We have examined several different broad causes within international aid. The fact that our recommended charities are health charities reflects what we see as the stronger track record and evidence base for health aid in general.

• Overview of developing-world health programs, with links to detailed writeups on many of the more promising ones.
• Overview of developing-world economic empowerment programs, including agriculture, microfinance, small and medium enterprise support, and distribution of specific products. More research is forthcoming on this topic.
• Overview of developing-world education improvement programs, including building schools, providing scholarships, providing supplies (e.g., textbooks), providing teacher incentives, improving teacher:student ratios, and running computer-assisted learning programs.
• Overview of developing-world surgery programs, including those that focus on cleft lip and palate, burns, and other congenital deformties; eye surgeries for cataracts; and, surgeries to repair obstetric fistula.
• Overview of developing-world water infrastructure programs, focusing on those that seek to increase water supply and quality by building infrastructure.