Evidence-based policy report

This report argues that supporting and increasing evidence-based policy, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, is a high-leverage and impactful opportunity for donors. By far the most resources spent on tackling poverty come from local governments. American think tank the Brookings Institution found that, in 2011, $2.3 trillion of the $2.8 trillion spent on financing development came from domestic government revenues in the countries affected. There are often large differences in the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of social programs the amount of good done per dollar spent can vary significantly across programs. By using philanthropic funding to improve the effectiveness of policymaking in low- and middle-income countries, donors can potentially enable policy makers to implement more effective policies, thereby reaching many more people than direct interventions. We present the most promising organization we identified in this area, from an initial list of 90 charities we reviewed using expert advice and desk research.