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A New Research Network

2002-12-23

On November 13, 2002, Laval University in Québec, announced the launch of a new research network, Poverty and Economic Policy (PEP). PEP is comprised of three sub-networks on modeling and policy impact analysis (MPIA); poverty measurement, monitoring and analysis (PMMA); and community-based monitoring systems (CBMS).

The move to consolidate these networks into one umbrella network emerged from a concerted effort by IDRC's Micro Impacts of Macroeconomic and Adjustment Policies (MIMAP) program to devolve the management of its research networks to Southern institutions. The new network is managed jointly by the Angelo King Institute (AKI, Manila), which will coordinate the CBMS sub-network, and the Centre de Recherche en Économie et Finance Appliquées (CRÉFA, Québec), which will coordinate the MPIA and PMMA sub-networks. The ultimate goal is to devolve the management of all the sub-networks to Southern partners.

Under the rubrics of PEP, work undertaken by the three sub-networks will be closely integrated and will be managed on the basis of a competitive grant framework. The aim is to produce high quality research with practical relevance for understanding poverty and its alleviation. The PMMA and MPIA sub-networks will operate on the basis of a competitive small grants mechanism, which will build in a strong technical support and training component. Likewise, the CBMS sub-network will put greater emphasis on knowledge base development and networking. Grants for the development and piloting of new CBMS initiatives will be made on a competitive basis.

Michelle Hibler is a senior writer in IDRC’s Communications Division.

For further information on PMMA and MPIA, please contact:

For information on CBMS, please contact the network coordinator:

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