Parasitic worms, or soil-transmitted helminths (STH), are among the most prevalent causes of illness among the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations, especially children. Close to a quarter of the world’s population is infected with at least one species of STH, and globally an estimated 870 million children are at risk of a new infection

Today the world celebrates International Day of Charity, declared by the UN General Assembly in 2012. The UN’s agenda on sustainable development calls for the eradication of global poverty and the Sustainable Development Goals provide a framework by which institutions, organizations, and individuals can give charitably for the betterment of our world. To honor your giving, we want to show why we value your contribution today and every other day.

To comprehensively determine the burden, intensity, and geographical distribution of STH in Pakistan and to inform an appropriate treatment strategy, Evidence Action’s Deworm the World Initiative collaborated with Interactive Research and Development (IRD), the Indus Hospital, and the Institute of Development and Economic Alternatives (IDEAS) to conduct the first nationwide STH survey in Pakistan in late 2016.

No Lean Season, a program of nonprofit organization Evidence Action, today announced major support from the Global Innovation Fund. The Global Innovation Fund (GIF) is a London-headquartered investor in social innovations that aim to improve the lives and opportunities of millions of people in the developing world.  The total investment from GIF for the next two years is $2,571,210. The funds will be used to support the rigorous testing and expansion of No Lean Season in Bangladesh and Indonesia.

Press Release: No Lean Season, a program of nonprofit organization Evidence Action that reduces seasonal poverty and hunger through small cash transfers for bus tickets, announces backing by Y Combinator and the launch of an ambitious drive to combat seasonal poverty.

Evidence Action’s Board today announced that Kanika Bahl will be its new CEO.
 

Evidence Action Beta is looking for ambitious researchers whose work or insights could benefit millions of people living in poverty, and who want to participate in seeing their research turned into viable, scaled up programs. 

Have you done work that has similar potential?  Read on! 

The first cohort of “No Lean Season” participants in northern Bangladesh are on their way. More than 4,500 rural workers are traveling temporarily to nearby areas with higher wages and greater labor opportunities to support their family during the lean season. A few thousand more are expected to join the ranks before the end of the lean season around mid-December in Rangpur, the target area for the initial roll-out of the program. Here is an update. 

We are thrilled to be on the GiveWell recommended charity list this year again for the work we do at the Deworm the World Initiative. It is a great honor. 

Evidence Action is pleased to support Kenya’s Ministry of Health and its Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Unit as it carries out mass treatment for lymphatic filariasis. Led by the government of Kenya, treatment is provided to  communities in all six of Kenya’s endemic counties, targeting over 2.3 million adults and children.

Evidence Action is pleased to announce the appointment of two new board members to its Board of Directors: Shikhar Ghosh, a profession of management practice at Harvard University and an experienced entrepreneur, and John Gianola, a retired partner at Ernst & Young.

Photo impressions from the preparation for the last National Deworming Day round in India. Community mobilization and promotion of the Deworming Day is important to increase coverage and get community and political buy-in for the largest, single-day community health program in the world.  

Evidence Action’s Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey Brown, has announced that he has resigned from the organization, effective November 21, 2016, to pursue other opportunities. Kanika Bahl, Evidence Action’s Board Chair, will serve as acting CEO. Evidence Action will conduct a global search for a new CEO.

We are exploring the potential of  leveraging the Dispensers for Safe Water network of local water promoters to deliver nutritional messages to families. We believe that the existing network of trained and dedicated individuals can provide a cost-effective way to increase household knowledge about nutrition, and potentially reduce undernutrition and malnutrition among children. This is the story of a randomized controlled trial to evaluate this.