Most aid programs still use outdated lists that miss people in crisis About one in five Bangaldeshis live below the national poverty line.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 […]
Blog - Operations
Candid thoughts from staff, donors, and recipients on our work and the broader movement towards cash transfers.
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 […]
Operations, Recipients
How to explain AI/ML across the digital divide
When a crisis hits a low-income country, aid groups often struggle to quickly find and help those most in need because governments have incomplete or outdated information on their citizens (‘social registries’). This is why GiveDirectly has used mobile phone metadata and AI to predict people’s level of need and send them emergency cash quickly—often […]
Operations
Rethinking efficiency to better reflect our diverse cash programs
Minimizing costs maximizes our impact for the world’s poorest: in a million-dollar GiveDirectly program, increasing efficiency from 75% to 80% might allow us to give an additional 100 people cash.1 But efficiency is not the only important metric, as some higher-cost programs reach more vulnerable populations or unlock new funds to go directly to people in […]
Operations
How GiveDirectly prevents, addresses, and reports risks
If you believe you’ve observed GiveDirectly staff, volunteers, vendors, contractors, or partners engaging in misconduct (including fraud, harassment, discrimination, or any other form of unethical behavior), please file a report to whistleblower@givedirectly.org or to our third-party whistleblowing portal here→ We’re improving how we report to you on risks Giving cash directly is a proven and dignified way to […]
Operations
Which U.S. cash programs work the best? We don’t know yet.
Giving cash directly to people in poverty is proven to help. Our research increasingly focuses on testing the impact of different cash designs by varying how much, how often, and when people receive cash. For example, a first-of-its-kind study found the impact of delivering the same amount of cash to Kenyans in poverty is significantly […]
Operations
GiveDirectly pursues greater impact as Nick Allardice joins as President & CEO
GiveDirectly has been a major player in scaling the use of unconditional cash transfers, helping build consensus among the international community that direct cash is a key component to tackling extreme poverty. Now, as we near $1 billion delivered, we’ve appointed Nick Allardice as President and CEO to lead this next phase of growth. GiveDirectly […]
Operations
GiveDirectly’s approach to responsible AI/ML
We use big data and AI to swiftly and accurately deliver cash relief to people in need GiveDirectly has leveraged big data and artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning (ML)1, to identify and deliver cash directly to people in need 4-8x faster and with improved accuracy. This has proven particularly useful for delivering cash relief […]