J-PAL Africa, based at the University of Cape Town, leads J-PAL’s work in sub-Saharan Africa. J-PAL Africa conducts randomized evaluations, builds partnerships for evidence-informed policymaking, and helps partners scale up effective programs.
Our research team evaluates the impact of social programs and policies in South Africa, covering a wide range of sectors including labor markets, urban services, and political participation. Our policy team works with organizations and governments across Africa to build, pilot, and scale cost-effective interventions, including the Teaching at the Right Level approach to primary education. Our training team builds researcher capacity to conduct randomized evaluations and policymaker capacity to use evidence from randomized evaluations effectively.
More about J-PAL Africa
Explore the J-PAL website to learn more about who we are, what we do, where we work, and how to engage with the J-PAL Africa team.
Blog
Blog
Affiliate Spotlight: Selim Gulesci on addressing gender-based violence in Mozambican schools
In May 2025, J-PAL Africa invited LinkedIn readers to submit questions about a recent randomized evaluation on preventing gender-based violence in Mozambican schools, coauthored by J-PAL affiliated researcher Selim Gulesci. In this blog post, Selim responds to five questions from readers, sharing...
Blog
Blog
Launch of national partnership in Benin to support evidence-informed policymaking
J-PAL Africa has launched a multi-year partnership with Benin’s Ministry of Development and Coordination of Government Action to co-identify, generate, and integrate evidence into policy across the government.
Blog
Blog
Affiliate Spotlight: Danila Serra on women in science and leadership
In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11, 2025, J-PAL Africa hosted an Ask Me Anything session with J-PAL affiliated professor Danila Serra on X, formerly Twitter. Below, we share highlights from this engaging conversation about her research on gender...
Blog
Blog
Tackling unemployment in sub-Saharan Africa with Evidence: Launching the Jobs and Entrepreneurship in Africa Portfolio
J-PAL Africa has officially launched the Jobs and Entrepreneurship in Africa (JEA) Portfolio, which aims to identify high impact and cost-effective strategies to promote growth for small and medium enterprises as a route to job creation.