The Centre for Experimental Social Sciences (CESS) Nuffield - FLAME University is pleased to host Aparna Krishnan, Project Director at J-PAL South Asia. Ms. Krishnan will be giving a talk titled "Evidence Informed Decision Making: Working with Governments to Bridge the Research Policy Gap".

Abstract
This seminar will highlight examples and experiences from J-PAL South Asia's work with state governments in India on the potential for using data and evidence from evaluations in decision making. Drawing on examples from past and ongoing policy research projects and initiatives, the talk will highlight successes and challenges in enabling a shift in mindset and practice of policy making and implementing functions within governments to adopt an evidence informed approach to decision making.  

Bio
Since April 2016, Aparna Krishnan has taken on the role of Project Director overseeing J-PAL South Asia’s institutional engagement with the State Government of Tamil Nadu (GoTN). In this role, Aparna provides strategic leadership and management oversight to all research, policy outreach, and capacity building activities under this engagement. Prior to this, she was leading the capacity building initiative under the GoTN partnership in an advisory role since March 2014. Aparna has also served as Executive Director of J-PAL South Asia until 2012, and in this role, helped set up and manage several large-scale research projects, engaged in policy outreach and training activities with different government, multi-lateral and civil society agencies. Aparna has a master’s in economics (from Gokhale Institute, India) and an MPIA (from University of California, San Diego). Apart from her work at J-PAL, she has worked in development and environmental policy research in India in different positions at the Madras Institute of Development Studies, and the Centre for Micro Finance at IFMR; and in Singapore at the Institute of South East Asian Studies. She also has a few years of consulting experience in Monitoring and Evaluation systems with UNDP-GEF, the World Bank, and others.