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Latest Research and News

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Photo Credit: © VOME Studio

Our Impact: How IPA Evidence Creates Real-World Change

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IPA is launching a new Impact Page

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that showcases how our evidence creates real-world change—turning rigorous research into programs that reach hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The page features compelling impact stories, including our work on Differentiated Learning in Ghana, where strategic partnership with the Ghana Education Service and other partners helped transform education for over 2.4 million primary school students, making Ghana the first African government to successfully scale targeted instruction nationwide. This story, along with others, demonstrates how evidence-driven solutions can improve lives when the right conditions are in place.

EXPLORE OUR NEW IMPACT PAGE

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EXPLORE OUR IMPACT STORY ON DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING

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Announcing IPA’s Research & Data Science Knowledge Hub

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IPA launched a new publicly available website, data.poverty-action.org

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, for resources curated on research and data science. The site includes content within six areas: Research Design, Research Ethics, Data Quality, Data Collection, Data Cleaning, and Software Guides. We are regularly adding new materials, so we encourage you to bookmark the site and be on the lookout for additional content. Many colleagues across IPA and our partner organizations have contributed to the knowledge hub. You can too! If you have research resources you would like to add or recommended content, please contact [email protected]

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or follow the guidance on the site on how you can contribute.

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EXPLORE THE HUB

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Policy Insight

Soft Skills Training for Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development

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Photo Credit: © i_am_zews / Shutterstock.com

Soft skills training—specifically Personal Initiative (PI) Training—has shown promising effects on business outcomes for entrepreneurs. Yet, results vary by context and gender, and implementation could significantly shape effectiveness, so a better understanding of the mechanisms behind the intervention could help implementers deploy it more successfully. Moving from isolated successes to broad, lasting impact will require models that function within real-world constraints, such as limited or uncertain funding, staff turnover, and uneven digital access. Tackling these issues will demand more evidence and creative solutions—like AI-supported delivery, new engagement strategies to reduce attrition in asynchronous formats, and funding structures that allow capable local partners to retain skilled staff.

READ THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

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Research Highlight

Cash and Small Business Groups for Ugandans and Refugees: Evidence from Kampala, Uganda

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Photo Credit: © Nathan Ijjo Tibaku for the International Rescue Committee

Researchers: Travis Baseler, Thomas Ginn, Ibrahim Kasirye, Belinda Muya, and Andrew Zeitlin

For refugees, microentrepreneurship is a common form of employment in their host countries. But they often face barriers in growing their businesses, which can make integration more difficult. In Uganda—which has Africa’s largest refugee population—researchers measured whether cash business grants and business mentorships for refugee and host microentrepreneurs improved business performance and social cohesion. Grants significantly improved profits, social cohesion, and stock of business capital across gender and nationality. Meanwhile, the addition of group mentorship had positive effects for refugee men but negative effects compared to cash alone for women in higher-profit microenterprises. Although more research is needed, this program offers promising insights into how to deepen refugee social and economic inclusion.

Read the paper here

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, a full summary here

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, and watch a webinar presentation here

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Links of Interest

Getting Governments to Use Evidence through Embedded Evidence Labs

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Ever wonder why great research rarely translates into effective government policy? Juan Manuel Hernández-Agramonte

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, IPA’s Senior Director of Embedded Labs, shares insights

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on Embedded Evidence Labs

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and adoption and implementation of evidence in government systems. He says evidence faces a "Squid Game"-like journey through government institutions, with most promising ideas failing to reach implementation, let alone scale. Embedded Evidence Labs—government-based teams working from within—aim to address this challenge through co-designing research with policymakers, building strategic partnerships across agencies, addressing systemic barriers to evidence use, and seizing windows of opportunity for scale.

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Events



Strengthening Collaboration among Researchers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

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September 4, 2025



What Digital Financial Services Users Are Really Facing: New Insights from Nigeria’s Consumer Protection Survey

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August 6, 2025



Displaced Livelihoods Webinar Series | Emerging Evidence on Business Mentorship in Uganda: The Case of Re:BUiLD

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July 23, 2025



Access to Agency: Empowering Women through Digital Inclusion International Conference, Ghana

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July 2-3, 2025



SEE ALL EVENTS HERE

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IPA in the News

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The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Recognizes IPA as an Outstanding Partner on Financial Inclusion Initiatives for the Third Year in a Row

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BusinessGhana Highlights Ghana Education Service Scale-Up of Transformative Kindergarten Program Evaluated by IPA

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Devdiscourse Features Research by IPA and Partners on Economic Inclusion Programs in the Sahel Region

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Employment Opportunities

Country Director | Uganda

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Set the strategic direction for IPA in Uganda and oversee research and policy initiatives in a variety of sectors, including agriculture, gender equality, livelihood enhancement, education, early childhood development, consumer protection, peace and recovery, healthcare, and financial inclusion



Associate Policy Manager | Côte d'Ivoire

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Collaborate closely with the Ministry of National Education (MENA) in Côte d’Ivoire to strengthen its capacity to use evidence to improve its programs and policies through an Embedded Evidence Lab or “Ed Lab”



Research & Business Development Manager | Nigeria

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Develop and continuously review (and adapt as needed) the IPA Nigeria country office’s business development and stakeholder engagement strategy, in collaboration with the Country Director, Research Managers, and the Global Business Development team.



(Senior) Research Associate | Malawi

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Work closely with principal investigators, project stakeholders, and local teams to manage data collection activities, supervise field staff, ensure adherence to research protocols, and contribute to analysis and dissemination of findings. Please note this position is a 6-month assignment.



SEE ALL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

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www.poverty-action.org

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Sent to [email protected]

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