One of the world's most innovative poverty research networks has opened a regional office in Indonesia with the support of a $5.6 million grant from AusAID.
The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a network of researchers based out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who study the effectiveness of poverty reduction programs around the world.
Established in 2003, J-PAL's mission is to, 'reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is based on scientific evidence, and research is translated into action'.
J-PAL Southeast Asia will run out of the Institute of Economic and Social Research at the University of Indonesia, in Jakarta. AusAID agreed to fund the centre in 2012, and the grant will last for four years.
Under the grant, J-PAL will establish a university-based, independent regional research centre that will evaluate poverty reduction programs. The centre will also train local researchers, work with Indonesian academics on research partnerships, run training courses, and manage high-level policy conferences. J-PAL will also undertake new research on poverty reduction, service delivery and governance that can be used by the Indonesian Government in policy making.
J-PAL has been working in Indonesia– where 112 million people live on less than $2 a day– since 2007. Its researchers have conducted studies on incentives within PNPM Generasi, the social assistance program targeting maternal health, child health and universal education; the effectiveness of social programs' targeting methods; and reducing corruption in road construction.
There are independent regional J-PAL offices in Africa, Europe, Latin America, South Asia and Southeast Asia, all hosted by local universities. Program areas include agriculture, education, environment and energy, finance, health, labour markets and governance.
The President of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially opened the centre in front of more than 300 people, including AusAID's Director General Peter Baxter.