The First Tranche

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Evaluating irrigation projects when survey data sources run dry A USAID water management program in Afghanistan greened fields in ways that can be seen from space. Soren Patterson, John Custer, Rachel Trichler
2019-02-15

Evaluating irrigation projects when survey data sources run dry

A USAID water management program in Afghanistan greened fields in ways that can be seen from space.

A farmer irrigates a field from a canal improved by the On-Farm Water Management Program in Herat, Afghanistan. He says that before the canal floor was cemented and new sluices established, villagers had many problems irrigating their farms. Photo by Ghulam Abbas Farzami/World Bank, via Flickr, licensed under (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).
Financier of first resort: China’s bid to be lender of choice for the developing world In a new book published today, we examine how Beijing proactively seeks investment opportunities for its excess capital overseas to advance its national interests. Samantha Custer, Michael Tierney
2019-02-07

Financier of first resort: China’s bid to be lender of choice for the developing world

In a new book published today, we examine how Beijing proactively seeks investment opportunities for its excess capital overseas to advance its national interests.

In fragile states, increasing citizen trust in democracy AidData is surveying thousands of households in Niger to evaluate a USAID project that aims to strengthen government accountability. Elizabeth Teare, John Custer, Soren Patterson, Katherine Nolan
2019-01-31

In fragile states, increasing citizen trust in democracy

AidData is surveying thousands of households in Niger to evaluate a USAID project that aims to strengthen government accountability.

Map by AidData shows study areas of treatment (blue) and control (yellow). World Imagery (Firefly) by Esri, Digital Globe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGrid, IGN, and the GIS User Community.
GeoSIMEX: A better method for handling geospatial imprecision Analysts need to find ways to live with the reality of noisy and imprecise geospatial data. GeoSIMEX may be able to help. Carolyn Iwicki, John Custer
2019-01-17

GeoSIMEX: A better method for handling geospatial imprecision

Analysts need to find ways to live with the reality of noisy and imprecise geospatial data. GeoSIMEX may be able to help.

This false-color satellite image shows agricultural plots in Saudi Arabia. The advent of high-resolution satellite imagery has made accurate and precise geospatial data more widely available, but researchers must still find ways to work with less precise data. Photo by the European Space Agency, licensed under (CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO).
The Cloudera Foundation awards AidData $1,152,000 to expand use of GeoQuery for social impact Soren Patterson, Alex Wooley
2018-12-06

The Cloudera Foundation awards AidData $1,152,000 to expand use of GeoQuery for social impact

Measuring and responding to demand for official statistics Statistical agencies are prioritizing international development partners over domestic users. How can data producers and funders improve domestic data use? Mihir Prakash, Tanya Sethi
2018-12-04

Measuring and responding to demand for official statistics

Statistical agencies are prioritizing international development partners over domestic users. How can data producers and funders improve domestic data use?

Good news for rare birds: Development projects that don’t harm the environment New research evaluating World Bank development projects, including those that pose the most environmental risks, finds no harm to important bird habitats. Soren Patterson
2018-11-01

Good news for rare birds: Development projects that don’t harm the environment

New research evaluating World Bank development projects, including those that pose the most environmental risks, finds no harm to important bird habitats.

Sirocco the kākāpō among renga lilies on Maud Island, New Zealand. Photo by Chris Birmingham for New Zealand Department of Conservation via Flickr, licensed under (CC-BY-2.0).
Counting on statistics: What can data producers and donors do differently to increase use? A new report from AidData surveys hundreds of government officials in developing countries to understand what they need to better produce and use official statistics. Soren Patterson, Tanya Sethi
2018-10-21

Counting on statistics: What can data producers and donors do differently to increase use?

A new report from AidData surveys hundreds of government officials in developing countries to understand what they need to better produce and use official statistics.

Cover image for Counting on Statistics report
USAID roads project sparked—and shifted—economic activity in West Bank AidData merged high-resolution nighttime lights imagery with precisely-located road improvements to discover how a $900-million investment impacted the Palestinian economy. Elizabeth Teare
2018-10-08

USAID roads project sparked—and shifted—economic activity in West Bank

AidData merged high-resolution nighttime lights imagery with precisely-located road improvements to discover how a $900-million investment impacted the Palestinian economy.

Where the coastline begins to curve gently in the lower center of the picture lies the West Bank. Photo by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center, via NASA, in the public domain.
AidData wins two-year Millennium Challenge Corporation award The MCC awards AidData $400,000 to develop new methods using high-resolution satellite data to more accurately and frequently monitor the impacts of land reforms on poverty and land use. Elizabeth Teare, Soren Patterson
2018-10-04

AidData wins two-year Millennium Challenge Corporation award

The MCC awards AidData $400,000 to develop new methods using high-resolution satellite data to more accurately and frequently monitor the impacts of land reforms on poverty and land use.

View of South India and Sri Lanka from the payload bay of the Space Shuttle in earth orbit. Photo by NASA via Wikimedia, licensed under (CC BY 2.0).
Chinese infrastructure investments reduce inequalities in developing countries A new AidData working paper analyzes Chinese infrastructure's impacts using the most comprehensive dataset of Chinese development project locations ever assembled. Soren Patterson, Bradley Parks
2018-09-11

Chinese infrastructure investments reduce inequalities in developing countries

A new AidData working paper analyzes Chinese infrastructure's impacts using the most comprehensive dataset of Chinese development project locations ever assembled.

The India-Pakistan border in 2015, as viewed from the International Space Station. Photo by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center, in the public domain.
A volley of words—and new data—on China’s diplomatic reach A recent report by AidData informed and incited discussion of China’s growing public diplomacy activities in East Asia and Pacific. Soren Patterson
2018-08-01

A volley of words—and new data—on China’s diplomatic reach

A recent report by AidData informed and incited discussion of China’s growing public diplomacy activities in East Asia and Pacific.

Sports Ministers from South Korea, China and Japan meet in 2016 in Pyeongchang.