Help and FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

• What is the Project Browser?
• What does it contain?
• How do I use it?
• What do "maximum contribution", "status", etc. mean?

The symbol * appears beside project profiles published or modified in the Project Browser over the last two weeks.

Currently (February 2010), the Project Browser contains the profiles of over 2,750 projects funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Each profile includes a short description and basic, up-to-date project information. Projects are listed by country, sector, status, and number, and a keyword search tool allows for advanced searches.

Each profile contains the project title; reference number; CIDA’s maximum contribution in Canadian dollars; names of the organisation responsible for executing the project; status; start and end date; name of the country or countries where the project is executed and the sector(s) concerned. This is followed by a brief project description.

The Project Browser’s data is drawn directly from CIDA’s project management system. Profiles published in the Project Browser are therefore regularly updated. The Project Browser currently includes projects from every continent. Most operational projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, in North Africa and the Middle East, in the Americas, in Asia, and in Eastern Europe appear in the Browser. Many projects in response to the Tsunami are also listed, as are a number of humanitarian assistance projects.

You may choose one of three options:

1. Explore the Browser’s content by using pre-established lists.
   The general lists include all the published projects, whereas the specific lists include those pertaining to a particular theme.
   Just click on one of the choices (country, sector, status, number, Tsunami) available in the left-side menu as well as on the main page. The corresponding list will be displayed. Click on the subject that interests you to view the corresponding project list. You may then click a project title to access its profile.
2. Use the simple search function.
   Just select one or more countries from the drop-down menu provided, and type in one or more keywords of your choice. If any project profiles contain these keywords, a list of projects will be displayed.
3. Use the advanced search function.
   This function gives users the drop-down menu of countries and the list of CIDA sectors and priorities. Each CIDA project is coded by sector. Using the advanced search function, you can find projects based on the codes that CIDA project officers have assigned. The advanced search function also lets you add keywords of your choice. As with any search system, the more specific the query, the fewer projects are displayed. In other words, the more search criteria you select, the shorter the project list you obtain.

Fields and definitions

Maximum CIDA Contribution — The value indicated in Canadian dollars corresponds to the maximum amount approved by CIDA for the project. When the project becomes "closed" (see below), the actual amount of the contribution is posted. This value could be less than the maximum amount that was initially approved.
Note, the amount indicated does not automatically correspond to the amount indicated in the contractual agreement with the organization responsible for the execution of the project, because multiple agreements may have been signed for a single project or the amount approved may include monitoring and evaluation components. Also, CIDA’s contribution may represent only a portion of the project’s total value, especially if other donors, the recipient country, or the Canadian partner invest equity in the project.

Status — Each project has a life cycle, with three main stages indicating its status: "operational", "terminating", or "closed". The Project Browser is normally limited to operational projects, but it may contain a few projects that are terminating or were recently closed. “Operational” means that the project was approved and its activities began on the date indicated. If an executing agency or a partner has already been selected when the project becomes operational, its name will be displayed.

Start - End — The indicated years represent the project's official year of approval and its estimated year of completion respectively.

Executing Agency - Partner - Recipient — This could be a private firm, non-governmental organization, educational institution, association, institute, government department, or any other individual or organization selected by CIDA to implement the project or one of its components. The partner’s name is displayed as recorded in CIDA’s accounting system. "Information not available" may appear in the "Partner" field. This occurs, for example, when a project is operational but does not yet have an official executing agency. If a project involves more than one partner, only the main partner’s name will be displayed. The other organizations can be named in the description.

Country — The “Country” field indicates where the project is executed. The location may be a country, territory, or region. A project may be executed in more than one country. If so, the project will be displayed under each country. The project description will indicate an estimated percentage of project activities in each country. The "Country Pages" of the CIDA Website contain more information on CIDA's activities in each country. Visit the Regions and Countries page for more information.

Sector — Sectors explain how a project will meet its goals. They categorize a project’s immediate outputs. CIDA’s sector code table is based on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) sector code table, and allows all donors to compare and coordinate their projects.