PAIE Scholars Program 2026 for Researchers in Asia and Africa

The PAIE Scholars Program 2026 is now open for applications. This fellowship from The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) supports researchers in eligible low- and middle-income countries in Asia and Africa.

The program focuses on rigorous, policy-relevant evaluations of AI-enabled interventions. In addition, selected scholars receive structured training, a US$1,000 completion award, and access to competitive research support and pilot funding.

Application Deadline: 16 October 2026 at 12 PM ET

Tell Me About The Award

The PAIE Scholars Program, under Project AI Evidence (PAIE) at the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), supports researchers based in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia and Africa to develop and lead rigorous, policy-relevant evaluations of innovative applications of AI for social good and poverty reduction.

Selected scholars receive training in randomized evaluation and the evaluation of AI-enabled interventions. The programme also provides a staged pathway toward proposal development, research mentorship and potential pilot funding.

Which Fields are Eligible?

Applicants must have a PhD in economics or another relevant empirical discipline and advanced quantitative training. The programme focuses on research involving:

AI-enabled interventions

AI for social good

Poverty reduction

Social and economic outcomes

Randomized evaluations

Statistics and econometrics

Causal inference

Experimental methods

Machine learning

Type

Research training and research development programme.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must

Be resident researchers based in a low- or middle-income country in Asia or Africa, as defined by the World Bank.

Have completed a PhD in economics or another relevant empirical discipline.

Have their primary professional affiliation with a university in an eligible country.

Have advanced quantitative-methods training, such as statistics, econometrics, causal inference, experimental methods or machine learning.

Demonstrate an interest in evaluating how AI-enabled interventions affect social or economic outcomes.

Have sufficient English proficiency for the coursework, training, assessment and research outputs.

Be willing and available to complete all required programme components.

Applicants do not need an existing relationship with a J-PAL-affiliated professor or invited researcher, a fully developed research project, or an implementing partner at the initial application stage.

How Are Applicants Selected?

The initial PAIE Scholars cohort is selected through the programme’s application and assessment process.

Selected scholars complete structured training and a PAIE-administered proctored assessment. Advancement to later stages is competitive and selection for the initial cohort does not guarantee proposal-development and travel support, research mentorship or pilot funding.

Revised concept notes are reviewed by the PAIE team, which selects a subset of scholars for proposal-development and travel support. Pilot proposals then undergo a separate competitive review.

Which Countries Are Eligible?

Eligible applicants must be resident in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia, according to the World Bank’s classifications.

The source directs applicants to the World Bank’s definitive list of eligible countries but does not reproduce the full country list.

Where Will the Award Be Taken?

The programme includes online training and research development activities. The source does not specify a single physical study location.

How Many Awards?

The source does not specify the number of scholars who will be selected for the initial cohort.

What Is the Benefit of the Award?

Selected scholars may receive

Structured training in randomized evaluation.

Training in evaluating AI-enabled interventions.

A US$1,000 award after successfully completing the first phase, including the assigned training requirements, PAIE-administered assessment and revised concept note.

Consideration for proposal-development and travel support.

Potential research mentorship.

A proposal-development and travel grant of up to US$10,000 for selected scholars to develop a preliminary research idea into a full pilot proposal.

Potential pilot funding of up to US$75,000 for successful pilot proposals following a separate competitive review.

The later-stage grants are not guaranteed simply by being selected for the initial Scholars Program.

How Long Will the Award Last?

The initial training programme is tentatively expected to run for approximately three months, from November 2026 through January 2027.

Selected scholars should expect to dedicate approximately 4–10 hours per week, depending on their prior training and familiarity with randomized evaluations.

How to Apply

Applications open on 17 September 2026 and close on 16 October 2026 at 12 PM ET.

Applicants must complete an online application covering their academic background, research experience, quantitative training and interest in evaluating AI-enabled interventions.

Required application materials include

CV.

One to three examples of research.

Brief statements covering

Research experience.

Experience with randomized evaluations.

Interest in evaluating AI-enabled interventions.

Interest in the PAIE Scholars Program.

A working concept note describing the research idea and how it could ultimately lead to a randomized evaluation.

The concept note does not need to contain a fully developed intervention or evaluation design, and an implementing partner is not required at this stage.

👉 Visit the Application Webpage for Details

Required application materials include: CV. One to three examples of research. Brief statements covering: Research experience. Experience with randomized evaluations. Interest in evaluating AI-enabled interventions. Interest in the PAIE Scholars Program. A working concept note describing the research idea and how it could ultimately lead to a randomized evaluation.

Applicants must

Be resident researchers based in a low- or middle-income country in Asia or Africa, as defined by the World Bank. Have completed a PhD in economics or another relevant empirical discipline. Have their primary professional affiliation with a university in an eligible country. Have advanced quantitative-methods training, such as statistics, econometrics, causal inference, experimental methods or machine learning. Demonstrate an interest in evaluating how AI-enabled interventions affect social or economic outcomes. Have sufficient English proficiency for the coursework, training, assessment and research outputs. Be willing and available to complete all required programme components. Applicants do not need an existing relationship with a J-PAL-affiliated professor or invited researcher, a fully developed research project, or an implementing partner at the initial application stage.

How Are Applicants Selected?

The initial PAIE Scholars cohort is selected through the programme’s application and assessment process. Selected scholars complete structured training and a PAIE-administered proctored assessment. Advancement to later stages is competitive and selection for the initial cohort does not guarantee proposal-development and travel support, research mentorship or pilot funding. Revised concept notes are reviewed by the PAIE team, which selects a subset of scholars for proposal-development and travel support. Pilot proposals then undergo a separate competitive review.

Which Countries Are Eligible?

Eligible applicants must be resident in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia, according to the World Bank’s classifications. The source directs applicants to the World Bank’s definitive list of eligible countries but does not reproduce the full country list.

Applications open on 17 September 2026 and close on 16 October 2026 at 12 PM ET. Applicants must complete an online application covering their academic background, research experience, quantitative training and interest in evaluating AI-enabled interventions.

Required application materials include

CV. One to three examples of research.

Brief statements covering

Research experience. Experience with randomized evaluations. Interest in evaluating AI-enabled interventions. Interest in the PAIE Scholars Program. A working concept note describing the research idea and how it could ultimately lead to a randomized evaluation. The concept note does not need to contain a fully developed intervention or evaluation design, and an implementing partner is not required at this stage.

👉 Visit the Application Webpage for Details