The First Tranche

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As budgets shrink, study finds little evidence aid is directed to the worst-off Conventional wisdom is that scarcity shifts aid resources to needier places, but a new study finds this isn’t the case. John Custer
2022-09-30

As budgets shrink, study finds little evidence aid is directed to the worst-off

Conventional wisdom is that scarcity shifts aid resources to needier places, but a new study finds this isn’t the case.

High rises and hotel buildings in Punta Pacifica, Panama City, Panama. Photo by Gerardo Pesantez/World Bank via Flickr, licensed under (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).
AidData-led project awarded nearly $4.75 million for agriculture and climate research AidData is leading a team of partners that has won a $4.74-million, four-year investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a project to spur the use of Earth Observation in how we study climate-sensitive agriculture across developing country geographies. AidData
2022-09-14

AidData-led project awarded nearly $4.75 million for agriculture and climate research

AidData is leading a team of partners that has won a $4.74-million, four-year investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a project to spur the use of Earth Observation in how we study climate-sensitive agriculture across developing country geographies.

November 2021, Gharelu, Nepal. Sharda Devi Bohora, 45, weeds her radish and potato crops in the field beside her home, She, her husband and their 3 children depend on the milk from her 5 cows and her small furniture shop for income. She sells approximately 22 liters of milk per day, which helps to meet her family’s basic needs, including paying for the children’s school fees. The milk collection center where she brings her milk was built with support from Mercy Corps’ MRED program. Sharda and her family have also benefitted from disaster mitigation measures, such as the building of gabion walls that prevent landslides and mudslides.
Beyond saving lives, landmine removal in Afghanistan clears path to development, study finds AidData’s geospatial impact evaluation of a demining program in Afghanistan sheds light on the results of a decades-long effort to tackle the complicated and compelling problem of landmine removal. Sarina Patterson, John Custer
2022-08-22

Beyond saving lives, landmine removal in Afghanistan clears path to development, study finds

AidData’s geospatial impact evaluation of a demining program in Afghanistan sheds light on the results of a decades-long effort to tackle the complicated and compelling problem of landmine removal.

In the countryside of Afghanistan, a deminer works in protective equipment. Photo by Pedram Pirnia for CIDA/ACDI via Flickr, licensed under (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).
AidData launches new research initiative on gender equity in development The initiative seeks to address the hurdles inherent in gender-based research, applying geospatial data and rigorous impact evaluations of development programs to produce policy-relevant findings. Monica Maher, Sarina Patterson
2022-07-08

AidData launches new research initiative on gender equity in development

The initiative seeks to address the hurdles inherent in gender-based research, applying geospatial data and rigorous impact evaluations of development programs to produce policy-relevant findings.

Evelyne and Adoko, seasoned fabric traders, at their shop in a commercial district of Lomé. The Nana Benz women were a group of Togolese fabric traders who became activists for women’s liberation, selling fabric prints bearing names such as “If You Go Out, I Go Out,” and “When a Woman Passes, Men Pass Away.” Photo by the World Bank/Stephan Gladieu via Flickr, licensed under (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).
As Mali weathers climate change, can irrigation projects help farmers adapt? A new geospatial impact evaluation by AidData examines the complicated impacts of irrigation interventions in the context of Mali’s ongoing armed conflict. Alex Wooley
2022-07-07

As Mali weathers climate change, can irrigation projects help farmers adapt?

A new geospatial impact evaluation by AidData examines the complicated impacts of irrigation interventions in the context of Mali’s ongoing armed conflict.

This satellite image shows the Tomboctou-Timbuktu region in the northern part of Mali, along the Niger River. Photo by Google Earth.
W&M hosts inaugural conference on China’s global influence During the June 22-24 conference at the W&M School of Education, participants worked to separate fact from fiction while analyzing China’s growing global influence through plenary sessions, working groups, keynote addresses and poster presentations. Martha Reilly/Global Research Institute
2022-07-06

W&M hosts inaugural conference on China’s global influence

During the June 22-24 conference at the W&M School of Education, participants worked to separate fact from fiction while analyzing China’s growing global influence through plenary sessions, working groups, keynote addresses and poster presentations.

During the day one keynote session, moderator Simon Rabinovitch engaged Carly Fiorina, Sen. Mushahid Hussain Sayed and Ambassador Jason Chung in conversation about how U.S. economic statecraft functions in an era of contested cooperation with China. Photo by Stephen Salpukas
Separating fact from fiction: China's growing global influence and its implications ‍William & Mary’s inaugural 2022 China Convening gathers a diverse group of global leaders to stimulate evidence-informed dialogue on China. Samantha Custer, Sarina Patterson
2022-06-22

Separating fact from fiction: China's growing global influence and its implications

‍William & Mary’s inaugural 2022 China Convening gathers a diverse group of global leaders to stimulate evidence-informed dialogue on China.

Banner from William & Mary's Inaugural China Conference
How China’s lending activities affect the political survival of leaders A new AidData Working Paper explores how the co-occurrence of Chinese loans and IMF programs affects leader tenure, finding that Beijing’s loans prolong the tenure of leaders—especially if they are corrupt.  Andreas Kern, Bernhard Reinsberg, Patrick E. Shea
2022-05-16

How China’s lending activities affect the political survival of leaders

A new AidData Working Paper explores how the co-occurrence of Chinese loans and IMF programs affects leader tenure, finding that Beijing’s loans prolong the tenure of leaders—especially if they are corrupt. 

Photo by Simone D. McCourtie/World Bank via Flickr, licensed under (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).
Competing visions for the Indian Ocean: China’s influence in South and Central Asia China has positioned itself as an indispensable partner for the Maldives and Sri Lanka, adapting economic tools to advance multiple objectives. What are the implications? Samantha Custer
2022-05-12

Competing visions for the Indian Ocean: China’s influence in South and Central Asia

China has positioned itself as an indispensable partner for the Maldives and Sri Lanka, adapting economic tools to advance multiple objectives. What are the implications?

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chinese President Xi Jinping inspect the model structure of the Chinese-financed Colombo port city project at the official commissioning ceremony in 2014. Photo by Mahinda Rajapaska via Flickr, licensed under (CC BY-NC 2.0).
Banking on Beijing: The Aims and Impacts of China's Overseas Development Program A new 400-page book from five leading scholars chronicles China’s transformation—in the space of a generation—from a net recipient to a dominant provider of international development finance. Alex Wooley
2022-05-05

Banking on Beijing: The Aims and Impacts of China's Overseas Development Program

A new 400-page book from five leading scholars chronicles China’s transformation—in the space of a generation—from a net recipient to a dominant provider of international development finance.

How we constructed the world’s largest dataset on China’s overseas spending A behind-the-scenes look at AidData’s latest methodology to track underreported financial flows from China to the developing world. Kyra Solomon, Bradley C. Parks
2022-04-12

How we constructed the world’s largest dataset on China’s overseas spending

A behind-the-scenes look at AidData’s latest methodology to track underreported financial flows from China to the developing world.

A vessel arrives at the Port of Djibouti in October 2019. The port was partially owned and operated by DP World and China Merchants Holdings, until its container facility was seized by the government of Djibouti in February 2018. Photo by Davide Monteleone, all rights reserved; used by AidData with permission.
Testing transparency’s benefits: When does it truly improve how institutions perform? New research in the American Journal of Political Science tests how aid transparency initiatives impact project performance, using a novel dataset of 20,000+ project ratings. Sarina Patterson
2022-03-28

Testing transparency’s benefits: When does it truly improve how institutions perform?

New research in the American Journal of Political Science tests how aid transparency initiatives impact project performance, using a novel dataset of 20,000+ project ratings.

A photo of a crowd of people at the World Bank's IMF Spring Meeting.