iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

As AI expands rapidly across developing economies, how do we ensure it delivers real impact? We're testing AI tools where they're already being deployed, in classrooms, clinics, and government offices, to see what actually works, and for whom. Explore the research agenda: bit.ly/4z7lPBx

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Agricultural extension programs often train a subset of farmers, hoping knowledge will spread. Does it? Esther Duflo, Tavneet Suri, Daniel Keniston, and Céline Zipfel dig into the evidence from Rwanda: bit.ly/4rB6sPk

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

🚀 Calling all policymakers, program implementers, and M&E pros! Join us in J-PAL’s free, self-paced #EvaluatingSocialPrograms course to learn how to design and use evidence from randomized evaluations to measure what works. bit.ly/4y9wGKN

learn.mit.edu

Evaluating Social Programs | MIT Learn

Learn with MIT

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Rural India is home to roughly 950 million people. What does it take to shape policy at that scale? 🇮🇳 Moments from last Friday's conversation with Rohit Kansal, Secretary of India's Department of Rural Development, and an open Q&A with our team. Thank you for spending your Friday engaging with us!

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

J-PAL's Project AI Evidence is launching the PAIE Scholars Program, supporting early-career researchers in Asia and Africa to lead rigorous evaluations of AI-enabled interventions for social good. Completion award: $1,000. Applications close Oct 16: bit.ly/4xBMrtj

povertyactionlab.org

PAIE Scholars Program

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Can AI chatbots improve outcomes for farmers? 🌱 Our new Evidence to Policy case study in J-PAL’s #EvaluatingSocialPrograms online course walks through a practical framework for evaluating AI tools to reach farmers at scale. bit.ly/4y9wGKN

bit.ly

Evaluating Social Programs | MIT Learn

Learn with MIT

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Most AI-and-work research centers high-income economies. But ~85% of workers are in low- and middle-income countries. On the sidelines of #UNGA81, J-PAL + @schmidtsciences hosted a fireside chat to ask: what can actually be done, and by whom?

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

MicroMasters done. What's next? 🎓 📚Find out how it opens the door to an MIT master's degree. Oct 21, 9am ET: Prof. Sara Ellison, the DEDP team, and an alum break down eligibility, timing, and how to apply strong. Register free: bit.ly/46GnXo0

povertyactionlab.org

Webinar: Admissions for the DEDP Master's Program at MIT

As the first master's degree to be offered by MIT's Department of Economics, the DEDP master's program exists to empower a cadre of diverse, exceptional individuals with the technical skills to tackle...

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Congratulations to Michael Kremer, longtime J-PAL affiliate and 2019 Nobel co-laureate with J-PAL co-founders Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, on becoming the World Bank's next Chief Economist! lnkd.in/ezzvkTpP

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Climate change disproportionately affects people living in poverty, and there's a critical lack of evidence on the real-world impacts of climate solutions. As leaders gather for #ClimateWeekNYC, J-PAL's Environment, Energy, and Climate Change sector is closing that gap. bit.ly/47Y6t6I

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

We're hiring! 📣 J-PAL Global is looking for a Communications Associate in Cambridge, MA. You will help turn findings from randomized evaluations into work that moves policy: blog posts, newsletters, social, our annual report, and thought leadership. 👉 Apply: bit.ly/4AhTtWT

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

⏰ Now open! Interested in building your impact evaluation toolkit? Join us in J-PAL’s free, self-paced Evaluating Social Programs online course with @mitopenlearning. bit.ly/4y9wGKN

learn.mit.edu

Evaluating Social Programs | MIT Learn

Learn with MIT

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

What happens ten, fifteen, even twenty years after a development program ends? J-PAL's new Long-Term Impacts Initiative (LTII) is funding research to find out, helping us understand whether anti-poverty programs produce lasting gains in income and livelihoods. Learn more: bit.ly/46uFWNZ

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Context is critical in designing effective policy. To help advance the research agenda across the continent, our African Scholars Program supports researchers in leading randomized evaluations on today's most pressing development challenges. 🌍 Explore their latest work: bit.ly/3V8PITo

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

🎓 Interested in earning a certificate in our #EvaluatingSocialPrograms online course on rigorous impact evaluation? Enroll today for free or upgrade to the certificate track for $99. bit.ly/4y9wGKN

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

We’re hiring! J-PAL Global is looking for a Communications Associate to join our team in Cambridge, MA. Help us bridge the gap between rigorous research and real-world policy by turning complex data into compelling stories. 🗓️ Apply by Oct 9 www.povertyactionlab.org/careers/comm...

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Learn how to turn evidence into action. Master design, randomization, measurement, and ethics by taking J-PAL and MIT Open Learning’s Designing and Running Randomized Evaluation. Free to audit. Join today: bit.ly/4yhCQsm

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Congratulations to J-PAL affiliate Paul W. Glewwe on receiving the Yidan Prize. Former co-chair of our Education sector, Paul is recognized for his contributions to understanding how to improve education in low- and middle-income countries. bit.ly/468jLgu

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

We're hiring: Senior Policy Manager, Project AI Evidence Lead J-PAL's AI-for-development initiative, translate RCT evidence into policy guidance, build global partnerships. 7+ years relevant experience required. 📍 Cambridge, MA bit.ly/4an5pvn

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

10 Brazilian organizations came to Zurich with real problems. Some are using AI in classrooms. Others are working on environmental enforcement. They met with researchers, including Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee, to ask what the evidence shows and what's next.

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Do you want to learn how to run randomized evaluations? Designing and Running Randomized Evaluations, an online DEDP MicroMasters course with @mitxcourses.bsky.social, teaches on design, sampling, measurement, ethics. Free to audit. Enroll today: bit.ly/4yhCQsm

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Before the homework, backpacks, and first day photos, there's something equally important: Play. Talk. Read. Sing. Research shows these simple interactions help young children develop skills that support learning later in life. bit.ly/4srAEwe

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Lyonel Tanganco used to think about health care in terms of financing. In the Philippines, he helped raise taxes to fund a 6x increase in the health budget, and built a nutrition program reaching 190K+ families. Then he came to DEDP program to build the tools to do even more. bit.ly/4qPpocX

bit.ly

Translating economic growth into better lives

Lyonel Tanganco, a graduate student in MIT's Master in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy program, investigates how to improve public policy interventions and address challenges in nutrition, ...

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

A lot of people work hard but still struggle to get ahead. Whether it's finding a first job, growing a small business, or earning a better living through farming, barriers to opportunity remain. What does the evidence say can help? www.povertyactionlab.org/evidence-e…

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Enrollment for our free #EvaluatingSocialPrograms online course is now open! Sign up to learn how randomized evaluations can be used to measure the impact of social policies and programs. bit.ly/4y9wGKN

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

What have we learned about fighting poverty over the last few decades? From education and health to microfinance and social policy, The Challenges of Global Poverty examines the evidence behind solutions that aim to improve lives. 📚 Free to audit with MITx Online. 🔗 bit.ly/4q0SGnj

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Why are some countries rich while others remain poor? Explore one of economics' biggest questions with Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo in The Challenges of Global Poverty. Free to audit 🔗 bit.ly/4q0SGnj

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

🐔🥚 New research: connecting African households to electricity alone rarely raises jobs or income. The real unlock is pairing power with financing and market access. Electrification isn't the finish line, it's an ingredient. Full story below. bit.ly/4gYICJC

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Worried that an RCTs will take too long? It does not have to. The timeline of an evaluation often depends more on the question being asked than the method itself. 🔗 www.povertyactionlab.org/blog/8-14-…

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Some lessons stay with you long after a course ends. Learners from the DEDP MicroMasters program say the experience changed how they analyze data, assess interventions, and think about policy problems in their own communities. Discover what DEDP could mean for you. bit.ly/4fCDtq4

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

🎓 Curious about the MITx MicroMasters in Data, Economics & Design of Policy? Join the DEDP team + an alum live on August 26, 2026, from 9-10 am EDT for a webinar on the MITx MicroMasters in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy. Save your spot: povertyactionlab.org/event/dedp-w....

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Interested in public policy and economics? Our DEDP MicroMasters Public Policy track combines microeconomics, data analysis, and real-world applications in areas like labor, trade, climate, and energy. mitxonline.mit.edu/programs/pro...

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Want to learn how data informs policy? 📊 Our Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP) MicroMasters offers graduate-level training in microeconomics, development, and data analysis—fully online, free to audit. Where would you start? Explore the program: bit.ly/4fCDtq4

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

"Nimble evaluations" aren't a separate method. They're the result of design choices: → Different questions → Different outcomes → Different data sources A/B tests, administrative data, and adaptive designs can all help generate evidence faster while maintaining rigor. 🔗 bit.ly/4xMcyOM

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Reposted by J-PAL

Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel (GEEAP) @geeap.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

GEEAP is partnering with J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social to strengthen the use of evidence in education policymaking. Together, we’ll explore ways to share recommendations, learn from implementation, and support cost-effective approaches to improve foundational learning in LMICs More to come! #Education

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

People affected by conflict deserve support that works. On #WorldHumanitarianDay, learn how the Humanitarian Protection Initiative (HPI) uses research to find proven ways to keep communities safe, protect mental health, and prevent violence. Read more: bit.ly/3Ua5T2m

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

More households in low-income countries own a mobile phone than have electricity or clean water. Can that reach translate into learning? 🎧 J-PAL affiliates Jenny Aker & @noamangrist.bsky.social unpack the evidence on phones w/ @voxdev.bsky.social voxdev.org/topic/educat...

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

📊 Want to turn data into actionable insights? Data Analysis for Social Scientists, an online DEDP MicroMasters course jointly administered by J-PAL and @mitocw.bsky.social, helps learners build practical tools for working with data. Explore & enroll today: bit.ly/49Fm7FV

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

🎓 This summer, DEDP master's students are putting their skills to work. After a spring semester at MIT, they’ve joined organizations like the World Bank, Anthropic, and others around the world to tackle real policy challenges through capstone projects. Learn more: bit.ly/4j4ybE4

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

📈 How do researchers and policymakers use data to make better decisions? Data Analysis for Social Scientists, an online DEDP MicroMasters course, @mitocw.bsky.social introduces practical tools for analyzing data and understanding evidence. mitxonline.mit.edu/courses/cour...

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

💡 What makes a policy work in practice? From health and education to credit and insurance, Foundations of Development Policy, an online DEDP MicroMasters course with MIT Open Learning, explores how evidence can guide policy implementation in low- and middle-income settings. 🎓https://bit.ly/4gfgWi9

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

🎙️ Ever wondered about the people behind the evidence? J-PAL's Researcher Spotlight series explores the journeys, research interests, and lessons learned by researchers across the J-PAL network. Listen here: www.povertyactionlab.org/blog?region=...

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Markets aren't magic, they run on incentives, trade-offs, and predictable human behavior. Microeconomic Theory and Public Policy, taught by J-PAL affiliated professor David Autor, shows you how to read those patterns. 🆓 Free to audit — enroll now: mitxonline.mit.edu/courses/cour...

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

📚 Weekend reading from the J-PAL Blog: 🌍 African Scholar Spotlight: Takudzwa Mutize 💰 Evidence Matters: Informing Public Spending 🏥 Egypt's health insurance reform 🌱 Climate resilience & governments 🤖 AI use and student learning 🔬 Test, learn, adapt Read the latest: povertyactionlab.org/blog

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Building an economics foundation for policy or research? Microeconomics, part of our DEDP MicroMasters with MIT Open Learning, starts with the basics: how individual decisions and institutions shape everyday outcomes. Learn more: bit.ly/4pO62Dg

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Why does a doctor's visit cost what it does? Why do some jobs pay more than others? Microeconomics, one of our DEDP MicroMasters courses with MIT Open Learning, looks at how people, firms, and governments make the choices that shape everyday costs and outcomes. Enroll now: bit.ly/4pO62Dg

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Over the past few months, we've explored five challenges shaping financial inclusion in Africa: → AI and access to finance → Venture ecosystems → Entrepreneurship → Currency risk → Agricultural finance Explore the full series ↓ povertyactionlab.org/blog?region=...

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J-PAL @j-pal.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Reaching students in remote places, during a crisis, or when roads are blocked isn’t easy. How can phones help? Policy Manager Jess Williams unpacks what the evidence tells us about using mobile phones to deliver education programs. Learn more: www.povertyactionlab.org/policy-insig...

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