Research chair : Development Methodologies Chair

Objective

Since the end of the 1990s, Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee have made crucial contributions to a current trend in development economics that focuses on reducing poverty using a new methodological approach called RCTs (Randomised Controlled Trials) – experimental field studies designed to better inform decision makers about which public policies to adopt. This approach, which Duflo and Banerjee have popularised, has since become indispensable in development economics, and in 2019, they were awarded the Nobel prize in economics.

The research work of the chair aims to explore four areas of commitment in AFD’s Strategic Orientation Plan (SOP):

• the environment, in line with the “100% Paris Agreement” commitment;
• education, financial inclusion and gender, in line with the “100% social link” commitment;
• crime and violence prevention policies, in line with the “3D” commitment;
• the mobilization of a global research network with capacities for action within AFD’s areas of intervention to facilitate research partnerships, in line with the “partnership reflex” commitment.

In doing so, the research work contributes to reflections on “the world to come”, which have been intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, more than ever, questions about the sustainability of our models, the impacts of globalisation, and economic equity are driving research and inviting public actors to consider the paths that they are taking.

The research of the chair will take several forms:

• the continuation of the work of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), a research centre that aims to reduce poverty by using innovative public policy evaluation techniques;
• research publications;
• the contributions to conferences, seminars, and development economics summer schools.

The research strategy of the chair thus rests on innovative public policy evaluation methods and the dissemination of the results through a number of different channels.

Through their work, the researchers are enriching thought and debate about development economics, offering new methodological approaches, and leading an international university network that contributes to the shaping of French development policy. The work of the chair thus contributes to France’s development mission as well as to increasing awareness and improving education about development issues.

The research results will be presented biannually to the AFD, through the CA/Comex or to AFD staff, with reports on the work in progress and its implications for AFD strategy and operations, and will also be presented in an annual report to be published by the chair

For more information on the chair, please contact the chair’s coordinator at J-PAL Europe and PSL, Michael Braun.

Summer schools

The key activity of the chair is the organisation of an annual summer school which brings together two groups of participants:

• Researchers with demonstrated interest and ability to incorporate impact evaluation methods into their research work;
• Policymakers involved in the commission of evaluations or in the use of their results to guide decision-making.

In order to meet the needs and interests of the two groups of participants, the summer school is articulated around two teaching tracks:

• An academic track aimed at reinforcing the knowledge and good practices of participants who are already well versed in the methodological foundations of impact evaluations;
• A policy track aimed at showing the role of impact evaluation in the design of evidence-based public policies by illustrating the process from the production of evidence to the adoption of policies.

These two modules will be supplemented by joint sessions bringing together the two groups of participants, in order to facilitate exchanges between researchers and policymakers around practical cases.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first edition of the summer school took place online. You can find more information on the previous in-person editions of the summer school at the following links:

• Summer school 2022 (Abidjan)
• Summer school 2023 (Rabat)
• Summer school 2024 (Rabat)

For more information on the summer schools, please contact the chair’s training officer at J-PAL Europe and PSL, Elyssa Majed.

Steering committee

The steering committee comprises the chair holders as well as representatives of the different partners (AFD, PSE, PSL, the Direction générale du Trésor and J-PAL Europe).

PSE partners