Partnership with J-PAL
DDC Delhi has partnered with the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) South Asia to strengthen evidence-based policy making in order to stimulate Delhi’s social and economic development and achieve the Kejriwal Government’s ambitious vision of Delhi@2047. The partnership is aimed at systematically leveraging high-quality administrative data to design, test and scale-up policy solutions in key economic sectors for maximum impact.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC) of Delhi and J-PAL South Asia on 25th February 2022 in the presence of Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Shri Manish Sisodia and DDC Vice-Chairperson Shri Jasmine Shah. This partnership was initiated by the IDEA Lab at J-PAL South Asia, part of J-PAL's Innovations in Data and Experiments for Action (IDEA) Initiative.
Features of the Initiative
As the first steps, Delhi Government will explore optimal ways to improve employment outcomes for young workers in Delhi by overhauling the services offered by ‘Rozgar Bazaar’, the government’s flagship job portal. The partnership will find better solutions to match job seekers with appropriate jobs and provide career counselling services on the portal.
The partnership will also contribute data-based insights for Delhi’s economic policy, especially in key sectors such as Small and Medium Enterprises, by drawing upon the findings from the research done by J-PAL’s global network of the world’s leading economists.
J-PAL South Asia, under the guidance of DDC Delhi, will work closely with the health and education departments to evaluate ways to increase child immunisation rates and reduce learning deficits and school dropouts in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Moreover, the policy-research organisation will work to strengthen the culture of evidence-based policymaking within Delhi Government by organising courses for officials on data collection and survey design as well as on randomised evaluations.
Creating jobs in conventional as well as new-age markets is the biggest priority for the Delhi Government so that we can fulfil our vision of matching Singapore's economy by 2047. The partnership with J-PAL South Asia will be geared towards improving employment outcomes as well as increasing the participation of women in the labour force.
Under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Government has shown the political will to explore and incorporate best policy practices around the world and Delhi has emerged as the hub of innovation. The collaboration with J-PAL South Asia will go a long way in optimising policies to boost Delhi’s social and economic growth by unlocking high-quality administrative data. The overarching framework of the partnership is broad and can be continuously updated in accordance with changing priorities over time.
The Government of Delhi’s commitment toward applying scientific evidence and data in policymaking makes them our valued partner. This partnership will accelerate our ongoing work in Delhi, and I am confident that the resulting policies will bring meaningful and lasting improvements to the lives of its people.
Analysis of the vast amount of administrative data collected by governments can help them better understand in real-time their citizens’ preferences and to invest their scarce resources to identify and scale the most impactful innovations that address those needs. Partnerships between policymakers and researchers dedicated to advancing development can greatly accelerate efforts to do so in a creative, ethical and secure manner.
