for capturing, managing, archiving, analyzing, querying and presenting spatial information.

Geo-Referencing - Use of coordinate geometry to locate points on the earth’s surface.

Grant - Financial assistance provided, not as a loan, for implementation of viable natural resource management proposals.

Grantees - Communities, Associations/Groups, Non-Governmental Organizations, Private Organizations, Entrepreneurs, Government agencies and others to whom a grant is made.

Grant Agreement - A written obligation on conditions for the operation of the grant endorsed by both a Representative of DAI and the Grantee.

Grant Bank Account - An account that is opened with a commercial bank specifically for transacting grant funds to facilitate required monitoring of the grant.

Grass-roots Advocacy - The empowerment and increased ability of local groups and organizations to have a voice in the debate with decision-makers within regional or central authorities on issues that are of direct concern to these groups.

Indicator - A feature or phenomenon that can be objectively measured in quantitative or qualitative terms as a means of gauging progress toward achieving a goal or measuring the impact of a specific intervention

ListServ - A register of e-mail addresses for efficient dispatch and receipt of information using electronic communications media - particularly the Internet.

Milestones - Watershed events or achievements that help verify that progress toward accomplishing goals and objectives is on track and on schedule. To this end, COMPASS has identified performance milestones for all Targeted Results.

Monitoring and Evaluation - A management tool that is built around a formal process for evaluating performance and impact using indicators that help measure progress toward achieving intermediate targets or ultimate goals. Monitoring systems comprise procedural arrangements for data collection, analysis and reporting.

Natural Resources - Within the Malawian context, forests and woodlands, fisheries and water resources, wildlife (flora and fauna) and soil resources. In the broadest sense, natural resources include rocks and minerals, air, land and wilderness.

Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation - A monitoring and evaluation approach that ensures active involvement of stakeholders and beneficiaries in identifying targets, appropriate indicators, data collection procedures and reporting.

Partners' Association - A loosely organized group of individuals and organizations that are involved in promoting, supporting or practicing community-based management of natural resources. The members of the Association will be linked using a variety of communications tools and media and will be invited periodically to attend forums such as the Annual National Conference on CBNRM.

Public Awareness Campaign - A structured approach to transmitting and disseminating information, knowledge and understanding to the populace in general or specific interest groups using a variety of communications media.

Remote Sensing - Techniques for viewing and recording conditions and resources on the earth's surface without having direct contact. It emphasizes use of aerial photographs and satellite imagery.

Review Panel - A committee of four COMPASS Team members and ten specialist officers identified from various stakeholder groups mandated to review small-grants applications to ensure that opportunities for funding are well balanced.

Service Provider - An agency providing managerial and technical assistance to a community in a process of building the capacity of the community to become self-reliant.

Short-term Technical Assistance - Consultants or home office support staff engaged by COMPASS for periods not exceeding six months to provide support in a variety of technical areas.

Stakeholder - Individuals, communities, non-governmental organizations, private organizations, parastatals, government agencies, financiers and others having an interest or a "stake" in a project or activity and its outcome.

Strategic Plan - A road map that outlines the long-term goals of an organization or program and details how these will be achieved by adopting specific strategies, approaches and methodologies.

Sustainable Development - Progress measured in social or economic terms (or both) that has been or will be accomplished without irreversible environmental degradation or social disruption. The benefits should not only outweigh the social and ecological costs but should also be founded on a rational use of resources (human and natural) that can be maintained indefinitely or perpetuated based on future conditions that can be reasonably anticipated.

Targeted Results - The achievements that COMPASS expects to realize over its five-year duration.

Training for Transformation - Dissemination of knowledge and understanding that is intended to help disadvantaged groups assess their own capabilities and grasp opportunities for improving their quality of life and economic prospects without excessive reliance on outsiders.

Training of Trainers - Building of technical knowledge and training skills of a cadre of individuals charged with disseminating technical information to field practitioners.

Village Natural Resource Committee - A local organization of duly elected or nominated stakeholders that represents the interests of the community as a whole with respect to the use and management of natural resources. Within the proposed structure of decentralized environmental planning, these committees are expected to report to District authorities on issues ranging from the state of the natural resource base to the planning and implementation of development activities.