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 900 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.
GEA aims to build a strong body of evidence on policies and programs to promote women’s work and enhance women’s economic agency in East Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Central America. GEA works to develop policy-relevant insights from this research to drive programming, strategies, and policymaking on women’s work in both formal and informal employment.
In a unique opportunity, GEA will broaden its focus to explore the causal relationship between women's economic empowerment and family planning as well as a broader range of topics in women's economic agency than in previous rounds. GEA prioritizes developing research on:
J-PAL’s Gender and Economic Agency (GEA) Initiative funds randomized evaluations of strategies to enhance women’s economic agency. In 2025, GEA will host one call for proposals from eligible researchers for full research projects and pilot studies. GEA's Winter 2025 RFP closed on March 17, 2025.
Beatriz Velho, Policy Manager
Olivia Bryan, Policy Associate
Maxfield Hubych, Senior Finance & Operations Associate