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.

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…