The First Tranche

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AidData partnership works to promote gender-equitable AI applications The year-long collaboration with CDD-Ghana produced new research to inform AI developers, aid organizations, and decision makers. Sarina Patterson, Seth Goodman
2023-11-13

AidData partnership works to promote gender-equitable AI applications

The year-long collaboration with CDD-Ghana produced new research to inform AI developers, aid organizations, and decision makers.

Belt and Road bounces back, as Beijing seeks to future-proof its flagship global infrastructure initiative New AidData flagship report and dataset show China is refocusing time and money on troubled projects, distressed borrowers, and sources of public backlash in effort to de-risk its portfolio and out-maneuver G7 competitors. Alex Wooley
2023-11-06

Belt and Road bounces back, as Beijing seeks to future-proof its flagship global infrastructure initiative

New AidData flagship report and dataset show China is refocusing time and money on troubled projects, distressed borrowers, and sources of public backlash in effort to de-risk its portfolio and out-maneuver G7 competitors.

Worker at the site of the Grand Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia. The Grand Renaissance Dam is one of the largest infrastructure projects under construction in the country, with the support of Chinese investment. Photo by Davide Monteleone, used with permission.
Looking back at the GeoField 2023 Convening, and ahead to a Call for Papers for two academic journals Emerging from the successful GeoField Convening in September in Rome, two prestigious academic journals have issued calls for papers at the intersection of climate change, and agriculture. Alex Wooley
2023-10-30

Looking back at the GeoField 2023 Convening, and ahead to a Call for Papers for two academic journals

Emerging from the successful GeoField Convening in September in Rome, two prestigious academic journals have issued calls for papers at the intersection of climate change, and agriculture.

Dr. Carly Muir, a Geospatial Analyst at AidData, addresses the GeoField 2023 Convening in Rome.
How effective and accountable are international development organizations? Two recently released datasets provide the most comprehensive collections yet of donor performance ratings and accountability mechanisms, enabling new insights. Ranjit Lall
2023-10-10

How effective and accountable are international development organizations?

Two recently released datasets provide the most comprehensive collections yet of donor performance ratings and accountability mechanisms, enabling new insights.

Uprisen angle of the Hong Kong skyline. Photo by THANANIT via Adobe Stock, used under the Standard license.
AidData uses AI to code 2.7 million projects to the Sustainable Development Goals Analysis of a first-of-its-kind dataset shows many goals are neglected, with low-income countries falling behind. Sariah Harmer
2023-09-27

AidData uses AI to code 2.7 million projects to the Sustainable Development Goals

Analysis of a first-of-its-kind dataset shows many goals are neglected, with low-income countries falling behind.

The Sustainable Development Goals are presented during a celebration for the International Day of Rural Women. Photo by Happiraphael via Wikimedia, licensed under (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Where is AidData heading next? A quick look at our organizational strategy for 2023-2026. Brad Parks
2023-09-14

Where is AidData heading next?

A quick look at our organizational strategy for 2023-2026.

Spring leaves grow on a tree. Photo by Grigory Bruev via Adobe Stock, used under the Standard license.
AidData and partners hold conference on climate-sensitive agriculture at the UN’s FAO in Rome The GeoField Convening will bring together experts to collaborate on making agricultural impact evaluations more effective. Sarina Patterson, Sariah Harmer
2023-09-11

AidData and partners hold conference on climate-sensitive agriculture at the UN’s FAO in Rome

The GeoField Convening will bring together experts to collaborate on making agricultural impact evaluations more effective.

Small vegetable farms viewed from above in Tra Que Village, Vietnam. The use of Earth Observation strategies to remotely monitor the surface of the Earth opens up new avenues for evaluating the impacts of agriculture programs. Photo by Rod Long via Unsplash, free to use under the Unsplash License.
Don’t let China and Russia export digital censorship Democratic governments should consider monitoring and export restrictions to limit the opportunities for malign use of digital tools. Caitlin Dearing Scott, Jonathan A. Solis
2023-09-08

Don’t let China and Russia export digital censorship

Democratic governments should consider monitoring and export restrictions to limit the opportunities for malign use of digital tools.

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin. FILE – Sha Zhu, of Washington, shows the app WeChat on her phone, which she uses to keep in touch with family and friends in the U.S. and China, Tuesday Aug. 18, 2020, in Washington.
AidData’s China data wins 2023 Best Dataset Award from IPES A team including AidData and William & Mary researchers will receive the award from the International Political Economy Society at this year's conference in October. Alex Wooley
2023-08-29

AidData’s China data wins 2023 Best Dataset Award from IPES

A team including AidData and William & Mary researchers will receive the award from the International Political Economy Society at this year's conference in October.

An abstract representation of data by issaranow via Adobe Stock, used under the Adobe Standard license.
Understanding travel demand for women and men in urban Ethiopia Rapidly growing cities need context-aware and gender-equitable transportation policies and services. Anastasiia Arbuzova, Tigabu Getahun, Ammar A. Malik, Mahesh Karra
2023-08-21

Understanding travel demand for women and men in urban Ethiopia

Rapidly growing cities need context-aware and gender-equitable transportation policies and services.

How far can the BRI take China? AidData authors examine one possible geopolitical gain: naval ports AidData researchers use massive cache of data to shed light on potential for the country to establish multiple permanent overseas military bases for its maritime forces. Nathan Warters (W&M News)
2023-08-16

How far can the BRI take China? AidData authors examine one possible geopolitical gain: naval ports

AidData researchers use massive cache of data to shed light on potential for the country to establish multiple permanent overseas military bases for its maritime forces.

AidData's recently-published report “Harboring Global Ambitions,” focuses on ports and infrastructure construction financed by Chinese state-owned entities in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2021. (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)
In backsliding democracies, governments emulate Russian and Chinese digital censorship tactics AidData research finds countries with less developed internet infrastructure may be more vulnerable to Beijing-style digital censorship regimes. Jonathan A. Solis, Sarina Patterson
2023-08-01

In backsliding democracies, governments emulate Russian and Chinese digital censorship tactics

AidData research finds countries with less developed internet infrastructure may be more vulnerable to Beijing-style digital censorship regimes.

A person uses Telegram, a popular encrypted messaging app banned by several countries, including Russia. Photo by Christian Wiediger via Unsplash, licensed under the Unsplash License.