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Center For Global Development and the Commitment to Development Index

Center For Global Development

http://www.cgdev.org/

Reviewed 1/07

Objectives of Site

‘The Center for Global development (CGD) is an independent think tank that works to reduce global poverty and inequality by encouraging policy change in the U.S. and other rich countries through rigorous research and active engagement with the policy community.’ GCD produces the Commitment to Development Index, or CDI, which rates 21 rich countries on how much they help poor countries build prosperity, good government and security. The site includes their initiatives, research topics, publications, and events. Their research topics include religions, aid effectiveness, economic growth, education, environment, poverty and inequality, and trade policy.

Data and Maps

One initiative of CGD is the Commitment to Development Index, or CDI. The index was created in 2003, conceived by CGD in partnership with Magazine. Rich and poor countries are linked in many ways—by foreign aid, commerce, migration, the environment, and military affairs. The Commitment to Development Index (CDI) ‘rates 21 rich countries on how much they help poor countries build prosperity, good government, and security. Each rich country gets scores in seven policy areas, which are averaged for an overall score.’ The CGD crunches thousands of numbers each year to create an average score in each policy area. When considering environment, for example, countries are rated considering if ‘they are reining in greenhouse gas emission, whether or not they subsidize fishing fleets that deplete fisheries off the coasts of such countries as Senegal and India.’ (Roodman, 2006). The CDI charts are browsable by clicking bars, country names, and policy components. It’s also possible to download excel spreadsheets of the data.

There is a comprehensive graph listing all the 21 rich countries included in the index. The chart gives the values for each country across their 7 components; aid, trade investment, migration, environment, investment, and technology. Data is available from 2003-2006 for the 21 countries. These countries include Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, New Zealand, Australia, Finland, Austria, Germany, Canada, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and Japan. This information is available in different formats, such as the graph in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Example of the CDI.

Components

Dark Blue: Aid

Red: Trade

Purple: Investment

Light Blue: Migration

Green: Environment

Yellow: Security

Orange: Technology

This Index is important and helpful to remind countries ‘that reducing poverty in developing countries is about far more than giving money.’ This index does an excellent job of incorporating the 7 different components into a comprehensive analysis of the richest countries in the world. ‘Within each component, a country receives points for policies and actions that support poor nations in their efforts to build prosperity, good government, and security. The seven components are averaged for a final score.The scoring adjusts for size in order to discern how much countries are living up to their potential to help.’

Innovations/ Special Features

CGD has many ongoing initiatives- all addressing issues related to global poverty and inequality. These innovations include Global Health Policy Research Network, HIV/AIDS Monitor, Making Markets for Vaccines, MCA (Millennium Challenge Account). Another one of CGD’s innovations, Engaging Fragile States Initiative, works to improve foreign assistance in countries that have difficult developmental challenges. Research is being done to search for more practical and effective ways to work in difficult environments.

Works Cited

Roodman, David. CGD Brief- The 2006 Commitment to Development Index: Components and Results. August, 2006.