UNU-WIDER : UNU-WIDER

Have you heard about the GGDC/UNU-WIDER Economic Transformation Database?

The new database provides crucial information on changes in the economic structure of economies across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Preliminary findings suggest a trend reversal in many developing countries towards industrialization. Read more

How is COVID-19 changing development? A WIDER Webinar Series

Check out the upcoming WIDER Webinar Series events to hear from renowned researchers on the impact of COVID-19 on development, and the implications for the Global South. Recordings of past events available too. Click here for more details

Images from left: World Bank/Henitsoa Rafalia, World Bank/Rob Beechey, UNICEF/Frank Dejongh

Development challenges in Africa in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic

UNU-WIDER organized a two-day online conference on the impact of COVID-19 in Africa, recordings and presentations now available

DRM programme banner / Unsplash / Vishwarajsinh Rana

NEW: Domestic Revenue Mobilization (DRM) programme

The aim of UNU-WIDER’s DRM programme is to help improve developing countries’ tax systems and to strengthen their domestic capacities for revenue collection. The DRM programme is financed by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). More

Support COVID-19 research - take the survey today

Life with Corona, a global survey tracking the social and economic impacts of COVID-19 around the world has just been released with updated questions. Take part in the survey here, and share the link with your colleagues, friends and family! Read more

Visit our YouTube channel

Want to catch up on our recent events? Find out what Nobel laureates Amartya Sen and Joseph Stiglitz think about the SDGs? Click here to visit us on YouTube.

Research and policy briefs

Evidence-based policymaking is crucial. Use our publications search to browse nearly 200 briefs which highlight the findings and policy implications of our research.

779 UNU-WIDER articles, publications, projects, experts...

Journal Article

Aid Impact and Effectiveness: Introduction and Overview

Part of Journal Special Issue Aid Impact and Effectiveness

Donors Fragile states Climate change

Blog

The vital role of aid in development

by Rachel M. Gisselquist, Sam Jones
June 2019

The UNU-WIDER research programme on foreign aid ( ReCom ) began in 2010, in a period of strong aid scepticism. Dambisa Moyo’s well-known book, Dead Aid (2009), is just one example...

Aid effectiveness Aid policy Conflict management

Policy Brief

Aid for governance: How to support effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions for sustainable development? Economic assistance and foreign aid Education Planning

Journal Article

What Is the Aggregate Economic Rate of Return to Foreign Aid?

In recent years, academic studies have been converging towards the view that foreign aid promotes aggregate economic growth...

Economic assistance and foreign aid Economic development Simulation methods (Economics)

Blog

Will Norway’s model of Sovereign Wealth Fund work in Tanzania?: A reality check

by Alan R. Roe
May 2016

Several countries in Africa – including Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Uganda - have recently discovered large oil and gas or other mineral resources...

Economic assistance and foreign aid Fiscal policy Mineral industries

by Finn Tarp
March 2016

International Women’s Day on 8th March 2016 is a time to celebrate. It is also a time for reflection...

Economic assistance and foreign aid Equality and inequality Women

Journal Article

Gender Inequality, Female Leadership and Aid Allocation: A Panel Analysis of Aid for Education

Part of Journal Special Issue Aid for Gender Equality and Development

Economic assistance and foreign aid Education Women

Journal Special Issue

Aid, Education Policy, and Development

The studies of this Special Issue aim to address the general question of how aid can better support the collective actions that seek to improve education systems in developing countries...

Economic assistance and foreign aid Economic policy Sustainable development