J-PAL MENA Scholars Fellowship 2026 in USA | Fully Funded

J-PAL MENA Scholars Fellowship 2026 is a two-year fully supported research fellowship designed for early-career researchers from the Middle East and North Africa region. The program helps scholars strengthen their expertise in rigorous impact evaluation and evidence-based policy research while contributing to real development projects across the region.

Through structured training, mentorship from the J-PAL affiliate network, and hands-on experience in randomized evaluations, the J-PAL MENA Scholars Fellowship 2026 empowers researchers to expand their academic portfolio and policy impact. Fellows also join a growing regional network, gaining professional development opportunities and playing a key role in shaping high-quality research that addresses pressing development challenges.

Benefits

• Fellows contribute to ongoing randomized evaluation projects under the guidance of J-PAL affiliates and MENA staff.
• Each fellow receives a USD 15,000 stipend distributed over the two-year period to support their involvement.
• Fellows receive one-on-one mentorship from experienced researchers and J-PAL affiliates.
• The program includes educational training, such as enrollment in MIT MicroMasters online courses related to impact evaluation and econometrics.
• Fellows also benefit from capacity-building workshops on proposal writing, data analysis, and professional development.
• Opportunities to participate in regional policy events and gain media visibility for their research work.
• In the second year, fellows may design and lead an independent evaluation project on a topic of interest in the region.

Eligible Criteria

• Applicants must specialize in economics or a related discipline, such as public policy, political science, public health, or statistics.
• Track 1 – PhD students: candidates currently enrolled in a PhD program in economics or related fields, with nationality from the MENA region, are eligible.
• Track 2 – Academic scholars: candidates with a completed PhD affiliated with a MENA academic institution can also apply.
• Applicants should demonstrate strong proficiency in both Arabic and English.
• Proficiency in quantitative tools such as Stata or R is highly recommended.
• Applicants must show interest in impact evaluation and development policy issues in the MENA region.
• Fellows are expected to commit fully to the fellowship activities over the two-year period.

Why This Fellowship Matters?

• The fellowship builds advanced research capacity in experimental economics and impact evaluation in the MENA region.
• It helps sharpen skills in rigorous research methods that inform policy design and evaluation.
• Fellows join a growing network of researchers working on policy-relevant evidence across sectors like education, health, climate, and labor markets.
• Participation enhances professional visibility, collaboration opportunities, and future academic or policy careers.

How to Apply?

• Start by carefully reviewing the fellowship details, eligibility criteria, and expectations for scholars to ensure the program aligns with your research background and interests.
• Prepare your application materials, which typically include your CV, research statement, and any additional documents requested to demonstrate your experience in impact evaluation or policy research.
• Clearly explain your interest in randomized evaluations and how the fellowship will strengthen your research and policy engagement in the MENA region.
• Complete the online application form through the official fellowship portal and upload all required documents before the deadline.
• Double-check your submission to make sure all information is accurate and complete, as incomplete applications may not be considered.
• After submitting, monitor your email for updates regarding shortlisting, interviews, or final selection results.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The J-PAL MENA Scholars Fellowship 2026 is a two-year, fully supported program for early-career researchers in the MENA region. It provides training, mentorship, and hands-on experience in randomized impact evaluations to strengthen evidence-based policymaking.