Glossary

An alteration in the genetic material (the genome) of a cell of a living organism or of a

virus that is more or less permanent and that can be transmitted to the cell’s or the

virus’s descendants.

Number of deaths occurring in a given population during a specified time period, in a

specific place. In emergencies, usually expressed as deaths per 10000 persons per

day; alternatively, as deaths per 1000 persons per month or per year (1).

(1) Checchi and Roberts, Interpreting and using mortality data in humanitarian

emergencies, ODI/HPN paper 52, 2005.

In its descriptive sense, "morality" refers to personal or cultural values, codes of

conduct or social mores. It does not connote objective claims of right or wrong, but only

refers to that which is considered right or wrong. In its normative sense, "morality"

refers to whatever (if anything) is actually right or wrong, which may be independent of

the values or mores held by any particular peoples or cultures.

1. The regular observation, surveillance, or checking of changes in a condition or

situation, or changes in activities.

2. A continuing function that uses systematic collection of data on specified indicators

to provide management and the main stakeholders of an ongoing development

intervention with indications of the extent of progress and achievement of objectives

and progress in the use of allocated funds (OECD).