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Rachel M Gisselquist

Rachel M Gisselquist

@rgisselquist.bsky.social

420 followers 1.2K following 16 posts

Professor in Governance and Development @unibirmingham.bsky.social

Director, Governance and Social Development Resource Centre @gsdrc.org

Non-resident Senior Fellow, UNU-WIDER

From Honolulu, via Helsinki and beyond—now in the UK .. more

Political science 47%

Sociology 29%

more

Posts Replies Media Videos

Rachel M Gisselquist @rgisselquist.bsky.social · Sep 12

🎉 GSDRC Working Paper #2 is out! 🎉

After Kabul: Addressing concerns about corruption in donor publics by rechannelling aid

Fresh insights from our colleagues at the Development Engagement Lab. @soominoh.bsky.social @pmorini.bsky.social Jennifer Hudson, David Hudson @unibirmingham.bsky.social

GSDRC @gsdrc.org · Sep 4

📢 New
@GSDRC
Working Paper!
How can donors maintain public support for aid in sensitive contexts?
German survey shows support rises when aid is channelled via NGOs.
🔗 shorturl.at/qGUyz
#ForeignAid #PublicOpinion #Afghanistan #DevelopmentPolicy

Cover page of report; "After Kabul Addressing concerns about corruption in donor publics by rechannelling aid

Rachel M Gisselquist @rgisselquist.bsky.social · Sep 9

Had the pleasure of attending this excellent symposium today—exciting work from UKRI Future Leaders Fellow @sandrapertek.bsky.social and team! IDD @unibirmingham

Sandra Pertek, PhD @sandrapertek.bsky.social · Apr 8

Call for papers! Submission deadline fast approaching! Join our Symposium in September - women in displacement and philanthropy in Muslim-majority/-minority settings. Join this event as global aid cuts deeply affect humanitarian efforts @unibirmingham @iddbirmingham @IndianaUniv

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

GSDRC @gsdrc.org · Sep 4

📢 New
@GSDRC
Working Paper!
How can donors maintain public support for aid in sensitive contexts?
German survey shows support rises when aid is channelled via NGOs.
🔗 shorturl.at/qGUyz
#ForeignAid #PublicOpinion #Afghanistan #DevelopmentPolicy

Cover page of report; "After Kabul Addressing concerns about corruption in donor publics by rechannelling aid

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · Aug 25

Is there a link between inequality & democracy?

Our new research using global data says the story is less clear than many theories suggest.
Read more 👉https://go.unu.edu/FlMw6

@rgisselquist.bsky.social

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

Development Studies Association @devcomms.bsky.social · Aug 13

📚 At the UNU-WIDER conference, @rgisselquist.bsky.social presented Fragile Aid, a new volume on development in conflict-affected states. The book is now fully available online: fdslive.oup.com/www.oup.com/...

📢 All IDD, University of Birmingham news hee: www.devstud.org.uk/2025/07/16/i...

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · Aug 4

📢 New Policy Brief: How to make aid work in fragile states
Aid in fragile contexts needs more than technical fixes. The brief calls for long-term, flexible support rooted in local legitimacy.

📄: go.unu.edu/pTvBB

#FragileAid @apvjustino.bsky.social @rgisselquist.bsky.social @anvaccaro.bsky.social‬

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

Knowledge for Development and Diplomacy (K4DD) @k4dd.ids.ac.uk · Jul 29

Only one set of major civil service reforms have been implemented in Pakistan – and these were over 50 years ago.

Despite decades of promises to fix Pakistan’s bureaucracy, efforts have consistently stalled.

Reposted by Tony Addison, Rachel M. Gisselquist

Tony Addison @tonysangle.bsky.social · Apr 14

Rare earths & other critical minerals are discussed in our new @unu-wider.bsky.social open access book. Download via www.wider.unu.edu/publication/...

UNU-WIDER : Book : Resources Matter

Almost everything that is essential to modern society—transport and power systems, buildings, machinery, and medical devices—depends upon metals, minerals, and stone as well as oil and natural gas whi...

www.wider.unu.edu

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

Knowledge for Development and Diplomacy (K4DD) @k4dd.ids.ac.uk · Jun 30

What is the role of donors in the delivery of services in fragile, conflict-affected and vulnerable settings?

Iffat Idris from @GSDRC.org explores here k4d.ids.ac.uk/resource/rol...

Role of Donors in the Delivery of Services in Protracted FCV Settings

This report reviews the ways that donors are addressing the challenging nature of service delivery in fragile, conflict-affected and vulnerable (FCV) settings.

Rachel M Gisselquist @rgisselquist.bsky.social · Jun 9

Enjoyed chairing this session on Welfare and Labour Effects, featuring 4 excellent papers by @timkohler.bsky.social ‪@leitemariante.bsky.social‬ ‪Shatakshi Gupta & @tsenguunjav.bsky.social

UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · Jun 9

Fascinating research presented by WIDER Visiting Scholar Timothy Köhler on South Africa's social relief grant.

The paper reveals cash transfers to the unemployed boosted
🔎job search
📦business attempts
💼employment

though long-term effects aren't universal

#WIDERDevConf2025

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · Jun 9

Fascinating research presented by WIDER Visiting Scholar Timothy Köhler on South Africa's social relief grant.

The paper reveals cash transfers to the unemployed boosted
🔎job search
📦business attempts
💼employment

though long-term effects aren't universal

#WIDERDevConf2025

Rachel M Gisselquist @rgisselquist.bsky.social · Jun 9

Pleased to be here at #WIDERDevConf2025!

Reposted by Tony Addison, Rachel M. Gisselquist

Knowledge for Development and Diplomacy (K4DD) @k4dd.ids.ac.uk · May 1

Do codes of conduct and ethical codes reduce polticisation and #corruption in the civil service? 🏦

This study by William Avis from @gsdrc.org evaluates the impact of #CivilService codes.

Read the full findings here 👇

k4d.ids.ac.uk/resource/civ...

Civil Service Codes and their Impact

This report reviews the value of Civil Service Codes in reducing corruption and improving independence and objectivity.

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

Los Angeles Times @latimes.com · Apr 29

Elon Musk's conflicts of interest: $2.37 billion in potential federal penalties, report says

Elon Musk's conflicts of interest: $2.37 billion in potential federal penalties, report says

On the day Trump took office, Elon Musk, Tesla and his other companies faced at least $2.37 billion in potential penalties from federal agencies, according to a Democratic congressional report.

www.latimes.com

Reposted by Tony Addison, Rachel M. Gisselquist

UNU-WIDER @unu-wider.bsky.social · Apr 23

New #OpenAccess book out now!

How States Respond to Crisis reveals how state capacity, authority & legitimacy influenced outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic with 7 in-depth case studies from the Global South.

Read the full book 👉 go.unu.edu/DhF08

@rgisselquist.bsky.social @anvaccaro.bsky.social

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · Apr 22

288 people have been rendered to El Salvador’s mega-prison. We only know 257 of their names—and not because the US or Salvadoran governments shared them.

It shouldn't be up to civil society to compile things like this table. Of course, none of this should be happening at all.

See admis.me/b/2un

Here is what we know about the people disappeared from the United States and were apparently rendered to incommunicado prison in El Salvador:
Country Known Names Unknown Names Total
Venezuela 245 7 252
El Salvador 12 24 36
Total 257 31 288

Venezuela, 252 people. 137 rendered under the Alien Enemies Act, the rest with final removal orders:

238 people rendered to El Salvador on March 15. Names leaked to CBS News on March 20.
7 people rendered to El Salvador on March 30. Names leaked to Fox News on March 31.
7 people rendered to El Salvador as part of a group of 10 on April 13. Names are unknown. We only know it was 7 people because El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, tweeted on April 20 that 252 Venezuelans are in Salvadoran custody, and 245 Venezuelans were already in El Salvador.

El Salvador, 31 people, all with final removal orders:

23 people rendered to El Salvador on March 15. From much reporting, we know the identities of two: Kilmar Abrego Garcia and prominent MS-13 leader César Humberto López Larios, alias “Greñas.” The other 21 remain unnamed.
10 people rendered to El Salvador on March 30. Names leaked to Fox News on March 31.
3 people rendered to El Salvador as part of a group of 10 on April 13. Names are unknown. We only know it was 3 people because El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, tweeted on April 20 that 252 Venezuelans are in Salvadoran custody. As 245 Venezuelans were already in El Salvador, that would mean that 7 of the 10 were Venezuelan, leaving 3 Salvadorans.

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · Apr 14

The letter sent to Harvard shows why they and every other institution have no choice but to resist. It would amount to a government takeover of the university, giving the Trump regime control over hiring and admissions. www.harvard.edu/research-fun...

www.harvard.edu

Reposted by Jesse Rothstein, Ameet Sarpatwari, Rachel M. Gisselquist , and 2 more Jesse Rothstein, Ameet Sarpatwari, Rachel M. Gisselquist, Paul Beaumont, Joan Dudney

Jacob T. Levy @jacobtlevy.bsky.social · Apr 14

I had been doubtful that we were going to have a "this is the crisis moment" with Trump, as opposed to "everything about this is a destructive catastrophe."

But the Abrego Garcia case is the crisis moment.

1/

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

Danielle Kurtzleben @titonka.bsky.social · Apr 14

Before press came in — but while live feed was running on Bukele’s feed — Trump said to him: “home-growns are next. … You’re gonna need to build about 5 more places.”

x.com/nayibbukele/...

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

Monica H Green @monicamedhist.bsky.social · Apr 14

Translated primary sources for teaching the history of ethnicity in medieval China. A fabulous resource! #GlobalMiddleAges #MedievalSky www.academia.edu/community/ln...

Shao-yun Yang sharing his primary source translations on Ethnic Identity in Imperial China: An Online Sourcebook, on Academia.edu.

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

Patrick Dunleavy @patrickdunleavy.bsky.social · Apr 12

American Social Security Administration is cutting staff and shifting all its communications to X, owned by Musk.
You could not make up the corruption now in US politics
www.wired.com/story/social...

The Social Security Administration Is Gutting Regional Staff and Shifting All Public Communications to X

The SSA’s shift to Elon Musk’s X comes as the agency plans to cut its regional office workforce by roughly 90 percent, WIRED has learned.

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

Daniel Knowles @dlknowles.bsky.social · Apr 12

As of today all foreigners in America are required to carry proof of our status with us at all times. Print off your i-94s

uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?r...

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

Data Bear 🏳️‍🌈 @dataandpolitics.net · Apr 12

Someone bought 30,000 SPY call options at 1:01 pm, just 29 minutes before Trump announced pausing tariffs. Options cost $0.85 each ($2.5M total) and jumped to $25+ each ($70M+) after the announcement.

The timing, volume, and precision are virtually impossible by coincidence.

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · Apr 11

I’m not kidding; this is DOGE at work; multiple US citizens getting notices that they just leave the country because USCIS is revoking their humanitarian parole.

www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

Tony Addison @tonysangle.bsky.social · Apr 11

AI's electricity demand is accelerating: by 2030 data centres will consume as much energy as Japan today, says new @IEA report.

Much of the energy will come from renewables & gas (though Trump is inevitably trying to promote coal).
www.iea.org/reports/ener...

Energy and AI – Analysis - IEA

Energy and AI - Analysis and key findings. A report by the International Energy Agency.

Rachel M Gisselquist @rgisselquist.bsky.social · Apr 11

♻️ What do we know about plastic reuse models in LMICs?

📚 See this new rapid evidence review by @gsdrc.org's William Avis:

Knowledge for Development and Diplomacy (K4DD) @k4dd.ids.ac.uk · Apr 1

Plastic reuse schemes hold the potential to hugely reduce plastic #pollution driven by single-use plastics.

But how can these models be scaled effectively in low- and middle-income countries?

William Avis explores here 🔗

k4d.ids.ac.uk/resource/sca...

#ZeroWaste #Sustainability

Scaling plastic reuse models in LMICs

This review explores the effectiveness of scaling plastic reuse models in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Reposted by Richard Hall, Rachel M. Gisselquist

Eric Lipton NYT @ericlipton.nytimes.com · Apr 10

The fear among academics and lawyers now talking on the record on just about any topic that involves the federal government or the White House is really extraordinary and worrisome, and getting worse, it seems to me, every week. Dissent by an establishment figures becoming verboten in the US

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · Apr 10

NEW: @nytimes.com reports that the Trump admin is moving to strip hundreds of thousands of immigrants of Social Security Numbers they got when they were granted work authorization, repurposing a "death master file" to try to erase their previous legal presence in the United States.

Pressuring Migrants to ‘Self-Deport,’ Trump Moves to Cancel Social Security Numbers
By placing migrants in Social Security’s “death master file,” the Trump administration is seeking to cut off their access to credit cards, bank accounts and other financial services.

Reposted by Rachel M. Gisselquist

Adam Isacson @adamisacson.com · Apr 10

The evidence is now overwhelming that a very big majority of those whom ICE and the Trump administration rendered to El Salvador had no criminal records.

3 links:

Rachel M Gisselquist @rgisselquist.bsky.social · Apr 10

📚 New rapid evidence review from @gsdrc.org's own Siân Herbert on #climatechange and conflict in the Sahel:

Knowledge for Development and Diplomacy (K4DD) @k4dd.ids.ac.uk · Mar 31

How does #ClimateChange exacerbate the drivers of conflict in #Mali and #Niger?

Siân Herbert explores in this rapid evidence review, looking at climate change and conflict in the #Sahel

Read here 👇

k4d.ids.ac.uk/resource/cli...

Climate Change, Environmental Degradation and Conflict in the Sahel

This review explores the impact of climate change in the Sahel, exploring how environmental degradation can exacerbate conflict.