The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of more than 1,100 researchers at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty.
The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of more than 1,100 researchers at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty.
Our affiliated professors are based at over 130 universities and conduct randomized evaluations around the world to design, evaluate, and improve programs and policies aimed at reducing poverty. They set their own research agendas, raise funds to support their evaluations, and work with J-PAL staff on research, policy outreach, and training.
Our Board of Directors, which is composed of J-PAL affiliated professors and senior management, provides overall strategic guidance to J-PAL, our sector programs, and regional offices.
We host events around the world and online to share results and policy lessons from randomized evaluations, to build new partnerships between researchers and practitioners, and to train organizations on how to design and conduct randomized evaluations, and use evidence from impact evaluations.
Browse news articles about J-PAL and our affiliated professors, read our press releases and monthly global and research newsletters, and connect with us for media inquiries.
Based at leading universities around the world, our experts are economists who use randomized evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty. Connect with us for all media inquiries and we'll help you find the right person to shed insight on your story.
J-PAL is based at MIT in Cambridge, MA and has seven regional offices at leading universities in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
J-PAL is based at MIT in Cambridge, MA and has seven regional offices at leading universities in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Our global office is based at the Department of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It serves as the head office for our network of seven independent regional offices.
Led by affiliated professors, J-PAL sectors guide our research and policy work by conducting literature reviews; by managing research initiatives that promote the rigorous evaluation of innovative interventions by affiliates; and by summarizing findings and lessons from randomized evaluations and producing cost-effectiveness analyses to help inform relevant policy debates.
Led by affiliated professors, J-PAL sectors guide our research and policy work by conducting literature reviews; by managing research initiatives that promote the rigorous evaluation of innovative interventions by affiliates; and by summarizing findings and lessons from randomized evaluations and producing cost-effectiveness analyses to help inform relevant policy debates.
How do policies affecting private sector firms impact productivity gaps between higher-income and lower-income countries? How do firms’ own policies impact economic growth and worker welfare?
How can we identify effective policies and programs in low- and middle-income countries that provide financial assistance to low-income families, insuring against shocks and breaking poverty traps?
Browse news articles about J-PAL and our affiliated professors, and read our press releases and monthly global and research newsletters. For media inquiries, please email us.
J-PAL North America's May newsletter features newly funded projects across four RFPs, a new policy brief on Emergency Financial Assistance, and an upcoming Evidence Matters webinar.
In the May edition of our newsletter, catch up on evidence on what helps people on cash benefits find jobs, find out how trail bridges raised household consumption and farm profits in Rwanda, Africa's job challenge, how exports and regional markets can unlock growth and job creation, and more.
J-PAL Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) presents a summary of the achievements of the office in the first quarter of 2026. Find the latest updates on policy-relevant research, initiatives, courses, events, resources, and more.
J-PAL North America's April newsletter shares exciting new media from Chelsea Eats—a Covid-19 era cash transfer program in Massachusetts, updates on our Evidence Matters webinar series, and a call for applications to Research Staff Training.
This month's update features the launch of the Lemann Collaborative in Brazil, new insights from 11 studies on paying people to protect nature, a blog series on inclusive finance in Africa, a landmark handbook on social protection in low- and middle-income countries, and a podcast on evidence in the...
J-PAL North America's March newsletter announces ARTEMIS—our newest offering to expand the diversity of researchers at every milestone in the pipeline, as well as an upcoming webinar in our Evidence Matters series.
A new national study of Zambia's Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) program finds that helping children build foundational literacy and math skills can lead to broader learning gains over time.
Community Jameel and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Europe (J-PAL Europe) are pleased to announce a renewed commitment to advancing social inclusion in Europe through J-PAL’s European Social Inclusion Initiative (ESII).