Dare To Act.
Why is there such a large gap between evidence and action?
When I first came across the 2015 U.S. Global Development Policy and Agenda 2030, one phrase jumped out at me: “the gap between evidence and action.” Back then, there was a clear plan to move the world forward, and for a while, it really felt like countries were pulling in the same direction. The U.S. was seen as a global leader, setting the bar high for others to follow. But somewhere along the way, that momentum slowed, and our role on the world stage feels less certain.
Will we sink or float?
The answer depends on whether we act with courage or let inaction drag us down.
This gap shows up when leaders know what works but don’t follow through. In 2015, the U.S. pledged to end poverty, expand social protection, push for clean energy, and improve health and nutrition. All of these goals were tied to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Agenda. But here we are, a decade later, and so many of those promises remain unfinished. Social protection programs like cash transfers and food assistance are proven tools to cut poverty and reduce inequality, yet more than half the world still goes without. Since 2015, coverage has only grown by 2% — a tiny step when we know the solutions are right in front of us.
At one point, the U.S. was leading ambitious projects that inspired others. Now, it feels like our leadership is fragile, shifting depending on the politics of the moment. Policies aren’t just words on paper; they decide who gets support and who gets left out. Bold leadership has the power to ripple across borders, but when leaders retreat, it’s always the most vulnerable who pay the price.
As someone passionate about technology, I believe moving forward means embracing innovation—but I also worry about the costs that come with it. Artificial intelligence, for example, is transforming the way we live and work, but it also raises tough questions about bias, privacy, and how much power we give to machines over human lives. On top of that, the environmental impact of building and running these massive tech ecosystems and data centers can’t be ignored. If we’re not careful, the same gap between evidence and action could show up here too—where we know the risks but fail to address them until it’s too late.
If we’re serious about progress, we have to close the gap between evidence and action, not just in development policy but in how we approach technology and the environment. We already know what works. The real test is whether we dare to act on it.
Sources:
Landin Basterra, E., Naidoo, M., Calvacanti, D., Silva, N. J., Williams, S., Lloyd, S. J., Marín, C., Ardiles Ruesjas, S., Rubio, F. A., & Rasella, D. (2023). Social protection in global crises: A gap between evidence and action. BMJ Global Health, 8, e013980. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013980
The White House. (2015, September 27). Fact sheet: U.S. global development policy and agenda 2030. Obama White House Archives. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2015/09/27/fact-sheet-us-global-development-policy-and-agenda-2030
