The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Middle East and North Africa (J-PAL MENA) at the American University in Cairo (AUC) celebrated its fifth anniversary today, marking half a decade of harnessing the power of evidence to design cost-effective and large-scale policies that address poverty and enhance lives across the region.
The milestone event brought together policymakers, researchers, donors and community leaders to celebrate J-PAL MENA’s achievements using data and rigorous research to inform policies addressing some of the region's most pressing challenges.
Held at the AUC’s Malak Gabr Theatre, the event featured a keynote speech by Nobel laureate and J-PAL co-founder Professor Abhijit Banerjee and remarks from Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, Her Excellency Dr Rania Al-Mashat, and George Richards, director of Community Jameel.
Alongside engaging panel discussions on evidence-based policymaking in Egypt and the MENA region, TED-style talks showcased success stories from J-PAL’s partners, including government officials and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Since its launch in 2020, with support from Community Jameel, J-PAL MENA has partnered with governments, NGOs and donors to generate and disseminate evidence that improves policies and transforms lives.
The anniversary event honoured J-PAL MENA’s accomplishments while charting a bold course for the future of evidence-informed policymaking in Egypt and across the region.
Dr Ahmed Elsayed, executive director of J-PAL MENA, said: “As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, we reflect on the incredible journey of building a culture of evidence-informed policymaking in Egypt and the Middle East.
“Over the past five years, J-PAL MENA has collaborated closely with governments, NGOs and donors to generate research that directly improves people’s lives.
“This milestone is not just a celebration of our achievements but a moment to look ahead – to deepen our partnerships, expand our impact and continue tackling the region’s most pressing challenges with rigorous evidence and actionable solutions.”
George Richards, director of Community Jameel, said: “Since 2020, when Community Jameel supported the establishment of J-PAL MENA, we have been in awe of the speed and scale of its impact in improving the lives of people across the region – from Morocco to Saudi Arabia and of course here in Egypt.
“Today, marking J-PAL MENA’s fifth anniversary, we remain committed to supporting J-PAL MENA in driving forward the use of rigorous evidence in tackling grave challenges, from poverty and hunger to air pollution and water scarcity.”
In 2022, J-PAL MENA launched the Egypt Impact Lab to strengthen the effectiveness of Egypt’s poverty reduction policies by rigorously evaluating promising and innovative government programmes and using results to inform scale decisions.
The Egypt Impact Lab is a collaboration with the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, with foundational support from Community Jameel and the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development and additional support from UNICEF Egypt.
In 2024, the Egypt Impact Lab was officially integrated into the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation’s training arm.
In 2025, J-PAL MENA announced the launch of the Hub of Advanced Policy Innovation for the Environment (HAPIE) as part of the global network of J-PAL Air and Water Labs with Community Jameel, which aims to tackle critical air and water issues through evidence-based policymaking.