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?
In partnership with Community Jameel, the Air and Water Labs work closely with government partners to co-generate evidence-based solutions for the most pressing air and water challenges in Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and South Asia.
The UM6P-J-PAL Applied Lab for Agriculture (UJALA) contributed as a partner to the first edition of the Autumn School “Socio-Economic Strategies for Sustainable Development in Rural Africa,” held at the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) in Benguérir from October 27–31, 2025.
The UM6P-J-PAL Applied Lab for Agriculture (UJALA) officially launched its African Scholars Program at the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) in Rabat on September 17, 2025.
On January 12, 2026, UM6P hosted the UM6P-J-PAL Applied Lab for Agriculture (UJALA) Policy Conference in Rabat, convening J-PAL affiliated researchers, UM6P academics, OCP leaders, and policymakers.
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Along with Coopération Globale, CEGA, CGD, GPRL, IPA, and J-PAL are proud to co-host the Smart Buys Alliance—a consortium of leading research institutions, evidence-minded funders, and savvy implementing partners working together to identify, prioritize, and promote the cost-effective solutions to...
Join the course team for a live webinar to explore the Data, Economics, and Design of Policy MicroMasters program, gain insights into the upcoming term, and have your questions answered in real time.