A CGD blog. The White House issued a press release three days ago apparently designed to justify the ongoing stop-work orders at USAID, alongside pulling agency staff out of the field and locking them out of their offices. I’d argue the release demonstrates precisely why these moves are a mistake. The press rel…

A CGD blog. Dear Secretary Rubio: There have been few more eloquent advocates for foreign assistance than you. And I believe the case you make for US aid is backed up by considerable empirical evidence. As you have said, “millions of human beings are alive today because [of] the United States, and others in the…

A CGD blog. It is urgent to restore operation of America’s life-saving assistance programs, halted under the ongoing 90-day pause of all foreign assistance. Two examples: First, PEPFAR is currently providing lifesaving HIV treatment for 20.6 million people, including 566,000 children. When people come off HIV m…

A CGD blog. US assistance has been at the forefront of the global fight against famine and pestilence worldwide. Any delay or disruption of that support will have an immense cost.

A CGD blog. This last week, a critical pillar of global health has been thrust into jeopardy due to executive action. Secretary Rubio has the power to resume funding to PEPFAR tomorrow by issuing a waiver to the pause.

A CGD blog. Last week, the UN Foundation and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs kindly asked me to talk at an informal session on the coherence between development and climate finance. I learned a lot, and it helped me understand a little better the various positions on the issue, but I (still)…

A CGD blog. Three weeks ago, I was in Montreal for a very interesting meeting on the future of Canadian foreign assistance, hosted by Global Canada and CanWaCH, the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health. I’m grateful to them for inviting me, even though it was a somewhat depressing discussion. Pa…

A CGD blog. The World Bank’s Independent Evaluation Group has just issued a report on the Bank’s mechanisms for supporting procurement. This blog focuses on the findings and the evidence-based recommendations that can both increase development impact and help foster demand for services through greater ease of d…

A CGD blog with Clemence Landers. Last week, the World Bank released a draft of the IDA21 replenishment report for comment by external stakeholders. Six of CGD’s senior researchers dissected the draft report and the most recent iteration of the policy package on the issues we follow most closely. Here are our reactions.

A CGD blog. This year’s COP climate conference is up and staggering in in Baku, Azerbaijan. A bigger climate finance promise won’t help unless it is wrapped around with commitments to existing development finance. And, under business as usual, it will make things positively worse.