Claire Stein

Claire Stein is a Senior Policy Associate at J-PAL Africa, where she supports evidence-informed education reform and the scale-up of effective programs in sub-Saharan Africa. In this role, she works with affiliated researchers, governments, NGOs, and education system partners to translate rigorous research into practical policy and program decisions.

Claire is a development economist with experience designing, implementing, and evaluating development programs across Asia and Africa. Before joining J-PAL, she worked with organizations including HelpAge International, the French Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), Population Services International (PSI),and AgriCord on research, monitoring, evaluation, and initiatives related to gender equity, financial and social inclusion, livelihoods, and health systems and services in Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Uganda. Her work has involved collaborating with civil society organizations, UN agencies, governments, donors, and implementing partners to generate and apply evidence for development programs and social policies.

Claire has recently completed her doctoral thesis in development economics at the University of Groningen and is scheduled to defend it in September 2026. Her doctoral research uses experimental methods to evaluate agency-based interventions designed to promote women’s empowerment in northern Vietnam.