In September of 2023, J-PAL North America celebrated ten years of catalyzing policy-relevant research to reduce poverty in the region, as part of J-PAL’s twenty-year worldwide celebration.

Our convening—What Works To Reduce Poverty: Ten Years of Research and Evidence-based Policy to Advance Economic Mobility—brought together policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to showcase what we’ve learned and highlight our vision for the next decade.

This session spoke to the importance of prioritizing open-mindedness in fidelity to the research, commitment to serving communities effectively, and shifting the culture in policy spaces to invest in evidence.

Session: A Deep-Dive Conversation about Evidence-Based Policymaking
Presenters: Laura Arnold, Founder and Co-Chair, Arnold Ventures; Esther Duflo, Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics, MIT; Co-Director and Co-Founder, J-PAL

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Convening | J-PAL North America at 10: Deep-Dive Conversation about Evidence-Based Policymaking

J-PAL North America, a research center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with a special convening event titled “Deep-Dive Conversation about Evidence-Based Policymaking.” The event brought together leading scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to reflect on the progress made in the field of evidence-based policymaking and to discuss the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Since its establishment in 2011, J-PAL North America has been at the forefront of promoting rigorous research and evaluation to inform decision-making in the public sector. The center has collaborated with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders to design and implement randomized evaluations of social programs and policies.

The convening event provided a platform for participants to share insights and exchange ideas on how to best use evidence to improve policy outcomes and address complex social issues. The discussions touched upon a wide range of topics, including the role of data and technology in evidence-based policymaking, strategies for building partnerships between researchers and policymakers, and the importance of creating a culture of evidence within government institutions.

One of the key themes that emerged from the conversations was the need to ensure that research findings are effectively communicated and translated into actionable policy recommendations. Participants highlighted the importance of using clear and accessible language to convey research results, as well as the need to engage policymakers early in the research process to ensure that the findings are relevant to their decision-making needs.

The event also provided a platform for reflecting on the progress made in advancing evidence-based policymaking over the past decade. Participants celebrated the growth of the field and the increasing recognition of the value of rigorous evaluation in shaping policy decisions. However, they also acknowledged that there is still much work to be done to ensure that evidence is routinely used to inform policy at all levels of government.

Looking ahead, participants identified several opportunities and challenges for advancing evidence-based policymaking. They discussed the potential for leveraging new technologies and data sources to improve the impact and scalability of social programs, as well as the importance of building a diverse and inclusive research community to ensure that the evidence produced is relevant and applicable to a wide range of social contexts.

Overall, the convening event provided a valuable opportunity for stakeholders in the field of evidence-based policymaking to come together, reflect on past achievements, and chart a course for the future. By fostering collaboration and dialogue, J-PAL North America continues to play a critical role in advancing the use of evidence to inform policy decisions and improve the lives of individuals and communities across North America.