Publications
While our publications are all listed here, they are easier to browse on our research page.
Impact of mosquito nets on fisheries
In April 2024, GiveWell commissioned Rethink Priorities to conduct research on mosquito nets. The aim was to briefly evaluate whether some nets that are distributed but not used could be causing harm if they are being used for fishing. This rapid research focused on whether greater demand for existing fish stocks could lead to depletion and disrupt long-term sustainability and food security, which we refer to as “overfishing”.
Research in brief: Clean energy price trajectories
This post summarizes research that Rethink conducted in 2022 on the trajectory of the prices of clean energy over the next 25-100 years. The researchers also looked into whether resource or scientific constraints may inhibit clean energy innovation and scaling.
Research in brief: Carbon capture landscape and challenges
This post summarizes research that Rethink conducted in 2022 on the neglectedness of carbon capture technologies over a five- to ten-year horizon, as well as bottlenecks associated with the field and tractable interventions to overcome them.
Research in brief: Climate philanthropy landscape
This post summarizes research that Rethink conducted in December 2021 into the state of climate philanthropy—including the amount that has been committed, how it is allocated, and the identity of major funders—as well as a comparison with public and private climate funding.
Research in Brief: Scientific capacity in sub-Saharan Africa
This post summarizes research that Rethink conducted in 2022 for into scientific capacity in sub-Saharan Africa. The main aim of this project was to understand whether it could be a high-impact grantmaking area for Open Philanthropy.
Research in Brief: The long-term income effects of childhood malaria cases
This research updated GiveWell’s previous literature review on the long-term income effects of childhood malaria to determine whether the assumption that income in adulthood decreases by 1% per childhood malaria case should be adjusted and whether any further evidence should be considered.
Research in Brief: Larval source management
This report is a broad overview of larval source management, including evidence for effectiveness, room for more funding, and coverage by existing implementers.
Research in Brief: Vitamin A usage in different countries
This summary aims to understand whether and how the “double treatment” parameter in GiveWell’s model on vitamin A supplementation should be updated, and to produce estimates for additional countries of interest.
Research in Brief: Evidence review of family planning interventions
This is a summary of an evidence review of family planning interventions. The review mostly focused on the Family Planning High Impact Practices List, or HIPs, which are a set of family planning practices considered to be the gold standard, and on “Service Delivery” interventions, the category of HIPs that best aligns with GiveWell’s traditional program model.
Priority review vouchers for tropical diseases: Impact, distribution, effectiveness, and potential improvements
This report examines the Priority Review Vouchers (PRV) that the US government has issued under its Tropical Disease PRV Program, which provides financial incentives for research and development targeting neglected tropical diseases.
Vaccine delivery: Timelines and drivers of delay in low- and middle-income countries
Universal introduction of vaccines in low- and middle-income countries has lagged behind introductions in high-income countries. While Gavi—a global public-private partnership—has helped to alleviate cost-related delays, additional bottlenecks remain. This report suggests interventions to further improve efficiency and experiences throughout the vaccine delivery process.
A review of GiveWell’s discount rate
The primary focus of this report is to review GiveWell’s current formulation of its discount rate by recommending improvements and reinforcing justifications for areas that do not require improvement.
Road safety: Landscape of the problem and routes to effective policy advocacy
In 2019, there were about 1.2 million deaths due to road injuries—about 90% of which occurred in low- and middle-income countries. In this report, researchers reviewed case studies of key time periods in China and Vietnam to better understand the relative impact of (philanthropically-funded) policy changes versus other factors.
An overview of market shaping in global health: Landscape, new developments, and gaps
This report provides an overview of how market shaping is typically used in global health, its recent track record, and ongoing gaps in its implementation. The researchers also spotlight two specific market shaping approaches: pooled procurement and subscription models.
An overview of WHO Prequalification: Process, usage, and potential improvements
The primary focus of the report is to provide a review of World Health Organization Prequalification (WHO-PQ). The researchers focused mostly on how it works and how it’s funded, as well as how it came about and how it could be improved for a greater global health impact.
Historical Global Health R&D “hits”: Development, main sources of funding, and impact
Research Analyst Bruce Tsai and Research Assistant Erin Braid estimate how many deaths have been averted by five medicines: four antimalarials and one HIV treatment. Their report then reconstructs each drug’s development story, including the roles of funding from companies, academics, government, and philanthropy.
Family Empowerment Media: track record, cost-effectiveness, and main uncertainties
This commissioned report assesses the cost-effectiveness of nonprofit Family Empowerment Media (FEM) on behalf of an anonymous donor.
An overview of the WHO Essential Medicines List: procedures, usage, and potential improvements
The primary focus of this report is to provide a review of the World Health Organization’s Essential Medicines List (EML). The researchers explain how the EML is developed and used, and how it could be improved for a greater global health impact.
Better weather forecasting: Agricultural and non-agricultural benefits in low- and lower-middle-income countries
This report is a “shallow” investigation commissioned by Open Philanthropy. This primary focus of the report is to assess weather forecasting as a potential agricultural intervention in low- and lower-middle income countries and to examine the cost-effectiveness of different interventions.
Exposure to Lead Paint in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
This report is a “shallow” investigation commissioned by GiveWell. The primary focus of the report is to provide an overview of what is currently known about the exposure to lead paints in low- and middle-income countries.