🚨 Evidence alert: RCT from a @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social / @ox.ac.uk team found that unconditional cash xfers led to 48% ⬇️ infant deaths in Kenya. 🧢 off to team behind this study: Michael Walker, @tedmiguel.bsky.social, Dennis Egger, Nick Shankar, and Grady Killeen. go.cega.org/cashimpacts A 🧵

Cash Transfers Dramatically Cut Infant Mortality in Kenya, New Research Finds

Berkeley, CA (18 Aug. 2025) — With the global development community facing financial upheaval, global development goals increasingly out of reach, and the need for aid greater than ever, new...

go.cega.org

The Em Dash Responds to the AI Allegations www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/the... Brilliant. No notes!

The Em Dash Responds to the AI Allegations

“In recent months, a curious fixation has emerged in corners of academia: the em dash. More specifically, the apparent moral panic around how it is...

mcsweeneys.net

The 13th Africa Evidence Summit kicks off with @deankarlan.bsky.social, Catherine Kyobutungi ( @aphrc.bsky.social) and Emilie Oftedal (@norad.no) discussing how the #globaldev sector can respond to the recent cuts to foreign aid. #AES2025 @cega-uc.bsky.social

Excited for this stellar line-up of #globaldev leaders looking at the future of foreign aid using #evidence, innovation, and collaboration. CEGA, @busaracenter.bsky.social, and the Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa showing how partnership can chart a path forward and improve lives.

Center for Effective Global Action@cega-uc.bsky.social · last yr.

📅 Don’t miss #NairobiEvidenceWeek, June 23-27, a week-long event spotlighting cost-effective, policy-relevant, and inclusive research across disciplines. Here’s a quick look at what to expect:

“This cowardice stands in marked contrast to the bravery of the workers of #USAID, who put themselves in harm’s way and risked their lives to answer this country’s call.” Sam Power quoted in this fab story from Devex's @elissamio.bsky.social that pulls you right in. www.devex.com/news/samanth...

Samantha Power attacks 'cowardice' of Rubio and 'ignorance' of DOGE

Two former USAID administrators delivered a powerful bipartisan defense of the agency’s workforce, condemning the Trump administration’s dismantling of what was once the largest aid agency in the worl...

devex.com

With global aid budget cuts, evidence is even more crucial. Executive Director @carsonchristiano.bsky.social calls for investing in research to maximize impact with limited resources, especially in cost-effectiveness initiatives like CEGA's PILCEE program. #econsky cega.berkeley.edu/article/evid...

Evidence as an Antidote to Chaos

Carson Christiano is the executive director of the Center for Effective Global Action. Reflecting on the recent changes in federal support for research and the global development community, below...

cega.berkeley.edu

Sad, sad news. We've lost a great.

Clara Jeffery@clarajeffery.bsky.social · last yr.

1/ Really heartbroken to learn that Kevin Drum, a long time blogger and essayist for @motherjones.com has died after a long battle with multiple myeloma. Here's a note from his wife Marian, who's also set up a memorial page on Facebook. jabberwocking.com/health-updat...

So proud to have co-organized this rally, w/ inspiring + brave speeches from @tedmiguel.bsky.social, @fdoperez.bsky.social, @jenniferdoudna.bsky.social+20 more and 1000+ attendees! We need to keep fighting against the depraved stream of chaos flooding this country and damaging the rest of the world.

Fernando Pérez@fernandoperez.org · last yr.

That felt good! Great speeches from the Berkeley community, ranging from Nobel Laureate Jennifer Doudna to undergraduate student leaders. Amazing energy in defense of science, and it felt good to do something positive, even if it's just a small step. Below is the text I read. #StandUpForScience !

Scenes from the incredible turnout today at Berkeley's @standupforscience.bsky.social rally. @tedmiguel.bsky.social, @jenniferdoudna.bsky.social, and dozens of researchers, elected officials, and citizens defended science and the jobs, health benefits, and progress it creates for all Americans.

Thanks to out @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social community for joining us at Stand Up For Science! @jenniferdoudna.bsky.social spoke about how NIH funding supported her PhD & NSF funding supported her development of #CRISPR genome editing. Federal funding is needed for life-saving science!

🏛️ ✊ TODAY: Stand Up For Science at UC Berkeley, CA 🧪 @standupforscience.bsky.social #standupforscience2025

Dr. Rebecca (Becca) Tarvin@rdtarvin.bsky.social · last yr.

Huge crowd at stand up for science rally at UC Berkeley today #SUFS 🧪🌎🌿

“Out of the lab and into the streets, researchers and doctors rally for science against Trump cuts” by @borenbears.bsky.social for @apnews.com. Read more here: apnews.com/article/scie...

Out of the lab and into the streets, researchers and doctors rally for science against Trump cuts

Researchers, doctors, their patients and supporters are venturing out of labs, hospitals and offices across the country to stand up to what they call an attack on life-saving science by the Trump admi...

apnews.com

If your grocery budget was halved, what would you do? #rohingya www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...

Exclusive: UN to slash rations to Rohingya refugees by half to $6 per month, official says

The United Nations will cut food rations to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh from $12.50 to $6 per month next month after failing to find funds, an official said, raising fears among aid workers of rising hunger in the world’s largest refugee settlement.

reuters.com

Science is an engine of economic, social, and political progress. On Friday, a nationwide movement of scientists + concerned citizens will rally against recent federal actions and orders that have created a risk to our economy, well-being, and society. Berkeley event: standup4scienceberkeley.com.

This is the first page of this morning’s edition of the Globe and Mail (arguably the English Canadian paper of record) I don’t remember seeing anything like this before

ProPublica looked into science grants that Ted Cruz's team flagged as "radical" and "neo-Marxist" and, uh. This would be good comedy if it didn't matter so much www.propublica.org/article/ted-...

There's an unidentified illness outbreak in the Congo right now. I talked to experts, including a doctor on the ground, about how US aid cuts have hampered the response: www.wired.com/story/race-t...

A Lethal Mystery Illness Is Spreading in Congo. USAID Cuts Have Slowed the Response

Gutting USAID is already having a devastating impact around the world. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, teams that would normally be racing to identify a fatal sickness are gone.

wired.com

Pleased that the ProPublica brand is strong enough that if I casually ask a friend about her workplace, her immediate response is, "Wait, are you investigating us?!"

This. A million times this.

E. Rosalie@erosalie.infoepi.com · last yr.

Tesla lost enough value today that it could have fully funded USAID for a year.

Hello from CEGA! We generate rigorous research on global poverty, using innovative data, methods, and partnerships, to improve the lives of millions. We also provide policymakers & funders cost-effective strategies to scale evidence-backed solutions for development. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fps...

CEGA | New insights and tools to improve lives

YouTube video by Center for Effective Global Action

youtube.com

It is really hard to watch people willfully tear down an infrastructure that allowed us to double lifespans, drastically reduce poverty, and become one of the richest countries in the world.

Difficult to put into words how catastrophic this is for millions of people right now - maybe billions of future lives.

Sara Jerving@sarajerving.bsky.social · last yr.

Devex was informed of a case where USAID’s finance team called a staff member's child's school abroad to inquire about refunding tuition they paid — for a child with special needs. “It’s inhumane and humiliating,” one USAID employee said. www.devex.com/news/usaid-s...

Hey, university friends… Breathe. The recent slashing of NIH indirect cost rates is unlikely to survive. It’s another Trump stunt. Courts will have a say. And so will OMB. And pharmaceutical companies won’t stand for it. NIH-backed research enjoys a ton of congressional (and lobbyist) support.

i don’t even know if crime is the right word for the illegal destruction of USAID. it is an autocratic power grab and a direct attack on the sovereignty of the american people

I think it’s: 1.) what bad action just happened in [a zone] 2.) what *can* be done about it 3.) what is *likely* to be done about it + is there a way for ordinary people to change that (if so what) 4.) what are the likely effects if nothing is done + how can we protect each other +

It's not so common that #evidence makes a big splash in the #globaldev community. Today's news is a thrilling exception. PILCEE will enable better outcomes for more people. I think it could transform how foreign assistance is delivered. This is evidence making a very big wave. 🌊 go.cega.org/pilceex

Absolutely chuffed to be included in this starter pack. The last starter pack I had was the Topps NBA 1995 season.

WonkComms@wonkcomms.bsky.social · 2y ago

We've added some more communicators to our starter pack! Hi @alexisdarby.bsky.social @chrishewson.bsky.social @mmdesilva.bsky.social @nickbuxton.bsky.social @funsizesuze.bsky.social @mattkertman.bsky.social @kmacsthoughts.bsky.social @aasthauprety.bsky.social Pls repost! go.bsky.app/PW3rfE2