Jul 10, 2009

Microfinance Not Immune to Problems in Global Economy

A new report shows that the microfinance sector is not as impervious to the negative impacts of the global financial crisis as had been previously suspected.

Jun 22, 2009

The Food Crisis, Hovering at the Margins,

A year ago the global food crisis was front and center in international circles. Today, you’d be hard pressed to find the phrase appear at all. But the problems so evident last year have not been solved, they’ve mostly just been displaced from their position at the top of the crisis list. With the rapid spread of Ug99 wheat stem rust, we could be facing a food crisis soon that utterly dwarfs the last two years.

Jun 12, 2009

Experiments with Merit Salaries Under Attack

There is no conclusive evidence as of yet that paying teachers for their performance in the classroom in fact results in better learning for students. But a number of experiments aimed at understanding whether it can are being driven by intuitive sense, and the fact that the non-experimental research available is positive.

Jun 08, 2009

Do We Need Another Anti-Poverty Philanthropy Meeting?

We know the current economic slump is going to seriously hurt the poor (the World Bank estimates that several hundred million people have been pushed back below the $2/per day threshold), not to mention nonprofit and social finance funding.  Financial scarcity demands an unprecedented level of collaboration, resource leveraging and new alliances. With the world economy slowing, the social entrepreneurs, funders, social financiers and nonprofit leaders who have committed themselves to economic justice are called to do more, to do it better and to do it faster.  We can’t waste a minute.

May 28, 2009

A Clue to the Puzzle of Persistent Poverty

Two studies published this month offer some hope of understanding why the cycle of poverty is so hard to break and what philanthropists can do about it. The lack of certainty about root causes should encourage a focus on philanthropy interventions that help children with impaired working memories—and to fund research that can help understand the exact interrelation between allostatic load and poverty.

May 24, 2009

J-PAL Publishes Long Awaited Microfinance Impact Study

Some readers may think the report is fairly damning to the marketing claims of the impact of microfinance—more studies like this in other areas and over longer periods are necessary before we can reject the traditional views though. Ultimately, though, this study is very good news for microfinance because it begins to illuminate what is really happening among borrowers. That information, in turn, can be used to improve the product to make sure that the best products are offered to clients—and the impact of microfinance can improve.

May 06, 2009

Thoughts from Day Two of Council on Foundations

Day Two of the Council on Foundations annual conference featured two great sessions that we’ll turn into articles soon. In each case, the presenters had useful, substantive and thought-provoking things to say. Of course, there were a couple of not-so-great sessions as well.

May 04, 2009

2009 Index of Global Philanthropy and Remittances Published Amid Steep Drops in Remittance Flows

How can policy and development encourage the use of remittance funds for positive development ends? Tim Ogden and Laura Starita, the editors of Philanthropy Action, together with Heidi Metcalf, the deputy director of the Hudson Institute, tackled that question in Hudson’s 2009 Index of Global Philanthropy and Remittances.

Apr 06, 2009

Moratorium on Moyo Mumbling

Both those who have praised or condemned Dambisa Moyo’s new book seem to have lost touch—as they fine-tune the language of their point-counterpoint—with an inexorable reality: there is zero chance that Western governments will cut off aid flows to Africa within five years. Is there any practical advice on offer anywhere?

Mar 25, 2009

Boldness and Social Return