As fiscal crises, aid cuts, and rising costs leave millions without a safety net, Nick Allardice and @gamblingondev.bsky.social argue that direct cash transfers have to fill the gap. https://www.cgdev.org/blog/no-one-stepping-people-poorest-places-earth-cash-has-fill-gap

To help answer whether early learning leads to better outcomes in adulthood, researchers behind CGD's Return to Learning Initiative screened 1,000+ education studies. Their updated Candidate Studies Dataset identifies 49 studies and 20 priority candidates for follow-up. go.cgdev.org/3Td9mMZ

Over the next decade, 1.2 billion young people in LMICs will reach working age. Álvaro S. González argues the World Bank's Global Jobs Challenge gets the diagnosis right but the prescription wrong, emphasizing productivity over policies that directly create jobs. go.cgdev.org/442SATf

Australia integrated its aid agency into its foreign ministry over a decade ago. What lessons does that experience offer the US? @conorsavoy.bsky.social examines Australia's DFAT model and what it suggests for the State Dept's emerging approach to strategic assistance. https://go.cgdev.org/3TbVoek

The World Bank's proposed Day Zero Financing Framework could help countries access vaccines faster during the next pandemic. @rglenner.bsky.social, @siddhharia.bsky.social, and Sebastian Quaade outline practical steps to get the framework across the finish line. go.cgdev.org/3Sz5HZT

How we measure violence against children matters. New research from @gsmarrelli.bsky.social, Esme Kadzamira, Thi Le, & Tionge Saka finds that ACASI surveys led to higher disclosure of physical, emotional, & sexual violence than face-to-face interviews among children in Malawi. go.cgdev.org/3SDrxLM

Important new @cgdev.org research by @gsmarrelli.bsky.social, Esme Kadzamira, Thi Le, & Tionge Saka Blog: www.cgdev.org/blog/how-and... Paper: www.cgdev.org/publication/...

Two days in, 2,671 development economists from 126 countries have joined @ideadevecon.bsky.social! @owenozier.bsky.social lays out why development economics needed a global home. Now on the @cgdev.org blog. Read it, then add your name: idea.devecon.org 🌍 www.cgdev.org/blog/introdu...

There's a brand-new International Development Economics Association —> @ideadevecon.bsky.social Why this has been needed for a long time: @owenozier.bsky.social explains at @cgdev.org —> www.cgdev.org/blog/introdu... Top-tier team, @deanyang.bsky.social + many other stars #EconSky

Last night's commute viewing was Oriana Bandiera's talk on the case for ungendering the economy. www.youtube.com/live/6oNRYGr... (51:09) From @cgdev.org's Women in Leadership conference www.cgdev.org/blog/pipelin...

AI isn't just eating the business world—it may be eating the policy world, too. Tim Ohlenburg explores how AI could reshape education, healthcare, and agricultural extension, particularly in LMICs, and what it will take to turn that potential into lasting impact. go.cgdev.org/4g6SfpH

How is the Middle East War reshaping prospects for low- and middle-income countries? On the latest CGD Podcast, @elerianm.bsky.social speaks with Judy Woodruff about how governments can respond to shocks, the implications for the global economy, and what to watch. 🎧: go.cgdev.org/3StLK6H

Development economists now have a global professional home. @ideadevecon.bsky.social was founded to connect researchers worldwide, strengthen collaboration across the field, and support the next generation of development economists. Learn more 👉 go.cgdev.org/4f5mXyw

Board member @owenozier.bsky.social writes about @ideadevecon.bsky.social on @cgdev.org's blog. www.cgdev.org/blog/introdu...

Violence in and around schools affects children's well-being and ability to learn. 🎒 Research has identified effective interventions to help reduce school-related violence, but important evidence gaps remain. New analysis outlines six priorities for future research. https://go.cgdev.org/4w1OBCa

MDBs have committed to scaling development impact. But current incentives often reward finance volume and project-by-project delivery instead. Koldo Echebarria explores how better-aligned institutional incentives, including a proposed scaling impact loan, could change that. go.cgdev.org/4xLigBi

It was such a pleasure to sit with Judy Woodruff for this "fireside chat" at the Center for Global Development. Thank you very much, Judy, for the interesting conversation. www.cgdev.org/event/new-bo... #economy @cgdev.org #developingcountries #emergingmarkets #development @judywoodruff.bsky.social

Conflict-affected countries are among the most climate-vulnerable — yet receive the least adaptation finance. It's time for donors to step up support for the communities most at risk. 🔗 www.cgdev.org/blog/climate... @cgdev.org @uk.rescue.org #ClimateAdaptation #ConflictAndClimate

Foreign aid is often criticized for paying for activities rather than results. As policymakers rethink the future of US foreign assistance, @ecollinson.bsky.social explores whether outcome-based aid models could help strengthen accountability and impact. go.cgdev.org/3T0U3XF

New analysis from @jonathanbeynon.bsky.social and @anneleen-v.bsky.social, produced with @rescue.org, finds that conflict-affected countries are among the world's most climate-vulnerable, yet receive lower levels of adaptation finance than many other vulnerable country groups. go.cgdev.org/4vZIyOo

Where should the next generation of violence on reducing violence in schools focus? www.cgdev.org/blog/school-... on the @cgdev.org blog

📢 We're hiring: Climate Policy & Development Fellow This is an opportunity to help shape research and policy engagement on some of the most pressing climate and development challenges facing low- and middle-income countries. 📅 Applications close Thursday, July 23, 10:00 BST 👉 cgdev.org/careers

What are we learning about lead exposure in 2026? A roundup from CGD's 2nd Annual Research Conference on Global Lead Exposure explores new evidence on the major sources of exposure—from battery recycling and contaminated food to cookware, water systems, and consumer products. go.cgdev.org/4w7LEQM

The World Bank has invested more than $3B in drinking water projects across LMICs. Yet analysis found no evidence of lead testing across 81 active water supply projects, even as a recent review found that 25% of drinking water samples in LMICs exceeded WHO guidelines for lead. go.cgdev.org/44mtajs

Should sovereign debt restructurings rely on a stricter definition of "comparability of treatment"? Andrew Powell argues that may be the wrong approach. He examines how creditor preferences and debt dilution complicate restructurings and explores possible alternatives. go.cgdev.org/4vZ56yV

Childcare is increasingly being recognized as an economic issue, not just a social one. 🚸 Kelsey Harris and Astha Mainali find that financing for MDB projects with childcare components increased by 67% since 2018, reflecting a growing focus on women's economic participation. 👉 go.cgdev.org/4ewBths

India is rarely discussed as a major development provider. But new analysis from Euan Ritchie and @ianmitchell1.bsky.social finds that India provides more development support than many traditional donors. go.cgdev.org/4xBuEnc

Climate vulnerability, conflict, and displacement often overlap. But is financing reaching the countries that need it most? Join David Miliband and CGD's @ianmitchell1.bsky.social for a conversation on climate, fragility, and development finance priorities. go.cgdev.org/3QpMBVm

The first day of summer is almost here. What's next on your reading list? ☀️📚 CGD staff are sharing some of their favorite books from the past year, from compelling fiction to thought-provoking nonfiction. Explore our Summer 2026 edition of What We're Reading ⤵️ https://go.cgdev.org/4veCe5M

When it comes to global health financing, timing matters. ⏱️ Adrian Gheorghe and @peterbaker17.bsky.social argue that timing is an overlooked part of effective health financing. Read their new analysis 👉 go.cgdev.org/4aTTjcW

How much aid is actually spent abroad? @ianmitchell1.bsky.social and Sam Hughes introduce "International Assistance," a measure that captures the share of aid that genuinely crosses borders. Here's what it reveals about the 🇬🇧's aid effort and how it compares with other donors: go.cgdev.org/4xEZlIv

More than 250,000 schools across 17 LMICs are located near known contaminated sites linked to pollutants like lead and mercury. New research from @leecrawfurd.bsky.social maps where schools and toxic sites overlap—and suggests the true scale of exposure is likely far greater. go.cgdev.org/4vNiciu

If global oil prices fall, developing countries shouldn’t pass lower prices on to consumers. Benedict Clements and Sanjeev Gupta argue this is a opportunity to raise energy taxes, strengthen public finances, and create fiscal space for development priorities and climate goals. go.cgdev.org/4eIl8r0

Since 2021, MDBs have significantly expanded childcare financing and initiatives—but turning that momentum into lasting progress will require stronger accountability, better measurement, and sustained institutional commitment. Kelsey Harris and Astha Mainali explain 👇 go.cgdev.org/4orPNfA

The Atlas of Innovation, developed by @uchi-msa.bsky.social and @ifp.bsky.social, helps policymakers and philanthropists identify which funding approaches best suit different innovation challenges. 🧭 Sarrin Chethik, @siddhharia.bsky.social, and Christopher Snyder explain 👉 go.cgdev.org/3QxaBG1

New @cgdev.org paper featured in the @financialtimes.com Across 17 low- and middle-income countries, at least 1 in 10 schools sits within 5km of a documented contaminated site. That's roughly 250,000 schools and 43 million children. www.ft.com/content/19be...

Aid to sub-Saharan Africa fell by ~16–28% in 2025, putting pressure on governments already facing tight fiscal constraints. Join CGD and the IMF for a discussion on what these cuts mean for fiscal stability, public services, and the future of development finance in the region. go.cgdev.org/4v13LHP

The Decision Tree for Digital Financial Inclusion course equips policymakers, researchers, professors, students, and practitioners with tools to identify the root causes hindering access to and usage of digital payment services. Explore the course ⤵️ https://go.cgdev.org/4gd3mgI

📣 Are you researching solutions to global lead poisoning? Join CGD and Coefficient Giving for a Q&A webinar on how to apply for up to $5 million in research funding. Featuring @leecrawfurd.bsky.social, the session will walk through the new RfP and answer applicant questions. go.cgdev.org/4e2ufCK

Digital financial inclusion challenges don’t always stem from the same problem. The Decision Tree for Digital Financial Inclusion: An Application to Digital Payments course introduces a framework for identifying the key barrier limiting access to and use of digital payments. go.cgdev.org/4gd3mgI

Last week, MSA launched the Atlas of Innovation with @ifp.bsky.social. The Atlas helps policymakers, philanthropists, and development banks choose HOW to fund innovation. Today’s blog post describes why we made the Atlas and how it works: www.marketshapingaccelerator.org/research/the...

📢 New funding opportunity: Up to $5 million for research on global lead poisoning. @cgdev.org and Coefficient Giving are seeking proposals on lead exposure, battery recycling, policy effectiveness, and other key evidence gaps. Expressions of interest are due August 2. go.cgdev.org/4uRmpSo

As aid budgets shrink, what role can philanthropy play in global development? Using OECD data on $32B in philanthropic commitments, Biniam Bedasso examines where foundations are investing, which countries attract support, and how philanthropic funding patterns are evolving. go.cgdev.org/4fVhlIf

Not all evidence is measured equally. An insightful new paper from @cgdev.org on how standard deviations can distort learning gains, and how we can make #education data more actionable. www.cgdev.org/blog/standar...

Childcare is gaining renewed attention as a key driver of women’s economic empowerment and inclusive growth. Join CGD and the World Bank’s for a discussion on how multilateral development banks are scaling childcare investments, what gaps remain, and what comes next. go.cgdev.org/4vzPdi7

As generative AI tools spread across low- and middle-income countries, how should they be evaluated? @hanshengchia.bsky.social and Tim Ohlenburg introduce CGD’s Generative AI Evaluation Playbook, a four-level framework for assessing GenAI tools and their development impact. go.cgdev.org/4oiW9h9

What did we learn at CGD’s first annual Women in Leadership Conference? Women are entering IFIs in roughly equal numbers to men, but leadership gaps persist. @eeshani.bsky.social and Kelsey Harris examine the structural barriers shaping who reaches the top. go.cgdev.org/4ebjP2j

Evaluating generative AI tools for development can’t stop at whether the model performs well. Tim Ohlenburg and Rikin Gandhi outline a four-level framework for assessing AI interventions, from user engagement and behavior change to real-world development outcomes. go.cgdev.org/4ur17Kj

The World Bank is expanding its use of guarantees as part of a push to lower borrowing costs and mobilize private financing. CGD experts examine the Bank’s new guarantee framework, its benefits for IDA countries, and the questions it raises for some higher-income borrowers. go.cgdev.org/4xifOlz

A few text messages per school, costing less than $1 per student, helped turn a national education reform in Tanzania from one that failed to improve learning into one that succeeded. Jacobus Cilliers and James Habyarimana explore what this low-cost fix can teach us. go.cgdev.org/3RGbY5B