A CGD blog with Justin Sandefur. Last week we presented some estimates of the extent and distribution of cuts to USAID assistance. Since then, a list of active USAID projects has also been leaked. We recalculate our estimates of active and cancelled USAID grants from this data.

A CGD blog. In a city increasingly disenchanted with international market-based competition, one block on H Street in Washington DC remains committed to the cause. The World Bank’s procurement rules, which apply to its investment project financing, still mandate international competitive bidding for nearly all …

A CGD blog with Justin Sandefur. The bottom line: we estimate the cancelled awards represent somewhere over 34 percent of USAID programming. And notably, “life-saving” program areas like maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis are not spared from major cuts. But there’s a lot of guesswork in those estimates.

A CGD blog. During his speech to the joint session of Congress on Tuesday, President Trump listed a number of foreign assistance projects he thought demonstrated “appalling waste.” Below is his list of examples and a little more context on what the projects were designed to achieve.

A CGD blog. Alongside the 90-day freeze of foreign assistance projects launched by the US administration, USAID has seen a number of contracts and grants terminated early during the period since January 24th. Wayan Vota has been compiling a spreadsheet of these agreements. With the caveats that this is likely o…

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.