On July 4, floodwaters tore through homes across central Texas. In counties like Kerr, Williamson, and Travis, people lost housing, belongings, and access to essentials overnight. By July 11 –– just one week later –– GiveDirectly was sending $2,400 payments to help low-income families begin their recovery. In total, GiveDirectly sent $1.4M from over 1,300 donors […]
Blog - Operations
Candid thoughts from staff, donors, and recipients on our work and the broader movement towards cash transfers.
Operations
When staying quiet backfired: how we rebuilt trust in Mozambique
In the midst of post-election protests in November 2024, our cash program in Mogovolas, Mozambique was hit by a wave of false accusations. A social media post claimed that GiveDirectly was placing recipients under house arrest, acting as a political agent of the ruling party, and even recruiting for armed groups. The lies spread quickly, […]
Operations, Research
Can cash accelerate the end of extreme poverty? Taking the next big step in Malawi
In Malawi, we’re answering a new question: can cash not only transform individual lives but entire communities, accelerating the end of extreme poverty? The evidence is clear that large, unconditional cash transfers help people escape extreme poverty. Now we’re testing how it works at scale and learning how to make it even more effective along the […]
Operations
Oyin Solebo joins GiveDirectly Board of Directors
With nearly $1 billion delivered to people in poverty, GiveDirectly is entering a bold new phase: scaling our programs while innovating faster to meet our goal of delivering $5 billion by 2035. At this inflection point, we’re proud to welcome Oyin Solebo to GiveDirectly’s Board of Directors. Solebo brings unmatched experience at the intersection of […]
Operations
Five things we’ve learned using mobile data and AI/ML to identify people in need
Natural disasters, conflict, pandemics, and other crises are hitting more frequently and affecting more people. Unconditional cash transfers — delivered quickly before or after a shock — help families withstand these shocks. But to deliver cash quickly, governments and aid organizations need to solve a basic problem: How do you find the people most in need […]
Operations
From proven to fit-for-purpose: what we’re doing next with cash
This year, GiveDirectly will hit a milestone few thought possible: $1 billion committed to people in poverty, alongside 25+ independent studies rigorously testing how that cash was spent, what changed, and why. Now we’re raising the bar. GiveDirectly has set an audacious new goal: deliver $5 billion by 2035 to accelerate the end of extreme […]
Operations
In Bangladesh, AI targeted aid faster, cheaper, and often more accurately than manual methods
Most aid programs still use outdated lists that miss people in crisis About one in five Bangaldeshis live below the national poverty line. The government runs over 100 social protection programs reaching nearly 30m people. But many rely on static registries that fail to capture real-time need, like when a cyclone hits, a breadwinner loses […]
Operations
How AI helped send cash just before floods hit in Nigeria
Getting cash to people before disaster strikes can save lives. That’s why we piloted an AI-powered flood response in Nigeria, predicting where floods would hit and delivering early cash to those most at risk. By combining cutting-edge forecasts with local insights, we reached flood-prone communities faster, more affordably, and with greater precision—delivering aid before the […]
Operations
Report: risks we faced delivering cash in 2024
GiveDirectly’s work is rooted in integrity and focused on safety. We deliver unconditional transfers to people in poverty while managing the risks this creates, including fraud, abuse, and safety threats. Our code of ethics and values, along with national laws, guide staff conduct and set clear standards. We continuously improve safeguards to strengthen protection for […]
Operations
Why we sent the largest-ever cash payment to homeless Americans
In 2024, the U.S. saw the highest number of people unhoused — 770,000 on a given night — despite $10B+ in federal spending on homelessness. There is growing evidence that a large lump sum of cash can help homeless families become stably housed, which is why GiveDirectly launched a program in Chicago doing just that. We […]