Thank you, Lee, for this eye-opening and thorough introduction to the issue of lack of access to analgesics. I can’t believe the scale of the problem! With the immense scale and striking neglectedness of the problem, and the potential for leaps in gains with changes to state/national policies, I’m sure it deserves a high priority for changemakers.
Causes like this are why I’ve always thought that effective altruism is just as important to be taken up in poor countries as much as rich ones – internal changemakers are invaluable here, as you’ve stated. University of Wisconsin’s fellowship program does look promising. I’m sure they would accept external money if there was enough interest. Good luck with this important cause, Lee! Don’t let any close-minded person tell you increasing access to analgesics isn’t a suitable cause for EA’s because it’s not easily quantifiable.
Entering China would be awesome. So many people with money and no one’s donating it. It ranks dead freaking last on the World Giving Index. Which in a way is a good thing… it means lots of room to grow!
China’s domestic charities are usually operated and funded by the government (basically part of the government). And starting this year, the government has basically taken control of foreign NGO’s in China.
Often, rich Chinese elect to donate to foreign NGOs because they are more credible. Besides, being government-controlled, charities in China are not known for being reputable, prompting billionaire Jack Ma to famously quip “It’s harder to donate money to Chinese charities than to earn it.” The China Foundation Center was created a few years ago to promote transparency in the nonprofit sector.
India is also a good target. Like China, no one there trusts charities. Probably because they’re all scams? But there is an organization called Credibility Alliance that accredits the more transparent ones. I’m a big fan of Transparency International India. They do so much on a shoestring in the single most important issue in the country (corruption), and are the most credible/transparent.