Launch Event: Hub of Advanced Policy Innovation for the Environment (HAPIE)

Timeline:
to (3:00 to 7:00am EDT)

Partners:

Top: An Egyptian man collects grass in his boat. Bottom left: A man walking through air pollution in India. Bottom right: Two people cleaning a polluted river in Cape Town, South Africa
Photo credit: Nick Brundle Photography, Shutterstock.com (top), Saurav022, Shutterstock.com (bottom left), Roxane 134, Shutterstock.com (bottom right)

The Hub of Advanced Policy Innovation for the Environment (HAPIE) is J-PAL’s regional Air and Water Lab (AWL) in Egypt. A global initiative founded by J-PAL and Community Jameel, AWLs work alongside government agencies in South Africa, Egypt, and India to tackle critical air and water issues through evidence-based policymaking. The Air and Water Labs expand the work of J-PAL’s King Climate Action Initiative, building on the foundational support of King Philanthropies to develop new research and policy approaches at the intersection of climate change and poverty reduction worldwide. Collectively, the J-PAL AWLs aim to serve nearly 260 million people.

HAPIE is an extension to the Egypt Impact Lab (EIL), housed in the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (NIGSD) in Egypt, in the new thematic area related to environment, energy, and climate change. As such, it aims to improve clean air and water access in Egypt by co-generating evidence and informing the policy decisions of government partners. The hub connects J-PAL MENA researchers with government partners to innovate, test, and scale evidence-informed air and water policies.

HAPIE's name is inspired by the language of ancient Egyptians. It represents an embodiment of the annual flooding and fertility of the Nile River, whose rich inputs allowed the Egyptians to cultivate crops and secure their future. This connection makes the acronym especially fitting for MENA's regional air and water lab based in Egypt.

The upcoming launch event will bring together Egypt’s policymakers, development practitioners, and researchers. Together, we will explore priority issues for HAPIE and chart a course for conducting randomized impact evaluations of climate programs. Panelists will dive deep into the air and water-related focus areas, highlighting innovative initiatives and sharing insights from existing evidence. The event will take place at Moataz El Alfi Hall, at the American University in Cairo from 10:00 am till 2:00pm. Registration begins at 9:30 am; registration prior to the event is required. 


Register to attend the event here>>
 

Speakers

  • Dr. Sherifa Sherif, Executive Director at the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development
  • Dr. Ehab Abdelrahman, Provost, The American University in Cairo
  • Ms. Uzma Sulaiman, Associate Director, Community Jameel
  • Dr. Ahmed El Sayed, Executive Director of J-PAL MENA at AUC 
  • Dr. Reham Rizk, Director of the Egypt Impact Lab, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development
  • Dr. Mohamed Bayoumi, Assistant Resident Representative Environment Team Leader, UNDP 
  • Dr. Kyle Emerick, J-PAL Affiliate and Associate Professor of Economics, Tufts University
  • Dr. Sikandra Kurdi, Country Program Leader, International Food Policy Research Institute
  • Dr. Mohamed Karamany, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Policy, The American University in Cairo
  • Mr. Omar Elnemr, Project Management & Structuring Lead at VNV Advisory in the MENA Region
  • Mr. Mohannad Hesham, Founder and Chairman, Life from Water

Event Agenda

Time Event 
10:00 - 10:45 Keynote Address and Opening Remarks
10:45 - 11:30 MoU Signing Ceremony
11:30 - 11:45 Coffee Break
11:45 - 12:45 Panel 1: Evidence-Based Research in the Agriculture and Water Spac
12:45 - 01:45 Panel 2: Navigating Air Quality and Energy Policy
01:45: - 02:00 Closing Remarks

To learn more about the labs, visit our web page.