News•Apr 2, 2026
Podcast Episode 27: Scrutinizing One of Our Longest-Funded Programs
GiveWell revisited its long‑standing vitamin A supplementation program, scrutinizing decades‑old trial data and new research to refine impact estimates. While classic randomized trials reported a 19% drop in child mortality, the organization now estimates a more modest 1%‑11% reduction in contemporary African settings. Despite the narrower effect size, GiveWell’s updated cost‑effectiveness model still rates the intervention as highly efficient—about 25 times more cost‑effective than its internal benchmark. The findings have prompted plans for additional research, including a potential new trial.
