Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) Email Format
Research ServicesMassachusetts, United States501-1000 Employees
Founded in 2003 as a research center within MIT's Economics Department, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It has expanded into a global network of researchers that conducts randomized evaluations to assess and improve programs and policies designed to reduce poverty. The organization frames its work around research, policy outreach, and training across seven regional offices worldwide, with the goal of ensuring policy decisions are guided by solid evidence. Its primary audience includes policymakers, government agencies, and development practitioners seeking to understand which interventions are effective in areas such as education, employment, and health. By providing rigorous evaluation findings, J-PAL supports decisions about which programs to expand, modify, or discontinue, contributing to evidence-based poverty reduction. Recent developments include partnerships with regional policy initiatives and the launch of AprendeLab in Puerto Rico to help organizations embed data and evaluation into workforce development, economic mobility, and health care programs.