In the Search for Effective Solutions: Public Policy Informed by Evidence
On Wednesday October 14, the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), and the Inter-American Bank of Development (IADB), the Institute for Advanced Development Studies (INESAD) and the Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz (UPSA) organized a introductory workshop on experimental impact evaluation and the seminar “Searching for Effective Solutions: Public Policy Informed by Evidence” in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
In the morning took place a workshop coordinated by the J-PAL LAC and IPA team, in which participants worked on the theory and practice of introductory topics on experimental impact evaluations, such as evaluation methodologies, theory of change and randomization design. As part of the workshop, Francisco Gallego, J-PAL LAC Scientific Director, lead a session on the opportunities to implement randomized impact evaluations.
In the afternoon, the seminar gathered scholars, public servants, international organization and civil society representatives in order to debate on the role of rigorous evidence as an essential tool in decision-making on social policy.
The event had Rachel Glennerster, Director at J-PAL, as keynote speaker, she presented on the importance of evidence generated through impact evaluation in the formulation of social programs, with the aim of improving their efficacy and efficiency.
The event counted with the participation of Héctor Malarín, IADB’s representative in Bolivia, and Dylan Ramshaw, Country Director for IPA in Bolivia, Peru and Paraguay. Presentations were followed by a debate with the audience moderated by Rodolfo Stucchi, Senior Economis at IADB in Bolivia, will be held.
Both the workshop and seminar were organized by IADB, J-PAL Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, IPA Bolivia, UPSA and INESAD, as part of their mission of promoting evidence-based decision-making in public policy, and were developed prior to the 20th LACEA Annual Meeting in Santa Cruz.