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 research, policy, and training work is fundamentally better when it is informed by a broad range of perspectives.
Senior Training and Policy Associate, J-PAL Europe
Elyssa Majed is a Senior Training and Policy Associate at J-PAL Europe where she supports the "Development Methodologies" Professorship held by Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, notably through the organization of yearly summer schools for African researchers and project leaders.
Prior to joining J-PAL in 2023, she worked at Samuel Hall, a research consulting firm, where she managed research projects and supervised data collection in different regions, including East and West Africa, on a wide range of topics, such as migration, conflict, and socioeconomic integration. Elyssa also consulted for the International Labour Organization on the production of guides and policy briefs on business and skills development.
Elyssa holds a master’s degree in international development from Sciences Po Paris and was an Aitchison Public Service Fellow at the Johns Hopkins University.