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United States PhDShort Course Partial Funding

PAIE Scholars Program 2026 | AI & Poverty Research Training

The PAIE Scholars Program provides researchers based in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia with specialized training in evaluating AI-enabled interventions for poverty reduction. Selected scholars receive a $1,000 award, with potential progression to proposal-development grants up to $10,000 and pilot funding up to $75,000.

October 14, 2026 ⏰ Deadline: 2 days left

Quick Overview

Host CountryUnited States
University/OrgMassachusetts Institute of Technology (J-PAL)
Degree LevelPhD, Short Course
Funding TypePartial Funding
Fields of StudyComputer Science, Development Studies, Economics, Public Policy, Statistics
DeadlineOctober 16, 2026

Scholarship Overview

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Overview

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

The program combines structured training in randomized evaluation methods with a staged funding process. Scholars begin with a working concept note, progress through training and assessment, and may advance to proposal-development support and ultimately pilot funding for their research.

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What the Program Offers

Training Components

Selected scholars complete approximately three months of structured training (November 2026 through January 2027), requiring roughly 4–10 hours per week. The curriculum includes:

  • Selected modules from J-PAL 102x: Designing and Running Randomized Evaluations (part of the MITx MicroMasters)
  • The AI Evidence Playbook and AI Evaluation Playbook
  • Live online workshops on evaluating AI-enabled interventions
  • A PAIE-administered proctored assessment

Note: The PAIE assessment does not confer an MITx certificate, though scholars may separately pursue official MITx certification.

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Financial Awards

The program offers staged financial support:

  • Completion Award: US$1,000 for scholars who complete training, pass the assessment, and submit a revised concept note
  • Proposal-Development Grant: Up to US$10,000 for selected scholars to develop full pilot proposals
  • Pilot Funding: Up to US$75,000 for competitive pilot proposals that test feasibility and inform future randomized evaluations

Eligibility Criteria

The program is open to resident scholars based in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia as defined by the World Bank. For researchers in Zimbabwe and the SADC region, this includes most countries in the region.

Applicants must:

  • Hold a completed PhD in economics or another relevant empirical discipline
  • Have advanced training in quantitative methods (statistics, econometrics, causal inference, experimental methods, or machine learning)
  • Demonstrate interest in evaluating AI-enabled interventions for social or economic outcomes
  • Possess sufficient English proficiency for coursework, assessment, and research outputs
  • Be willing and available to complete all program components
  • Maintain primary professional affiliation with a university in an eligible country

Applicants do not need prior affiliation with J-PAL, a fully developed research project, or an implementing partner at the application stage.

Application Requirements

Applicants submit an online application covering academic background, research experience, quantitative training, and interest in AI evaluation. Required documents include:

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • One to three examples of prior research
  • Brief statements on: research experience, experience with randomized evaluations, interest in evaluating AI-enabled interventions, and interest in the PAIE Scholars Program
  • A working concept note describing the research idea, including its potential to lead to a randomized evaluation

The working concept note does not require a fully developed intervention or evaluation design. Complete requirements and word limits are provided in the application form.

Program Timeline

  • Applications open: September 17, 2026
  • Application deadline: October 16, 2026 at 12 PM ET
  • Scholars selected: Early November 2026
  • Training begins: November 2026
  • Training period: November 2026 through January 2027
  • PAIE assessment and revised concept notes: Dates to be confirmed
  • Proposal-development grant decisions: To be confirmed

How the Staged Process Works

Advancement between stages is competitive. Selection into the initial cohort does not guarantee subsequent support.

Stage 1: Training and Assessment

Scholars complete training, pass the proctored assessment, and submit a revised concept note to receive the $1,000 award.

Stage 2: Proposal-Development and Travel Support

Selected scholars receive up to $10,000 for activities including background research, partner identification, field site visits, data assessment, and pilot proposal preparation. This grant cannot be used for human-subjects research or data collection. Research mentorship may also be provided.

Stage 3: Pilot Funding

Scholars with developed proposals submit full pilot proposals for competitive review. Successful proposals may receive up to $75,000 to test intervention feasibility, refine measurement, and generate information for larger randomized evaluations. By this stage, scholars must have an implementing partner and sufficiently developed research design.

About Project AI Evidence

Project AI Evidence (PAIE) identifies, evaluates, and scales innovative AI applications for social good and poverty reduction by connecting AI adopters, technology companies, and researchers. PAIE is an initiative of J-PAL, a global research center working to reduce poverty through evidence-based policy.

Contact Information

For questions about the PAIE Scholars Program, contact the PAIE team at the email address provided on the official program page.

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Official scholarship page: https://www.povertyactionlab.org/initiative/paie-scholars-program

Apply on the official site →

You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships

Funding Coverage

US$1,000 completion award; up to US$10,000 proposal-development grant; up to US$75,000 pilot funding

Eligibility Criteria

Resident scholars with completed PhD based in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia; primary university affiliation in eligible country; advanced quantitative training; English proficiency

Required Documents

CV; 1-3 research examples; statements on research experience, randomized evaluation experience, interest in AI evaluation, and program interest; working concept note

Application Process

Complete online application with required documents by deadline; await selection notification; complete 3-month training program; pass proctored assessment and submit revised concept note for $1,000 award; competitive advancement to proposal-development grant and pilot funding stages
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Frequently Asked Questions

You can apply from any low- or middle-income country in Africa as defined by the World Bank. This includes Zimbabwe and all SADC countries. Your primary professional affiliation must be with a university in an eligible country.
No. The program is not a traditional scholarship. It provides a US$1,000 award for completing the training phase, with potential for up to US$10,000 in proposal-development funding and up to US$75,000 in pilot funding if you advance through competitive stages. It does not cover tuition or living expenses for degree programs.
Advancement is competitive at each stage. Selection into the initial training cohort does not guarantee proposal-development support, mentorship, or pilot funding. Only scholars who complete training, pass assessment, submit strong revised concept notes, and develop competitive full proposals may receive pilot funding.
No. At the initial application stage, you only need a working concept note describing your research idea. You do not need a fully developed intervention, evaluation design, or implementing partner. However, by the pilot-proposal stage, you must have secured an implementing partner and developed a sufficiently detailed research design.
No. The PAIE-administered assessment is separate from the official MITx assessment and does not result in an MITx certificate. You may separately complete the official MITx assessment and earn a certificate subject to MITx requirements and fees.
The time commitment ranges from 4–10 hours per week depending on your prior training and familiarity with randomized evaluations. The final schedule and expected time commitment will be shared before the program begins. You must be willing and available to complete all required components to remain in the program.

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