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 1,000 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 1,000 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 120 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 research, policy, and training work is fundamentally better when it is informed by a broad range of perspectives.
Senior Policy Manager, J-PAL Global
Emily Romano is a Senior Policy Manager at J-PAL Global, where she manages the Social Protection sector. In her role on the Policy and Communications team, she writes policy publications, cultivates new research partnerships, and conducts policy outreach for evidence dissemination.
Prior to joining J-PAL in 2020, Emily worked for seven years on smallholder agricultural finance at Root Capital. She managed the development, maintenance, and implementation of lending policies, procedures, and underwriting resources and prepared reports and analyses on the non-performing loan portfolio. She also managed lending systems projects and provided support to treasury operations.
Emily holds a Master in Public Affairs from Princeton University with a concentration in Economics and Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematical Economic Analysis and Policy Studies from Rice University.