Call for evidence on the effects of engaging the private sector in sustainable development

Tomasz Kozakiewicz, Suvarna Pande, Andrea Floridi, Megha Bhattacharyya, Anil Thota
08 May 2025 blog  

At a time when international development budgets are under pressure, involving the private sector in accelerating progress towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals has become more pressing than ever. Rather than replacing public funding, private sector engagement serves as a strategic lever—especially in sectors where private investments can enhance sustainability and scalability. 

More than numbers: Strengthening RCT and cost reporting for policy and practice

Suvarna Pande, Catherine MacLeod
16 April 2025 blog  

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are a powerful tool for understanding what works in development and anti-poverty programs. They provide insights to guide practitioners and policymakers in improving and scaling interventions. But for RCT findings to inform these decisions, they must be communicated clearly and systematically—something that’s easier said than done. Good reporting isn’t just about sharing final findings; researchers should share their process to make results actionable.

Explore 3ie’s new inventory of remote-sensing indicators to leverage satellite data for development

Sanchi Lokhande, Fiona Kastel
04 March 2025 blog  

Imagine you are an evaluator trying to determine whether an agricultural intervention has increased vegetation in a dry, arid, and conflict-prone region—where on-the-ground data collection is challenging. You are aware that satellites can measure greenness from space using NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index)—a commonly used remotely sensed indicator. However, you are not sure whether this is a reliable measure and if so, how you could incorporate it.

What happens when women come together to lead businesses in rural India?

Divya Pandey, Chandan Jain, Aastha Dang, Shreya Banerjee, Fatema Patel
04 March 2025 blog  

The Swashakt program launched by 3ie, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, helps answer key aspects of this central question. Swashakt supported women’s empowerment collectives (WECs) spanning farm and non-farm sectors in 10 Indian states with the goal of fostering self-sustaining, women-led enterprises that strengthen their economic empowerment and agency. In this blog, we summarize what worked and what did not and what could be done for greater effectiveness.