What makes a teacher a good teacher? Although teachers are mostly selected according to what is showcased in their curriculum vitae, those credentials are not what matters most, according to Cerrando Brechas (Closing Gaps), a multi-year study to measure the effects of better teachers on child learning in the first years of elementary school carried out by the government of … [Read more...] about Cerrando Brechas: good teachers matter for kindergarten success
Lessons from Honduras’ CTT program: conditionalities matter
A successful strategy to reduce poverty in developing nations has been the use of conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs. CCTs attempt to reduce poverty while also changing behavior and building human capital by providing families with cash in exchange for certain requirements, such as enrolling their children in school. These incentives have been employed … [Read more...] about Lessons from Honduras’ CTT program: conditionalities matter
Using job training to prevent teen pregnancy in the Dominican Republic
Greater self-esteem and opportunities can reduce the risk of teenage pregnancy. That is a lesson of a job training program advanced by the Youth and Employment Program in the Dominican Republic. The country has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Latin America and the Caribbean, with 104 births per 1,000 people between the ages of 15 and 19, almost equal to that of the … [Read more...] about Using job training to prevent teen pregnancy in the Dominican Republic
Data transparency as a development effectiveness tool
by Erin Bautista and Tracy Betts. Each year, international development institutions channel billions of dollars into development projects around the world. Is the money well spent? Does it produce the desired results? While many development providers publish project details through their own websites and reports, finding consolidated information on which … [Read more...] about Data transparency as a development effectiveness tool
Short-term triggers of agricultural productivity in Bolivia
Thanks to the implementation of CRIAR's program, beneficiary households diversify their crop portfolio, producing nontraditional crops with greater value added in larger areas. At the same time beneficiary households are modifying their household economy, moving from self-sustainment toward a more market-oriented structure. Carlos Pacheco is one of 17,000 beneficiaries … [Read more...] about Short-term triggers of agricultural productivity in Bolivia