Evaluating the Costs & Benefits: Can We Do More with Less in Foreign Aid?

This was a unique opportunity to learn how American universities are identifying more effective ways to meet anti-poverty targets. We also learned how governments are improving foreign aid effectiveness through innovation.

Hosted by the Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance, this briefing featured two researchers who have rigorously evaluated a series of primary school programs in India and Sub-Saharan Africa, with the goal of finding the most cost-effective among them. They discussed which programs offer the greatest impact for money and how the evidence has influenced policy-makers.

We also heard about how governments in India and East Africa are improving the effectiveness of their social programs, through high quality development research. With limited resources available to improve living standards, researchers can help to evaluate the costs and benefits of innovative alternatives, enabling us to cut wasteful programs and redirect funds to alternatives with proven effectiveness.