Rakib Avi
@rakibavi.bsky.social
Husband and father. Former innovation & strategy lead at BRAC, one of the world's largest NGOs. Focused on scaling successful social innovations.
We reward early stars.
But data across sports, science, music, and chess shows most world-class adults were not early standouts.
Slower starts, broader learning, later peaks. Our talent systems are optimized for the wrong outcome. tinyurl.com/yzexnnvw
But data across sports, science, music, and chess shows most world-class adults were not early standouts.
Slower starts, broader learning, later peaks. Our talent systems are optimized for the wrong outcome. tinyurl.com/yzexnnvw
The Myth of Early Genius
We like our excellence precocious.
tinyurl.com
January 10, 2026 at 6:46 PM
We reward early stars.
But data across sports, science, music, and chess shows most world-class adults were not early standouts.
Slower starts, broader learning, later peaks. Our talent systems are optimized for the wrong outcome. tinyurl.com/yzexnnvw
But data across sports, science, music, and chess shows most world-class adults were not early standouts.
Slower starts, broader learning, later peaks. Our talent systems are optimized for the wrong outcome. tinyurl.com/yzexnnvw
The power of hope is real. Time and again I have seen this in the real world, from people living in extreme poverty to communities living at the forefront of climate change. It's great to finally see some hard evidence behind this!
📢 New in Health Economics: The first large-scale longitudinal study (25,000 adults, 14 years) shows how #hope shapes health, education, work, resilience & social outcomes.
tinyurl.com/4e43zeyb @brookings.edu @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/4e43zeyb @brookings.edu @uni-of-warwick.bsky.social
October 7, 2025 at 5:40 PM
The power of hope is real. Time and again I have seen this in the real world, from people living in extreme poverty to communities living at the forefront of climate change. It's great to finally see some hard evidence behind this!
Climate adaptive design for city architecture in Atlanta -- a park which will go under water so the rest of the neighborhood doesn't. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/c...
In Georgia, a ‘Sponge Park’ Floods So the Neighborhood Won’t
www.nytimes.com
September 27, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Climate adaptive design for city architecture in Atlanta -- a park which will go under water so the rest of the neighborhood doesn't. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/c...
Reposted by Rakib Avi
Health Economics (New Study): Statewide bans on flavored e-cigs reduced vaping among young adults—but also pushed some toward cigarette smoking. 🚬➡️🚭
Findings highlight unintended risks for tobacco regulation.
Read the full article here: tinyurl.com/yr38ns7z
Findings highlight unintended risks for tobacco regulation.
Read the full article here: tinyurl.com/yr38ns7z
September 3, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Health Economics (New Study): Statewide bans on flavored e-cigs reduced vaping among young adults—but also pushed some toward cigarette smoking. 🚬➡️🚭
Findings highlight unintended risks for tobacco regulation.
Read the full article here: tinyurl.com/yr38ns7z
Findings highlight unintended risks for tobacco regulation.
Read the full article here: tinyurl.com/yr38ns7z
Investing in adult social care pays off: every £1k per client boosts paid production by £216 now & £670 in the long run.
Health Economics (Early View): Investing in adult social care boosts the economy.
A £1000 rise in care spending per client raises paid production by £216 in the short run & £670 in the long run, with wider regional spillovers.
Read the article here: bit.ly/4fL6lLh
A £1000 rise in care spending per client raises paid production by £216 in the short run & £670 in the long run, with wider regional spillovers.
Read the article here: bit.ly/4fL6lLh
Is Caring Productive? The Effect of Adult Social Care on Paid Production in England
Long-term care (LTC) provides essential support to service users and informal carers to improve their quality of life. By improving quality of life, LTC can potentially impact economic growth, for ex...
bit.ly
August 18, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Investing in adult social care pays off: every £1k per client boosts paid production by £216 now & £670 in the long run.
Powerful piece by @mulagostarr.bsky.social on how #nonprofits should think about scaling through govt. Key thing to consider: marginal cost per beneficiary if the govt delivered your intervention. Also, cost effective ≠ cheap enough! @ssir.org
bit.ly/3GYHV40
bit.ly/3GYHV40
Big Aid Is Over (SSIR)
We need to design for what African governments can do and will pay for.
bit.ly
July 28, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Powerful piece by @mulagostarr.bsky.social on how #nonprofits should think about scaling through govt. Key thing to consider: marginal cost per beneficiary if the govt delivered your intervention. Also, cost effective ≠ cheap enough! @ssir.org
bit.ly/3GYHV40
bit.ly/3GYHV40
An #innovation from the global south, helping people adapt to the effects of #climatechange and build their resilience -- a house which grows, floats and stays cool all year.
bit.ly/46tNG3Z
bit.ly/46tNG3Z
A house that can grow, float, and stays cool all year - The Good Feed
Bangladesh is the third hottest country in South Asia, the world’s seventh most climate-vulnerable nation, and often has the world’s worst air quality. There are around 7,000 conventional fired brick ...
bit.ly
July 26, 2025 at 3:13 AM
An #innovation from the global south, helping people adapt to the effects of #climatechange and build their resilience -- a house which grows, floats and stays cool all year.
bit.ly/46tNG3Z
bit.ly/46tNG3Z
Public orgs build capabilities like startups, but rarely sunset them. That’s why #innovation isn’t just about starting new things. It’s about managing what persists. If you don’t govern your capabilities, they end up governing you. Good read on innovation in the public sector 👇
bit.ly/4m8Fvyu
bit.ly/4m8Fvyu
bit.ly
July 23, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Public orgs build capabilities like startups, but rarely sunset them. That’s why #innovation isn’t just about starting new things. It’s about managing what persists. If you don’t govern your capabilities, they end up governing you. Good read on innovation in the public sector 👇
bit.ly/4m8Fvyu
bit.ly/4m8Fvyu
Digital finance is not a silver bullet, but it remains the most scalable path to meaningful financial inclusion. The Global Findex 2025 makes the case—what’s needed now is targeted, sustained policy action.
July 19, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Digital finance is not a silver bullet, but it remains the most scalable path to meaningful financial inclusion. The Global Findex 2025 makes the case—what’s needed now is targeted, sustained policy action.
What works:
– Linking digital ID to government transfer programs
– Expanding mobile infrastructure
– Tailored digital literacy programs
– Tiered KYC frameworks to lower onboarding friction
– Linking digital ID to government transfer programs
– Expanding mobile infrastructure
– Tailored digital literacy programs
– Tiered KYC frameworks to lower onboarding friction
July 19, 2025 at 11:38 PM
What works:
– Linking digital ID to government transfer programs
– Expanding mobile infrastructure
– Tailored digital literacy programs
– Tiered KYC frameworks to lower onboarding friction
– Linking digital ID to government transfer programs
– Expanding mobile infrastructure
– Tailored digital literacy programs
– Tiered KYC frameworks to lower onboarding friction
Barriers remain significant. 1 in 3 adults in LMICs still lacks a mobile phone. Others are excluded due to lack of ID, low digital literacy, or limited trust—particularly among women and rural populations.
July 19, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Barriers remain significant. 1 in 3 adults in LMICs still lacks a mobile phone. Others are excluded due to lack of ID, low digital literacy, or limited trust—particularly among women and rural populations.
The shift isn’t just about access—it’s about use. Millions are now receiving wages, remittances, and government payments digitally. For many, pandemic-era programs marked their first experience with digital finance.
July 19, 2025 at 11:38 PM
The shift isn’t just about access—it’s about use. Millions are now receiving wages, remittances, and government payments digitally. For many, pandemic-era programs marked their first experience with digital finance.
The #gender gap is narrowing. In LMICs, the gap in account ownership dropped to 4 percentage points from 7 in 2017. Still, regions like the Middle East and North Africa continue to lag, with gaps exceeding 10 percentage points.
July 19, 2025 at 11:38 PM
The #gender gap is narrowing. In LMICs, the gap in account ownership dropped to 4 percentage points from 7 in 2017. Still, regions like the Middle East and North Africa continue to lag, with gaps exceeding 10 percentage points.
Account ownership in LMICs rose to 76% in 2024, up from 63% in 2017. Much of this growth has come from digital channels—particularly mobile money and e-wallets—acting as the entry point to formal finance.
July 19, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Account ownership in LMICs rose to 76% in 2024, up from 63% in 2017. Much of this growth has come from digital channels—particularly mobile money and e-wallets—acting as the entry point to formal finance.
The Global #Findex 2025 underscores a clear message: digital financial services are narrowing the #inclusion gap in low- and middle-income countries, but challenges remain. Here's what policymakers need to know. 👇
bit.ly/4lGo3lk
bit.ly/4lGo3lk
The Global Findex Database 2025
The Global Findex Database is the world's only demand-side survey on financial inclusion and a leading source of data on how adults around the world access and use financial services.
bit.ly
July 19, 2025 at 11:38 PM
The Global #Findex 2025 underscores a clear message: digital financial services are narrowing the #inclusion gap in low- and middle-income countries, but challenges remain. Here's what policymakers need to know. 👇
bit.ly/4lGo3lk
bit.ly/4lGo3lk
Barriers remain significant. 1 in 3 adults in LMICs still lacks a mobile phone. Others are excluded due to lack of ID, low digital literacy, or limited trust -- particularly among women and rural populations.
July 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Barriers remain significant. 1 in 3 adults in LMICs still lacks a mobile phone. Others are excluded due to lack of ID, low digital literacy, or limited trust -- particularly among women and rural populations.
The shift isn’t just about access -- it’s about use. Millions are now receiving wages, remittances, and government payments digitally. For many, pandemic-era programs marked their first experience with digital finance.
July 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
The shift isn’t just about access -- it’s about use. Millions are now receiving wages, remittances, and government payments digitally. For many, pandemic-era programs marked their first experience with digital finance.
The #gender gap is narrowing. In LMICs, the gap in account ownership dropped to 4 percentage points from 7 in 2017. This is progress -- but in some regions (e.g. MENA), the gap is still >10%.
July 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
The #gender gap is narrowing. In LMICs, the gap in account ownership dropped to 4 percentage points from 7 in 2017. This is progress -- but in some regions (e.g. MENA), the gap is still >10%.
Account ownership in LMICs rose to 76% in 2024, up from 63% in 2017. Much of this growth has come from digital channels -- particularly mobile money and e-wallets—acting as the entry point to formal finance.
July 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Account ownership in LMICs rose to 76% in 2024, up from 63% in 2017. Much of this growth has come from digital channels -- particularly mobile money and e-wallets—acting as the entry point to formal finance.
Bottom line: Investments in walkable neighborhoods are not just climate- or mobility-friendly.
They are mental health policy, especially in times of crisis.
Design matters more than we think. #econsky
They are mental health policy, especially in times of crisis.
Design matters more than we think. #econsky
July 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Bottom line: Investments in walkable neighborhoods are not just climate- or mobility-friendly.
They are mental health policy, especially in times of crisis.
Design matters more than we think. #econsky
They are mental health policy, especially in times of crisis.
Design matters more than we think. #econsky
Implication:
Urban and regional planning should treat walkability as core mental health infrastructure. Pandemic preparedness, resilience funding, and zoning reform should reflect that.
Urban and regional planning should treat walkability as core mental health infrastructure. Pandemic preparedness, resilience funding, and zoning reform should reflect that.
July 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Implication:
Urban and regional planning should treat walkability as core mental health infrastructure. Pandemic preparedness, resilience funding, and zoning reform should reflect that.
Urban and regional planning should treat walkability as core mental health infrastructure. Pandemic preparedness, resilience funding, and zoning reform should reflect that.
Equity alert: Rural and less walkable areas didn’t see these benefits. Many of them were also hit hardest by the virus. Walkability isn’t just an urban luxury -- it’s a public good with uneven access.
July 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Equity alert: Rural and less walkable areas didn’t see these benefits. Many of them were also hit hardest by the virus. Walkability isn’t just an urban luxury -- it’s a public good with uneven access.
This isn’t just about sidewalks. It’s about community design that enables purposeful movement, informal social contact, and access to green/public spaces -- all of which buffer psychological stress.
July 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
This isn’t just about sidewalks. It’s about community design that enables purposeful movement, informal social contact, and access to green/public spaces -- all of which buffer psychological stress.
Mechanism matters:
During lockdowns, people walked more for leisure, especially close to home. Walkable environments enabled that shift -- providing routine, outdoor access, and a sense of normalcy.
During lockdowns, people walked more for leisure, especially close to home. Walkable environments enabled that shift -- providing routine, outdoor access, and a sense of normalcy.
July 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Mechanism matters:
During lockdowns, people walked more for leisure, especially close to home. Walkable environments enabled that shift -- providing routine, outdoor access, and a sense of normalcy.
During lockdowns, people walked more for leisure, especially close to home. Walkable environments enabled that shift -- providing routine, outdoor access, and a sense of normalcy.
The metric used? EPA’s Walkability Index, which includes street connectivity, access to transit, and mixed land use. The more walkable a neighborhood, the more mental resilience it showed.
July 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
The metric used? EPA’s Walkability Index, which includes street connectivity, access to transit, and mixed land use. The more walkable a neighborhood, the more mental resilience it showed.