Blog

News

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.

World Bank: Morocco’s 'pioneer schools' program shows early gains in student performance

According to the World Bank, students enrolled in Pioneer Schools scored 82% higher in learning outcomes than students in comparable public schools outside the program after just one year. The findings come from an initial impact evaluation conducted by J-PAL, which examined how the new system is...

Some UAE schools to get new Arabic programme: What parents need to know

A new Arabic programme will be introduced across private schools in Ras Al Khaimah from September 2026. Called IQRA, the Arabic word for "read,” the programme was developed by the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research. The trial, conducted by J-PAL MENA, the regional office...

UM6P Hosts UJALA Conference on Evidence-Based Agricultural Policy

Policymakers, researchers, and practitioners met at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University’s Rabat campus to discuss how scientific evidence can shape agricultural policy across Africa.

Nobel Laureate and J-PAL Co-Founder Abhijit Banerjee Visits UAE and Qatar to Advance Evidence-Informed Policymaking

J-PAL at MIT announced today that Professor Abhijit Banerjee, Nobel laureate and J-PAL co-founder, visited the United Arab Emirates and Qatar for a series of high-level engagements with government leaders, philanthropists, academic institutions, and civil society organizations.

September 2025 MENA Bi-Annual Newsletter

In this edition of our newsletter, catch up on J-PAL MENA’s highlights from May through September, including recent events, policy dialogues, trainings, new publications, and more.

J-PAL MENA At AUC Celebrates Five Years Of Evidence-Policymaking In The Middle East And North Africa

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Middle East and North Africa (J-PAL MENA) at The American University in Cairo (AUC) marked its fifth anniversary this week, celebrating five years of harnessing the power of evidence to design cost-effective and large-scale policies that address poverty and...

J-PAL MENA Celebrates Five Years of Transforming Policymaking in the Region

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Middle East and North Africa (J-PAL MENA) at The American University in Cairo (AUC) celebrated its fifth anniversary today. This marks five years of harnessing the power of evidence to design cost-effective and large-scale policies that address poverty and...

Experts Gather at UM6P to Bridge Research and Policy on Climate, Education, Jobs

The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Rabat brought together researchers, policymakers, and international experts for a major conference focused on how scientific research can help create better public policies in Morocco. Keynote speaker Esther Duflo, Nobel Prize-winning economist, MIT...