Donald has authored more than more than 400 books and scientific publications, including Rethinking School Feeding in 2009, and produced award-winning documentary films on the role of public health in development, including a series for the American Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). He has contributed to all three editions of the World Bank’s Disease Control Priorities since 1993, and in the 2018 edition led Volume 8, Child and Adolescent Health and Development, which has been re-printed twice with the World Food Programme and with the Global Partnership for Education. He was editorial advisor to UN World Food Programme "State of School Feeding Worldwide 2020".
Research
1. Evaluating the contribution of health and nutrition to the creation of Human Capital

2. Policy and strategy for national health and nutrition programmes for school age children and adolescents.

3. The design of school feeding and other cost-effective school-based health and nutrition-sensitive delivery programmes, including deworming, eye health, menstrual hygiene managment, vaccination, malaria control.

4. The roles of multiple sectors in the health and development of school age children and adolescents, including Education, WASH and the private sector.