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 Board of Directors, which is composed of J-PAL affiliated professors and senior management, provides overall strategic guidance to J-PAL, our sector programs, and regional offices.
We host events around the world and online to share results and policy lessons from randomized evaluations, to build new partnerships between researchers and practitioners, and to train organizations on how to design and conduct randomized evaluations, and use evidence from impact evaluations.
Browse news articles about J-PAL and our affiliated professors, read our press releases and monthly global and research newsletters, and connect with us for media inquiries.
Based at leading universities around the world, our experts are economists who use randomized evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty. Connect with us for all media inquiries and we'll help you find the right person to shed insight on your story.
J-PAL is based at MIT in Cambridge, MA and has seven regional offices at leading universities in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
J-PAL is based at MIT in Cambridge, MA and has seven regional offices at leading universities in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Our global office is based at the Department of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It serves as the head office for our network of seven independent regional offices.
Led by affiliated professors, J-PAL sectors guide our research and policy work by conducting literature reviews; by managing research initiatives that promote the rigorous evaluation of innovative interventions by affiliates; and by summarizing findings and lessons from randomized evaluations and producing cost-effectiveness analyses to help inform relevant policy debates.
Led by affiliated professors, J-PAL sectors guide our research and policy work by conducting literature reviews; by managing research initiatives that promote the rigorous evaluation of innovative interventions by affiliates; and by summarizing findings and lessons from randomized evaluations and producing cost-effectiveness analyses to help inform relevant policy debates.
How do policies affecting private sector firms impact productivity gaps between higher-income and lower-income countries? How do firms’ own policies impact economic growth and worker welfare?
How can we identify effective policies and programs in low- and middle-income countries that provide financial assistance to low-income families, insuring against shocks and breaking poverty traps?
We host events around the world and online to share results and policy lessons from randomized evaluations, build new partnerships between researchers and practitioners, and train organizations on how to design and conduct randomized evaluations.
J-PAL Africa holds a webinar series each year for African students who would like to pursue graduate study in Economics, Public Policy, or related fields in North America or Europe. The webinars are spread throughout the year and aim to provide comprehensive information to African students on what...
Applications are now open for a four-day randomized evaluation design workshop as part of the Displaced Livelihoods Initiative (DLI) and the Humanitarian Protection Initiative (HPI) to develop projects in the Sub-Saharan Africa organised by J-PAL and Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA).
A peer-to-peer learning event (co-hosted by EIL and ETF) that combines high-level policy dialogue with practical technical training to build sustainable evidence ecosystems in education and employment.
Join the course team for a live webinar to explore the Data, Economics, and Design of Policy MicroMasters program, gain insights into the upcoming term, and have your questions answered in real time.
The IZA Institute of Labor Economics (IZA) and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) are pleased to invite you to a policy roundtable on “Harnessing Rigorous Research to Shape Climate Policy and Inform the Public Debate” , taking place on the evening of Wednesday, 14 May 2025 , in Bonn...
This June, we are hosting a convening for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to celebrate the launch of J-PAL North America’s new Initiative for Effective US Crime Policy (IECP).
As part of the "Development Methodologies" Chair held by Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, a summer school for African researchers, project leaders and other partners will be organised from July 7 to 11, 2025 in Dakar, on the campus of the African Center for Higher Studies in Management (CESAG).
The J-PAL Africa Evaluating Social Programs Course will provide a thorough understanding of randomized evaluations and pragmatic step-by-step training for conducting one’s own evaluation.
J-PAL para Latinoamérica y el Caribe (J-PAL LAC) ofrecerá un webinar con dos propósitos: difundir la evidencia sobre género y agencia económica relevante para Centroamérica y México, y lanzar la " Guía práctica para la medición del empoderamiento de mujeres y niñas en evaluaciones de impacto".
Virtual livestream from Steigenberger Hotel, ElTahrir
J-PAL MENA at AUC and UNICEF Egypt will co-host a roundtable discussion on Monday, November 15, titled “Towards an evidence-informed development agenda for Egypt: Fostering government-research partnerships.” The roundtable will aim to identify top development priorities in Egypt where evidence is...
O webinar vai reunir a Chefe Executiva do J-PAL LAC, os três líderes acadêmicos da JOI Brasil, o Gerente da JOI Brasil e gestores de projetos que já foram apoiados pelo J-PAL para discutir: “Como projetos podem se beneficiar de avaliações de impacto rigorosas?”. O evento busca atrair potenciais...
Despite widespread support for policies and programs aimed at tackling discrimination, more research is needed to identify which strategies are effective and in which contexts. In this webinar, panelists will discuss the value of rigorous, interdisciplinary research to identify strategies for...
Tailored to the needs of MSMEDA project staff, this three-day, in-person training will provide an in-depth look at why and when randomized evaluations can be used to rigorously measure social impact, methods and considerations for their design and implementation, and how findings can inform evidence...
The event, co-hosted with the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, will focus on what can be learned from a randomized evaluation conducted in Qena, Egypt about the impact of types of capital assistance on business and economic outcomes in Egypt.
While there exists a growing body of rigorous research that aims to understand the impact of development programs, it often takes a long time for evidence to inform policy and improve the lives of vulnerable populations at scale. This webinar, organized as a part of Campbell South Asia's Evidence...
J-PAL South Asia is collaborating with Belongg, Dalberg and Breakthrough to host the inaugural edition of the xSDG UnConference on designing inclusive social programs and policies to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).