News Archive - Latin America and Africa in the News

RAND researchers often write commentaries for publications on a variety of topics. This page lists commentaries and op-eds about or related to Latin America and Africa. For a complete list of commentaries and op-eds by RAND staff, visit the RAND Newsroom.

Benghazi: Questions Unasked and Opportunities Missed
Oct 22, 2015

Instead of asking whether a video precipitated the attack or whether Ambassador Stevens should have been in Benghazi on that fateful night, the right question to ask is under what conditions the United States should have a diplomatic presence in high-risk areas.
A Good Move in Cameroon
Oct 18, 2015

President Obama's decision to deploy 300 soldiers to Cameroon to help combat the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram is welcome news. The U.S. is stepping in at the right time, in the right way, by providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support that will greatly enhance Cameroon's and others' chances.
Decision-making Under Deep Uncertainty Helps Address Water Security in Lima
Oct 5, 2015

How can water resource agencies make smart investments to ensure long-term water reliability under deep climate and economic uncertainty? Nidhi Kalra, David Groves, and Edmundo Molina-Perez, worked with The World Bank to help SEDAPAL, the water utility serving Lima, Peru, answer this question using decision making under deep uncertainty.
Decision-making Under Deep Uncertainty Helps Address Water Security in Lima
Oct 5, 2015

The World Bank used decision-making under deep uncertainty to help water utility company SEDAPAL revise its master plan for drought-ridden Lima, Peru. A study led by RAND's Nidhi Kalra explores implementation of this plan.
In Latin America, Breaking the Cycle of Intimate-Partner Abuse One Handwritten Letter at a Time
Sep 30, 2015

Latin America has one of the highest rates of intimate-partner violence in the world, but a series of high-profile cases, including the murder of a journalist by her policeman husband, have propelled intimate-partner violence to the fore of Bolivia's public agenda.
Evaluating Nigeria's Efforts to Improve Maternal and Child Health
Sep 15, 2015

Nigeria is the world's second-largest contributor to under-five and maternal mortality. To address low rates of use of maternal and child health services, the government deployed midwives to work in rural communities. How effective has this program been?
Evaluating the Impact of the Nigerian Midwives Service Scheme
Sep 15, 2015

To improve maternal and child health, the Nigerian government introduced the Midwives Service Scheme (MSS), a program to increase access to skilled care in rural areas. Experts evaluated the impact of MSS and found that initial improvements were not sustained.
How to Defeat a New Boko Haram in Mali
Sep 8, 2015

While there is a need for stepped up military and police efforts against the self-proclaimed Macina Liberation Front, Mali's policymakers and their international partners need to focus on countering revivalist Islam, ideally by promoting Mali's other Islamic traditions, while finding ways to calm the inter-communal competition.
Stakeholder Engagement Workshop Plans Activities for Traditional Grains Project
Aug 21, 2015

The Traditional Grains project held a stakeholder engagement workshop in Kampala, Uganda, on August 18, 2015, to bring together professionals from a wide range of industries. The workshop was structured to be a participatory event, and attendees were encouraged to share their insights and ideas.
Bringing Traditional Grains Back to the African Dinner Table
Aug 18, 2015

Although they are more nutritious and well-adapted to Africa's agro-ecological conditions, traditional grains have been losing market share to new grains—especially maize, rice and wheat. A joint initiative of Pardee RAND and the African Centre for Economic Transformation is exploring ways to bring sorghum and millet back to the dinner table.
Algeria: The Bastion of North Africa
Aug 11, 2015

Algeria could be a key regional partner for the United States and France in security and counterterrorism efforts against Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. It has a clear interest in quelling the threat posed by regional jihadists and it has local knowledge that could be helpful to U.S. counterterrorism efforts.
The Influence of Internal Migration on Male Earnings in Brazil, 1970-2000
Aug 5, 2015

An exploration of the impact of internal migration flows on the earnings of male workers in Brazil. Findings indicate that migration flows have a negative impact on male earnings, when considering cohort size as a factor.
The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative's Capacity Building Activities in East Africa
Jul 30, 2015

The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) helps to bridge the gap between scientific and technological potential and the needs of low income populations in low and middle income countries. RAND Europe evaluated its capacity-building activities — including training, advocacy and broader community engagement activities — in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda.
What Durban Can Teach Detroit: Getting Customers to Pay Their Water Bills
Jul 29, 2015

South Africa is proving that governments in poor cities can provide water and collect payment without turning off the water spigot. Detroit and Baltimore might consider exploring models like this that have been successfully tested in even more challenging settings.
Workplace Accidents in Brazil Are Significantly Underreported
Jul 22, 2015

The first national household survey in Brazil that has asked about accidents at work generally confirms what smaller-scale studies have indicated: that reports to the social security system greatly underestimate the total annual number of work injuries.