For eight years, CAF’s World Giving Index has provided a clear breakdown of charitable giving across the World. Giving and generosity can manifest itself in a number of different activities, so in order to understand giving in its various forms the report looks at three aspects of giving behavior – helping a stranger; donating money to charity and volunteering.

It may be surprising that Myanmar ranks first in global generosity. In 2015, the National League for Democracy came to power, overthrowing a 25-year military dictatorship. This change in government has not been smooth, with conflict arising in the country throughout 2016, resulting in allegations of serious human rights abuses against displaced Rohingya Muslims. Although the WGI does not comment on these events in the report, we are all shocked at the reports of human rights abuses coming out of Myanmar in recent months.

Our data has shown a North-South split in terms of charitable behavior this year, but what really stands out is the potential of increasing the space for civil society in filling the funding gap left behind from aid.

Read the full article by Amy Shaw on Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)