J-PAL’s MENA Scholars Fellowship 2026 for MENA region-based researchers (USD$15,000 stipend)

Application Deadline: 26 March 2026

Applications are now open for the 2026 J-PAL’s MENA Scholars Fellowship. The MENA Scholars Fellowship creates a pathway for MENA region-based researchers to build skills and experience to design and conduct randomized evaluations of poverty reduction and social development policies and programs.

The inaugural group of six MENA scholars were accepted in June 2023, engaging in a comprehensive program that encompasses rigorous academic coursework, active participation in J-PAL MENA’s projects, and opportunities for mentorship and professional development. The second cohort, welcomed in 2024, includes six scholars representing Egypt, Morocco, and Lebanon, with expertise in climate finance, labor markets, gender, and health.

Fellowship Details

The fellowship includes eight components:  

1. Work on randomized evaluation: Fellows will work on a randomized evaluation with a J-PAL affiliate, J-PAL MENA staff (for evaluations in Egypt), and implementing partners, learning about and experiencing the lifecycle of an impact evaluation.
2. Mentoring: Fellows will be paired with a mentor from the J-PAL affiliate network, J-PAL MENA Scientific Directors, or J-PAL MENA Post-Doctoral Fellows.
3. Networking: Fellows will be a member of their cohort and a growing network of MENA Scholars Fellows, and will join a larger worldwide network of Scholars Fellows in other regions, in addition to having access to the J-PAL MENA network.
4. Education: Fellows will enroll in and complete two MIT MicroMasters online courses to build skills in randomized evaluation design, econometric analysis, and other related areas.
5. Capacity Building: Supplemental training targeted at the cohort of Fellows will be delivered by J-PAL MENA post-doctoral fellows and staff, focused on unique aspects of randomized evaluations in the MENA region, personal website development, proposal writing, and to offer deeper technical training.
6. Media coverage: Fellows will have the opportunity to receive guidance from J-PAL and a public relations firm to increase media coverage of their research and policy implications.
7. Event participation: Fellows will be invited to present and participate at J-PAL MENA policy events in the region alongside J-PAL affiliated professors and leadership.
8. Evaluation Design Project: Fellows will have the opportunity in the second year of the fellowship to design their own randomized evaluation on a topic of their interest in the MENA region and with guidance from their mentors. 

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Fellowship, candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Education: Candidates should be specialized in Economics and/or relevant disciplines (such as public policy, political science, public health, statistics, etc.)
  • Track 1 – PhD Students: This track is open for candidates that are currently pursuing a PhD in economics or a related discipline.
    • It includes those whose nationalities are from the MENA region and are enrolled in PhD programs at universities in or outside the MENA region.
  • Track 2 – Academic scholars: This track is open for candidates who have completed a PhD in economics or a related discipline and are affiliated with a MENA academic institution.
• Language skills: High-level of proficiency (fluent or native) in Arabic and English.
• Quantitative skills: Proficiency in Stata or R are highly recommended.
• Research in MENA: Fellows should manifest an interest in impact evaluation in policy issues related to poverty alleviation and development in the MENA region.
• Ability to contribute to the work of a team: Candidates should be able to contribute to research projects related to applied microeconomics and poverty alleviation in sectors such as education, health, climate change among others. Candidates have to be keen on running randomized evaluations (but not necessarily have prior experience conducting them). Candidates should be motivated and organized to work independently, and to deliver on their responsibilities as part of a multi-year research project team.
• Commitment: The candidate must be committed to completing all fellowship activities with J-PAL MENA for the duration of the fellowship, and actively participating in opportunities afforded via the fellowship.

Benefits

• Each Fellow will receive a USD$15,000 stipend over the two-year fellowship period.
• Stipends will support Fellows’ participation and commitment to fellowship program activities.

Application Timeline

• Phase 1 application launch: Thursday, 26 February 2026
• Fellowship start date: By June 2026 at the latest
• Phase 1 application deadline: 26 March 2026, 11:59 pm Cairo Local Time
• Phase 2 invitations (shortlisted candidates): By mid-April 2026
• Phase 2 application window. Approximately three weeks from the invitation
• Final online interviews with the MSF selection committee: By mid-May 2026

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the J-PAL’s MENA Scholars Fellowship