Dear Colleagues,

Our work in primary data collection often gives us a unique window into new and emerging trends. Similarly, ongoing conversations with policymakers and practitioners help us to identify important evidence gaps and areas where more research and data are needed. In the case of gender gaps in education, we’ve seen this issue highlighted from both perspectives. Policymakers and researchers alike are grappling with the unique and persistent challenges facing girls, along with increased recognition that in many contexts, learning levels are lower for boys.

We are excited to invite you to the IPA Education Sector Webinar on Gender Gaps in Education, to be held online on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.

IPA’s Education Program Director, Sarah Kabay, and Associate Director for Policy, Victoria Kiasyo Isika, will lead the webinar and present their working paper, "Gender and the return to school in Kenya." Rebecca Thornton, Professor of Economics at the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University, will present her paper, "Boys lagging behind: Unpacking gender differences in academic achievement across East Africa." Laura Gregory, Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank, will present her report, "Educational Underachievement Among Boys and Men."

Finally, policymakers from Kenya and Zambia will discuss these research findings and relate them to their own observations and work on the issue of gender in education. We hope that this webinar will raise questions and inspire new work in this area.

The event will be hosted on Zoom and will run from 9:00AM - 10:30AM EST. Please register here if you are interested in attending and you will receive a Zoom link to connect.

Please contact IPA at [email protected] for more information. We look forward to seeing you!

Warm regards,
Innovations for Poverty Action