Document Library
One of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that has made some progress, albeit slow, is MDG 5: Improve maternal health. The two targets for assessing MDG 5 are reducing the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by three quarters between 1990 and 2015, and achieving universal access to reproductive health by 2015. The United Nations (UN)… Read more
The question of how to build the capabilities to both initiate a resurgence of growth and facilitate Mexico’s transition into a broader set of growth enhancing industries and activities is pressing. In this regard it seems important to understand the quality of the skills of the labour force. Moreover, in increasingly knowledge based economies it… Read more
This report is the follow-up to the 2007 publication “How the world’s best performing school systems come out on top”, in which the common attributes of high-performing school systems were examined. Here, the authors compile what they believe is the most comprehensive analysis of global school system reform ever assembled. This report identifies the reform… Read more
History has shown that significant achievements in federal policy for children typically happen in the first year after a president is elected. But the 2008 presidential election offered no “big ideas” for children. First Focus commissioned Big Ideas for Children: Investing in Our Nation’s Future to demonstrate that creative solutions are readily available to once… Read more
This chapter reviews the arguments for intervening in the lives of disadvantaged children. It examines the origins of inequality and analyzes policies to alleviate it. Families play a powerful role in shaping adult outcomes. The accident of birth is a major source of inequality. Recent research has shows that in American society, about half the… Read more
A randomized intervention that gave psychosocial stimulation to stunted Jamaican toddlers living in poverty was shown to have large effects on the earnings of participants. The intervention consisted of one-hour weekly visits from community Jamaican health workers over a 2-year period that taught parenting skills and encouraged mothers to interact and play with their children… Read more
Sue Kinn is the Research Manager for the Health and Education Research Team from the Department for International Development (DFID). In this short video she discusses why research is so important for DFID and how they go about finding the evidence that is needed. DFID is committed to commissioning world-class research that directly improves people’s… Read more
Each year approximately 15 million babies are born prematurely. This is more than one in 10 of all babies born around the world. All newborns are vulnerable, but preterm babies are acutely so. Many require special care and treatment simply to remain alive. Newborn deaths — those in the first month of life — account… Read more
This supplement, published in Health Policy and Planning (HPP), presents a comprehensive multi-country analysis of the changes in newborn care and survival from 2000-2010 and 5 detailed country case studies in order to better understand the process of taking solutions to scale and how to accelerate progress for reduction of mortality and morbidity. It was… Read more
Neonatal mortality accounts for 43% of global under-five deaths and is decreasing more slowly than maternal or child mortality. Donor funding has increased for maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH), but no analysis to date has disaggregated aid for newborns. The authors of this paper evaluated if and how aid flows for newborn care can… Read more
Each year, more than 1 in 10 of the world’s babies are born preterm, resulting in 15 million babies born too soon. Since 2012 there have been increased awareness of the problem, through new data and evidence, global partnership and country champions. Actions to improve care would save hundreds of thousands of babies born too… Read more