Humanitarian Aid

Wadango has already distributed around 10,000 solar-powered lanterns. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/virgomerry/11227682/sizes/m/">**Mary** (flickr)</a>

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Solar Powered Lights in Kenya

In rural Kenya nearly everyone uses kerosene as their main source of power.

The neglect of an Indian complaint box: Fighting corruption requires active prevention measures. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/watchsmart/1402363280/">watchsmart (flickr)</a>

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It's known, but not talked about: Sometimes humanitarian aid doesn't make it into the hands of those who need it. Why? Because small-scale local corruption can siphon off money or goods, make aid agencies run less efficiently, or even exploit those who are dependent on such assistance.

A market in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Photo: Cassandra Nelson/Mercy Corps

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Taking Matters into 'Their Own Hands'

Haiti’s informal economy has begun to flourish despite the destruction caused by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit the country on Jan. 12, the GlobalPost reports.

Carol Ward helps to distribute high-energy biscuits to locals at a hospital in Port-au-Prince. Photo: Cassandra Nelson/Mercy Corps

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The Return of Economic Activity Eases Strain on Aid in Haiti

Yesterday the banks reopened in Haiti for the first time since the earthquake rocked the small island on January 12th.

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December Comment of the Month Winner

December's Comment of the Month winner Jill Scantlan from Portland commented on Sarah Standish' post Researching Better Ways to End Poverty.

View of impromptu tent city in the middle of Haiti's capital. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37913760@N03/4274634444/">United Nations Development Programme (flickr)</a>

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Mercy Corps Responds to Devastating Earthquake in Haiti

Haiti has just received another powerful blow. A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocked Haiti's capital on Tuesday, devastating a country that has seen more than its share of disasters both man-made and natural over the last few years.

Antiretroviral drugs. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunshine6/3337774882/">shortie 66 (flickr)</a>

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New Agreement Lowers Price of HIV/AIDS Medication

An enormous barrier in the fight against HIV/AIDS in developing nations has started to crumble.

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Take Our Challenge!

In the spirit of the season, we're challenging our readers to make a small (or large) gift to our parent organization, Mercy Corps.

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Liberia Ordered to Pay $20 Million to Vultures

In 1978, the poor West African country of Liberia borrowed $6 million from a New York bank. The Liberian government promised to use the money to buy and develop an oil refinery, and to pay the money back in seven years.

Today it's not clear if either of those things ever happened.

Helping or hurting? NATO delivers aid in Afghanistan. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/isafmedia/3255428314/">Isafmedia (flickr)</a>

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Helping Out: It's Trickier Than It Appears

How can you best fight global poverty?

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African Farmers See Incomes Grow After Switching to Soy

Malawi's economy has deep roots in the small family farms that pepper its landscape. But farmers often can't earn enough from cash crops like tobacco, sugarcane, peanuts and tea.

Economist Glenn Hubbard argues that aid targeting local African business development would help the continent more than infrastructure projects like roads. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gara/68053063/in/set-1468">Stefan Gara (flickr)</a>

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What a Marshall Plan Could Do For Africa

Foreign aid has failed to end poverty in Africa because it often funds the wrong kinds of projects, says economist Glenn Hubbard.

Israel's ban on the import of building materials means that very little reconstruction has taken place since the 22-day Israeli offensive at the beginning of the year. Photo: Linda Mason for Mercy Corps

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Gazans, Caught Between Two Sides of a Stalemate

For the past several years, Gaza has suffered from a humanitarian crisis that waxes and wanes in severity, but never entirely disappears.

<em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> (malaria) parasite taking over red blood cells. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericfortin/2186584614/">Eric Fortin (Flickr)</a>

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Cellscope: There's an App for that

A team of engineers at the University of California at Berkeley are pushing the limits of cell phone technology with the development of their newly minted Cellscope.

A man delivers his goods through a flooded street in Mumbai, India. Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hussain_quantum/3698717526/">Hussain_Quantum (flickr)</a>

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A Climate of Displaced People

It should be no surprise that armed conflicts force millions of people from their homes each year. In fact, 4.6 million people were displaced by conflict and war in 2008.