Engagement and impact stories from 2024
From research to action
PEP’s support continues to foster collaboration between local researchers and key stakeholders, generating context-sensitive, policy-relevant evidence. In 2024, all supported projects adopted PEP’s “coproduction approach,” with research teams comprising local researchers working alongside government representatives or other relevant stakeholders.
To enhance knowledge translation, PEP requires each team to produce a policy paper or context analysis as part of their project. We also promote best practices in policy engagement and communication, helping teams connect their research to real-world decision-making within institutions and through public engagement in national events and media.
As in previous years, the majority of PEP-supported projects in 2024 informed policy-making processes and elevated the visibility and careers of local researchers. The following accounts, shared by project teams, highlight the reach and impact of PEP’s ongoing support and projects.
Shaping gender-responsive economic policy Informing youth employment policy Making impact evaluations matter for policy
With advisory support from PEP-affiliated scientific and policy experts, local research teams in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Tanzania applied a computable general equilibrium (CGE) modelling approach to produce context-specific evidence aimed at informing macroeconomic policies to enhance women’s economic empowerment (WEE).
This initiative, funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, was aligned with the Foundation’s Women’s Economic Empowerment strategy and reflects PEP’s commitment to locally-led, policy-engaged research.
Grounded in local realities
In each country, research teams conducted extensive consultations with national government and non-government stakeholders to understand context-specific priorities and evidence needs. This collaborative approach shaped the unique focus of each study:
- In Burkina Faso, the team analyzed policies to reduce women’s unpaid care responsibilities, a major barrier to economic participation.
- In Cameroon, the focus was on promoting vocational training for young girls in high-demand skills and improving protections for women entrepreneurs across the formal and informal sectors.
- In Tanzania, the research focused on addressing gender-based disparities in the tax system, aiming to inform reforms that promote equity.
Building awareness and lasting partnerships in support of evidence-informed policy-making
Stakeholders were actively engaged throughout the research process, which not only helped tailor the studies to real policy needs but also raised awareness of the potential of macro modelling tools to generate and apply gender-sensitive evidence.
These interactions helped build new channels of collaboration, positioning the local research teams as credible partners for evidence-informed policy-making on gender equality.
Despite operating in a context of political instability, the Burkina Faso team established strong ties with key institutions—including the Ministry of Solidarity, Humanitarian Action, National Reconciliation, Gender and Family, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Gender and Development Network (Réseau Genre et Développement).
Their active engagement led to a major achievement: the team leader was invited by the Permanent Secretariat of the National Council of Social Protection to contribute to the revision of several national policy frameworks, including:
- The National Social Protection Policy,
- The National Plan for Social and Economic Development, and
- The Sectoral Policy on Employment, Labour and Social Protection.
As a result, findings from the study directly influenced updates to cash transfer and childcare policies in the country.
In Cameroon, the project team built a close working relationship with high-level officials at the Ministry of Economy, Land Use and Planning (MINEPAT)—the lead institution for sectoral policy development.
This collaboration has evolved into an ongoing effort to integrate gender considerations into national policy planning, particularly across key sectors such as education, health, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and political participation. MINEPAT now serves as a strategic partner in ensuring that the team’s evidence-based recommendations help shape Cameroon’s broader economic policy framework.
The Tanzania team’s research and stakeholder consultations sparked strong interest in CGE modelling as a tool for simulating gender-sensitive policy scenarios. The President's Office Planning Commission invited the researchers to conduct additional studies and train government staff in the methodology.
The team also received funding from the UNDP Tanzania Office to apply CGE modelling in analyzing women’s empowerment in the agricultural sector. Further strategic relationships were established with the Ministry of Finance and Planning and the Bank of Tanzania.
Sustaining momentum to deepen collaborations for gender-responsive policy
Thanks to these achievements, local research teams in all three countries are now well-positioned to support national policy-making with robust, gender-sensitive evidence.
To build on this momentum, the Hewlett Foundation has renewed its support, enabling PEP to provide additional training and advisory assistance to the teams’ affiliated research institutions. This extension aims to deepen the initiative’s impact by strengthening institutional capacity and embedding practices that promote evidence-informed policy-making.
In this second phase, PEP will continue supporting the research teams in collaboration with their respective government partners while also working to enhance internal systems and capabilities within the research institutions themselves. The overarching objective is to establish sustainable, long-term collaborative frameworks between research centers and policy-making bodies, ensuring that critical policy processes are consistently informed by high-quality, context-relevant evidence. In doing so, the initiative will contribute to shaping more inclusive economic policies and advancing sustainable development outcomes for women and girls across these countries.
What works for youth employment in Africa: Generating impactful evidence across ten countries
Between 2021 and 2024, PEP partnered with the Mastercard Foundation to implement a groundbreaking initiative, What Works for Youth Employment in Africa, in support of the Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy. The objective: to generate rigorous, context-specific evidence that could drive policy reforms aimed at accelerating the creation of dignified and fulfilling employment opportunities for youth—particularly for women and marginalised groups.
The initiative spanned ten African countries—Kenya, Niger, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and South Africa—and employed a mixed-methods approach to assess the effectiveness of existing youth employment policies and programs. Through PEP’s unique research co-production model, local researchers worked in close consultation with national stakeholders—including government officials, civil society actors, youth organizations, and program beneficiaries—to co-define priorities and co-produce knowledge tailored to each country’s context.
Improving the efficiency of youth employment programs
Across all ten countries, the initiative succeeded in bringing diverse stakeholders together to identify challenges and opportunities for strengthening youth employment policies (YEPs). A recurring issue uncovered during the consultations was the lack of coordination and duplication among existing programs—prompting discussions at the national level and, in several cases, commitments to reform:
- In Senegal, the National Office of Professional Training (ONFP) committed to using the study’s findings to improve coordination and efficiency in employment programs.
- In Nigeria, the government pledged to integrate the research recommendations into the National Youth Service Corps Scheme, while also seeking the project team’s guidance on broader YEP reform.
- In Ghana, government officials publicly acknowledged the problem of duplication in youth programs and committed to addressing it through improved policy design.
Informing policy reform and institutional practices
Beyond raising awareness, the initiative directly influenced policy processes and institutional practices in the following participating countries:
- In Niger, the findings informed a new youth employment program under the Solidarity Fund for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland (FSSP) and supported the design of the national Resilience Program (PRSP). They also helped guide the National Agency for the Promotion of Employment (ANPE) in securing collaborations with international partners like UNICEF and UNHCR.
- In Uganda, findings contributed to the revision of national employment strategies, the development of two new youth-focused bills, and the mid-term review of the National Development Plan III (NDP III). Members of Parliament committed to using the findings in upcoming legislative debates on youth employment.
- In Kenya, results were integrated into the 3rd Generation County Integrated Development Plans across all 47 counties, and used by both the State Department of Youth Affairs and the National Youth Council to inform policy development and foster wider uptake.
- In Nigeria, the research helped mobilize political will at both state and federal levels, prompting engagement from Ministries of Youth Affairs and Labour, and gaining endorsement from the Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament.
- In Senegal, the project catalyzed collaboration between key institutions, including the National Youth Employment Agency and the Ministry of Economy, and led to a new study on youth job seekers commissioned by the Operational Monitoring Office of the Emerging Senegal Plan (BOS).
- In Ethiopia, the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs committed to further collaboration with the project team to shape new employment strategies for youth.
Laying the groundwork for systemic change
This multi-country initiative demonstrates how locally grounded, co-produced evidence—backed by a deliberate strategy of stakeholder engagement—can catalyze meaningful changes in policy thinking and practice. From new collaborations and institutional reforms to evidence uptake in national strategies, PEP’s partnership with the Mastercard Foundation has laid the groundwork for systemic, sustainable improvements in youth employment ecosystems across Africa.
As PEP continues to expand its efforts, this initiative stands as a testament to the power of inclusive, evidence-informed policy-making to drive transformational change for Africa’s youth.
Advancing evidence-informed policy through experimental impact evaluation in Africa
Between 2022 and 2024, with funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, PEP implemented a targeted initiative to strengthen local capacities in experimental impact evaluation (IE) while increasing government demand for rigorous, policy-relevant evidence. The initiative aimed to support more effective and inclusive policymaking by embedding evaluation practices within government systems.
Implemented across five African countries—Benin, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, and Tanzania—the program brought together local PEP researchers and government partners to co-design and carry out impact evaluations of new or existing policy initiatives. This model not only bolstered local technical capacity, but also emphasized co-ownership and real-time application of evidence.
Institutional strengthening: Building local hubs for impact evaluation
A key achievement of the initiative’s first year was the strengthening of local institutions, both within academia and government, to support the expansion and sustainability of impact evaluation (IE) practices. In particular, the initiative helped lay the groundwork for long-term capacity building and institutional ownership of evidence generation:
- In Guinea-Bissau, members of the PEP research team—together with other national experts—founded the Bissau Economic Lab (BELAB), a new center dedicated to advancing experimental research in support of public policy. Since its inception, BELAB has led six randomized controlled trials (RCTs)—including one funded through this PEP initiative—and has become a valuable partner to government in strengthening data-driven decision-making.
- In The Gambia, the University of The Gambia established a new partnership with the Ministry of Basic and Higher Education to co-design an Early Warning System aimed at identifying students at risk of dropping out. This new initiative builds on the momentum and relationships developed through the PEP-supported project, and represents a significant step toward institutionalizing evidence use in the education sector.
Evidence driving reform and institutional change
In four of the five countries, the initiative led to tangible outcomes—including evidence uptake in policymaking, improved government practices, and long-term institutional shifts.
In Benin, the research team evaluated ICT-enabled climate services for smallholder farmers and presented their findings at a national policy conference in October 2024, attended by high-level stakeholders, including government ministries, farmer organizations, and academics. The Director General of the Directorate of Agricultural Advisory, Innovation and Entrepreneurial Training (DCAIFE) pledged to use the findings to inform reforms in agricultural advisory services.
Beyond the immediate application of results, the initiative fostered broader institutional transformation. The team partnered closely with the General Directorate for Evaluation and Social Change Observatory (DGEOCS) to promote government-wide adoption of impact evaluation as a policymaking tool. Their advocacy contributed to the adoption of a new legislation on public policy planning and evaluation, which formally legitimises initiatives aimed at promoting experimental impact evaluations as an evidence-generation method for decision-making. An update of the national Evaluation Methodological Guide is also underway to align with these reforms.
The Guinea-Bissau team’s national policy conference brought together officials from across the government and international organizations (including the IMF, World Bank, and UNDP) as well as civil society representatives to explore the role of IE in advancing education, agriculture, and economic policy.
The team shared findings from two studies: one on a helpline delivering market information to cashew producers, and another on how access to preschool education during harvest season impacts gender equity and household stability. The Cashew Regulatory Agency (ANCA) is already using the research to inform policy decisions on market information services. The study also gained widespread national media attention, with coverage from 10 outlets across radio, TV, and print.
International partners, including the EU and World Bank, expressed interest in future collaborations with the team’s affiliated research institute.
In Malawi, PEP researchers presented findings on the benefits of organic fertilizer use to improve agricultural productivity. Representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank committed to using the evidence to advocate for stronger national support for organic inputs.
Moreover, the FAO’s African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) initiated a collaboration with the research team’s institution to seek joint funding for strengthening the organic fertilizer and lime supply chain in Malawi—an important step toward scaling sustainable agriculture practices .
Building lasting capacity and institutional demand
Through this initiative, PEP successfully demonstrated the power of locally led, policy-engaged impact evaluations to inform public decision-making. By working side-by-side with government actors, local researchers helped build institutional demand for rigorous evidence—paving the way for long-term, system-wide improvements in how policy is designed, tested, and scaled.
As PEP continues to champion evidence-informed policymaking in the Global South, this initiative stands out as a model for embedding experimental evaluation in government systems, reinforcing national capacity, and translating research into real policy action.
