About J-PAL
The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center dedicated to discovering and scaling up solutions that transform lives. We generate rigorous evidence on what works to reduce poverty, and advise governments, funders, and organizations worldwide to maximize their reach and impact. More than 850 million people have been reached by programs and policies informed by research from the J-PAL network.
Letter From the Global Executive Director
As aid budgets contracted in 2025, we heard a clear and urgent request from partners most affected: Tell a more compelling, concrete story of why development funding matters and how it delivers results.
The Year Ahead
Our vision for 2026 builds on a strong foundation to generate more equitable and evidence-informed policies for a better world.
Defining a New Era of Development
Today, hard-won progress in the fight against poverty is at risk, and the stakes have never been higher.
Leading on AI for Social Good
We’re working with governments, tech companies, and researchers to move from “Can it work? ” to “Should we scale it?”
From Pilot to Policy: Scaling for Impact
As global aid budgets tighten, integrating proven solutions into government systems will be essential to meeting our ambitious goal of reaching 500 million people in the next five years.
Climate Solutions
Communities with the fewest resources—and the least responsibility for global emissions—bear the brunt of climate change. Confronting this inequity is central to the mission of the King Climate Action Initiative.
Learning Across Borders
Our new training alliance equips people with practical skills to apply evidence from randomized evaluations in real-world settings.
J-PAL Leadership
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. The eight-member Executive Committee (*) of the Board takes decisions on behalf of the full Board on an ongoing basis.
Row 1: Sule Alan, Cally Ardington, David Atkin, Abhijit Banerjee*, Marianne Bertrand, Chris Blattman, Emily Breza, Jing Cai, Cristine Campos de Xavier Pinto, Stefano Caria.
Row 2: Shawn Cole, Emanuele Colonnelli, Bruno Crépon, Jishnu Das, Iqbal Dhaliwal*, Joseph Doyle, Oeindrila Dube, Esther Duflo*, Pascaline Dupas, Ahmed Elsayed.
Row 3: Alison Fahey, Laura Feeney, Frederico Finan, Amy Finkelstein*, John Floretta, Michael Greenstone, Marc Gurgand, Rema Hanna*, Clare Hofmeyr, Kelsey Jack*.
Row 4: Pamela Jakiela, Seema Jayachandran, Jeanne Lafortune, Karen Macours, Lina Marliani, Isaac Mbiti, Craig McIntosh, Shobhini Mukerji, Cillian Nolan, Matthew Notowidigdo.
Row 5: Ben Olken*, Philip Oreopoulos, Adam Osman, Rohini Pande, William Parienté, Paula Pedro, Abhijit Singh, Cindy Smith, Tavneet Suri*, Claire Walsh.
Lead photo credit: Shutterstock.com