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News, ideas, and analysis from J-PAL staff and affiliated professors. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive monthly email updates.

Photo from UJALA seminar

From evidence to action in agricultural policy: What the UJALA Policy Conference revealed

Last year we launched a new J-PAL policy lab: The UM6P-J-PAL Applied Lab for Agriculture (UJALA), which generates rigorous, policy-relevant evidence to answer critical questions around small-scale agriculture and food security worldwide. The lab, launched in collaboration with OCP Africa and led by...
Satellite photo of a town

Defining urban impact: Embedding data and evidence use in climate-responsive urban development

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Partnerships between city governments and research and evidence-focused institutions can help bridge the gap between urban policy, implementation, and rigorous evaluation. This is precisely where the role of learning and evaluation partners like J-PAL’s Hub of Advanced Policy Innovation for the...
A woman teaches a class of young children in a nursery.

When childcare subsidies and employment services are not enough: How social norms shape women's choices in Egypt

How do we ensure we are addressing the correct barriers to women's empowerment in Egypt? This blog unpacks why childcare might not be the right solution to supporting women's employment and increasing gender equity in Greater Cairo.
Abhijit Banerjee delivers a keynote address at J-PAL Middle East and North Africa's five year anniversary event.

Building a culture of evidence-informed decisions in the Middle East and North Africa: Celebrating five years of J-PAL MENA

J-PAL Middle East and North Africa was established in 2020 in response to growing recognition of the need to embed evidence into decision-making across the region. Our goal was not simply to conduct randomized evaluations, but to work hand-in-hand with governments and development practitioners to...
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Egypt Impact Lab: Making every Egyptian pound spent on development count

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The EIL’s integration into the formal structure of the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development in 2024 marked a turning point in Egypt’s commitment to evidence-based governance.
Panelists at J-PAL hosted event at COP29

Harnessing evidence and partnerships: Scaling climate resilience at COP29

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The impacts of climate change are expected to intensify over the next thirty years and will disproportionately affect those experiencing poverty, exacerbate inequalities, trap disadvantaged groups in a cycle of poverty and vulnerability, and threaten to reverse years of progress. Global events, such...
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Driving evidence-based humanitarian action and displacement response in MENA

This blog post provides an overview of the evolving policy narratives in humanitarian work, emphasizing J-PAL’s initiatives to address evidence gaps. It also highlights the establishment of a dedicated portfolio at J-PAL MENA, aimed at supporting localized actions and ensuring that humanitarian...
Group of persons

How to integrate qualitative methods into RCTs

Economists have long used qualitative methods to inform the design and help interpret the results of RCTs. To support the further integration of qualitative methods into randomized evaluations and provide more structured guidance, J-PAL has developed new research resources and training materials for...