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Key Issues and Collections
COVID 19
Social Science research to inform the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic
Health systems in fragile and conflict affected settings
What evidence exists for strengthening health systems in fragile and conflict-affected states
Nutrition
How to design agriculture and food-related policies, programmes and interventions to improve nutrition.
Nutrition
In much of South Asia, women make up a majority of the agricultural workforce, but what effect does working in agriculture have on the nutrition of these women and their children?
Latest documents
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Document
An interactive tracker for ceasefires in the time of Covid-19
J. Allison, S. Badanjak, B. Bach, C. Bell, D. Bhattacharya, F. Knaussel, L. Wise / University of Edinburgh, 2020COVID-19 poses a distinct health challenge in conflict-affected states. Conflict has been recognised as a direct threat to health and a factor that complicates responses to health crises. Reflecting these challenges, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for a global ceasefire to stop violent conflict and assist addressing the pandemic.DocumentLives vs. Livelihoods Revisited: Should Poorer Countries with Younger Populations Have Equally Strict Lockdowns
T. von Carnap, I. Almas, T. Bold, S. Ghisolfi, J. Sandefur / Center for Global Development, USA, 2020Governments around the world have taken drastic measures to control the spread of coronavirus. Public debate has understandably focused on the differences across countries; however, there has been surprising uniformity in the severity of lockdowns and other containment measures between rich and poor countries, as data from Oxford University’s “Stringency Index” shows (Figure 1).DocumentThe Macroeconomics of Pandemics in Developing Countries: An Application to Uganda
T. von Carnap, I. Almas, T. Bold, S. Ghisolfi, J. Sandefur / Center for Global Development, USA, 2020How should policies to control the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic differ across countries? We extend recent contributions integrating economic and epidemiological models for the United States to a developing country context, Uganda. Differences in demography, comorbidities, and health systems affect mortality risk; lower incomes affect agents’ willingness to forego consumption to reduce disease risk.DocumentNew Data Show the World Bank’s COVID Response Is Too Small and Too Slow
J. Duggan, S. Morris, , , G. Yang / Center for Global Development, USA, 2020The World Bank has committed to providing $104 billion in financing by next June to help developing countries deal with the COVID-19 crisis. Is that sufficient to meet the needs of developing countries facing a massive growth contraction? And will the bank actually deliver on its pledge?DocumentIs the World Bank’s COVID Crisis Lending Big Enough, Fast Enough? New Evidence on Loan Disbursements
J. Duggan, S. Morris, , , G. Yang / Center for Global Development, USA, 2020The World Bank has forecast an unprecedented global recession in 2020-21, and the reversal of a decades-long fall in global poverty, provoking an acute need for short-term financing in low- and lower-middle income countries. Critics contend that the Bank has failed to rise to this challenge, acting slowly to increase lending volumes and resisting calls for a multilateral debt standstill.DocumentResilience of the ultra-poor people in the face of COVID-19
L. Whitehead / BRAC Institute of Governance and Development, 2020The health shocks brought on by the spread of COVID-19, coupled with the economic crisis wrought by global lockdown measures, have had an immediate and severe impact on the state of extreme poverty. The scale of the crisis means widening numbers of people are experiencing vulnerability and financial insecurity, and risk falling further into the trap of extreme poverty.
Blog
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23 November 2020A new IDS-led research project seeks to re-imagine sanitation in rapidly urbanising areas in Asia and Africa to help address the sanitation crisis, enhance off–grid economies and improve the well-being of poor and vulnerable women and men, and marginalised communities such as Dalits, migrants, sanitation workers and refugees. -
1 July 2020Never has the need for social protection been greater. In response to the economic and social fallout of Covid-19, almost every country in the world has introduced or expanded programmes that support those who are most vulnerable. -
27 May 2020On any given day, 300 million people around the world will be menstruating. This normal and natural biological process is a fact of – and fundamental to – life.
What's new
10th February 2021
“I’m only a child and I don’t have all the solutions, but I want you to realise, neither do you.”
Severn Cullis-Suzuki, 12 years old, Rio Earth Summit, 1992
6th January 2021
Gain the skills and knowledge to more effectively shape policy with evidence with IDS's online short course.
29th October 2020
A new IDS Bulletin examines the experiences of female-led activisms against sexual harassment in articles that cover 11 countries around the world, including Egypt, the Philippines and India.
29th September 2020
Gain an introduction to to pastoralism, uncertainty and resilience, with lessons for global change.During this free online course, you’ll explore key concepts, case studies and questions for debate.
1st September 2020
Having the right mix of talented, committed individuals is vital to achieving IDS's vision of a more equitable and sustainable world, where people everywhere can live their lives free from poverty and injustice.