The Generation and Use of Experimental Evidence to Drive Policy Change, based on experience scaling an Early Childhood Development intervention in India

Sponsored by the M&E and Education Working Groups

In this session, Alejandro Ganimian will discuss the link between rigorous research and policy change based on a randomized evaluation and cost-benefit analyses of an intervention in which early-childhood development (ECD) centers in Tamil Nadu, India were provided with funds to hire a worker exclusively devoted to teaching preschool education. The work is among the only examples of rigorous research applied to large-scale, government-provided ECD service delivery. The presentation will describe the cross-sectoral partnership between the regional office of the Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) for South Asia and the Government of Tamil Nadu to oversee the design, implementation, and results of this and other randomized evaluations.  It will present the encouraging results of the extra-worker intervention and profile the strategies for translating the findings into effective policy at scale.  The session will conclude with a facilitated, small group discussion of links between rigorous research and policy change.

Look for an invitation in your inbox or contact [email protected] to RSVP and attend.