Center for Global Development

Global health financing is fragmented—and shrinking aid budgets are making it harder to deliver. @peterbaker17 argues it’s time for a structural fix: an IDA health window to better target funding to the poorest countries, pool resources, and support country-led systems. cgdev.org/blog/ida-healt…

As the traditional model of development assistance comes under strain, CGD is convening global experts to rethink the future of aid. What should ODA be used for—and where can it have the greatest impact? 📅 Wednesday, April 15 ⏰ 11:00 AM ET | 4:00 PM BST 🎟️ go.cgdev.org/4mhrD6r

Can test results lead to real education reform? @Alenestour and @leecrawfurd show how PASEC results have shaped policy and improved learning in Francophone Africa. At a few cents per child, can countries afford to lose it? Also available in French: cgdev.org/blog/pisa-shoc…

The fiscal consequences of the current conflict in the Middle East extend far beyond the oil price shock. At ~$100 per barrel, costs could reach up to 3% of GDP for some developing economies—but @clemeconomics and @SanjeevGuptaCGD argue the broader impact runs deeper. Weaker growth, declining tax revenues, and rising security spending are combining to put sustained pressure on public finances. cgdev.org/blog/beyond-oi…

The UK saved an estimated £1.1 billion last year by recruiting foreign-trained health workers. It spent a fraction of that supporting the health systems and workforce in the countries those workers come from. @AnastassiaAD and @helen_dempster argue the UK can and should reinvest a portion of these savings. cgdev.org/blog/financial…

As stakeholders gather for this year's @IMFNews and @WorldBankGroup #WBGMeetings, CGD is hosting crucial discussions with leading global development experts, policymakers, and more. 📆 April 13-18, 2026 🎟️ go.cgdev.org/4thIUyv Learn more about the events and sign up today!

The EU has a wide development finance toolbox, but impact depends on choosing the right tool for the right context. @GavasMikaela and @granito_laura argue that aligning instruments with country conditions can maximize impact and use scarce public resources more efficiently. cgdev.org/publication/eu…

We asked 3 questions to a panel of experts • What do we know about ending school-related violence? • How can that knowledge can be translated into effective, scalable programs? • Why there isn’t more action from donors & govts? Here is what we learned cgdev.org/blog/how-reduc…

Specialized AI tools built for the public good are being overwhelmed by general-purpose AI products. @hanshengchia reimagines the "Tech for Good" model, arguing that we need to channel public-sector expertise and data into the private firms driving the boom. cgdev.org/blog/cutting-t…

How did the timing of government support to firms during #COVID19 affect outcomes? Miriam Bruhn, @ademirguckunt, and @DorotheSinger analyze data from 32 countries and find support was most effective when provided early and phased out quickly. Measures introduced later or extended longer did little. cgdev.org/blog/timing-ma…

What does the UK’s aid “reset” really mean? Humanitarian spending is rising, even as the overall budget is cut by a third, pointing to a more crisis-driven model of aid. But that shift comes with tradeoffs: 👉Africa funding down >50% 👉Lower share to poorest countries New analysis from @SamHugh3s, @EconMitch, @euanritchie, and Kate Mannering breaks down the implications ⤵️ cgdev.org/blog/assessing…

When geopolitical “heavyweights” dominate vaccine production, access becomes more fragile. William Savedoff argues middle and smaller powers must collaborate to overcome economic, political, and institutional barriers to equitable vaccine access. Read more: cgdev.org/blog/global-va…

Energy prices are rising sharply amid disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. For vulnerable economies already facing high debt and unfavorable external financing conditions, the risks are mounting. New analysis from Mary Svenstrup, @ClemenceLanders, and Nico Martinez on what to watch: cgdev.org/blog/will-iran…

Are aid agencies paying attention to what works in education? New analysis from @angrist_noam, @biniegu, @leecrawfurd, Maleeha Hameed, and @euanritchie finds growing uptake of “smart buys” like targeted instruction and structured pedagogy—but gaps remain. cgdev.org/blog/are-aid-a…

Foreign assistance should advance US interests. But extracting short-term wins without building durable partnerships is not a sustainable strategy. A new CGD note from @ConorMSavoy argues for an economic statecraft agenda that is strategically purposeful and beneficial to partner countries: cgdev.org/publication/st…

What if preventing the next mpox outbreak starts with routine childhood vaccination? A new study by Tim Laurence, Caroline Moore, @JaneenMadan, and Rosie Eldridge finds vaccinating children in high-burden regions of the DRC could be cost-effective locally—and reduce the of future mpox pandemics. cgdev.org/publication/wh…

Global food insecurity hasn’t improved much since 2022. But humanitarian funding has dropped sharply, including in countries with large food-insecure populations. @charlesjkenny argues aid should be better targeted to overlooked crises across Africa, South Asia, and Central America: go.cgdev.org/3MA5iDB

The Global Fund is at a crossroads as donor support shrinks and calls for reform intensify. In a Tough Times, Tough Choices brief, CGD experts propose three “radical simplification” shifts to protect impact and stretch scarce resources: go.cgdev.org/4bSqWxl

One year into the second Trump administration, new data shed light on development and humanitarian spending. Obligations and outlays show declines across global health, migration & refugee assistance, and more: go.cgdev.org/4ceD7ED