Minister of Planning Approves Integration of Egypt Impact Lab into National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development

H.E. Dr. Hala El Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, has sanctioned the integration of the Egypt Impact Lab into the NIGSD, the ministry’s training arm. This move aims to bolster evidence-based policies, improve development outcomes, and support innovative government programs. The Lab evaluates promising initiatives to enhance poverty reduction policies in Egypt and uses the findings to inform project scaling. Additionally, it fosters a culture of evidence-based policies by strengthening partners’ capacity in program design, implementation, and data utilization.

Dr. Sherifa Sherif, Executive Director of NIGSD, reaffirmed the institute’s dedication to monitoring and enhancing Egypt’s governance, competitiveness, and sustainable development metrics. She emphasized the Lab’s pivotal role in implementing evidence-based policies, supporting development efforts, and bridging research and policies for positive societal change.

George Richards, Director of Community Jameel, stated, “The formal integration of the Egypt Impact Lab into the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development underscores the government’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking in poverty alleviation and addressing climate change impacts through the Lab’s HAPIE initiative. Collaborating closely with J-PAL MENA and the Ministry, the Lab has become a potent platform for impactful interventions. Community Jameel is proud to support this initiative alongside partners like the American University in Cairo, the Sawiris Foundation, UNICEF Egypt, and Co-Impact.”

Nora Selim, Executive Director of the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, emphasized the importance of the Lab’s efforts and the ministry’s initiatives in leveraging evaluative research for development interventions. She highlighted the Foundation’s commitment to supporting the Lab and collaborating with the Ministry of Planning in generating scientific evidence for informed decision-making and policy formulation.

Dr. Ahmed El Sayed, Executive Director of J-PAL MENA at the American University in Cairo, recognized the Egyptian government’s efforts in poverty alleviation and social development. He underscored the Lab’s dedication to producing robust empirical evidence for effective development strategies, noting the integration into the ministry’s structure as a significant milestone.

Launched in 2022 through collaboration between MPED and J-PAL MENA at AUC, the Egypt Impact Lab aims to enhance Egypt’s poverty reduction policies by rigorously evaluating innovative government programs. With support from founding partners Sawiris Foundation and Community Jameel, and additional backing from UNICEF Egypt, the Lab operates as a flagship project of J-PAL’s Evidence-to-Policy initiative, supported by Co-Impact and Community Jameel.

The Lab focuses on key government priorities, including poverty reduction in rural areas, effective social protection, microenterprise development, economic opportunity access, female empowerment, and a green economy. Strategic partners include the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, the National Council for Women, and NIGSD. Recently, the Hub of Advanced Policy Innovations for the Environment (HAPIE) was launched with Community Jameel’s support to address environmental, energy, and climate change challenges.