Odisha Teams Up With J-PAL South Asia to Drive Evidence-Based Policymaking
The Government of Odisha signs a 3-year MoU with J-PAL South Asia to enhance evidence-based policymaking for a Viksit Odisha by 2047.
In a significant move to refine how governance and public policy are shaped, the Government of Odisha has entered into a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) South Asia. The partnership aims to strengthen evidence-based policymaking across the state, ensuring that government interventions are backed by rigorous research and data.
The agreement was formally signed by Rashmi Kabi, FA-cum-Additional Secretary of the Planning & Convergence Department, and Shobhini Mukerji, Executive Director of J-PAL South Asia. The ceremony took place in the presence of high-ranking officials, including Chief Secretary Anu Garg and Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh.
A Blueprint for a 'Viksit Odisha'
This collaboration is deeply integrated with the state's long-term goals. Odisha has charted a path via "Odisha Vision 2036" and "2047," aiming to transform the region into a Samruddha Odisha (Prosperous Odisha) by 2036 and a Viksit Odisha (Developed Odisha) by 2047.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg emphasized that the state is committed to adopting global best practices, including the use of data-driven and AI-based interventions. According to Garg, J-PAL South Asia will play a critical threefold role:
- Bringing relevant global evidence to address state priorities.
- Helping government departments adapt successful global approaches to fit Odisha's specific local needs.
- Assisting in the design and testing of data-based solutions before they are implemented on a large scale.
A Legacy of Collaboration
While this MoU formalizes a new phase of cooperation, the relationship between the state and J-PAL South Asia dates back to 2006. Over the years, their joint efforts have touched several vital sectors, including:
- Foundational literacy and numeracy.
- Early childhood education.
- Agriculture and sanitation.
- Governance and gender equality.
One notable existing success mentioned is "Barnali," a gender-equity curriculum currently being implemented in approximately 23,000 government schools. In this initiative, J-PAL South Asia serves as a research and knowledge partner alongside the Breakthrough Trust and the School & Mass Education Department.
How the Partnership Will Function
To ensure the partnership yields actionable results, a Steering Committee will be established. Chaired by the Chief Secretary and consisting of senior government officials and J-PAL representatives, this committee will meet every six months to review project proposals. Nodal officers from both organizations will handle the day-to-day coordination, while specific deliverables for each project will be decided in consultation with the respective government departments.
About J-PAL South Asia
Hosted at the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR) in Chennai, J-PAL is a global leader in using randomized evaluations to tackle poverty. The organization's prestige is underscored by the fact that its co-founders and directors, Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2019 for their pioneering work in evidence-based research.
With a network of over 1,000 affiliated researchers and more than 2,500 completed or ongoing evaluations, J-PAL brings a massive repository of knowledge to Odisha's quest for development. Shobhini Mukerji noted that Odisha has long been a pioneer in utilizing evidence, and this partnership will further build upon the state's existing capacity for monitoring and evaluation.