The partnership aims to use rigorous evidence and data to support the state's development goals for 2036 and 2047.
The Government of Odisha entered into a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) South Asia on Wednesday to improve evidence-based policymaking. According to ANI, the agreement will see J-PAL South Asia work with state departments to identify policy challenges, produce research, and create actionable recommendations.
The agreement was signed in Bhubaneswar by Rashmi Kabi, FA-cum-Additional Secretary of the Planning & Convergence Department, and Shobhini Mukerji, Executive Director of J-PAL South Asia. The ceremony was attended by Chief Secretary Anu Garg and Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh.
This collaboration supports the state's long-term goals of becoming Samruddha Odisha by 2036 and Viksit Odisha by 2047. It builds on J-PAL South Asia's work in the state since 2006, which has covered sectors like agriculture, sanitation, governance, and early childhood education.
One existing project included in the partnership is Barnali, a gender-equity curriculum used in approximately 23,000 government schools. A Steering Committee led by the Chief Secretary will oversee the partnership, meeting every six months to evaluate project proposals.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the state intends to engage research institutions to pilot innovations and use data and AI-based interventions. She noted that J-PAL will help bring global evidence to local priorities and test solutions before they are scaled up.
Executive Director Shobhini Mukerji said the partnership will focus on co-developing programmes and testing what works while building on the state's monitoring and evaluation capacity.
