IPA Peru and J-PAL LAC collaborated with the Institute for Advanced Development Studies (INESAD), a local research center, to hold a seminar in La Paz on the importance of generating and using evidence in public policy.Local policymakers as well as members of academia, civil society, and international organizations attended the event.Dylan Ramshaw (Deputy Country Director, IPA Peru) introduced IPA and J-PAL’s mission and work.Marta Garnelo (Policy Associate, J-PAL LAC) presented on the importance of using causal evidence to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of social programs as well as the methodology of randomized evaluations.

Sebastian Chaskel (Country Representative, IPA Colombia) participated in a roundtable hosted by the Center for Financial Inclusion’s “Financial Inclusion 2020” project (FI2020).Financial services providers and experts in financial capabilities discussed how insights from behavioral economics can be used to improve the design and delivery of financial products.Sebastian presented recent evidence from randomized evaluations of products and services that promote financial capability.

Aishwarya Lakshmi Ratan (Global Financial Inclusion Initiative Director, IPA) participated in a roundtable with leading policymakers, industry representatives, and thought leaders from the public, non-profit, and private sectors to discuss the status and role of standard-setting bodies with respect to financial inclusion.