The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab

Our mission is to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. We do this through research, policy outreach, and training.

Hands hold a tablet with an image of a doctor delivering information about Covid.

Update

Messages from healthcare workers delivered over Facebook reached millions, reducing 2020 holiday travel and Covid-19 spread

A randomized evaluation of a nationwide information campaign on Facebook found that short messages from physicians and nurses had a significant impact on reducing holiday travel and decreasing subsequent Covid-19 infection rates. Researchers found that the campaign, which reached almost 30 million Facebook users, was an impactful and cost-effective way to slow the spread of Covid-19 and enact behavior change.

Covid-19 vaccine and child sitting in background

Blog

Strengthening immunization demand and delivery: Lessons from existing evidence

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions to routine vaccination services around the world. In a new evidence note, the J-PAL Health sector team provides an overview of policy lessons stemming from economic research on improving immunization coverage.

Adam Osman presents in front of a J-PAL MENA banner

Blog

Affiliate Spotlight: Adam Osman

Adam Osman is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Co-Scientific Director at J-PAL Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Adam’s work using randomized evaluations to test theories about improving the lives of the poor serves to fill the gap in...

A circle of people sitting in chairs face a man sitting on a chair in front of them

Blog

Strengthening randomized evaluations through incorporating qualitative research, Part 1

J-PAL North America reflects on using qualitative research methods in randomized evaluations, and summarize a few practical tips for those interested in integrating a qualitative approach into their studies.

J-PAL affiliated researchers have 1094 ongoing and completed randomized evaluations in 91 countries

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We’re hiring data and field research associates! If you’re a recent or soon-to-be grad looking to grow your research career at J-PAL or prepare yourself for graduate study in economics, public policy, or related fields, this could be the role for you. Apply by October 11 to meet our early application deadline: https://j-p.al/RA-recruitment-21
The xSDG UnConference explores ways to make policies sensitive to the needs of people who face discrimination due to their religion, gender, caste, race, and age, among other identity markers, and how these identity markers have emerged as a serious barrier to poverty reduction and to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). **This week,** J-PAL South Asia will be hosting five panels focusing on identifying gaps in research and policymaking in relation to disadvantaged groups, along with proposals to make them more inclusive. To know more about the event and register, visit: https://j-p.al/xsdg-jpal
📢 Announcing the launch of our Jobs and Opportunity Initiative #AfricanScholars Program with support from Google.org! We're now welcoming proposals from those with a PhD in economics or a related field and are based at an academic institution in sub-Saharan Africa. Learn more: https://j-p.al/JOI-african-scholars And don't forget to register in our #AfricanScholars database for matchmaking, MicroMasters in Data, Economics, & Development Policy scholarships and to be added to our mailing lists. https://www.tfaforms.com/4743780
Two associate positions open in our Chile-based J-PAL Latin America and the Caribbean office: ¿Tienes interés en trabajar en la intersección entre incidencia en la política pública, difusión de la evidencia y comunicaciones? Policy and Communications Associate: https://www.povertyactionlab.org/careers/policy-communications-associate-j-pal-lac-job-000976 ¿Quieres apoyar el diseño y la ejecución de proyectos de capacitación e investigación en evaluación de impacto de programas sociales? Research and Training Associate: https://www.povertyactionlab.org/careers/research-and-training-associate-j-pal-lac-job-000981
The School of Economics, University of Nairobi, in collaboration with J-PAL Africa, invites you to a webinar on randomised evaluation research funding opportunities available to African Scholars. This webinar is facilitated by the Digital Identification and Finance Initiative (DigiFI Africa) - a research initiative at J-PAL Africa. It will focus on research questions on digital ID and payment systems and available funding opportunities. DigiFI Africa is part of J-PAL and focuses on funding rigorous evidence on the use of digital payments and identification systems to improve lives in Sub-Saharan Africa. Policymakers across Africa are increasingly investing in large-scale digital identification and digital payment systems. Because these systems are new, little rigorous research exists on how best to design and implement such systems in low-income contexts. How do these rapid changes affect the lives of citizens? How can they best be structured to lead to the most benefit? Are any group

Building systems to improve and reward higher-quality agricultural products

Learn more about our new review of strategies designed to improve the quality of agricultural goods produced and sold at market.

1 day 17 hours ago

Affiliate Spotlight: Michela Carlana

Michela Carlana is an assistant professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. From researching the subtle role of bias and motivation in student outcomes to rapidly launching and...

1 day 17 hours ago

Increasing adherence to COVID-19 guidelines: Lessons from rigorous evidence

As of September 14, 2021, Covid-19 has spread to every region of the world, infecting more than 224 million people and killing more than 4.6 million. As vaccines become available, increasing their...

4 days 17 hours ago

Learning to live with the pandemic, but not its terrible impact

In a blog post for the Center for Effective Philanthropy, J-PAL Global's Iqbal Dhaliwal and Ingrid Lustig reflect on new and deepened sectoral challenges that must be prioritized by the philanthropic...

5 days 17 hours ago

Two lessons from the landmark IPCC report on climate change

IPCC’s recent climate report urges rapid action to produce deep reductions in emissions and adapt to climate change in the coming decades. We highlight key takeaways for poverty alleviation efforts. ...

6 days 17 hours ago