{"title":"The benefits of US foreign aid in rural US communities: The case of northwestern North Carolina","authors":"Jesse Lutabingwa, Renee Scherlen","doi":"10.1111/dpr.70069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.70069","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Motivation</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study analyses the underexplored domestic benefits of US foreign aid by evaluating the long-term impacts of two strategic international exchange programmes—the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Program and the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders—that were implemented over a decade through Appalachian State University in rural northwestern North Carolina.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Purpose</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Most evaluations of US foreign aid focus on external critiques that ignore the positive impacts that programmes can have domestically in the United States. Addressing these literature gaps is crucial in enhancing the efficacy and public understanding of US foreign aid.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Approach <b>and Methods</b></h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The research uses retrospective impact evaluation and mixed methods content analysis. The evaluation fundamentally emphasized causal inference. Although the original programmes focused primarily on international participants, this study used existing data to concurrently explore the broader impacts of these programmes on local communities of the northwestern North Carolina region.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Findings</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The findings identify significant contributions across three domains: educational, cultural, and social. Key findings show that the programmes fostered global awareness, offered professional development opportunities to US participants, and promoted mutual understanding.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Policy Implications</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ultimately, this research demonstrates the reciprocal value and strategic potential of foreign aid as a domestic development tool in underserved US regions, thereby challenging the prevailing critiques that prioritize foreign over domestic needs. Policy-makers should, therefore, consider these substantial, multifaceted domestic returns when evaluating the strategic value of international exchange programmes within the US foreign aid portfolio.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51478,"journal":{"name":"Development Policy Review","volume":"44 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/dpr.70069","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147668493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abdikani Yusuf Abdulle, Najma Abdirahman Ibrahim, Suhera Dahir Hassan, Ahmed Hussein Mohamud, Hafsa Ali Hassan
{"title":"The role of institutional quality in shaping economic growth: Evidence from Somalia","authors":"Abdikani Yusuf Abdulle, Najma Abdirahman Ibrahim, Suhera Dahir Hassan, Ahmed Hussein Mohamud, Hafsa Ali Hassan","doi":"10.1111/dpr.70067","DOIUrl":"10.1111/dpr.70067","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Motivation</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Institutional quality and its impacts on economic growth are crucial in fragile states like Somalia, where weak governance, corruption, and political instability hinder effective policy implementation and economic development. This study is motivated by the need to understand how improving institutional frameworks can foster sustainable economic growth in Somalia despite these challenges.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Purpose</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study examines the impact of institutional quality on economic growth in Somalia from 1989 to 2023. The research focuses on how institutional quality, trade openness, foreign direct investment (FDI), inflation, and government expenditure influence Somalia's economic growth. In particular, the study investigates the relationship between these variables in both the short and the long run.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Approach and methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To address the research question, the study employs an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, using time-series data from 1989 to 2023. The model explores both short-term and long-term relationships between institutional quality and economic growth. The study also considers variables such as trade openness, FDI, government expenditure, and inflation, employing various diagnostic tests to ensure the robustness of the results.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Findings</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study finds a significant positive long-term relationship between institutional quality, trade openness, FDI, and government expenditure with economic growth. In contrast, inflation negatively affects growth. Both institutional quality and government expenditure have a negative effect on growth in the short run, emphasizing the transition costs associated with reforms. The error correction term indicates a swift adjustment to long-run equilibrium.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Policy implications</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The findings suggest that improving institutional frameworks, prioritizing trade liberalization, and controlling inflation are essential for fostering sustainable growth in Somalia. Additionally, Somalia should focus on increasing its FDI by means of regulatory reforms and improved infrastructure to further boost its economic growth prospects.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51478,"journal":{"name":"Development Policy Review","volume":"44 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147668064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pathways to gender-transformative women's health aid: Comparative evidence from five donors","authors":"Yoorim Bang, Eunhee Ha, Eun Mee Kim","doi":"10.1111/dpr.70065","DOIUrl":"10.1111/dpr.70065","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Motivation</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Gender equality and women's health remain priorities, yet recent fiscal retrenchment and shifting geopolitical agendas have narrowed the space for gender-transformative programming. Despite growing donor endorsement of gender-transformative approaches, substantial gaps persist between rhetorical commitment and operational practice, particularly in women's health ODA. This raises a critical policy question: under constrained resources, which forms of gender-focused health aid are most likely to generate meaningful and durable outcomes?</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Purpose</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study examines how gender-transformative approaches are operationalized within women's health ODA and asks two questions: how do women's health ODA projects integrate gender-transformative principles in practice, and what combinations of institutional, programmatic and participatory features are associated with improved women's health outcomes?</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Approach and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study analyses 100 completed women's health ODA projects funded by five bilateral donors (Australia, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States). Projects were coded across five dimensions of gender-transformative practice: gender analysis, donor support, alignment with health needs, comprehensive health orientation, and community participation. A crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis was applied to identify recurring pathways through which different combinations of these elements are associated with positive outcomes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Findings</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Successful projects combine three core elements: gender analysis, donor institutional support, and alignment with health needs, while comprehensive health approaches and community participation function as critical enhancers. Distinct pathways emerge across donors, reflecting different institutional logics; some emphasize system-level health integration, while others rely on intensive community engagement.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Policy Implications</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>For donors, the challenge is not whether gender-transformative principles matter but how they are combined in practice. Embedding gender analysis into institutional incentives, aligning projects with national health priorities, and strategically investing in systemic reform or participatory mechanisms can improve impact under fiscal and political constraints. Gender-transformative healt","PeriodicalId":51478,"journal":{"name":"Development Policy Review","volume":"44 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/dpr.70065","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147579840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An investigation into the impact of mobile money transactions on economic growth in Zambia","authors":"Kaliye Kawina, Mubanga Mpundu","doi":"10.1111/dpr.70062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.70062","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Motivation</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study investigates the impact of mobile money on Zambia's economic growth, noting its widespread use in sub-Saharan Africa. It seeks to clarify whether mobile money directly influences gross domestic product (GDP) or whether other factors are more significant.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Purpose</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study investigates how mobile money payments affect Zambia's GDP growth from 2012 to 2024, including key macroeconomic variables for a comprehensive view.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Approach and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>It uses a quantitative time-series approach with annual data from 2012 to 2024 (N = 13 observations) sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators (World Bank, n.d.) and Bank of Zambia Payment Systems Statistics. Analysis was conducted using Stata software employing Prais–Winsten regression to address autocorrelation in the small-N dataset.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Findings</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The findings show that mobile money payments, despite increasing use, had no impact on GDP growth. Direct credits supported growth by aiding investment and business, whereas direct debits hurt growth, probably due to lower disposable income or money leaving the economy. Inflation hampers growth by reducing purchasing power and investment. The labour-force participation rate also negatively affects GDP, indicating challenges in Zambia's labour market. These results, while robust to diagnostic tests, are interpreted cautiously due to the implications for statistical power of the small sample size.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Policy Implications</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The findings emphasize the need for policies to promote mobile money payments, improve credit systems, and curb inflation. For mobile money to foster growth, its expansion requires institutional, regulatory, and infrastructure development.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51478,"journal":{"name":"Development Policy Review","volume":"44 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147566400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An investigation into the impact of mobile money transactions on economic growth in Zambia","authors":"Kaliye Kawina, Mubanga Mpundu","doi":"10.1111/dpr.70062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.70062","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Motivation</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study investigates the impact of mobile money on Zambia's economic growth, noting its widespread use in sub-Saharan Africa. It seeks to clarify whether mobile money directly influences gross domestic product (GDP) or whether other factors are more significant.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Purpose</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study investigates how mobile money payments affect Zambia's GDP growth from 2012 to 2024, including key macroeconomic variables for a comprehensive view.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Approach and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>It uses a quantitative time-series approach with annual data from 2012 to 2024 (N = 13 observations) sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators (World Bank, n.d.) and Bank of Zambia Payment Systems Statistics. Analysis was conducted using Stata software employing Prais–Winsten regression to address autocorrelation in the small-N dataset.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Findings</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The findings show that mobile money payments, despite increasing use, had no impact on GDP growth. Direct credits supported growth by aiding investment and business, whereas direct debits hurt growth, probably due to lower disposable income or money leaving the economy. Inflation hampers growth by reducing purchasing power and investment. The labour-force participation rate also negatively affects GDP, indicating challenges in Zambia's labour market. These results, while robust to diagnostic tests, are interpreted cautiously due to the implications for statistical power of the small sample size.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Policy Implications</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The findings emphasize the need for policies to promote mobile money payments, improve credit systems, and curb inflation. For mobile money to foster growth, its expansion requires institutional, regulatory, and infrastructure development.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51478,"journal":{"name":"Development Policy Review","volume":"44 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147566401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}