Asset: A resource owned or controlled by an entity as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits or service potential are expected to flow to the entity. DPW-CIDB 2015. National Immovable Asset Maintenance Management: Maintenance Management Standard For Immovable Assets Under The Custodianship Of National And Provincial Departments Of Works
Audits are regular inspections to check at a point in time that an organisation, programme , project or system is being operated in line with required standards. They provide insights into prior or existing initiatives, and enable evaluations that can identify remedial measures or actions for future improvements.
Capacity is a multi-dimensional concept with three inter-related core elements, i.e. individual capacity, institutional capacity and environmental capacity (National Capacity Building Framework for Local Government: 2012 to 2016, xx ).
CAPEX is capital expenditure, e.g. land purchase, site clearance, infrastructure, construction of reception areas and buildings, materials storage areas, building materials, mobile plant and vehicles, containers and vessels, mechanical equipment, electrical equipment. It should also include the planning, permitting, siting of the facility and preparation of tenders and contracts, transaction costs of planning, design, permitting and managing the project processes
Carbon credit is a generic term for any tradable certificate or permit representing the right to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide or the mass of another greenhouse gas with a carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide.
Carbon financing accesses Clean Development Mechanism funding (in terms of Kyoto Protocol) based on a reduction in carbon emissions through trading Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) certificates between developed and developing countries. Projects that reduce GHG emissions, like landfill extraction for flaring or energy generation, can earn carbon emission reductions credits that have monetary value and can sell them to developed countries for them to meet their emission reductions targets.
Climate change refers to an ongoing trend of changes in the earth’s general weather conditions as a result of an average rise in the temperature of the earth’s surface often referred to as global warming. This rise in the average global temperature is due, primarily, to the increased concentration in the atmosphere of gases known as greenhouse gases (GHGs) that are emitted by human activities. These gases intensify a natural phenomenon called the ‘greenhouse effect’ by forming an insulating layer in the atmosphere that reduces the amount of the sun’s heat that radiates back into space and therefore has the effect of making the earth warmer. This, in turn, has knock-on effects that result in extreme weather events and shifts in climatic conditions that affect sea levels, storm intensity, ecosystems and biodiversity, among other things.
Competency: means the knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications, and behaviour/attitudes that are required in a job to perform the job effectively.
Consultants may be individual specialists or organisations who have the necessary qualifications and experience to assist with more complex tasks that a municipality does not have capacity to undertake itself e.g. consulting engineers, environmental assessment practitioners and so on.
Greenhouse gas is a gas in the earth’s atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range and which therefore can trap the sun’s radiation and contribute to the greenhouse effect. The most important greenhouse gases in earth's atmosphere are water vapour, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), ozone (O3), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and so on. The earth’s atmosphere heats up when carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases absorb some of the sun’s radiation and prevent its release, thereby warming the earth. This is similar to what happens in a greenhouse, where glass traps the sun’s infrared radiation and warms the air inside the greenhouse.
Key Performance Area (KPA) is the overall scope of activities that an individual with a particular job role has to perform to achieve the goals of a project, department or organisation.
Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is a measurable value that demonstrates how well companies, business units, projects or individuals are performing compared to their strategic goals and objectives.
Layers for web design: a website consists of three layers of information. Layer 1 is the content – all the pieces of information and detailed content; Layer 2 is the relationships between the pieces of information; and Layer 3 is the user interface processes which give purpose to the site. Web users interact primarily with Layer 3 which draws them in and enables them to access the more detailed processes and content.
Monitoring is regular measuring of variable parameters or indicators to provide detailed information on the progress or delay of the ongoing activities assessed. It serves as an early warning system to alert people to potential problems and provides ongoing information on the progress of the activities’ implementation stage. Its purpose is to determine if the planned outputs, deliverables, performance standards and schedules have been achieved so that action can be taken to correct the deficiencies as quickly as possible.
Municipal service is a service that a municipality provides in terms of its constitutional powers and functions to or for the benefit of the local community irrespective of whether: (a) such service is provided by the municipality through an internal mechanism or by engaging an external mechanism and (b) fees, charges or tariffs are levied in respect of such service or not.
Examples of municipal solid waste services include street cleaning , refuse removal, refuse dumps and solid waste disposal.
Municipal support activity is defined as an activity that is reasonably necessary for, or incidental to, the effective performance of a municipal service and the exercise of its powers but which does not constitute a municipal service. There are many solid waste management activities performed by municipalities that are not defined as municipal services as they are not provided to, or on behalf of, the local community, nor are they listed in Schedule 4B or Schedule 5B of the Constitution. Most of these activities are cost saving measures that reduce the overall cost of waste collection and disposal or reduce the environmental impacts of waste management
Examples of municipal support activities include recycling, waste minimisation, composting green and garden waste, waste processing and methane gas recovery
OPEX is operational expenditure e.g. salaries, fuel, electricity, water, consumable supplies, mechanical repairs and maintenance, monitoring and quality control, customer relations and satisfaction surveys, awareness-raising, insurance, taxes and cost of financing.
Organic wastes are materials that contain the element, carbon, and which can therefore be burned or broken down (biodegraded) by microbes (bacteria and fungi).
Outcome measure an assessment of the results of a programme compared to its intended purpose. Source: Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (USA)
Output measure a tabulation, calculation, or recording of activity or effort that can be expressed in a quantitative or qualitative manner. Source: Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (USA).
Performance management a system that monitors the performance of individual employees, departments and organisations in achieving individual or organisational goals.
Personal Development Plan (PDP) a skills development plan at individual level that enables learners to identify key areas of learning and development that will enable them to either acquire new or develop existing skills and behavioural attributes and take responsibility for their own learning.
Skills Development Facilitator (SDF) supports managers with the development of employees, and develops the Workplace Skills Plan (WSP).
Sufficient capacity for project management means integrated development planning capacity, financial management capacity, capacity to manage capital projects including Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) projects, capacity to select and appoint service providers, reporting capacity and so on. Department of Provincial and Local Government, 2004–2007 MIG Booklet p30.
Transaction advisor is defined in Treasury Regulation 16 to the Public Finance Management Act 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999) (PFMA), as a specialist appointed by institutions to render advice in relation to Public-private Partnerships. This should be done in terms of the practice note issued by the National Treasury specifically for that purpose.
Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) is a training plan at institutional level that is approved by the municipal council.