#40 Jargon

Jargon (not to be confused with acronyms) is a staple of Expat Aid Worker communication.

EAWs live in a complex world. They don’t just work on development programs or write grants. No, no. They mobilize resources to reach their organization’s aspirational goals via multifaceted poverty reduction strategies. They support core interventions that aim to achieve social protection and address issues of multidimensional poverty. They establish partnerships with national counterparts and engage local change agents at the bottom of the pyramid to build capacity for social accountability and inclusive local and national governance within a rights-based framework. They work with rights holders and duty bearers to overcome the inherent difficulties resulting from the  intersectionality of discrimination and vulnerability overlaid with compounding gender-based exclusion. They conduct research on the gender implications of biofuels expansion in low-income and land-abundant countries.

Proper language management is critical for the EAW. It demonstrates thought leadership and exemplifies a robust capacity to join in the global conversation on poverty alleviation in a compelling, meaningful and impactful way.

Capacity strengthening workshops and working groups are good places for EAWs to stay up-to-date on the ever-changing and increasingly complex network of phrases required to engage effectively with their interest area. However, RCTs have shown that it is challenging to remember the multitude of words and phrases available,  so we’ve developed an innovative approach for learning by doing (based on educational strategies employed by primary level educators in institutional learning facilities with target groups of adolescent learners) to help EAWs stay au courant on this year’s development discourse.

Click on the image to download a readable, printable version, and the list of jargon to look for. Words may be horizontal or vertical, forwards or backwards.

We challenge you to find all 75 words and phrases… (answer sheet available on request).