On Friday, March 16, 2018, the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion (MIDIS), held their first workshop for the AYNI Lab Social (AYNI Lab), a new social innovation lab focused on solutions that are cost-effective, evidence-based, and scale-able. IPA and J-PAL LAC have partnered with MIDIS to form AYNI Lab and are developing the Lab’s capacity to conduct randomized evaluations and impact evaluations and designing a protocol for data management. AYNI Lab aims to promote innovation and rigorous evaluation in public policy.

The workshop featured proposals to improve economic inclusion in urban, rural, and Amazonian regions. The innovations, designed by top IPA researchers Dean Karlan, Claudia Martínez, and Martín Valdivia were presented to an audience of experts, researchers, and officials of MIDIS and social programs, who commented and made contributions to the proposals. María Eugenia Mujica San Martín, Vice Minister of Polices and Social Evaluation for MIDIS was a key participant.

First, Claudia Martínez (J-PAL/Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile) presented a proposal to better articulate existing social programs with the potential to serve vulnerable families in urban areas. Next, Martín Valdivia (Grupo de Análisis para el Desarrollo, or GRADE), proposed interventions to promote inclusive businesses in rural areas. Finally, Dean Karlan (IPA founder/Northwestern University) presented the innovations proposed for Amazonian regions.