J-PAL MENA Celebrates Five Years of Transforming Policymaking in the Region
Cairo, Egypt – July 7, 2025
The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Middle East and North Africa (J-PAL MENA) at The American University in Cairo (AUC) celebrated its fifth anniversary today. This marks five years of harnessing the power of evidence to design cost-effective and large-scale policies that address poverty and enhance lives across the region.
The milestone event brought together policymakers, researchers, donors, and community leaders to celebrate J-PAL MENA’s achievements using data and rigorous research to inform policies addressing some of the region's most pressing challenges.
The event, held at the AUC’s Malak Gabr Theatre, featured a keynote speech by Nobel Laureate and J-PAL co-founder Abhijit Banerjee and remarks from H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation.
It also featured engaging panel discussions on evidence-based policymaking in Egypt and the MENA region—TED-style talks showcased success stories from J-PAL’s partners, including government officials and NGOs.
“Five Years of Impact—and Counting”
Since its launch in 2020, J-PAL MENA has partnered with governments, NGOs, and donors to generate and disseminate evidence that improves policies and transforms lives. J-PAL MENA has built a strong foundation of success. This event will honor these accomplishments while charting a bold course for the future of evidence-informed policymaking in Egypt and across the region.
In 2022, J-PAL MENA launched the Egypt Impact Lab, in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, and with foundational support from Community Jameel, the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, and additional support from UNICEF Egypt, to strengthen the effectiveness of Egypt’s poverty reduction policies by rigorously evaluating promising and innovative government programs and using results to inform scale decisions. The Egypt Impact Lab was officially integrated into the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development’s training arm, in 2024.
In 2025, J-PAL MENA announced the launch of the Hub of Advanced Policy Innovation for the Environment (HAPIE), as part of the global network of J-PAL Air and Water Labs with Community Jameel, which will aim to tackle critical air and water issues through evidence-based policymaking.
Why This Event Matters
- Catalyzing Change: Bringing together policymakers, researchers, and donors to discuss how evidence can drive better decisions and outcomes.
- Celebrating Partnerships: Honoring the collaborative efforts that have made J-PAL MENA’s work possible.
- Inspiring the Future: Showcasing how rigorous research can unlock solutions to the region’s most complex challenges.
Dr. Ahmed Elsayed, Executive Director of J-PAL MENA, said, “As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, we reflect on the incredible journey of building a culture of evidence-informed policymaking in Egypt and the Middle East. Over the past five years, J-PAL MENA has collaborated closely with governments, NGOs, and donors to generate research that directly improves people’s lives. This milestone is not just a celebration of our achievements but a moment to look ahead—to deepen our partnerships, expand our impact, and continue tackling the region’s most pressing challenges with rigorous evidence and actionable solutions.”
George Richards, Director of Community Jameel, said: “Since 2020, when Community Jameel supported the establishment of J-PAL MENA, we have been in awe of the speed and scale of its impact in improving the lives of people across the region – from Morocco to Saudi Arabia and of course here in Egypt. Today, marking J-PAL MENA’s fifth anniversary, we remain committed to supporting J-PAL MENA in driving forward the use of rigorous evidence in tackling grave challenges, from poverty and hunger to air pollution and water scarcity.”
Please visit the event page for more information about the event.
##
About J-PAL MENA
J-PAL-affiliated researchers began conducting studies in the Middle East and North Africa region in 2014, before the establishment of the regional office. With the growing interest in these studies, the need for a regional office emerged, leading to the launch of J-PAL MENA in 2020, in partnership with Community Jameel, based at the American University in Cairo (AUC), and officially established under the name J-PAL MENA at AUC. J-PAL MENA at AUC currently has 60+ completed and ongoing evaluations across eight sectors in nine countries in the MENA region. This represents less than three percent of J-PAL’s total base of randomized evaluations worldwide; there is a need to launch new impact evaluations to ensure that rigorous evidence guides decision-making in the region.
About the American University in Cairo
Founded in 1919, The American University in Cairo (AUC) is a leading English-language, American-accredited institution of higher education and center of the intellectual, social, and cultural life of the Arab world. It is a vital bridge between East and West, linking Egypt and the region to the world through scholarly research, partnerships with academic and research institutions, and study abroad programs. The University offers 40 undergraduate, 52 master’s, and two PhD programs rooted in a liberal arts education that encourages students to think critically and find creative solutions to conflicts and challenges facing both the region and the world. AUC is fully accredited in Egypt and the United States as an independent, nonprofit, politically non-partisan, non-sectarian, and equal opportunity institution. For more information about the university news and events, follow us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/aucegypt and Twitter @AUC.
About the Onsi Sawiris School of Business
Boasting an unrivaled reputation as the top private business school in Egypt and one of the best in Africa and the Arab world, Onsi Sawiris School of Business at The American University in Cairo is dedicated to transforming the eager and innovative minds of today to become the responsible change agents of tomorrow, all while developing relevance and leadership in an evolving ecosystem. Situated within AUC and enjoying nearly seven decades’ worth of history, the school offers a wide range of programs and activities that extend beyond the classroom to provide a holistic and engaging experiential learning approach. The school’s seal of excellence is the Triple Crown accreditation, which places it among the top 1 percent of educational institutions worldwide to achieve the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Association of MBAs, and the European Quality Improvement System accreditations. For more information, visit business.aucegypt.edu/