Philanthropy Action

Jul 27, 2007

An Outbreak of Truth About AIDS in Africa

A new generation of intelligent, well-informed literature about the AIDS epidemic in Africa is trumpeting the need to better “know your epidemic.”

Jul 23, 2007

Local Knowledge is Key; Here Too

A case of failure to seek local knowledge was recently highlighted in a New York Times article describing the current conflict between US-based advocacy groups and local aid workers in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Jul 18, 2007

Celebrities, Influence, and Listening to Africans

The challenge for anyone looking to make a measurable difference is that the dynamics that help and harm in each country are so diverse. It is legitimately difficult to know who to listen to, because equally informed, stake-holding Africans have conflicting ideas about what will work in their respective countries or communities. 

Jul 16, 2007

Simple Can Be Best

Much good can come from introducing new technologies into developing communities, but often the best of development comes when existing resources are put to mindful use.

Jul 06, 2007

In Global Health, Money Isn’t the Problem

A recent Economist article argues that there is more than enough money earmarked for world health initiatives, but that the available funds are not being dispersed.

Jun 27, 2007

The Challenges, and Opportunity, of Rapid Testing

In HIV/AIDS circles a false positive is a preferable evil to a false negative (which denies a patient treatment and creates the possibility that he or she will unknowingly spread the virus), but they still aren’t good, especially given the high stigma associated with the disease.

Jun 26, 2007

Differing Views in Charity Work Splits the Funds

Almost every field of interest contains conflict, with well-informed people taking different stances, but when a field is too widely splintered it can dilute the effectiveness of all of the participants.

Jun 25, 2007

Tolerance a Boon to Slavery

While poverty is certainly one of the main factors driving the persistence of slavery it is by no means the only one. In fact, while India and China have succeeded spectacularly at reducing poverty, slavery persists and is quite possibly growing. At root is a tolerance for slavery, whether from corrupt government officials, cultural apologists or passive business partners. 

Jun 08, 2007

The Role of Cell Phones in Poverty Alleviation

The fishing industry in Northern Kerala in the south of India, as reported in The Economist, has become an example of how simple tools of information exchange can transform a local industry.

Jun 06, 2007

The Slum Opportunity

Despite their horrors, in slums there are jobs, access to markets, more developed roads and water systems and other civic infrastructure. And opportunity for the poor and donors alike. 

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