Romain Barbe
Co-founder and director of Mieux Donner
Romain Barbe co-founded Mieux Donner with a strong belief: we can have a far greater impact if we have access to the right information.
He now helps foundations, companies and individuals to support the most effective organisations, using prioritisation principles, an international network and an evidence-based approach.
A mission: to help others make the world a better place.
A career rooted in commitment and rigour
Romain is a graduate engineer from the INSA group. Always curious and committed, he has worked on humanitarian projects in India, held various positions in student associations and served as anofficer in the French Navy.
He also developed sustainable solutions in an electric bicycle start-up, combining engineering, project management and entrepreneurial spirit.
His commitment to a better world then led him to discover the effectiveness of high-impact associations and careers, and to become fully involved:
- In 2023, he pledged to donating at least 10% of his income to high-impact charities.
- In 2024, he is responsible for the translation of the 80,000 Hours book on impact careers.
- In 2024, he was selected from thousands of applicants for the Charity Entrepreneurship incubator. The application process attracts highly ambitious and skilled individuals and has a selection rate of around 1%. It was as a result of this programme that Mieux Donner was born.
From technique to impact: a recognised voice
Romain is the author of a number of reports and articles on the effectiveness of voluntary organisations, impact measurement and official development assistance.
He has been invited to appear on a number of podcasts, as a specialist and populariser, and by bodies as varied as the French National Assembly, public conferences such as the Rencontres de l’Esprit Critique, and private companies.
Romain is in direct contact with major players in impact assessment such as GiveWell and Giving Green. He also talks to researchers in economics, social sciences and ethics, both in France and abroad.
“You can have 100 times more impact by giving to the best charities. It’s not about numbers, it’s about compassion. Every donation has an impact on lives and families. If I carefully choose the most effective charities, it’s because I can’t ignore the potential to help hundreds more individuals. Every action counts when it’s well-directed, and it’s because I believe in lasting impact that I act to make a difference.”
Romain – Co-founder of Mieux Donner
Multidisciplinary expertise based on scientific knowledge
Romain Barbe’s approach is based on analytical rigour, ethical reflection and a sense of strategy. His expertise covers the following areas
- A technical and systems understanding of complex problems, informed by an engineering background and results-oriented entrepreneurial experience.
- A mastery of impact assessment methods, including cost-effectiveness analysis, prioritisation methods and the rigorous selection of effectiveness indicators.
- Cross-disciplinary expertise on major global issues such as health, poverty, climate change, animal suffering, the risks of artificial intelligence and other global catastrophic risks.
- An in-depth analysis of the structural limitations of the philanthropic sector and why a large proportion of donations do not reach their full potential.
- An understanding of the psychological mechanisms that influence altruistic behaviour.
- A mastery of the fundamentals of moral philosophy and applied ethics, particularly in terms of their practical implications for helping others and having a positive impact.
- Synthesis and popularisation of complex academic work, using an evidence-based approach, with a particular interest in public policy issues.
- Experience in supporting high-impact careers, backed up by hands-on mentoring and the translation of a reference work on the subject.
Would you like to get in touch?
Romain is always open to new collaborations, whether it involves :
- assisting foundations and companies in their generosity decisions
- share our expertise through conferences, interviews and articles
- or talk to anyone who wants to amplify their impact.
Contact Romain or follow him on LinkedIn.