Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How can we achieve the greatest possible impact with available resources?
2. What characterizes Smart Buys?
3. Does the approach ignore qualitative aspects or local contexts?
4. Are Smart Buys also effective on a large scale?
5. Are marginalized groups sufficiently considered?
Examples for existing Smart Buys
1. How can we achieve the greatest possible impact with available resources?
The concept of Smart Buys offers an evidence-based, pragmatic answer: Smart Buys are development interventions that have been proven to be extraordinarily cost-effective through rigorous scientific evaluations. They achieve a disproportionately high impact per euro invested compared to average development programs and thus make an outstanding contribution to poverty reduction, health care, and sustainable development.
2. What characterizes Smart Buys?
Smart Buys approaches are concrete development measures based on rigorously evaluated scientific evidence. They are best practice examples of which programs are particularly cost-effective worldwide and can – with context-specific adaptation – be successfully implemented in new regions. Thus, they offer not only guidance for strategic decisions but also an ethical guideline: If we know that certain interventions can save many more lives or improve quality of life with the same resources, there is a moral obligation to translate these insights into practical action.
3. Does the approach ignore qualitative aspects or local contexts?
Modern Smart Buys approaches combine quantitative evidence with context-sensitive adaptation, participatory planning, and the inclusion of local knowledge systems. Long-term and systemic effects – such as in governance or through social norm changes – are increasingly included in the assessment.
4. Are Smart Buys also effective on a large scale?
Many programs have been successfully scaled up. The key is to preserve the core elements when expanding to other contexts and to adapt flexibly to local conditions – accompanied by close monitoring.
5. Are marginalized groups sufficiently considered?
A modern Smart Buys approach specifically includes hard-to-reach population groups – for example, through last-mile strategies and by weighting impacts for particularly vulnerable groups in the analysis.
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