Egypt Impact Lab Request for Proposals

Overview

The Egypt Impact Lab is a collaboration of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development with J-PAL MENA at AUC. The Lab is embedded in the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development. Strategic Government Partners play key roles and include the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the National Council for Women, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, and the Ministry of Education and Technical Education.

The Egypt Impact Lab funds randomized evaluations of government innovations related to any of the lab’s thematic areas, which are (1) Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation, (2) Employment and MSME Development, (3) Gender Empowerment and Family Development, and (4) Environment, Energy, and Climate Change.

Introducing the Hub of Advanced Policy Innovation for the Environment (HAPIE)

The Egypt Impact Lab (EIL) is proud to introduce the Hub of Advanced Policy Innovation for the Environment (HAPIE). HAPIE serves as J-PAL’s regional Air and Water Lab in Egypt and as such it serves as EIL’s extension in a new thematic area related to environment, energy, and climate change. HAPIE aims to improve clean air and water access in Egypt, by co-generating pilot and RCT evidence and informing the policy decisions of government partners. This is an opportunity for researchers to collaborate with J-PAL and its government partners to innovate, test, and scale evidence-informed air and water policies..

Timeline

The EIL and HAPIE call for proposals opens on December 19, 2023 and closes on April 19, 2024.

Priority Themes and Partners

This initiative will provide competitive funding to generate policy-relevant rigorous research. The Egypt Impact Lab Initiative will focus on evaluating the impact of programs related to:

1. Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation
2. Employment and MSME Development
3. Gender Empowerment and Family Development
4. Environment, Energy, and Climate Change

EIL and HAPIE will only fund studies that will be conducted in Egypt with the endorsement of a government partner. This endorsement can take the form of an email from a government official or an official letter from a government entity. J-PAL affiliates, J-PAL postdocs, and J-PAL invited researchers are eligible to apply for full research projects, pilot studies, and travel/exploratory grants. Implementing partners may involve NGOs or international organizations partnering with the Egyptian government to implement programs related to the priority themes.

For interested researchers who are not yet connected to eligible implementing partners in Egypt, J-PAL MENA’s policy team is actively developing matchmaking opportunities. Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like to find out about EIL matchmaking opportunities.

Funding details

Three types of proposals will be considered for EIL:

• Travel/proposal development grant applications (up to $15,000); and
• Pilot (up to $75,000) or full research proposals (up to $250,000). 

Two types of proposals will be considered for HAPIE:

• Travel/proposal development grant applications (up to $15,000); and
• Pilot (up to $75,000)

Application Instructions

To apply to EIL and HAPIE’s RFP, you will need to: 

• Request a budget template via email at [email protected] no later than March 19, 2024.
• Download the RFP document linked below. 
• Fill out the cover sheet and narrative sections of the document, and attach to it a letter of support (detailed in the document).
• Send us the RFP documents and completed budget via email at [email protected] by April 19, 2024 at 5:00pm Cairo time.