The Evidence Effect: Evaluating Innovation in Development and Why it Matters
On June 27, 2025, just ahead of the UN’s Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, J-PAL Europe will host a high-level half-day event in Paris to affirm the critical role of scientific evidence in shaping effective development policy. Bringing together leading voices (see the speaker list below) from European aid agencies, foundations, academia, the media, and civil society, the event will celebrate shared commitments to smarter, evidence-informed investment in global development at a time when delivering impact is more urgent than ever.
Chaired by J-PAL co-founders and Nobel Laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, the event will spotlight examples of how rigorous research has improved education, health, livelihoods, and climate resilience for the world’s most vulnerable. With key contributions from French and European partners, including the Fund for Innovation in Development, the discussions will highlight how to scale what works and how evidence can guide more effective use of finite development financing.
A short sequence of presentations and panel discussions will focus on how scientific research can help us continue to use development funding to uncover and scale promising innovations that will allow us to save lives, promote access to better educational and employment opportunities, promote more effective governance and alleviate the burden of climate change for the world’s most vulnerable.
Post-event (5:15 - 7:00 pm)
Media availability: Following the closing remarks, a press briefing will be held from 5:15 - 5:45 pm, offering a space for brief interviews and media engagement with select speakers and organisers.
Cocktail reception (5:15 - 7:00 pm): The event will conclude with a cocktail reception, providing an opportunity for continued exchange and networking in a relaxed setting.
See the agenda
Speakers:
Abhijit Banerjee (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, J-PAL Co-founder and Director)
Esther Duflo (Collège de France and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, J-PAL Co-founder and Director)
Luc Behaghel (Paris School of Economics, Humanitarian Protection Initiative co-chair)
Talib Bensouda (Mayor of Kanifing, The Gambia)
Hervé Berville (French MP for Côtes-d’Armor, author of the 2018 "Berville report" on modernising French development assistance)
Gilles Carbonnier (Vice-President, International Committee of the Red Cross)
Jonas Heirman (Head of Impact Evaluation Unit, World Food Programme)
Minister Nialé Kaba (Minister of Economy, Planning and Development - Ivory Coast)
Dean Karlan (Northwestern University, former Chief Economist, United States Agency for International Development)
Adnan Khan (Chief Economist, UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office)
Hugues Kouadio (Director General, Director General, École Nationale Supérieure de Statistique et d’Économie Appliquée)
Sheree Kullenberg (Director of Design, Innovation, and Learning, International Rescue Committee)
Arianna Legovini (Director, Development Impact, World Bank)
Ambassador Manuel Montobbio (Deputy Permanent Representative of Spain to the OECD)
Thomas Melonio (Chief Economist and Executive Director of Innovation, Strategy and Research, Agence Française de Développement)
Cillian Nolan (Executive Director, J-PAL Europe)
Håvard Mokleiv Nygård (Director of Knowledge, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation)
Jerome Oberreit (Executive Director, BRAC Global)
Isabelle Pelly (Senior Policy Director, GiveDirectly)
Juliette Seban (Executive Director, Fund for Innovation in Development)
Jean van Wetter (Chief Executive Officer, Enabel)