Innovations for Poverty Action

We're excited to share a new article by IPA’s Sarah Kabay and Rebecca Smith on the transformative impact of childcare, one of (bit.ly/bestbetsipa). The article draws insights from a review of ten randomized evaluations of childcare studies in low- and middle-income countries has been published on VoxDev It highlights the need for a more comprehensive and multi-generational approach that considers the effects of childcare on all caregivers in the family, as well as the childcare workforce. Read the article to learn why we need to work together to unlock the potential of quality, affordable and accessible childcare for children, families and society: bit.ly/082324vox

Read the Evidence Review: bit.ly/briefchildcare

Realising childcare’s full potential in low- and middle-income countries Childcare can contribute to a ‘triple social and economic dividend,’ by improving early childhood development outcomes, increasing women’s participation in the labour market, and creating new jobs and businesses.

The introduction of new payment technologies can greatly impact how spend money, in turn influencing businesses’ decisions to adopt, and ultimately their sales outcomes. Following the rollout of debit cards to recipients in Mexico, corner stores increased their adoption of point-of-sale (POS) terminals by 18%. Other consumers adopted debit cards & shifted spending to corner stores, boosting sales & profits. In areas outside the rollout, most corner store owners estimated lower changes in profits & new customers if they adopted POS terminals than what actually occurred in rollout areas.

Read more about this study by Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management researcher Sean Higgins & survey of corner store owners in non-rollout localities with IPA Mexico: bit.ly/posmex

Assessing the Adoption of Point-of-sale Technology by Corner Stores in Mexico | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Researchers Sean Higgins Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University Staff Helke Enkerlin Policy and Implementation Manager Erick Molina Research Assistant Carlos Restituyo Vassallo Senior Research Associate Anahí Reyes Miguel Research Associate Details ...

The introduction of new payment technologies can greatly impact how spend money, in turn influencing businesses’ decisions to adopt, and ultimately their sales outcomes. Following the rollout of debit cards to recipients in , corner stores increased their adoption of point-of-sale (POS) terminals by 18%. Other consumers adopted debit cards & shifted spending to corner stores, boosting sales & profits. In areas outside the rollout, most corner store owners estimated lower changes in profits & new customers if they adopted POS terminals than what actually occurred in rollout areas.

Read more about this study by Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management researcher Sean Higgins & survey of corner store owners in non-rollout localities with IPA Mexico: bit.ly/posmex

Assessing the Adoption of Point-of-sale Technology by Corner Stores in Mexico | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Researchers Sean Higgins Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University Staff Helke Enkerlin Policy and Implementation Manager Erick Molina Research Assistant Carlos Restituyo Vassallo Senior Research Associate Anahí Reyes Miguel Research Associate Details ...

Malnutrition affects more than 148 million children worldwide, 24 percent of whom live in . Chronic malnutrition can lead to irreversible cognitive and motor development issues. Research in Burkina Faso found that a nutrition-focused livelihoods program reduced extreme poverty by 29 percent, reduced by 33 percent, and significantly improved cognitive and motor skills of children born during the program.

Learn more about the impact evaluation conducted by with Terre des Homme & ACTION CONTRE LA FAIM and researchers Adrien Bouguen (Santa Clara University) and Andrew Dillon (Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management):

The Impact of a Nutrition-Focused Livelihoods Program on Child Nutrition in Burkina Faso | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Researchers Adrien Bouguen Santa Clara University Andrew Dillon Northwestern University Staff Aliou Diallo Research Manager Details Timeline Timeline 2017-2020 Study Status Details Study Status Results Study Type Details Study Type Randomized Evaluation Sample Size S...

Previous research in low- and middle-income countries has found that often fails to substantially improve borrowers’ income or social well-being. However, less evidence exists on the impact of larger loans. Research in suggests that larger had minimal average effects on micro-enterprise business outcomes. Top-performing borrowers experienced increases in revenue, wages, productivity, household expenditures, and employee numbers. Conversely, poor-performing borrowers faced decreases in profit, wages, and employee numbers.

Learn more about the impact evaluation conducted by IPA with Alexandria Business Association, Silatech and Dean Karlan (Kellogg School of Management), Gharad Bryan (The London School of Economics and Political Science - LSE) and Adam Osman (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign): bit.ly/msmeegp

The Impact of Larger Loans on Micro-Enterprise Profits in Egypt | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Researchers Dean Karlan Northwestern University Adam Osman University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign Gharad Bryan London School of Economics and Political Science Details Timeline Timeline 2016-2019 Study Status Details Study Status Results Study Type Details Stud...

practices are a key determinant of , particularly by fostering early childhood stimulation. Research in Côte d’Ivoire suggests that caregivers exposed to videos promoting early childhood stimulation improved parental knowledge and practices towards greater child stimulation, and reduced the prevalence of violent discipline and severe physical punishment.

Learn more about the impact evaluation conducted by IPA Côte d’Ivoire with Development Media International and researchers Bastien Michel (Nantes Université), Samuel Kembou (Université de Lausanne Jacobs Foundation), Sonali Wayal and Joanna Murray (Development Media International):

The Impact of Mobile Phone Educational Videos on Parental Practices in Côte d’Ivoire | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Researchers Samuel Kembou Nzale Knowledge and Learning Manager, Jacobs Foundation Bastien Michel Nantes Université Sonali Wayal Development Media International Joanna Murray Development Media International (DMI) Staff Romuald Anago Senior Research Manager Béchir We...

IPA Kenya hosted a workshop to discuss the next steps for the Education Evidence Hub (EEH), which will be embedded in the State Department for Basic Education. IPA Kenya Country Director Ginger Golub and the Director of Policy and Partnerships from Kenya Ministry of Education Bartholomew Lumbasi gave the opening remarks. Rachel Hinton from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office also delivered a speech on the role of evidence in education reforms, and Juan M. Hernández Agramonte Sr. Director for IPA´s Embedded Lab Program presented the examples of Rwanda's Ministry of Education Lab, Ministry of Education and Sports Uganda Lab and Peru's Ministerio de Educación del Perú Lab.

During a panel discussion, participants from EdTechHub, What Works Hub for Global Education and other organizations explored ways to enhance the EEH vision and plan to align with Kenya's education reform agenda. The discussion emphasized the crucial role of partners in the implementation of the EEH.

We are excited about the next steps and look forward to continuing the effort toward improving education through evidence-based policies and practices.

Thank you to all our partners (The Kenya National Examinations Council, Kenya Institute of Special Education, Education Sub Sahara Africa (ESSA), Education Development Trust, ECD Network, PAL Network, Teachers Service Commission, Tom Mboya University College at Homa Bay and The National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya ) for their support and commitment! Learn more about our work in Kenya: bit.ly/ipakenya

As the world gathers to watch the finals of Women’s and Men’s at the , we are reminded of the amazing power of to bring people together across divides and impact lives both on and off the field. In , Salma Mousa’s study on inter-religious soccer leagues found improved tolerance among players from different religious backgrounds. This research demonstrated that inter-ethnic community programs can foster local-level social cohesion, prompting the provincial council to incorporate inter-ethnic initiatives into development plans. Read more on the study: bit.ly/socceriraq

As we cheer for our favorite athletes, let's celebrate the power of research and sports to improve the lives of many! ⚽💡📝

The Impact of Inter-Religious Soccer Leagues on Social Cohesion in Post-ISIS Iraq | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Researchers Salma Mousa Yale University Details Timeline Timeline 2017-2018 Sample Size Sample Size 607 Christian players (and 70 Muslim players) from 51 teams Research Implemented by IPA Implemented by IPA No Iraq Peace & Recovery Forced Displacement The Impact of I...

In sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that three-quarters of families are unable to use the to access educational materials, and access is even more limited in rural areas. Creating tools that connect to more widely available technology could reduce inequality in access to digital learning and educational outcomes. Research in suggests that an SMS-based adaptive learning tool improved math skills of school-aged children. Children of households without electricity also experienced an increase in test scores, school attendance, and grade attainment.

Learn more about the impact evaluation conducted by with Precision Development (PxD) and KICD Kenya and researchers Torsten Figueiredo Walter (New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island), Sarah Kabay (Innovations for Poverty Action) Guthrie Gray-Lobe (The University of Chicago):

The Impact of an SMS-Based Adaptive Math Learning Tool on Educational Outcomes in Kenya | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Researchers Torsten Figueiredo Walter London School of Economics and Political Science Guthrie Gray-Lobe University of Chicago Sarah Kabay Program Director, Education Staff Sarah Kabay Program Director, Education Details Timeline Timeline 2020-2021 Study Status Detai...

IPA’s new research initiative plans to investigate the costs of digital financial services in Tanzania by reviewing the following drivers that can influence affordability:
➡️Business models
➡️Regulation & competition
➡️Tanzanian Instant Payment System
➡️Taxation
➡️Consumer Price Sensitivity

Learn more:

IPA’s Financial Inclusion Program New Research Agenda Investigates the Costs of Digital Financial Services in Tanzania | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Authors Hussam Razi Associate Director, Financial Inclusion Tanzania Financial Inclusion Digital Finance IPA’s Financial Inclusion Program New Research Agenda Investigates the Costs of Digital Financial Services in Tanzania Lead Photo Template G Content Blocks Sub ...

IPA Philippines was honored to speak at the 2024 Regional Research Conference of the DepEd Philippines Region III it Pampanga City. We presented the path to scale for the Program, a cost-effective learning program that delivers targeted instruction via phone calls at a low-cost. IPA continues to work with DepEd and other partners in the Philippines to contribute to math initiatives for learners who are in most need of additional learning support. Want to learn more about mEducation? Visit: bit.ly/mEducationph

IPA Philippines and the IRRI have started a partnership to collaborate on research and capacity building–forged through our shared goals of promoting research and evaluating solutions to social and development problems. Through this collaboration, IPA and IRRI will work together to promote research on rice and rice-based farming systems as well as find ways to strengthen natural resource management research programs in the country and the region. Learn more about our work in the Philippines: bit.ly/IPAPhilippines

How can be used to measure issues? With help from Youth Policy Forum - YPF & and Network for Active Citizens Uganda , IPA along with researchers tested whether Citizen Science was an effective method to conduct research on overcharging by agents as part of its Consumer Protection Research Initiative. Read the findings on this blog: bit.ly/fippoket

Hidden Fees Highlighted by Hidden Researchers: A Citizen Science Approach to Detect Overcharging in Digital Financial Services | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Authors Vardaan Chawla Singapore Management University Tomoki Fujii Singapore Management University Arpita Khanna National University of Singapore Abu S. Shonchoy Florida International University Lauren Perlik Associate Program Manager, Financial Inclusion Details Da...

Discover how the design of programs can impact outcomes. Together with the World Bank Social Protection & Jobs Global Practice, IPA published "Evidence at Your Fingertips Series" which offers insights from a decade of evaluations, covering benefit size, timing, modality, payment mechanisms, and gender impacts. The review is ideal for policymakers aiming for practical programmatic choices. Learn more:!

Evidence at your Fingertips Series: Operational and Design Choices of Social Assistance Programs | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Publications File Overview Transfer Size Duration and Frequency Payment Modality Gender Social Protection Cash Transfers Women & Girls Evidence at your Fingertips Series: Operational and Design Choices of Social Assistance Programs Lead Photo Template G Content Block...

Data collection for the Philippines Socioeconomic Panel Survey (PSPS) continues! IPA and the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE) recently concluded a three day fieldwork in select municipalities in Western Visayas as 10 graduate students from UPSE joined the field teams to gain first-hand experience on what it’s like to do research in communities and gather data for researchers and practitioners to run of programs and policies. The 20-year study will provide policymakers and researchers with valuable insights and the opportunity to evaluate the impact of social innovations. Explore more about the : bit.ly/ipapsps

The deadline for IPA-Lab for Inclusive Fintech (LIFT)-Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) Researcher Gathering paper submission has been extended to August 15, 2024. If you are a researcher working on , , and related topics, remember to submit your paper 👉 bit.ly/ipalift2024

IPA’s Human Trafficking Research Initiative (HTRI) has updated its Research & Learning Agenda just in time to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. After consulting more than 100 experts and conducting extensive literature reviews, HTRI identified five key research questions based on the “4Ps” framework: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnership. This year's update incorporates new evidence in the areas of protection and prevention, identifies additional priority research gaps in prosecution, and guides grant prioritization and ethics in research on human trafficking. Read more and share your feedback: bit.ly/ipahtrirla

Research and Learning Agenda | Human Trafficking Research Initiative | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Authors Valentina Farinelli Senior Program Associate Jeni Sorensen Deputy Director, Sector Programs and Program Director, Human Trafficking Research Initiative Publications File Human Trafficking Research and Learning Agenda | Human Trafficking Research Initiative Te...

Did you know that childcare for women’s economic empowerment and child development is one of ? Childcare support is crucial for enabling women to work and provides children with essential early benefits such as education, socialization, and nutrition. The two-generation strategy in childcare emphasizes simultaneous support for both children and their parents or caregivers, recognizing the interconnectedness of their well-being.
Based on findings from a pilot study in Tanzania and an evidence review, IPA launched its Two-Generation Initiative in Uganda and Colombia in 2023, focusing on displaced populations. In the first year, we enhanced programming, mapped interventions and policy, and sparked interest in two-generation approaches, and now we aim to deepen our work and expand the initiative to new contexts. Learn more about the initiative: bit.ly/ipa2gen

Read the evidence review at: bit.ly/io4ycnp
Explore findings from the pilot study: bit.ly/2gentz
For further insights into IPA's 'Best Bets,' visit: bit.ly/bestbets

Two-Generation Initiative | Catalyzing Research, Policy, and Practice to Improve Outcomes for Young Children and their Caregivers | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Authors Sarah Kabay Program Director, Education Rebecca Smith Senior Policy Manager Publications File Policy Brief Colombia Uganda Peace & Recovery Education Early Childhood Development Forced Displacement Two-Generation Initiative | Catalyzing Research, Policy, and....

IPA participated in the 12th Africa Evidence Summit in hosted by the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) and The Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa. During the Summit, IPA presented on several topics including:

💡 Supporting Women’s Participation in the Labor Force: Rapid Evidence Reviews from Rigorous Studies by Jemima Okal
💡 Evidence from Promoting Parent-child Reading in Kenya by Eric Oduor Ochieng
💡 Strategy for Engaging Researchers from Low- and Middle-Income Countries by Caroline Nyuguto
💡 The Effect of Empathy and Future Orientation on COVID-19 Vaccination: Evidence from an RCT in Tanzania by Constantine Manda, who is an advisory board member for IPA’s Researcher Diversification Strategy

IPA Founder, Dean Karlan, participated in a keynote panel discussing and its impact in Tanzania. IPA continues to support practitioners, policymakers, and organizations to generate, interpret, and apply evidence to their programs. Learn more about our work: bit.ly/whatwedoIPA)

Learn more about IPA’s Researcher Diversification Strategy: bit.ly/ipards

IPA is looking for an expert to conduct a comprehensive of the competition and landscape for digital financial services ( ) in Tanzania. This work is part of IPA’s larger program on investigating the cost drivers of DFS in the country, called the Tanzania Affordable Digital Finance Research Initiative (TADFRI). Proposals are due Aug. 2, 2024, at 5PM EDT. To learn more, visit: bit.ly/rfpfip008

Recognizing the potential of childcare to benefit children, their primary caregivers, and entire households, IPA reviewed ten randomized evaluations of childcare interventions in low- and middle-income countries. We focused on studies that reported outcomes for both children and primary caregivers. The review also incorporates insights from quasi-experimental and other studies to provide context and complement the experimental research. Childcare can lead to a 'triple social and economic dividend' by improving early childhood development, increasing women's participation in the labor market, and creating new jobs and businesses. Read the review by Sarah Kabay, Brianda Romero Castelan, and Rebecca Smith:

A Multigenerational Perspective on Childcare: A Review of Rigorous Research in Low-and Middle-Income Countries | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Authors Sarah Kabay Program Director, Education Brianda Romero Castelán Senior Policy Associate Rebecca Smith Senior Policy Manager Publications File Executive Summary Evidence Review Education Early Childhood Development Women & Girls A Multigenerational Perspectiv...

Savings accounts are common worldwide for their potential to increase , but they are often underused. Behavioral factors may be behind this. Research from found that promoting savings behavior and automatically depositing money into users’ accounts boosted for one year. Read more about this study funded by IPA in collaboration with BancoEstado and researchers Abhijit Banerjee, Claudia Martinez and Esteban Puentes:

Evaluating Strategies to Increase Savings Behavior in Chile | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Researchers Claudia Martinez Inter-American Development Bank Esteban Puentes Universidad de Chile Abhijit Banerjee Massachusetts Institute of Technology Details Timeline Timeline 2015-2016 Study Status Details Study Status Results Study Type Details Study Type Random...

IPA, in partnership with Kyambogo University, is organizing a seminar for early career from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) focusing on grant proposal writing. Participants will gain essential technical skills to create compelling and successful grant proposals. Learn more to register: bit.ly/ug0726

What were the key takeaways from this year’s , convened by the Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion as a side event to the G20 Brasil meetings? Dive into IPA Director of Financial Inclusion Program & Consumer Protection Initiative Paul Adams’ reflections on the panels and unique approaches to financial inclusion. Read more below⬇️ bit.ly/rff24ipa

New Perspectives at the 2024 Responsible Finance Forum | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Authors Paul Adams Director, Consumer Protection Research Initiative and Director, Financial Inclusion Program Details Date July 18, 2024 Financial Inclusion Digital Finance Consumer Protection New Perspectives at the 2024 Responsible Finance Forum Lead Photo Templat...

IPA Philippines and IRRI IRRI Education conducted a 4-day Introductory Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Capacity Building Program in Laguna, Philippines. Through this knowledge-sharing and training event, participants learned about:

� the importance of M&E in evidence-based policymaking and programming;
� the relationship between agricultural development, poverty alleviation, and evidence-based policy and programs;
� practical skills and tools for conducting effective M&E in agricultural projects;
� areas for collaboration among organizations working towards sustainable agricultural development.

Thanks to all attendees, presenters, and speakers from CGIAR, UN Women, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Asian Development Bank, and the University of the Philippines Los Baños for their contributions to the success of the event! IPA looks forward to fostering a sustainable ecosystem with our partners. Learn more about the event: bit.ly/ipairri2024

What happens to a market when new agents enter? Will consumer protection issues like trust and transparency improve? Francis Annan and Chiman Cheung discuss new research that will try to answer these questions. Read more here➡️bit.ly/dfsmmmgh

Unlocking the Potential of Competition: Insights from Ghana's Mobile Money Market | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Authors Francis Annan University of California, Berkeley Chi Man Cheung University of California, Berkeley Details Date July 16, 2024 Ghana Financial Inclusion Financial Services for the Poor Digital Finance Unlocking the Potential of Competition: Insights from Ghana...

How do we measure the impact of on student learning? In the latest International Education Funders Group (IEFG) 'Brains in Gear' episode, hosts John Soleanicov and Suraj Shah, joined by Ciku Mbugua and IPA's Loïc Watine, explore this critical topic. They discuss the importance of collecting the right and the methods used to ensure EdTech is effective. Tune in now! 🎙️📚 bit.ly/BIGedtech5

IEFG BIG Series: Measuring what Matters in EdTech - 97BN Welcome to the IEFG Brains in Gear Series. In this conversation, our hosts and guests will demystify how we measure the impact of EdTech. They will discuss the need and methods used to ensure we're collecting the right kind of evidence to ascertai...

IPA Zambia hosted a dissemination event to share the findings from an evaluation of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) and their impact on child growth in . Stunting, or being too short for one’s age, affects 35% of children under five in Zambia. A panel discussion with insights from Gunther Fink (joined virtually) and Chiza Kumwenda explored opportunities and barriers in scaling up SQ-LNS distribution, covering logistical, financial, and policy challenges, strategies for equitable access, integrating distribution into health programs, promoting community utilization, and establishing local production facilities. SQ-LNS holds significant promise for making an impact at scale, which is why it is one of : bit.ly/bestbetsipa

The dissemination event advanced the discussions on stunting and highlighted pathways for SQ-LNS distribution–showcasing IPA's commitment to co-creating evidence-based policy solutions to improve the lives of many. Learn more about the study: bit.ly/sqlnszmb

Learn more about our work in Zambia and how your organizations can collaborate: bit.ly/ipazambia

Research in found that students in public schools who received boosted their test scores by 27% of a grade level, suggesting significant promise for improving learning outcomes within existing school systems on a large scale. Read more about this impact evaluation conducted by IPA Ghana in collaboration with Ghana Education Service , UNICEF Ghana Ghana National Association of Teachers, Youth Employment Agency with researchers Annie Duflo, Jessica Kiessel and & Adrienne Lucas : bit.ly/tcaiedugh

Evaluating the Teacher Community Assistant Initiative in Ghana | IPA Share Facebook Link Twitter Link Researchers Annie Duflo Executive Director, IPA and Ex Officio Member, Board of Directors Jessica Kiessel Omidyar Network Adrienne M. Lucas Lerner College of Business and Economics, University of Delaware Staff Annie Duflo Executive Director, IPA and Ex Officio Membe...