In December 2022, the government of Côte d’Ivoire passed a new law mandating the evaluation of public policies. The Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPD), tasked with implementing the law, sought to build internal capacity on rigorous impact evaluation. J-PAL Europe and ENSEA, Côte d’Ivoire’s National School of Statistics and Applied Economics, seized this opportunity to launch an ambitious collaboration targeting students and civil servants. The partnership includes:

1. Supporting ENSEA students in taking Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP) MicroMasters classes
2. Developing an in-service certificate for Ivorian civil servants on public policy evaluation
3. Supporting the creation of a master’s program in impact evaluation that will leverage content from the DEDP MicroMasters

The partnership aims to foster evidence-informed policymaking and promote research collaborations aligned with  government priorities. In October 2024, ENSEA was officially welcomed as a founding member of ADEPT.

A prestigious institution with a strong tradition of public service, Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) shares ADEPT’s commitment to attracting and training future changemakers who drive impact in their communities. Princeton SPIA also has a long-standing commitment to removing financial barriers to its programs, with all admitted graduate students—MPA, MPP, and PhD—receiving full funding for the duration of their program. No additional essay or separate application is required to receive the funding, which includes tuition, fees, and a generous living stipend. 

Princeton SPIA graduate programs hence hold particular promise for DEDP learners from nontraditional or disadvantaged backgrounds, or from universities that may be less familiar to Princeton SPIA’s admissions committees. The university joined ADEPT as a founding member in 2025, and beginning with the fall 2025 application cycle, will consider the DEDP MicroMasters credential in the admissions process for its Master in Public Affairs and Master in Public Policy programs. While the credential is not required for admission, applicants who include it will have it recognized by the admissions committee as strong preparation for advanced quantitative study.

For admitted students, the DEDP MicroMasters coursework in economics, data analysis, and policy design provides a solid foundation for Princeton SPIA’s rigorous curriculum. While Princeton does not award credit for coursework at other institutions, advanced training—such as that offered through the DEDP MicroMasters program—may allow students to test into higher-level courses. This flexibility enables students to focus on electives and tailor their experience, while still fulfilling Princeton SPIA’s degree credit requirements.