The SCI Foundation (SCI), formerly known as the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, is a charity that works with governments in sub-Saharan Africa to create or scale up deworming programs.

History

SCI was founded in 2002 as an initiative within Imperial College London with a £20 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.^[1] In 2019, SCI became an independent organization, adopting its current name.^[1]

Evaluation

SCI was a GiveWell top-rated charity between 2011 and 2022.^[2] ^[3] GiveWell estimates that SCI can deworm a child at a cost of around $1.^[4]^[5]

As of July 2022, SCI Foundation has received over $27.1 million in funding from Open Philanthropy,^[6] and $1.5 million from Effective Altruism Funds.^[7]

The Life You Can Save features SCI in their list of "best charities".^[8]

Further reading

GiveWell (2021) All content on SCI Foundation, GiveWell, November.

Sánchez, Sebastián et al. (2019) Timeline of Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Timelines Wiki, March 9 (updated 16 April 2021‎).

External links

SCI Foundation. Official website.

Apply for a job.

Donate to the SCI Foundation.

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SCI Foundation (2020) Our history, SCI Foundation.
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GiveWell (2021) 2021 GiveWell cost-effectiveness analysis — version 3, GiveWell, July 6.
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For the year 2019, GiveWell maintained their recommendation, but noted that while "SCI offers donors an outstanding opportunity to accomplish good with their donations [...], at this time, it does not have capacity to use new donations effectively."^[9] This notice was removed in 2020.
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GiveWell (2021) SCI Foundation, GiveWell, November.
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GiveWell (2021) Our top charities, GiveWell, November.
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Open Philanthropy (2022) Grants database: SCI Foundation - Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Open Philanthropy.
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Global Health and Development Fund (2018) April 2018: Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Effective Altruism Funds, April.
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The Life You Can Save (2021) Best charities, The Life You Can Save.
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GiveWell (2019) Our top charities, GiveWell, November.