JEDDAH — Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab recently received a fresh platform for its efforts to stamp out global poverty with the announcement of President Barack Obama's intention to appoint MIT Professor Esther Duflo to the President's Global Development Council. Professor Duflo is the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics, and a founder and director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, USA. Established by executive order in September 2010 and administered by the US Agency for International Development, the President's Global Development Council is being designed to advise the administration on US global development policies and practices, to support new and existing public-private partnerships, and to increase awareness and action in support of development by soliciting public input on current and emerging issues in the field of global development. On Dec 21st, 2012, President Obama announced his intent to appoint two chairs and eight members (including Professor Duflo) to the council from a variety of sectors outside the federal government. In making the announcement, President Obama said, “These dedicated and accomplished individuals will be valued additions to my administration as we tackle the important challenges facing America. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.” Highlighting the announcement as a major breakthrough, Fady Jameel President of ALJCI international stated “It is a matter of great esteem for us that Professor Duflo's dedication and deliberations have received recognition through the support of Addul Latif Jamil Company. J Pal has spurred head on to forge an alliance between economic necessity creativity and policy making. This partnership has produced astounding results in feeding the hungry millions all over the world.” Professor Duflo is an internationally renowned economist whose research has helped change the way governments and aid organizations address global poverty. Her revolutionary work applying randomized trials to determine which social policies actually work best to relieve poverty has led to numerous accolades. Most recently she was named one of the “Top 100 Global Thinkers” for 2012 by Foreign Policy magazine. Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives was established in 2003 as the corporate social responsibility programs provider under the prominent ALJ Group. LJCI supported socioeconomic development by providing social programs for the needs of the communities, and brought about a reduction of unemployment and poverty through novel and innovative schemes and mechanisms, ALJCI also plans and operates numerous global programs in art and culture, education and health care projects. — SG
