Latest news with #CommunityJameel
Mid East Info
2 days ago
- Politics
- Mid East Info
J-PAL MENA AT AUC CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS OF EVIDENCE POLICYMAKING IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA - Middle East Business News and Information
The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Middle East and North Africa J-PAL MENA at The American University in Cairo (AUC) marked its fifth anniversary this week, celebrating five years of harnessing the power of evidence to design cost-effective and large-scale policies that address poverty and enhance lives across the region. Held at AUC's Malak Gabr Theater, the event brought together policymakers, researchers, donors, and community leaders to celebrate J-PAL MENA's achievements using data and rigorous research to inform policies addressing some of the region's most pressing challenges. The event featured a keynote speech by Nobel Laureate and J-PAL co-founder Abhijit Banerjee and opening remarks by Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Rania Al Mashat. Engaging panel discussions explored the future of evidence-based policymaking in Egypt and the MENA region and showcased success stories from J-PAL's partners, including government officials and NGOs. Since its launch in 2020, J-PAL MENA, hosted at the Onsi Sawiris School of Business, has built a strong foundation of success, partnering with governments, NGOs, and donors to generate and disseminate evidence that improves policies and transforms lives. 'Since 2020, when Community Jameel supported the establishment of J-PAL MENA, we have been in awe of the speed and scale of its impact in improving the lives of people across the region – from Morocco to Saudi Arabia and, of course, here in Egypt. Today, marking J-PAL MENA's fifth anniversary, we remain committed to supporting J-PAL MENA in driving forward the use of rigorous evidence in tackling grave challenges, from poverty and hunger to air pollution and water scarcity,' said George Richards, director of Community Jameel. In 2022, J-PAL MENA launched the Egypt Impact Lab, in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, and with support from Community Jameel, the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, and additional support from UNICEF Egypt. The aim was to strengthen the effectiveness of Egypt's poverty reduction policies by rigorously evaluating promising and innovative government programs and using results to inform scale decisions. The Egypt Impact Lab was officially integrated into the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development's training arm, in 2024. 'As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, we reflect on the incredible journey of building a culture of evidence-informed policymaking in Egypt and the Middle East. Over the past five years, J-PAL MENA has collaborated closely with governments, NGOs, and donors to generate research that directly improves people's lives,' said Ahmed Elsayed, executive director of J-PAL MENA. 'This milestone is not just a celebration of our achievements but a moment to look ahead—to deepen our partnerships, expand our impact, and continue tackling the region's most pressing challenges with rigorous evidence and actionable solutions,' Elsayed added. In 2025, J-PAL MENA announced the launch of the Hub of Advanced Policy Innovation for the Environment HAPIE, as part of the global network of J-PAL Air and Water Labs with Community Jameel, which aims to tackle critical air and water issues through evidence-based policymaking. The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2003, J-PAL has seven regional offices at host universities in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. J-PAL MENA was launched in 2020, in partnership with Community Jameel, and is based at AUC. It currently has more than 60 completed and ongoing evaluations across eight sectors in seven countries in the MENA region: Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Founded in 1919, The American University in Cairo (AUC) is a leading English-language, American-accredited institution of higher education and center of the intellectual, social, and cultural life of the Arab world. It is a vital bridge between East and West, linking Egypt and the region to the world through scholarly research, partnerships with academic and research institutions, and study abroad programs. The University offers 39 undergraduate, 52 master's, and two PhD programs rooted in a liberal arts education that encourages students to think critically and find creative solutions to conflicts and challenges facing both the region and the world. An independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan, nonsectarian, and equal opportunity institution, AUC is fully accredited in Egypt and the United States.
Al Bawaba
4 days ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
J-pal Mena at AUC Celebrates Five Years of Evidence Policymaking in the Middle East and North Africa
The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Middle East and North Africa (J-PAL MENA) at The American University in Cairo (AUC) marked its fifth anniversary this week, celebrating five years of harnessing the power of evidence to design cost-effective and large-scale policies that address poverty and enhance lives across the region. Held at AUC's Malak Gabr Theater, the event brought together policymakers, researchers, donors, and community leaders to celebrate J-PAL MENA's achievements using data and rigorous research to inform policies addressing some of the region's most pressing challenges. The event featured a keynote speech by Nobel Laureate and J-PAL co-founder Abhijit Banerjee and opening remarks by Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation Rania Al Mashat. Engaging panel discussions explored the future of evidence-based policymaking in Egypt and the MENA region and showcased success stories from J-PAL's partners, including government officials and its launch in 2020, J-PAL MENA, hosted at the Onsi Sawiris School of Business, has built a strong foundation of success, partnering with governments, NGOs, and donors to generate and disseminate evidence that improves policies and transforms lives.'Since 2020, when Community Jameel supported the establishment of J-PAL MENA, we have been in awe of the speed and scale of its impact in improving the lives of people across the region – from Morocco to Saudi Arabia and, of course, here in Egypt. Today, marking J-PAL MENA's fifth anniversary, we remain committed to supporting J-PAL MENA in driving forward the use of rigorous evidence in tackling grave challenges, from poverty and hunger to air pollution and water scarcity,' said George Richards, director of Community 2022, J-PAL MENA launched the Egypt Impact Lab, in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, and with support from Community Jameel, the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, and additional support from UNICEF Egypt. The aim was to strengthen the effectiveness of Egypt's poverty reduction policies by rigorously evaluating promising and innovative government programs and using results to inform scale decisions. The Egypt Impact Lab was officially integrated into the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development's training arm, in 2024.'As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, we reflect on the incredible journey of building a culture of evidence-informed policymaking in Egypt and the Middle East. Over the past five years, J-PAL MENA has collaborated closely with governments, NGOs, and donors to generate research that directly improves people's lives,' said Ahmed Elsayed, executive director of J-PAL MENA. 'This milestone is not just a celebration of our achievements but a moment to look ahead—to deepen our partnerships, expand our impact, and continue tackling the region's most pressing challenges with rigorous evidence and actionable solutions,' Elsayed 2025, J-PAL MENA announced the launch of the Hub of Advanced Policy Innovation for the Environment (HAPIE), as part of the global network of J-PAL Air and Water Labs with Community Jameel, which aims to tackle critical air and water issues through evidence-based Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2003, J-PAL has seven regional offices at host universities in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. J-PAL MENA was launched in 2020, in partnership with Community Jameel, and is based at AUC. It currently has more than 60 completed and ongoing evaluations across eight sectors in seven countries in the MENA region: Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
Zawya
18-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jameel Index launches to illuminate food security risks amid global food trade uncertainty
Oxford, United Kingdom – The Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced today the official public launch of the Jameel Index for Food Trade and Vulnerability. The innovative online tool equips policymakers, investors, and development practitioners with data-driven insights to better navigate the complexity of global food trade and its implications for food security in a time of mounting geopolitical, climate and economic instability. The Jameel Index is the foundational project of the J-WAFS-led Food and Climate Systems Transformation (FACT) Alliance, a global network of over 20 leading research institutions and stakeholder organizations with support from Community Jameel. Fewer than 10 countries provide more than 90% of the world's food exports. The Jameel Index indicates that 55% of the world's countries are in medium to extreme food import vulnerability. This growing interdependence raises serious questions about systemic resilience, equity, and preparedness. By translating complex global trade data into actionable insights, the Jameel Index aims to inform and guide both global and local strategies for enhancing food security through diversified sourcing, policy alignment, and sustainable investment. The Jameel Index generates food trade vulnerability scores for over 180 countries, analysing risks across eight major agricultural commodities (wheat, rice, soy, maize, dairy, meat, sugar, and cooking oils). It integrates indicators on import dependency, supply chain diversity, supply variability, and foreign exchange––offering a customisable, holistic platform to assess exposure to global food trade shocks. According to the Jameel Index, four countries in the Middle East –Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Oman– are among the most vulnerable, alongside small island states such as Cabo Verde and Grenada. By contrast, major food exporters, including Argentina, the United States, and China remain the most resilient to shocks in global food trade. The Jameel Index was formally unveiled at a special event titled The Jameel Index Forum: Food Trade in the Current Age of Uncertainty, hosted by the Martin School at the University of Oxford. The event featured a presentation of the Jameel Index and a thematic address exploring the Jameel Index's application within the evolving BRICS trade bloc, now composed of 11 major agri-food economies. The event additionally included a panel discussion with global leaders in food systems, trade, and sustainability. Dr. Greg Sixt, director of the FACT Alliance at J-WAFS, said: 'The Jameel Index is a critical tool for the planning and investment needed to ensure that food trade can meet food security needs in an increasingly volatile global trade environment. In the coming months, the Jameel Index will integrate the impacts of future climate change scenarios on food trade, which will further enhance the Index's value for long term future planning.' Nader Iskandar Diab, head of programmes at Community Jameel, said: 'Shielding global communities, especially the most vulnerable ones, from the impact of climate change is core to our mission at Community Jameel. We are pleased to support the development of the Jameel Index, which will equip policymakers and practitioners with the critical insights they need to strengthen food systems, improve resilience, and ultimately safeguard lives and livelihoods in a time of mounting uncertainty. We are proud to see this tool come to life as a cornerstone for more equitable and sustainable global food security.' Dr Linus Mofor, regional advisor for sustainability & climate at UNICEF ESARO, said: 'Africa continues to be disproportionately affected by the increasing adverse impacts of climate change, particularly regarding food security. With the operationalization of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, enhancing understanding of the nexus between climate change, trade, and food security is critical. The Jameel Index tool can play a powerful foundational role for an Africa-specific index in this regard.' Paola de Almeida, food, agriculture and water portfolio head at Pegasus Capital Advisors, said: 'The Jameel Index is a valuable tool that will help de-risk investments around the world. It serves as a sentinel for food and agricultural systems risk areas ensuring that money is properly deployed and allocated fit for purpose and context.' The Jameel Index was previewed at the 2024 World Food Prize's Borlaug Dialogue, where project co-leads Dr Greg Sixt and Professor Kenneth Strzepek, presented the framework and a preliminary version of the index.
