The Purpose of Development Aid?

In our changing world, does aid continue to save the lives of children, decrease poverty and help fight disease?

What is the real motivation behind aid? Click here to read thoughts of Sarah Bermeo from Duke University's Center for International Development.

The Drive for Resilience

On Monday, The Christian Science Monitor Daily will launch a weeklong series on strengthening community resilience in East Africa.

To watch the first video click here.

Valuable Volunteers

Thanks to all our volunteers - you are priceless! 

Click here to learn more.

Thinking Working Politically

Many development initiatives fail. Why? According to Thinking/Working Politically (TWP) one problem is those who would benefit most lack power; that is, those who can make a difference are disengaged and political barriers are too often overlooked.

Yet, progress is being made on "Doing Development Differently". Right now you can take action. Click Here to learn about and sign the DDD Manifesto.

Doing Development Differently

As the world rethinks development and foreign aid, USAID is considering combining disaster assistance and food humanitarian programs.  Click here to read the article.

Perhaps faith-based organizations are in the best position to bridge the gap as government budgets diminish. Click here to read Oxfam's Duncan Green's article. 

Happy National Volunteer Week

It's National Volunteer Week. We have SO MANY volunteers who give so much we wanted to take a moment to pause and say "Thanks!" to everyone who pitched in and helped out over the past year. We CAN'T do it alone, and are so grateful to count you as one of our friends.  We cherish ALL the volunteers, in-kind contributors, donors that make our work possible.

  Special thanks to (left to right) Maria Berger, Edna Postash, John McCann, Jim Moore,
Jeff Sevigny, Miles Faulk and Nick Seery 

Universal Basic Income Experiment

To fight global poverty, data tells us Direct Cash Transfers are working. According to randomized controlled trials from GiveDirectly, the leader in DCTs “peer-reviewed studies demonstrate that simply giving people money works.”

Now the biggest experiment ever in universal basic income will take place in western Kenya over 12 years.

Click here to learn more.

Mission Possible

Stanford Social Innovation Review and Mission Investors Exchange have teamed up to explore what's next in impact investing.

Click here to access the 11-week series.

Scale X Design Challenge

CARE's Scale X Design Accelerator program aims to bridge the gap between impact and scale.
Tomorrow, January 26th, CARE will launch the Scale X Design Challenge. At 7 pm EST the competition will be live at  facebook.com/CAREfans.
To learn more click here.

Millennium Development Goals

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”

Alice Through the Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll 

"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to" replies the Cat.

Brookings'  John McArthur and Krista Rasmussen examine which trajectories changed, for better or worse, and dispel some common myths about the 2000 - 2015 MDGs. 
Click here to learn more.

To review the new 15 year goals to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all 

 Click Here.

Change starts with YOU. It's easy too.
Click here for "The lazy person's guide to saving the world".  

I have a Dream

"When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love. Where evil men would seek to perpetuate an unjust status quo, good men must seek to bring into being a real order of justice"

Taking a moment to reflect on MLK's inspiring "I have a dream speech" is a great way to commemorate and honor this truly great man.

Women - Are We Happier than Men?

Maria THINKS she is happier than Jorge. But is she really? Click here.

Standardized evaluation reveals the 'truth'.

Need more bad news... Click here for The Pessimist's Guide to 2017.

Bridging the Education Gap

Improving education is a universal problem. ASAP's
Bridge the Gap project had some success.

Improving education is a universal problem. ASAP Bridge The Gap project - working to improve Math skills in 179 rural schools in Zimbabwe from 2000 - 2012 - had some success. Click here to learn more. 

In 2008  Gates and Zuckerberg joined forces to form 63 Bridge International Academies, offering cheap, standardized, technology-driven education in Africa and Asia. The Ugandan government has ordered the closure of these schools. What went wrong? Click here to learn more. 

World Toilet Day is Nov. 19th

'Hail to the Blair Toilet' - November 19 is World Toilet Day. 

Tomorrow, Nov. 19,  is World Toilet Day. Time to take action and reach out to the 2.4 billion people living without a toilet.  Focus on how sanitation, or the lack of it, can impact people’s livelihoods. Click here to learn more.

The Resilience Age

Resilience, according the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is "the ability to become strong, healthy or successful after something bad happens."

But what does a resilient city look like? Click Here to watch an incredible, thought-provoking video pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation.

Love to Change the World?

Duncan Green's new book, How Change Happens, will be released on Oct. 27th. He's uniquely qualified to "write a book that can provide sophisticated theories of social change, while providing practical advice to activists". Click here to pre-order your copy.

If Africa Had 100 Citizens

Afrobarometer, a research network, has analyze data gathered from 37 African Nations.
Click Here to view their newest video - If Africa Had 100 Citizens.

Edible Drones

Rethink Food Distribution - Pouncer, the Edible Drone 

Humanitarian aid is  changing. Click here to read more about Pouncer - the edible food distribution drone.

Fighting Global Poverty

Achieving Global Impact. That's a challenge and the goal of upcoming Inside NGO conference in Nairobi, Kenya. But is another meeting of experts really the solution?

Not according to William Easterly. In his recent book, The Tyranny of Experts: Economists, Dictators, and the Forgotten Rights of the Poor, he traces the history of the fight against global poverty. How tactics have trampled the individual freedom of the world's poor, suppressing a vital debate about an alternative approach to solving poverty; freedom.

The currently disputed 500-ton US peanut donation to Haiti is just one example of humanitarian aid that could actually undermine the economy of the nation it aims to help. Click here to learn more.

If the World Were 100 People

Here's an interesting two minute video from Good Data.