5 September, 2025

When we talk about solving some the world’s deepest problems such as extreme poverty, disease or inequality, we often imagine solutions that are complex, systemic, and innovative. But sometimes, the most transformative answers are startlingly simple. 

In rural Kenya, of every 1,000 children born, 32 don’t live to see their first birthday. A decade-long study led by UC Berkeley and Oxford, remarkable for its scale and methodological rigor, has uncovered a surprising finding: giving $1,000 directly to poor families nearly halved infant deaths and cut mortality in children under five by 45%. That’s a bigger impact than has been credited to malaria prevention or even routine immunizations. 

The mechanism wasn’t complicated. Families used the money to seek prenatal care, rest during pregnancy, and deliver in hospitals rather than at home. The biggest gains came when funds reached pregnant women living close to hospitals, especially around the time of birth. 

Beyond health, the transfers spurred business activity, helped families withstand drought and the pandemic, and showed that fears about misuse were overblown. For donors and policymakers alike, the lesson is hard to ignore. Sometimes, the most effective development strategy is to provide families with the means to help themselves. 

At a moment when global aid budgets are shrinking, the findings raise big questions: should development strategies put more faith in the power of giving? And how might the same approach shift outcomes elsewhere – from maternal health to disaster resilience?

By Sirisha Venkatesh