A new study found that forgiveness messaging from a respected Islamic sheikh significantly increased community members' willingness to accept demobilized Boko Haram fighters back into their community. The study, conducted in northeastern Nigeria, showed that 70% of participants who heard the forgiveness messaging were willing to have t...
A new study published in Nature Medicine reveals that willingness to get a COVID-19 vaccine is higher in developing countries, with personal protection being the main reason for acceptance. Concern about side effects was the most common reason for vaccine hesitancy, but health workers were considered trusted sources of information.
A new study by an international team of economists found that the pandemic caused sharp declines in living standards and rising food insecurity in developing countries. The study reports high levels of food insecurity, with many households unable to meet basic nutritional needs.
A new study found that playing on soccer teams with Muslim players increased tolerance among Christians towards their Muslim teammates in the league, but not beyond. This approach showed promise for rebuilding social ties and promoting coexistence after war.
A new study published in Science found that offering small financial incentives to Ugandan landowners cut deforestation in half, preserving 3,000 tons of CO2 and costing just 46 cents per ton. The program, which worked despite initial skepticism, could be a cost-effective way to meet climate change goals.
A new study found that village savings groups led to positive business outcomes, increased business profits by 24%, and boosted women's empowerment. However, longer-term tracking is needed to determine the sustainability of these impacts.
A new study in Science found that mobile money access helped bring hundreds of thousands of Kenyans out of poverty, especially those in female-headed households. The expansion of M-PESA, Kenya's text message-based payments system, lifted 194,000 households above the poverty line.
A new study published in Science suggests that post-conflict reconciliation programs promote social cohesion and forgiveness of perpetrators, but at the cost of reduced psychological health. The study found that these programs worsened depression, anxiety, and trauma, while improving trust and social network strength.
A six-country study evaluates the effectiveness of the 'Graduation model' in boosting livelihoods, income, and health of ultra-poor individuals. The approach, which includes training, asset provision, and savings accounts, shows significant improvements, even three years after implementation.
A new study released in Science found that subsidies are essential for increasing the use of hygienic latrines in developing countries. The community-motivation model alone was ineffective, but combining it with subsidies expanded latrine coverage substantially, particularly among poor households.
Researchers found that simple text messages can help patients complete their full malaria medication regimen, boosting rates of treatment completion and reducing the risk of drug-resistant diseases. The study used SMS reminders in Ghana and showed a significant impact on treatment adherence.