Hi John,

One thing is certain: none of us were prepared for what 2020 would bring. The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic fallout, as well as the global protests against racial injustice, have challenged and compelled us to adapt, reflect, and ultimately grow and evolve as an organization. Back in 2019, we held 70 events, released results from 49 studies, and started 118 new projects. And we strengthened our research quality leadership and our ability to engage policymakers and synthesize and share relevant evidence, which positioned us to proactively respond to COVID-19.

When the pandemic hit, we worked to protect our staff and communities and quickly pivoted our work with a major new effort—Research for Effective COVID-19 Responses (RECOVR). We launched dozens of new studies, co-created research with government partners, and supported decision-makers on evidence-based solutions. We also recognized that as we work to fight poverty, we can and need to do more to fight systemic inequalities, both through our work and our own organizational behavior, and formed an internal working group to address issues related to representation, discrimination, and bias.

In our 2019-2020 Annual Report, you will find highlights of IPA’s accomplishments from the past year, which were made possible by the world-class researchers, organizations, and funders we are proud to call our partners.