Blog

The USAID Impact blog frequently features posts by guest authors.

Harmful Child Labor Is Everyone’s Business

Posted by Wendy Blanpied on Wednesday, June 15th 2016

“Rose,” 16, never expected to end up living in the streets of Abidjan, sleeping nights under a table in the marketplace and having to sell sex for survival. She left her village in rural Côte d’Ivoire for a promise to live with her aunt in the city to attend school and perform domestic chores. Things […]

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Could Sri Lanka’s 2015 Elections Signal a New Era of Democracy?

Posted by Anil Liyanage and Angelina Hermon on Tuesday, December 29th 2015

Sri Lankans line up to cast their vote during the country’s presidential election in January 2015. / USAID

Twice in the last year, Sri Lankans went to the polls to demand dramatic political changes in their government. The elections have changed the political landscape and culture in Sri Lanka.

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A New Leader for the U.S. Global Development Lab

Posted by Lona Stoll and Andrew Sisson on Monday, December 1st 2014

Ann Mei Chang’s arrival gives us the opportunity to both reflect on where the Lab has come over the past eight months, and the confidence to know that the best is yet to come.

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New Promise for a Greener, More Productive Future in Indonesia

Posted by Robert Blake and Eric Postel on Monday, October 6th 2014

Indonesia’s Chamber of Commerce and four of the world’s biggest palm oil companies announced a zero-deforestation palm oil pledge at the U.N. Climate Summit 2014 in New York. The U.S. supports this historic announcement and will stand with Indonesia as the country pursues a future of cleaner, more sustainable growth.

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The Power of the Classroom

Posted by Susan Markham on Tuesday, August 12th 2014

Girl students at Shalom Community School, Lusaka, Zambia

Girls in many parts of Africa face extraordinary obstacles to get an education. However, Senior Gender Coordinator for USAID, Susan Markham, explains the almost immeasurable value that such an opportunity can provide.

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An Everyday Movement

Posted by David Evangelista on Friday, July 11th 2014

Just as the World Cup is capturing the world’s attention in Brazil, Special Olympics uses sport to capture the imagination and empower the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

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Mobilizing ‘Makers’ for a Better World

Posted by Eric King on Wednesday, June 18th 2014

USAID is challenging Makers around the world to create sensor technologies that can improve the lives and livelihoods of the world’s most vulnerable people.

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Ending Child Labor

Posted by Bama Athreya on Thursday, June 12th 2014

An ambitious social movement to eradicate child labor globally came together two decades ago – and has had unprecedented success. At USAID, we have learned what programs are effective, and what more needs to be done to end child labor.

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