Project Coding - Policy Markers

What are policy markers and what do they capture?

Policy markers are qualitative tags assigned to all of Global Affairs Canada's investments. They capture specific elements of programming associated with policies and international reporting requirements that are tracked by Global Affairs Canada but are not thoroughly captured through other coding tables. Unlike sectors, the information captured by policy markers is qualitative rather than quantitative. Policy markers are not directly associated to expenditures and apply to the whole investment.

Each investment must be assigned a rank of 0, 1, or 2 for each policy marker.

How to code policy markers

Each policy marker is unique, which makes it imperative that each definition their and methodology is carefully read before coding.
Read the definitions and eligibility criteria for each policy marker and determine whether they are targeted by your investment. If your investment does not meet the eligibility criteria of a policy marker, your investment should be ranked at 0 - Not targeted. If your investment meets the eligibility criteria of a policy marker, read the ranking criteria carefully and determine whether your investment should be targeted at 2 (Principal) or 1 (Significant).
- Note: An investment can have more than one principal or significant policy objective. To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", the objective has to be explicitly promoted in the investment's documentation.
- Avoiding negative impact is not a sufficient criterion.

Policy Markers

Climate Change Adaptation

[Rio Markers capture aid targeting the objectives of the Rio Conventions (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD))]

Definition

Activities intended to reduce the vulnerability of human or natural systems to the impacts of climate change and climate-related risks, by maintaining or increasing adaptive capacity and resilience. This encompasses a range of activities from information and knowledge generation, to capacity development, planning and the implementation of climate change adaptation actions.

Eligibility Criteria

the climate change adaptation objective is explicitly indicated in the activity documentation; and
the activity contains specific measures targeting the definition above.

Ranking Criteria

Level 2 (Principal): The investment meets the eligibility criteria. Climate change adaptation is fundamental in the design and impact of the investment and is an explicit objective of the investment. The investment would have not been undertaken had climate change adaptation not been an objective.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", climate change adaptation has to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation. Avoiding negative impact is not a sufficient criterion.

Level 1 (Significant): The investment meets the eligibility criteria. Climate change adaptation is important, but not one of the principal reasons for undertaking the investment.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", climate change adaptation has to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation. Avoiding negative impact is not a sufficient criterion.

Level 0 (Not targeted): The investment has been screened against, but was found not be targeted to climate change adaptation.

Climate Change Mitigation

Definition

Activities that contribute to the objective of stabilisation of greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system by promoting efforts to reduce or limit GHG emissions or to enhance GHG sequestration.

Eligibility Criteria

The mitigation of climate change by limiting anthropogenic emissions of GHGs, including gases regulated by the Montreal Protocol; or
The protection and/or enhancement of GHG sinks and reservoirs; or
The integration of climate change concerns with the recipient countries' development objectives through institution building, capacity development, strengthening the regulatory and policy framework, or research; or
Developing countries' efforts to meet their obligations under the Convention.

Ranking Criteria

Level 2 (Principal): The investment meets one or more of the eligibility criteria. Climate change mitigation is fundamental in the design and impact of the investment and is an explicit objective of the investment. The investment would have not been undertaken had climate change mitigation not been an objective.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", climate change mitigation has to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation. Avoiding negative impact is not a sufficient criterion.

Level 1 (Significant): The investment meets one or more of the eligibility criteria. Climate change mitigation is important, but not one of the principal reasons for undertaking the investment.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", climate change mitigation has to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation. Avoiding negative impact is not a sufficient criterion.

Level 0 (Not targeted): The investment has been screened against, but was found not be targeted to climate change mitigation.

Desertification

Definition

Activities that aim to combat desertification or mitigate the effects of drought in arid, semi arid and dry sub-humid areas through prevention and/or reduction of land degradation, rehabilitation of partly degraded land, or reclamation of desertified land.

Eligibility Criteria

Protecting or enhancing dryland ecosystems or remedying existing environmental damage; or
Integration of desertification concerns with recipient countries' development objectives through institution building, capacity development, strengthening the regulatory and policy framework, or research; or
Developing countries' efforts to meet their obligations under the Convention.

Ranking Criteria

Level 2 (Principal): Activities are considered principle if directly and explicitly relates to one or more of the three criteria listed, including in the context of the realisation of national, sub-regional or regional action programmes. The investment would have not been undertaken had desertification not been an objective.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", desertification has to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation. Avoiding negative impact is not a sufficient criterion.

Level 1 (Significant): The investment meets one or more of the eligibility criteria. Desertification is important, but not one of the principal reasons for undertaking the investment.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", desertification has to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation. Avoiding negative impact is not a sufficient criterion.

Level 0 (Not targeted): The investment has been screened against, but was found not be targeted to desertification.

Biodiversity

Definition

Activities that promote at least one of the three objectives of the Convention: the conservation of bio-diversity, sustainable use of its components (ecosystems, species or genetic resources), or fair and equitable sharing of the benefits of the utilisation of genetic resources.

Eligibility Criteria

protection or enhancing ecosystems, species or genetic resources through insitu or ex-situ conservation, or remedying existing environmental damage; or
integration of bio-diversity and ecosystem services concerns within recipient countries' development objectives and economic decision making, through institution building, capacity development, strengthening the regulatory and policy framework, or research; or
developing countries' efforts to meet their obligations under the Convention

Ranking Criteria

Level 2 (Principal): The investment meets one or more of the eligibility criteria. Biodiversity is fundamental in the design and impact of the investment and is an explicit objective of the investment. The investment would have not been undertaken had biodiversity not been an objective.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", biodiversity has to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation. Avoiding negative impact is not a sufficient criterion.

Level 1 (Significant): The investment meets one or more of the eligibility criteria. Biodiversity is important, but not one of the principal reasons for undertaking the investment.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", biodiversity has to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation. Avoiding negative impact is not a sufficient criterion.

Level 0 (Not targeted): The investment has been screened against, but was found not be targeted to biodiversity.

Participatory Development and Good Governance

Definition

Activities intended to enhance elements of participatory development, democratisation, good governance and the respect of human rights.

Eligibility Criteria

The objectives are explicitly promoted in activity documentation; and
The activity contains specific measures to promote one or several of the PD/GG aspects defined as follows:

Participatory development, i.e. establishing new systems, structures or institutions through which groups, communities or people in a country can play an active and influential role in shaping decisions that affect their lives.

Democratisation, which integrates participation and pluralism, including the right of opposition, into the political life of the country and provides a basis for legitimacy of the government.

Good governance, i.e. the accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness of the official sector, an independent judiciary as well as the rule of law, and effective, responsible and equitable administration at all levels of government.

Human rights, i.e. actions specifically designed to strengthen the respect for, and to facilitate the implementation of, internationally agreed human rights.

Ranking Criteria

Level 2 (Principal): The investment meets one or more of the eligibility criteria. Participatory development/good governance is fundamental in the design and impact of the investment and is an explicit objective of the investment. The investment would have not been undertaken had Participatory development/good governance not been an objective.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", Participatory development/good governance has to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation. Avoiding negative impact is not a sufficient criterion.

Level 1 (Significant): The investment meets one or more of the eligibility criteria. participatory development/good governance is important, but not one of the principal reasons for undertaking the investment.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", participatory development/good governance has to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation. Avoiding negative impact is not a sufficient criterion.

Level 0 (Not targeted): The investment has been screened against, but was found not be targeted to participatory development/good governance.

Trade Development

Definition

Activities intended to enhance the ability of the recipient country to: formulate and implement a trade development strategy and create an enabling environment for increasing the volume and value-added of exports, diversifying export products and markets and increasing foreign investment to generate jobs and trade; or stimulate trade by domestic firms and encourage investment in trade oriented industries. The investment contains specific measures to promote one or several of the following trade development aspects at the institutional and enterprise level: business support services and institutions; access to trade finance; trade promotion and market development in the production and service sectors.

Ranking Criteria

Level 2 (Principal): Trade development is fundamental in the design and impact of the investment and is an explicit objective of the investment. The investment would have not been undertaken had trade development not been an objective.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", trade development has to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation.

Level 1 (Significant): Trade development is important, but not one of the principal reasons for undertaking the investment.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", trade development has to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation.

Level 0 (Not targeted): The investment has been screened against, but was found not be targeted to trade development.

Children's Issues

Definition

Activities which aim to promote and protect the human rights and improve the lives of children. Children are defined as all human beings below the age of eighteen years [Defined according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child].

Ranking Criteria

Level 2 (Principal): Children's issues are fundamental in the design and impact of the investment and are an explicit objective of the investment. The investment would have not been undertaken had children's issues not been an objective.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", children's issues have to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation.

Level 1 (Significant): Children's issues are important, but not one of the principal reasons for undertaking the investment.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", children's issues to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation.

Level 0 (Not targeted): The investment has been screened against, but was found not be targeted to children's issues.

Youth Issues

Definition

Activities which aim to promote and protect the human rights and improve the lives of youth, specifically to enable young people to build and utilize their human capital and become productive adults. For example, investments which aim to create opportunities for obtaining education, acquiring skills and/or participating fully in all aspects of society. Youth can be defined as people between 15 and 24 years of age. However the term more generally represents the period of transition between childhood and adulthood, the nature and length of which vary from one individual or society to another.

Ranking Criteria

Level 2 (Principal): Youth issues are fundamental in the design and impact of the investment and are an explicit objective of the investment. The investment would have not been undertaken had youth issues not been an objective.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", youth issues have to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation.

Level 1 (Significant): Youth issues are important, but not one of the principal reasons for undertaking the investment.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", youth issues to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation.

Level 0 (Not targeted): The investment has been screened against, but was found not be targeted to youth issues.

Disability Issues

Definition

Activities which promote and protect the human rights and improve the lives of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. [Defined according to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities].

Ranking Criteria

Level 2 (Principal): Disability issues are fundamental in the design and impact of the investment and are an explicit objective of the investment. The investment would have not been undertaken had disability issues not been an objective.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", disability issues have to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation.

Level 1 (Significant): Disability issues are important, but not one of the principal reasons for undertaking the investment.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", disability issues have to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation.

Level 0 (Not targeted): The investment has been screened against, but was found not be targeted to disability issues.

Indigenous Issues

Definition

Activities which promote and protect the human rights and improve the lives of Indigenous Peoples or where their traditional knowledge would be of benefit to development assistance investments. The term "Indigenous Peoples" refers generically to a distinct, vulnerable social and cultural group who possess the following characteristics in varying degrees:

Self-identification as a distinct cultural group, which includes recognition by other groups;
Collective attachment to geographically distinct habitats or ancestral territories and the resources in these areas;
Customary cultural, economic, social or political institutions that are separate from those of the dominant culture; and
An indigenous language, often different from the official language of the region

The term still applies if an Indigenous population has had any of these characteristics forcibly removed from them. In specific country or regional contexts, Indigenous Peoples may be referred to as indigenous ethnic minorities, aboriginals, hill tribes, minority nationalities, scheduled tribes or tribal groups. [Defined according to the World Bank's Operational Policy on Indigenous Peoples].

Ranking Criteria

Level 2 (Principal): Indigenous issues are fundamental in the design and impact of the investment and are an explicit objective of the investment. The investment would have not been undertaken had indigenous issues not been an objective.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", indigenous issues have to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation.

Level 1 (Significant): Indigenous issues are important, but not one of the principal reasons for undertaking the investment.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", indigenous issues have to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation.

Level 0 (Not targeted): The investment has been screened against, but was found not be targeted to indigenous issues.

Urban Issues

Definition

Activities which address urban development issues of growth in urban populations and land areas of cities in the context of the wide assistance process at national, subnational or local levels, and in support of sustainable development. Such activities address the development needs of the urban poor, slum dwellers, populations in illegal and informal settlements in urban and suburban settings, overcrowded slums or candidates from rural migration to cities.

Ranking Criteria

Level 2 (Principal): Urban issues are fundamental in the design and impact of the investment and are an explicit objective of the investment. The investment would have not been undertaken had urban issues not been an objective.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", urban issues have to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation.

Level 1 (Significant): Urban issues are important, but not one of the principal reasons for undertaking the investment.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", urban issues have to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation.

Level 0 (Not targeted): The investment has been screened against, but was found not be targeted to urban issues.

ICT as a Tool for Development

Definition

Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D encompasses all converging technologies that carry information and are used as inputs into broader development investments in order to share knowledge and to network and thus to empower individuals and support the development of knowledge based societies; foster economic growth and/or social change; or build an ICT-friendly enabling environment leading towards greater access to information and infrastructure services and improvements in related areas of capacity development.

Ranking Criteria

Level 2 (Principal): ICT4D is fundamental in the design and impact of the investment and are an explicit objective of the investment. The investment would have not been undertaken had ICT4D not been an objective.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", ICT4D has to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation

Level 1 (Significant): ICT4D is important, but not one of the principal reasons for undertaking the investment.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", ICT4D is has to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation.

Level 0 (Not targeted): The investment has been screened against, but was found not be targeted to ICT4D.

Knowledge for Development

Definition

Activities that apply and share knowledge for development outcomes including: knowledge products (i.e., guides, toolkits, handbooks); dissemination and communication of knowledge products in the public sector, civil society, academia, and among donors; knowledge events such as roundtables, seminars, workshops, conferences; knowledge partnerships, networks and collaboration (among individuals and/or organizations).

Ranking Criteria

Level 2 (Principal): Knowledge for development is fundamental in the design and impact of the investment and are an explicit objective of the investment. The investment would have not been undertaken had knowledge for development not been an objective.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", knowledge for development has to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation.

Level 1 (Significant): Knowledge for development is important, but not one of the principal reasons for undertaking the investment.

To qualify for a score "principal" or "significant", knowledge for development has to be explicitly promoted in investment documentation.

Level 0 (Not targeted): The investment has been screened against, but was found not be targeted to knowledge for development.