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Responsibility in a Time of Cholera

Cholera still festers in Haiti more than two years after the October 2010 outbreak traced to UN troops. Victoria Fan unpacks what went wrong and offers suggestions for the success of a fledgling new initiative for a cholera-free Hispaniola.

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Biometrics for Development

Is biometric ID the next big thing in development? Alan Gelb and Julia Clark, who found 160 programs around the world, say that the biometrics revolution is already underway. Image: Bikas Das / AP

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Aid Feedback Loops

Consumer Reports, Yelp, Amazon reviews: CGD visiting fellow Dennis Whittle thinks donors should follow suit and set up feedback loops for aid-funded development projects. He wants your feedback on the idea.

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CliffsNotes for Kerry and Hagel

What development questions should US senators ask at confirmation hearings for John Kerry as secretary of state and Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense? How should the nominees answer? Image: flickr users MarkGregory007 and roberthuffstutter / cc

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What Next for Mali?

French intervention to counter Islamic insurgents in northern Mali highlights the risk for outsiders, including the United States. Todd Moss says Washington should be cautious but not passive. Image: Jerome Delay / AP

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Vaccines and the CIA

Charles Kenny lends his voice to the growing chorus of health experts asking President Obama to ban US spy agencies from using vaccination and other public health programs as a cover for clandestine activities. Image: AP

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How Fair Is My Fair Trade Coffee?

Does buying fair trade coffee help poor people? In a new policy paper and Wonkcast, Kim Elliott explains why the answer is more complicated than you think. Image: CIAT International Center for Tropical Agriculture/ cc

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A Better Way to Rank the Tanks

CGD senior fellow David Roodman and policy analyst Julia Clark apply the number-crunching techniques of CGD’s Commitment to Development Index to the thorny problem of ranking think tanks. Guess who wins.

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Happy Foreign Aid New Year?

As 2012 ended, President Obama named 9 of 12 members to his Global Development Council, the House passed aid transparency legislation (which died in the Senate), and aid (along with everything else) avoided the fiscal cliff. Sarah Jane Staats takes stock. Image: B.A.E.... Read Full Story

Hope for Haiti

Recovery and reconstruction in Haiti have been painfully slow in the three years since the earthquake—and outsiders are partly to blame. CGD experts offer practical suggestions on how to help better. Image: EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection / cc

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