IDB, ALJ training program begins today

IDB, ALJ training program begins today
Updated 08 June 2013
Follow

IDB, ALJ training program begins today

IDB, ALJ training program begins today

The Islamic Development Bank, in collaboration with the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, will organize a high-level training program at the IDB headquarters starting today through June 12 on impact evaluation of development programs. J-PAL is named after Abdul Latif Jameel, father of MIT alumnus Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, who has supported the centre since its establishment.
Ahmed Tiktit, IDB vice-president for cooperation and capacity development and Birema Sidibé, IDB vice president for operations, and Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, president and chairman of the Abdul Latif Jameel Group, will attend the opening session along with a delegation from Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives (ALJCI).
The training program will be conducted by renowned experts, including Dr. Abhijit Banerjee, professor of economics, MIT, and director of J-Pal Global; Dr. Dean Karlan, professor of economics, Yale University; Dr Bruno Crepon, associate professor, ENSAE et École Polytechnique; and Dr Karen Macours, associate professor of economics, PSE Ecole d’Economie de Paris.
The training is in line with the drive initiated by the IDB to improve the quality of its interventions and showcase results on the ground. Impact evaluation seeks to respond to the growing demand of donors and beneficiaries for measurable results of development interventions carried out by development banking institutions around the world.
The training program is being coordinated by the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD) in collaboration with the operations policy and services department (OPSD), and the group operations evaluation department (GOED) of the Bank.
The ISFD was officially launched in 2007 as a waqf (trust) with an initial target capital of US$10 billion, to be raised through voluntary contribution from member-states of the OIC, IDB and institutions from member-countries. Saudi Arabia and the IDB are the largest contributors to the Fund, with each committing US$ 1 billion to the capital. Since its inception, ISFD has focused on poverty eradication in member countries through concessional lending.
J-PAL is a research centre at the MIT economics department. The centre uses randomized techniques to evaluate the impact of development programs and projects. Since its establishment in 2003, J-PAL has been at the forefront of quantitative, impact evaluation of development interventions with studies conducted in various areas including agriculture, education, environment and energy. In addition to that it has contributed effectively in finance, health, labor markets, and political economy and governance in more than 50 countries.