Impact and Policy Conference: Evidence in Governance, Financial Inclusion, and Entrepreneurship

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Impact and Policy Conference: Evidence in Governance, Financial Inclusion, and Entrepreneurship

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The Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand (map)

The Asian Development Bank, in conjunction with Innovations for Poverty Action and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, held the Impact and Policy Conference: Evidence in Governance, Financial Inclusion, and Entrepreneurship to share findings in three topic areas of development: Financial Inclusion, Governance and Post-Conflict Recovery, and Small and Medium Enterprise Development.
 
 
Each day also included Matchmaking Program for Research and Innovation to develop new collaborations between researchers and practitioners. Funding has been awarded by the Asian Development Bank to eleven researcher-practitioner partnerships.
 
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Matchmaking Program for Research and Innovation

The Impact and Policy Conference: Evidence in Governance, Financial Inclusion, and Entrepreneurship included a matchmaking program facilitating conversations and collaborations between researchers and practitioners on joint research projects, with seed funding awarded to the most promising research partnerships. 

Matchmaking sessions and research awards in the areas of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Governance and Post-Conflict Recovery were sponsored by the Asian Development Bank. Those who attended the conference are eligible to apply for a Parntership Development Grant. More information can be found here.

The Citi - IPA Financial Capability Research Fund supported by the Citi Foundation organized a matchmaking program focused on ideas that will improve the financial capability of individuals and households, as part of the fund's first competitive call for research proposals in this area.

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Find full conference agenda here and shortened agenda with presentations below

Read presentation summaries from presenters on our blog

 
WELCOME, OVERVIEW AND KEYNOTE ADDRESS: AUGUST 30, 2012
Welcome
  • Edgar Cua, Deputy Director General, East Asia Research Department, Asian Development Bank
Keynote Addresses
  • Vinod Thomas, Director General for Independent Evaluation, Asian Development Bank, Importance of entrepreneurship, innovation, and governance in inclusion and development
  • Annie Duflo, Executive Director, Innovations for Poverty Action
SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT: AUGUST 30, 2012
Welcome and Overview: Small and Medium Enterprise Development
  • Lucia Sanchez, Innovations for Poverty Action, SME initiative at IPA and overview of the day
Session I: Access to Finance for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
  • Shawn Cole, Harvard Business School, Importance of compensation policies in loan officer performance
  • Daniel Paravisini, London School of Economics, Impact of credit scoring on productivity in small firm loans
  • Sharon Buteau, IFMR/SEFC, Relationship lending for SMEs
  • Commentator: Romy Caradang, Development Bank of the Philippines
Session II:  Human Capital and Job Creation
  • Rocco Macchiavello, Warwick University
  • Russell Toth, University of Sydney, Growth of enterprises in Indonesia
  • David McKenzie, World Bank, Factors that lead the self-employed to become employers
  • Greg Fischer, London School of Economics, Approaches to financial literacy
  • Commentator: Michel M. Botzung, International Finance Corporation
Session III:   Access to Markets and Technology
  • Alessandro Maffioli, Inter-American Development Bank, Spillover effects of Technology Development Funds
  • Veronica Rappoport, London School of Economics, Credit and export dynmaics
  • Mudit Kapoor, Indian School of Business
  • Commentator: Neil McCulloch, AusAID
Matchmaking Program for Research and Innovation
During this matchmaking program, selected practitioners and researchers will present their research proposals. The goal of this session is to match researchers and practitioners to initiate new research with seed funding awarded to the most promising partnerships.
Presentations by Policy Organizations and Feedback from Research panel
  • Chair: Dean Karlan, Innovations for Poverty Action & Yale University
 
 
GOVERNANCE & POST-CONFLICT RECOVERY: AUGUST 31, 2012
 
Welcome and Overview: Governance and Post-Conflict
  • Iqbal Dhaliwal, The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, MIT,  Impact evidence to inform policy on elections, leakages and conflict
Keynote Address
  • S.Y. Quraishi, Former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Strengthening people's participation in elections, the case of India
Session I: Elections
Research Findings:
  • Claudio Ferraz, PUC-Rio, Increasing accountability for better governance
  • Xavier Giné, World Bank, Voter awareness campaign for women in Pakistan
Practitioner Innovations:                                                                                          
  • Ramesh Ramanathan, Janaagraha, Improving voter registration and information in India 
  • Harsha de Silva, Member of Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka
Panel Discussion:How to strengthen elections and increase accountability of elected representatives: key issues and areas for further research
  • Harsha de Silva, Claudio Ferraz, Xavier Giné, Ramesh Ramanathan, SY Quraishi,
  • Moderator: Iqbal Dhaliwal, The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, MIT            
Session II: Leakages
Research Findings:
  • Rema Hanna, Harvard University, Targeting and leakages in transfer programs
  • David Yanagizawa-Drott, Harvard University, Fake medicines in the global market place
Practitioner Innovations:
  • Jayant Sinha, Omidyar Network, How technology enables greater government transparency
  • Sudarno Sumarto, The SMERU Research Institute, Reducing leakages in Indonesia
  • Varad Pande, India Ministry of Rural Development, Targeting leakages in service delivery in India
Panel Discussion: Key challenges in reducing leakages, evidence based on policy and areas for further research.
  • Varad Pande, Jayant Sinha, Sudarno Sumarto, David Yanagizawa-Drott
  • Moderator: Rema Hanna, Harvard University
Session III: Conflict Management and Reconstruction
Research Findings:
  • Lakshmi Iyer, Harvard University, Economic conditions and intra-state conflict
  • Fotini Christia, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Reconstructing institutions after violent conflict
  • Cyrus Samii, New York University, Reintegrating combatants into civilian life
Panel Discussion: How to prevent conflicts and accelerate post-conflict recovery in Asia, and areas for further research
  • Scott Guggenheim, AusAID, Causal models in conflict research
  • Lakshmi Iyer, Harvard University
  • Fotini Christia, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles, Philippines Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
  • Moderator: Cyrus Samii, New York University
Closing Remarks
  • Kelly Bidwell, Innovations for Poverty Action
Matchmaking Program for Research and Innovation
During this matchmaking program, selected practitioners and researchers will present their research proposals. The goal of this session is to match researchers and practitioners to initiate new research with seed funding awarded to the most promising partnerships.
Presentations by Policy Organizations and Feedback from Research panel
  • Chair: Policymaker (TBC)
 
 
 
FINANCIAL INCLUSION: SEPTEMBER 1, 2012
Welcome and Overview: Landscape of Financial Services for the Poor
  • Aishwarya Lakshmi Ratan, Yale University & Innovations for Poverty Action, Financial inclusion intiative at IPA and day overview
Session I: Impact of Microcredit
  • Dean Karlan, Innovations for Poverty Action & Yale University
  • Britta Augsburg, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Impact of microcredit on poverty reduction
  • Gharad Bryan, London School of Economics, Seasonal migration and risk aversion
  • Commentator: Varad Pande, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India and Frances Sinha, EDA Rural Systems, 
    Self-help groups in India
Session II: Access to Savings Services
  • Silvia Prina, Case Western Reserve University, Banking the poor via savings accounts
  • Bram Thuysbaert, Innovations for Poverty Action, Impact of village savings and loan associations
  • Commentator: Alexia Latortue, Consultative Group Assist the Poor (CGAP)
Session III: Improving Financial Capabilities – Part I
  • Menno Pradhan, Free University & University of Amsterdam, School based finanical education programs in Ghana
  • Changcheng Song, National University of Singapore, Financial illiteracy and pension contributions
  • Commentator: Betty Wilkinson, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Session: Matchmaking Program for Research and Innovation
During this matchmaking program, selected practitioners and researchers will present their research proposals. The goal of this session is to match researchers and practitioners to initiate new research with seed funding awarded to the most promising partnerships.
Evaluators:
  • Graham Macmillan, Citi Foundation
  • Florencia Spangaro, Citi Foundation
  • Dean Karlan, Innovations for Poverty Action & Yale University
Moderator: Beniamino Savonitto, Innovations for Poverty Action
Session IV: Improving Financial Capabilities – Part II
  • Bilal Zia, World Bank, Financial literacy
  • Dean Yang, University of Michigan,  Financial education for migrant workers
  • Commentator: Graham Macmillan, Citi Foundation
Session V: Managing Risk
  • Xavier Giné, World Bank, Risk management and production decisions
  • David McKenzie, World Bank
  • Commentator: Jeanna Holtz, Microinsurance Innovation Facility, ILO
Session VI: New Payment channels
  • Billy Jack, Georgetown University, Risk sharing and the economics of M-PESA
  • Joshua Blumenstock, University of Washington, Charity and reciprocity in mobile phone-based giving
  • Commentator: Gordon Cooper, VISA
CLOSING SESSION: SEPTEMBER 1, 2012
 Overview and Closing Remarks
  • Dean Karlan, President and Founder, Innovations for Poverty Action, IPA initiatives and approach to impact evaluations
 

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For additional information email events@poverty-action.org

 

Address

The Imperial Queen's Park Hotel

City

Bangkok

Country

Thailand