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News, ideas, and analysis from J-PAL staff and affiliated professors. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive monthly email updates.

Child writing in his notebook at school

Setting an early foundation for children’s learning: using insights from cost-effectiveness analysis to inform decisions

Ensuring children have strong basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics – together known as foundational literacy and numeracy – is considered critical for their future academic success and later life outcomes. While research has generated insights on what works for improving literacy and...
An image of a group of people working at the Puerto Rico trainings

Fostering a culture of evidence-based policies in Puerto Rico

Research Manager Laura Ruiz and consultant Kimberly Massa share exciting updates on our ongoing work in Puerto Rico, the latest in-person training, and upcoming capacity-building opportunities for future collaborators.
Students in Ghana engage with hands-on activities designed to support foundational learning.

From training to impact: Strengthening foundational learning in Ghana

This is the second blog post in a series highlighting how UNICEF and J-PAL are working together to strengthen evidence use in education. The first blog post reflected on insights from global experts working to adapt and scale evidence-based education programs. This post builds on the first by...
A woman harvesting rice in a field.

The Evidence Effect: The unique value of aid and philanthropy—four essential roles

Governments and local communities are leading the charge on delivering services at scale. When focused on the right things, donor capital—both bilateral and philanthropic—doesn’t have to and generally shouldn’t replace government funding. It should play a catalytic role to spark innovation, spread...
Madhya Pradesh_Women's Help Desks_Intervention in progress _officer hearing out a complainant in Morena district.jpg(941.18 KB)

Researcher Spotlight: Sandip Sukhtankar on his work in India

In this episode of the Researcher Spotlight Conversation Series, host Sambhav Choudhury speaks with Sandip Sukhtankar, Professor of Economics at the University of Virginia. He discusses the unique challenges and rewards of conducting research with law enforcement agencies, offers practical...
High school students in Brazil sit at desks in a classroom.

The Evidence Effect: How technology and smart policies can transform government service delivery

The work of government is challenging in high- and low-income countries alike. Today, new problems compound to make the work of government even harder: Governments must tackle poverty and address climate change while many are in the midst of debt and fiscal crises that were compounded by Covid.
A woman wearing a green head scarf stands holding a child. In the foreground is a counter with a bag of subsidized rice.

O Efeito da Evidência: Como governos de países de baixa e média renda impulsionam e ampliam políticas eficazes de redução da pobreza

A maioria dos governos de países de baixa e média renda investe muito mais em seus próprios programas sociais — que incluem saúde, educação e redes de seguridade social — do que em toda a ajuda externa junta. Embora a ajuda externa tenha estado em evidência este ano, os governos de países de baixa e...
Woman giving numeracy books on International Literacy Day in Mozambique

Affiliate Spotlight: Selim Gulesci on addressing gender-based violence in Mozambican schools

In May 2025, J-PAL Africa invited LinkedIn readers to submit questions about a recent randomized evaluation on preventing gender-based violence in Mozambican schools, coauthored by J-PAL affiliated researcher Selim Gulesci. In this blog post, Selim responds to five questions from readers, sharing...