Innovation in Government Initiative (IGI)

Abstract

The Innovation in Government Initiative (IGI), an initiative of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), aids low- and middle-income countries in implementing evidence-based policies and scaling effective ones to alleviate extreme poverty. It operates through collaboration with J-PAL regional offices and affiliated researchers, and is seen as about three times as cost-effective as direct cash transfers. The organization provides pivotal technical assistance to develop, pilot, and scale research-based innovations that can significantly improve the lives of people in poverty. Its effectiveness, investment needs, and successful past record are explored in detail. Furthermore, IGI reflects effective strategies proposed by the literature on implementing evidence-based policies, and offers flexible funding for potentially transformative projects. In the presence of increased funding, IGI could award more and larger grants to more projects with higher ambitions, lending further substantial impact in combating extreme poverty. – AI-generated abstract.