Approaches
What works, and how sure are we?
The programs charities run, from bed nets to talk therapy, grouped by how strong independent evaluators say the evidence is. Each page explains the approach, what the evaluators are unsure about, and which charities do it.
Evidence rated exceptionally strong
GiveWell rates the evidence behind these as exceptionally strong: many rigorous studies, consistent results.
Seasonal malaria medicine
Preventive malaria medicine given to young children each month during the rainy season, when malaria spreads most.
Rated by GiveWell · Charities: Malaria Consortium, GiveWell Top Charities Fund
Bed nets against malaria
Long-lasting insecticide-treated nets that protect families from malaria-carrying mosquitoes while they sleep.
Rated by GiveWell · Charities: Against Malaria Foundation, GiveWell Top Charities Fund
Cash incentives for vaccination
Small cash payments that encourage families to complete their babies' routine vaccinations.
Rated by GiveWell · Charities: New Incentives, GiveWell Top Charities Fund
Evidence rated very strong
GiveWell rates the evidence behind this as very strong.
Evidence rated low to moderate
The Happier Lives Institute's own rating of the quality of the evidence. Promising, with more uncertainty.
Group talk therapy for depression
Group therapy for depression, led by trained lay counsellors rather than doctors, which keeps the cost low.
Rated by Happier Lives Institute · Charities: StrongMinds, Happier Lives Fund, Shamiri Institute
Problem-solving therapy
One-to-one talk therapy that helps people work through their problems, delivered by trained lay health workers.
Rated by Happier Lives Institute · Charities: Friendship Bench, Happier Lives Fund
Not yet rated
Evaluators fund or study these, but haven't published an evidence rating we can quote. We leave it blank rather than guess.
Reducing lead exposure
Policy and market work to remove lead from everyday products and places.
Charities: Pure Earth, Happier Lives Fund
Treating acute malnutrition
Treating severely malnourished children at home with ready-to-use therapeutic food.
Charities: Taimaka, GiveWell All Grants Fund, Happier Lives Fund
Unconditional cash transfers
Sending money directly to people in poverty, with no conditions on how it is spent.
Charities: GiveDirectly
Mass deworming
Regular treatment for parasitic worms, usually given to children at school.
Charities: Evidence Action, Sightsavers, Unlimit Health (formerly SCI Foundation)
Water chlorination
Adding chlorine to drinking water at the source or in the pipes, so it is safe to drink.
Charities: GiveWell All Grants Fund, Evidence Action, Uduma
Iron-fortified flour
Adding iron and other nutrients to staple flour, to reduce anaemia.
Charities: Evidence Action, Fortify Health
Syphilis screening in pregnancy
Testing pregnant women for syphilis and treating it, to protect their babies.
Charities: Evidence Action
Kangaroo mother care
Continuous skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding support for small and premature newborns.
Charities: Ansh
Malaria vaccine rollout
Technical help for health ministries adding the new malaria vaccines to routine childhood immunization.
Charities: GiveWell All Grants Fund, PATH
Evidence ratings are the evaluators' own words. Strong evidence that a program works is not the same as a high figure for what a gift achieves; see each charity page for the published figures. Browse by cause · Our standards