Transforming Public Policies in European Development Cooperation

France

J-PAL Europe coordinates the Chair on Development Methodologies, jointly created by Agence Française de Développement, Paris School of Economics and Paris Sciences et Lettres, and occupied by J-PAL co-founders Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee. The main objective of the Chair is to promote research in development economics in order to shine light on public policies–in particular French development policies. Among other activities, the Chair partners organise an annual summer school for researchers and policymakers to further impact evaluation capabilities in selected countries. In addition to the summer schools, the Chair also supports J-PAL Europe’s broader research and policy outreach activities and provides scholarships for students in the Master’s programme in Public Policy and Development (PPD) at the Paris School of Economics.

Germany

J-PAL Europe has partnered with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Evaluation Unit to enhance organisational capacity to use existing rigorous evidence effectively. This comprehensive approach includes conducting training courses designed for a diverse range of staff members, focusing specifically on evidence use and the drafting of research proposals. Additionally, J-PAL Europe collaborates with GIZ to conduct tailor-made reviews of existing evidence within selected sectors, consolidating findings into policy briefs and presentations. Lastly, the partnership aims to facilitate the uptake of rigorous evidence in the planning and preparation phases of GIZ international development projects. Through these collaborative efforts, J-PAL Europe and the GIZ Evaluation Unit aim to empower GIZ staff to leverage evidence effectively in their programming with the aim of fostering impactful project outcomes.

Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, J-PAL Europe collaborates with the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency (LuxDev) to connect key actors with evidence and initiate randomised evaluations. The primary activities include facilitating workshops to disseminate the latest evidence in key sectors of Luxembourg's development cooperation; drafting policy briefs summarising rigorous impact evaluations; and organising training sessions with staff in partner countries on how to design and implement randomised controlled trials to evaluate their development projects. Moreover, the collaboration aims to make relevant information, including videos, policy briefs and training sources publicly available. Finally, J-PAL Europe explores rigorous impact evaluations on topics relevant to filling research gaps in Luxembourg’s partner countries, such as Senegal, and facilitates matchmaking with J-PAL-affiliated researchers. Through these efforts, the partnership aims to enhance evidence-based decision-making and promote effective development initiatives within Luxembourg's development cooperation efforts.