Innovations for Poverty Action’s Post

#Remittances—transfers sent home by migrants to support their families—are a major contributor to Nicaragua's economy, representing 15.3 percent of GDP in 2021. Remittances tend to fluctuate in response to adverse shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic. Research in #Nicaragua suggests that the overall volume of remittances sent to Nicaragua increased, driven mainly by an increase in the number of transfers by new clients and to a lesser extent by an increase in the average amount sent by regular clients. Learn more about the study conducted by IPA, The World Bank, Banpro Grupo Promerica, and researchers Elizaveta Perova, Arndt Reichert, Alejandro de la Fuente, Xavier Gineé, Meritxell Martinez. https://bit.ly/RemC

Remittances—transfers sent home by migrants to support their families—are a major contributor to Nicaragua's economy, representing 15.3 percent of GDP in 2021. Remittances tend to fluctuate in response to adverse shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic. Research in Nicaragua suggests that the overall volume of remittances sent to Nicaragua increased, driven mainly by an increase in the number of transfers by new clients and to a lesser extent by an increase in the average amount sent by regular clients. Learn more about the study conducted by IPA, The World Bank, Banpro Grupo Promerica, and researchers Elizaveta Perova, Arndt Reichert, Alejandro de la Fuente, Xavier Giné, Meritxell Martínez from the World Bank. https://bit.ly/RemC

Our 2023 Annual Report is out! Last year, we published the 'Best Bets: Emerging Opportunities for Impact at Scale' report highlighting interventions with great potential to solve key challenges but needing more evidence or partnerships to scale. We also produced rigorous evidence in under-researched areas such as human trafficking and intimate partner violence, broadened our policy work, and made progress in diversifying our researcher network. Read more about our work: bit.ly/ar-ipa-23

As one of IPA’s key initiatives, the Embedded Evidence Labs create networks for learning and exchange, including through the Cross-Country Learning Exchange (CCLE). The CCLE fosters collaboration among governments with #EmbeddedEvidenceLabs. Discover more about the activities of our Embedded Evidence Labs: bit.ly/evidencelabs Read the blog on CCLE in Uganda: bit.ly/ccleblog Read the blog on CCLE in Rwanda: bit.ly/ccle2022rw #WebsiteUpdates #MoreEvidenceLessPoverty #CCLE

Check out the latest research, news, and events from IPA in the September 2024 edition of the #RandomUpdate newsletter ↓ This edition spotlights updated information about our Embedded Evidence Labs and a reflective blog about the closure of our IPA Myanmar country office. It also features research on the Early Childhood Education Teacher Training and Teacher Community Assistant Initiative and many more. Sign up to receive the #newsletter directly in your inbox ➡ bit.ly/ipasubscribe

New Opportunity at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA)! We are seeking a Manager to join our Right-Fit Evidence (RFE) Unit in Africa. If you’re passionate about using data for decision-making and enjoy working across sectors like education, technology, and humanitarian efforts, we want you! As an RFE Manager, you’ll manage advisory services for clients like funders, implementers, and government agencies to advance the use of evidence and data. You'll play a key role in strategy, team development, and the creation of innovative products and services. Join us and make a meaningful impact! Deadline: October 8, 2024

We’re looking for a Senior Manager to join our Right-Fit Evidence Unit and lead the strategic delivery of a multi-country education project at IPA. If you have experience in MEL, international development, or education policy, and want to help scale impactful interventions globally, we want to hear from you. https://bit.ly/SMRFE

In many low- and middle-income countries, matching grants - subsidies for investments in individualized technical training and management training, and consulting services requiring a contribution from the firm- are often provided to small- and medium-sized firms to enhance private sector development and job creation. However, there is only limited evidence about the effectiveness of such grants for businesses. Research in Burkina Faso suggests that providing matching or cash grants to small firms increased their survival rates and business practices but had no impact on profits, sales and employment. However, firms with cash grants performed better and increased their investment and cash stock. Learn more about the impact evaluation conducted by researchers Michael Grimm and Sidiki Soubeiga from Universität Passau, and Michael Weber from The World Bank, in collaboration with IPA Burkina Faso with Maison de l’Entreprise du Burkina Faso and Bagré Pôle. https://bit.ly/FSb

IPA Liberia hosted a dissemination event today to share results of the School-Based Agriculture Education (SBAE) evaluation, conducted in partnership with AgriCorps, 4-H Liberia, and Northwestern University. The SBAE program empowers youth as change agents, integrating agricultural education into schools. This event brought together implementers, policymakers, and donors to discuss the program’s results and their policy implications. Following the dissemination, a panel and workshop were held to explore various pathways to scale SBAE, such as integrating it into school curricula, enhancing school feeding programs, and expanding its reach through the agricultural extension system. Read more on the program and study: bit.ly/4hliberia