By default the keywords introduced in a search bar are searched in all parts of job postings/ tenders/ expert profiles/organization profiles etc. Applying Search in function allows you to select the specific area of the search:
- Titles;
- Descriptions;
- Attachments (RfPs, EoIs, CVs).
Use the Search in the drop-down menu to customize searched fields:
Boolean Search
You can use symbols or words to make your search more precise:
AND/ plus ‘+’
Only the results that include all the specified keywords will match. Set as the default operator when you use spaces between each word.
Examples:
civil rights
civil + rights
civil and rights
NOT/ minus ‘-’
Excludes results that contain a specific keyword.
Examples:
fuel not coal
fuel - coal
Note: It is not possible to use single words in combination with negative expressions and symbols, such as ‘|’, ‘OR’, ‘NOT’, ‘-’.
So a query that just contains ‘-water’ would not be acceptable. It would be acceptable to put ‘sanitation -water’.
OR/ Vertical bar ‘|’ / Comma ‘,’
At least one keyword must be included. Set as the default operator when you use a comma between each word.
Examples:
LIDAR or GPS
LIDAR | GPS
LIDAR, GPS
Note: When using combinations separated by OR, do not leave empty spaces, otherwise the search may not return the expected results
Incorrect:
forestry | climate change | agriculture
This example will return results that contain forestry or the required combination of climate with change or the combination of climate and agriculture. In this case if a contains the word agriculture without mentioning climate, it will not be returned.
Correct:
forestry | "climate change" | agriculture
or
forestry | (climate change) | agriculture
Double quotes " "
Searches for all keywords in the specific order they are added.
Examples:
"climate change"
"water sanitation"
Asterisk ‘*’
Will match keyword variations with a similar root.
Examples:
hydroelectr*
agro*
financ*
Note: Usage of Asterisk in a phrase within double quotes or before the word stem, *inance, is not acceptable.
Round brackets ‘()’
Boolean expressions placed with () will be searched before the ones placed outside the brackets.
Examples:
water and (sanitation or sewage)
(water|sanitation) AND (irrigation|drainage)
Boost operator ‘^’
Use the word boost operator ^ to control the relevance of your search. Assign a boost number to a word or a phrase to arrange the search results in order of the number value used.
Examples:
(water sanitation)^5 OR irrigation
irrigation^10 | drainage
Note: Boost operator ‘^’ should always be used with OR when searching for more expressions or search terms.
Complex search
Allows to application of various operators and symbols in one search.
Example:
"water sanitation" - (irrigation|drainage)
The results of this search must contain the exact phrase 'water sanitation' in any field or the documents, but not contain either 'irrigation' or 'drainage'.