PAIE Scholars Program 2026: Research Training and Funding Opportunities for African Scholars

Application Deadline: October 16, 2926

Applications are open for the PAIE Scholars Program 2026, an initiative supporting researchers in Africa and Asia to evaluate how artificial intelligence (AI) can address poverty and improve social and economic outcomes. The program offers specialized research training, a completion-based award of US$1,000, and opportunities to compete for further research support.

Led by Project AI Evidence (PAIE), an initiative of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), the program focuses on generating rigorous evidence about AI applications that can deliver meaningful social impact.

For African researchers working in economics, development, education, healthcare, and other relevant fields, this opportunity provides a pathway to strengthen research skills and contribute evidence that can inform public policy.

Applications close on October 16, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). Eligible researchers should begin preparing their application materials immediately.

About the PAIE Scholars Program

Project AI Evidence works to identify, evaluate, and scale innovative AI applications for social good and poverty reduction. It brings together researchers, technology companies, and organizations implementing AI-enabled solutions.

The PAIE Scholars Program helps researchers based in eligible low- and middle-income countries develop research ideas into rigorous evaluations. Its central focus is understanding whether AI-enabled interventions produce meaningful improvements in people’s lives.

Participants begin with a working research concept note and receive training in randomized evaluations and AI intervention assessment. They then apply their learning to refine their proposals, with selected scholars potentially progressing to mentorship, proposal-development support, and competitive pilot funding.

This staged approach is particularly relevant for African researchers seeking to generate locally grounded evidence about AI solutions rather than relying exclusively on findings from other regions.

Benefits of the PAIE Scholars Program 2026

Selected scholars may access the following benefits as they progress through the program:

US$1,000 completion award: Earned after completing assigned training, passing the PAIE-administered assessment, and submitting an acceptable revised concept note.
Specialized research training: Learn about randomized evaluations through selected MITx MicroMasters-related course modules, AI evaluation resources, and live online workshops.
Proposal-development and travel grant: Eligible scholars may compete for grants of up to US$10,000 to develop their preliminary research ideas into full pilot proposals.
Research mentorship: Selected participants may receive guidance from J-PAL-affiliated professors or invited researchers, depending on availability and research needs.
Potential pilot research funding: Successful proposals may receive up to US$75,000 through a separate competitive review.
Professional development: Strengthen research design, quantitative analysis, policy evaluation, and evidence-based decision-making skills.

Important: The US$10,000 grant and US$75,000 pilot funding are competitive opportunities at later stages, not guaranteed benefits of joining the initial training cohort.

Eligibility Criteria

The program is open to resident scholars based in eligible low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia, as defined by the World Bank.

Applicants must:

Hold a completed PhD in economics or another relevant empirical discipline.
Have advanced quantitative training in areas such as statistics, econometrics, causal inference, experimental methods, or machine learning.
Have a demonstrated interest in evaluating AI-enabled interventions and their social or economic effects.
Have sufficient English proficiency to complete training, assessments, and research outputs.
Be willing and available to complete all required program activities.
Have their primary professional affiliation with a university in an eligible country.

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

Researchers should consult the official program page to confirm whether their country qualifies.

Application Process and Deadline

Application deadline: October 16, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET.

Training period: Tentatively November 2026 to January 2027, requiring approximately four to ten hours weekly.

How to Apply

Confirm your eligibility. Check the official country list and ensure you meet the academic, quantitative, and affiliation requirements.
Prepare your CV. Highlight relevant research experience, quantitative expertise, publications, and policy-related work.
Gather research samples. Select one to three examples demonstrating your research capabilities.
Prepare the required statements. Explain your research experience, exposure to randomized evaluations, interest in AI-enabled interventions, and reasons for applying.
Develop a working concept note. Describe a relevant social or economic problem, a potential AI-enabled intervention, and how a randomized evaluation could assess its impact.
Submit the online application. Follow the instructions and word limits on the official application form.

For questions, contact the PAIE team at paie@povertyactionlab.org.

Why You Should Apply: Tips for a Strong Application

The PAIE Scholars Program is particularly valuable for researchers who want to connect AI innovation with measurable development outcomes.

To strengthen your application, choose a research problem that matters in your local context. For example, you could investigate whether an AI-supported learning tool improves educational outcomes, whether an AI-enabled agricultural advisory service helps smallholder farmers, or whether AI-assisted public services improve access for underserved communities.

Explain why the intervention requires rigorous evaluation rather than assuming that adopting AI automatically produces positive results. Identify the outcomes you would measure, the population that could benefit, and how a randomized evaluation might establish whether the intervention works.

Your concept note does not need to be a finished proposal. Focus on a clear research question, a plausible evaluation pathway, and the potential policy relevance of the findings.

Finally, avoid waiting until the deadline. Allow time to review the eligibility requirements, refine your research idea, and ensure every application component meets the stated instructions.

Conclusion

The PAIE Scholars Program 2026 offers eligible African and Asian researchers an opportunity to strengthen their evaluation skills and explore how AI can contribute to poverty reduction and social development.

With applications closing on October 16, 2026, interested scholars should review the official requirements and submit their applications promptly. Remember that later-stage funding is competitive, but the initial training can provide a valuable foundation for developing stronger, policy-relevant research.

For more information and to apply,CLICK HERE

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