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Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy nonprofit that discovers and promotes effective solutions to global poverty problems. IPA brings together researchers and decision-makers to design, rigorously evaluate, and refine these solutions and their applications, ensuring that the evidence created is used to improve the lives of the world’s poor. Since our founding in 2002, IPA has worked with over 575 leading academics to conduct over 650 evaluations in 51 countries. This research has informed hundreds of successful programs that now impact millions of individuals worldwide. Future growth will be concentrated in focus countries, such as Sierra Leone, where we have local and international staff, established relationships with government, NGOs, and the private sector, and deep knowledge of local issues.
More evidence
A truth and reconciliation program increased forgiveness, but worsened mental health. A community-based reconciliation program increased forgiveness toward perpetrators of crimes and significantly increased trust in ex-combatants, but it also worsened psychological wellbeing—increasing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety.
Exposure to political debates bolstered voters’ knowledge and changed voting behavior. Watching debates substantially increased political knowledge, policy alignment, and vote shares for higherquality candidates. The debates also encouraged politicians to invest more in their constituencies, both during the campaign and one year later.
A community driven development program helped establish village organizations, but after nearly four years had not changed institutions or decision-making. The program led to positive short-run effects on local public goods provision and economic outcomes, but no sustained impacts on collective action, decision-making processes, or the involvement of marginalized groups like women in local affairs. Given that institutional change can take a long period of time to become visible, researchers have conducted a follow-up in 2016, with results from this survey expected in 2017.