From June 23-24, 2025, IPA participated in the 13th annual Africa Evidence Summit co-hosted by the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) and the Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa (NIERA). This year’s theme, “Better Data for Decision-Making,” spotlighted cost-effective, policy-relevant, transparent, and inclusive research in the fields of climate change, agriculture, education and labor, financial inclusion, and other topics related to economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. The event also aimed to amplify African scholars’ voices, incubate new collaborations, and innovate better ways to integrate evidence into decision-making.

During this event, Dean Karlan, Founder of IPA and Professor of Economics and Finance at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, participated in a keynote panel titled "Responding to a New Landscape in Foreign Aid," a high-profile panel discussion focused on current shifts in foreign aid and the role of evidence in development practice. The session was moderated by Amos Njuguna (Chair, NIERA) and featured fellow panelists Catherine Kyobutungi (African Population and Health Research Center) and Emilie Oftedal (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation). In his remarks, Karlan reflected, “Even when aid was big, it was small relative to local resources. The biggest leverage we can have is through building partnerships to help local government budgets to be spent as best as possible. Whether times are tough or not, we should always aim for cost-effectiveness—doing more with less.”

In addition, IPA staff and researchers gave poster presentations on the Kenya Life Panel Survey, IPA's Research Collaboration Initiative, and A Multigenerational Perspective on Childcare. Furthermore, IPA researchers Berber Kremer (International Food Policy Research Institute) and Belinda Muya (International Rescue Committee) presented on two projects where IPA is the learning partner: “A randomized evaluation of digital innovations in crop insurance to increase insurance and fertilizer demand in Kenya” and “How to build large scale livelihood research programs to inform policy?” respectively.

On the policy side, IPA connected with development partners and policy champions on potential partnerships around advancing work in childcare, gender equality, and education.

IPA Kenya country office staff attending the event. © IPA 2025