HEALTH POLICY / INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY

Providing Health Assistance to Countries with Growing Economies

Economic improvement does not always indicate health improvement in countries still needing health assistance. The study, which includes Sarah Bermeo and Gavin Yamey, found that when countries reach the middle-income threshold, many multilateral donors, including Gavi, begin to withdraw their official development assistance (ODA). This process is known as “graduation.” Analyzing data from 2009 to 2018 for 77 Gavi-eligible nations, this observational study reveals that countries, on average, receive $3.1 million less in all-sector ODA and $0.6 million less in health ODA from bilateral donors after graduating from Gavi. The impact is more pronounced in the long term as interests, such as migration patterns and military assistance, influence bilateral ODA. The research highlights the importance of considering various factors in global health funding policies. Read the study. 

(Photo: Anastasiia Gudantova via Unsplash)

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT POLICY

Barriers to Off-grid Development Remain in Some Countries

Off-grid energy technology has made incredible strides this century, but access to electricity remains elusive in some countries. Marc Jeuland and co-authors explored the challenges and opportunities in off-grid development in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, analyzing the perspectives of nearly 200 private companies. Despite common obstacles such as limited market information and technical capacity, varied challenges exist, including informal sector competition, high business costs, poor tariff policies and funding shortages. The study underscores the importance of policy support, including subsidies, financing, foreign exchange access, regulatory assistance and capacity building. Read the study. 

(Photo: Moritz Kindler via Unsplash)

HEALTH POLICY

Access to COVID-19 Tests Among Those With Housing Insecurity

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated healthcare disparities among marginalized groups in the U.S., with individuals facing housing insecurity bearing a disproportionate burden. Don Taylor co-authored the scoping review that examines 42 studies on COVID-19 testing among this vulnerable population. The review identifies 143 barriers, including cultural gaps, systemic racism, medical costs and immigration policies. The review highlights qualitative solutions from 30 studies, emphasizing the need for increased research in this area. It underscores the lack of comprehensive studies on COVID-19 testing barriers and solutions among those experiencing housing insecurity to ensure equitable healthcare delivery. Read about this review.

(Photo: Jakayla Toney via Unsplash)

SOCIAL POLICY

Racial Representation in Durham County Jury List

The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to a trial by an impartial jury of one's peers. Yet, how do counties ensure juries that reflect their populations? This study, co-authored by Doug Brook and Jay Pearson, focuses on Durham County's jury lists, a concern highlighted by the July 2020 Durham Racial Equity Task Force report. Jury pools are drawn from voter and driver lists, but Black, Indigenous and additional BIPOC populations are underrepresented. This underrepresentation leads to problems like courts not meeting their obligation for diverse juries, biased convictions for non-white defendants, and decreased trust in legal institutions among non-white communities. The study examined jury lists in Durham County, finding overrepresentation of white individuals and underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic/Latino individuals. The study proposes policy options, with increasing the master list size as a potential solution to better represent the local population. Read the study.

(Photo: North Carolina Judicial Branch)

The personal data of U.S. military members is on sale and easy to buy. The Sanford data broker team, led by Justin Sherman, studied this major target of data brokers. Along with Sherman, this report was co-authored with Sanford students Hayley Barton, Aden Klein, Brady Kruse, and Anushka Srinivasan. Read the story and report. 

President Biden's recent announcement of key appointments to various boards and commissions includes a notable name from Sanford. David Price, Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Professor of Public Policy Studies, has been selected to serve on the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Read the story.

This episode of the award-winning podcast Ways & Means explores the hidden role that climate plays in the story of migration and how the changing climate is driving thousands of people to migrate. This episode highlights how relatively small, inexpensive changes on the ground could make a difference to this daunting geopolitical problem. This is the seventh episode in Sanford's “Climate Change Solutions” series, looking at research-based ideas to help cool a rapidly heating planet. Listen to the episode. 

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