Photo: Annie Duflo, IPA Executive Director (left), Madeleen Husselman, former IPA Ghana Country Director (center background), and Enoch Cobbinah, Chief Director, Ministry of Education, Ghana, at Education Evidence Day in May 2018. © John Denanyoh
|
|
Do More With What Works
IPA recently launched a new external campaign focused on helping our partners Do More With What Works. The campaign shares our lessons and practical insights on making evidence work in real-world government settings. This is especially timely, as governments worldwide are taking on greater responsibility for service delivery. Follow our blog series where Bethany Park (Senior Director, Policy) shares what we've learned about scaling with governments, including why scaling and systems change go hand in hand and why scaling requires aligning financial incentives with impact. “When it came down to it, we simply couldn’t scale effective solutions without also changing the systems in which those interventions were operating. And doing so produced a cascade of positive changes, resulting in systems that are more evidence- and data-driven."
|
 |
|
Bridging the Digital Divide: Why Ghana is the Perfect Stage for a Conference on Digital Inclusion and Women’s Empowerment
On July 2-3, 2025, Accra, Ghana will host the Access to Agency: Empowering Women Through Digital Inclusion Conference, jointly convened by the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) and IPA. BIGD's deep expertise in digital connectivity pathways combines with IPA's global and local research network and evidence-based approach to create a powerful convergence of expertise, innovation, and urgency to address a pressing development challenge—digital inclusion and women’s empowerment. This isn't just about sharing research findings—it's about building a community of practice that can drive real change,
creating opportunities for collaboration that extend far beyond the two-day event. Read more in our blog post.
|
 |
|
mEducation: Building Resilient Education Systems in the Philippines and Beyond
Watch how the mEducation phone-based remedial program enables parents and teachers to team up to ensure no student is left behind. The program, which was evaluated by IPA, is bridging gaps and helping students thrive, wherever they are.
|
|
|
Policy Insight
Scaling Infant-Directed Speech in Ghana
Photo: Screenshot from an animated video shown to mothers demonstrating the benefits of infant-directed speech
Since 2024, the Ghana Health Service has partnered with IPA Ghana to scale the Infant Directed Speech (IDS) intervention, which encourages caregivers to actively talk to infants to support early language and cognitive development. The scale-up builds on a study showing that a simple information campaign can prompt more frequent interactions between mothers and their babies, offering a low-cost approach to strengthening early childhood development outcomes. Through a co-creation process, IPA Ghana supported the preparation of key materials used to deliver the intervention, including posters, leaflets, and a short
awareness video, now ready for distribution across health services.
|
|
|
|
Research Highlight
Impacts of Dual Apprenticeships Combining On-the-Job and Vocational Training in Côte d'Ivoire
Photo: A young mechanic apprentice in Côte d’Ivoire. ©Bureau de Coordination des Programmes Emploi (BCP-Emploi) and AGEFOP.
Researchers: Bruno Crépon and Patrick Premand
Across Africa, apprenticeships with small, informal firms are common job training for youth without completed education. However, both youth and firms face challenges that limit the effectiveness of traditional apprenticeship. In Côte d'Ivoire, a government-subsidized dual apprenticeship program combining on-the-job training with courses at vocational centers increased youth participation in apprenticeship by 52.8 percent, importantly reaching those who otherwise lacked access to training. Furthermore, it enabled firms to attract more apprentices and fill new apprenticeship positions, without simply replacing existing apprentices. Youth also experienced lasting economic benefits, completing more complex tasks and earning 15 percent more after four years. This model could help other countries improve their apprenticeship systems for youth and firms.
|
|
|
|
|
Links of Interest
The Secret to Successful Partnerships Between Academics and Field Research Teams
In this blog post, Steven Glazerman, IPA’s Chief Research & Methodology Officer, shares the IPA Working Principles: a short, practical tool to help align
academics and field teams from day one across six domains.
Research and Learning Agenda for IPA’s Climate and Environment Program (CEP)
IPA’s Climate & Environment Program (CEP) recently published a learning agenda identifying strategic priority areas where evidence and IPA’s experimental approach could be key in helping decision-makers advance their climate and environmental objectives in a way consistent with development objectives.
Driving Innovation amidst Crisis: The Humanitarian Action and Displacement Response Research Incubator in Asia
The Asia-Pacific region faces alarming levels of increased displacement, with over 15.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), stateless people, and returnees. Although there is growing evidence supporting promising strategies—such as cash transfers, entrepreneurship training, and mental health support—the overall evidence base remains limited. To help address this evidence gap, IPA and J-PAL recently held a research incubator, hosted by IPA Philippines in Manila, as the fifth event in a global series bringing together humanitarian and displacement actors to design evaluations of their programs. Learn more in this blog post co-authored by Sydney O’Connell, Program Coordinator for IPA’s Peace & Recovery Program, and Fides Bernardo, Policy & Project Development Associate for IPA Philippines.
|
|
|
|
|
(Associate) Research Manager | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania or Lusaka, Zambia
Oversee research projects and teams across Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia, supporting regional projects and acting as a bridge between academic researchers, donors, and field teams. The ideal candidate should have strong technical expertise in research design and implementation, as well as financial and administrative experience.
|
| |
|
Research Associate | Abuja, Nigeria
Manage day-to-day research activities, from planning to implementation and monitoring research data quality, under the supervision of the Research Manager. Responsibilities include but are not limited to supervising project field staff, while ensuring timely submission of deliverables to donors and partners.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
