PAIE Scholars Program 2026: Training, Mentorship and Research Funding for Scholars in Africa and Asia
A practical AlertNaija247 guide for researchers who want to evaluate AI solutions that fight poverty
The PAIE Scholars Program is a structured opportunity from Project AI Evidence (PAIE), an initiative of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). It is designed for researchers who are based at universities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) across Asia and Africa and who want to learn how to rigorously evaluate artificial intelligence tools that aim to reduce poverty or improve social outcomes.
Unlike ordinary academic workshops, this program combines online training in randomised evaluations, practical support to refine a research idea, a modest completion award, and a clear pathway toward larger research grants. Selected scholars can move from an early concept note to proposal-development support of up to US$10,000 and, later, competitive pilot funding of up to US$75,000. Advancement at every stage remains competitive and is never guaranteed.
This AlertNaija247 guide explains who the program is for, what it actually covers, what documents you need, how the staged process works, and what practical steps Nigerian and other African or Asian researchers should take before the 16 October 2026 deadline.
Scholarship Quick Overview
- Program name: PAIE Scholars Program
- Host organisation: Project AI Evidence (PAIE) / Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)
- Focus: Training and support to evaluate AI-enabled interventions for social good and poverty reduction
- Who can apply: Resident scholars with a completed PhD whose primary affiliation is a university in an eligible LMIC in Asia or Africa
- Degree requirement: PhD in economics or another relevant empirical discipline
- Location of training: Online (live workshops and modules)
- Completion award: US$1,000 after successful training, assessment and revised concept note
- Further support (competitive): Proposal-development and travel grant up to US$10,000; pilot funding up to US$75,000
- Applications open: 17 September 2026
- Deadline: 16 October 2026 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET)
- Application fee: Not specified in the available scholarship information (online application form)
What This Scholarship Offers
The PAIE Scholars Program is not a traditional degree scholarship. It does not pay tuition or living costs for a master’s or PhD program. Instead, it invests in already-qualified researchers so they can design and eventually run high-quality evaluations of artificial-intelligence tools used in development work.
The core package includes:
- Structured training lasting roughly three months (tentatively November 2026 to January 2027). Scholars complete selected modules from J-PAL’s 102x course on designing and running randomised evaluations, study the AI Evidence and AI Evaluation Playbooks, attend live online workshops, and sit a PAIE-administered proctored assessment.
- US$1,000 completion award paid only after a scholar finishes the assigned training, passes the assessment, and submits a revised concept note that meets program standards.
- Support to refine a working concept note so the initial research idea becomes stronger and more feasible.
- Competitive pathway to a proposal-development and travel grant of up to US$10,000. This money can be used for background research, identifying implementing partners, site visits, checking existing data, and writing a full pilot proposal. It cannot be used for human-subjects research or primary data collection from participants.
- Possible research mentorship from J-PAL affiliated professors or invited researchers, depending on needs and mentor availability.
- Later opportunity to submit a competitive pilot proposal for funding of up to US$75,000. Invitation to submit does not guarantee an award.
Selection into the first cohort does not automatically open the door to the larger grants. Each stage is reviewed separately.
Who Is Eligible?
The program is open only to resident scholars based in low- and middle-income countries in Asia and Africa, using the World Bank classification. A definitive list of eligible countries is published by the organisers; applicants should confirm their country appears on that list before investing time in the application.
For the purposes of this program, a resident scholar is a researcher who:
- Has already completed a PhD, and
- Has a primary professional affiliation with a university located in an eligible country.
Additional academic and practical requirements include:
- A PhD in economics or another relevant empirical discipline (for example fields that train researchers in quantitative causal inference).
- Advanced training in quantitative methods such as statistics, econometrics, causal inference, experimental methods, or machine learning.
- A clear interest in evaluating how AI-enabled interventions affect social or economic outcomes.
- Sufficient English proficiency to complete the coursework, training, assessment, and written research outputs.
- Willingness and availability to complete all required program components (expected time commitment of roughly four to ten hours per week during the training period, depending on prior preparation).
Applicants do not need an existing relationship with a J-PAL affiliated professor or invited researcher. They also do not need a fully developed research project or an implementing partner at the moment of first application.
Do You Qualify? A Simple Self-Check
Ask yourself the following questions honestly:
- Have I already finished my PhD?
- Is my main professional base a university in an LMIC in Asia or Africa?
- Do I have solid training in quantitative methods used for causal research?
- Am I genuinely interested in testing AI tools that try to solve poverty or social problems?
- Can I commit several hours each week for about three months starting around November 2026?
- Can I work and write research materials in English?
If the answer to most of these is “yes,” it is worth preparing a strong application. If you are still completing a PhD or your primary affiliation is outside an eligible country, this particular cohort is not the right fit.
What the Scholarship Covers (and What It Does Not)
It is important to be precise about financial support so applicants do not form unrealistic expectations.
Confirmed support for successful first-phase scholars:
- Training modules and live workshops (online).
- US$1,000 award after completing training requirements, passing the PAIE assessment, and submitting an acceptable revised concept note.
Competitive support available only to a subset of scholars who advance:
- Proposal-development and travel grant of up to US$10,000 (cannot be used for human-subjects research or collecting data from participants).
- Research mentorship (subject to mentor availability).
- Later pilot funding of up to US$75,000 after a separate competitive review of a full pilot proposal.
Not covered or not guaranteed:
- Tuition for a degree program.
- Monthly living stipend beyond the one-time US$1,000 award.
- Accommodation, flights, visa costs, or health insurance for travel that is not part of an approved proposal-development grant.
- Automatic progression to pilot funding simply because someone was selected for the training cohort.
Never describe the opportunity as “fully funded” in the sense of a degree scholarship. The funding is targeted research and capacity-building support with clear stage gates.
Important Requirements and Program Expectations
Selected scholars must complete a structured training program that covers randomised evaluation methods and the specific challenges of evaluating AI-enabled interventions. The training draws on:
- Selected modules from J-PAL 102x: Designing and Running Randomized Evaluations (part of the MITx MicroMasters pathway).
- The AI Evidence Playbook and AI Evaluation Playbook plus related readings.
- Live online workshops focused on AI evaluation.
- A PAIE-administered proctored assessment of the material covered.
The PAIE assessment is separate from any official MITx certificate process. Scholars who later wish to earn an MITx certificate must follow MITx’s own requirements and schedule.
The initial training period is expected to run for approximately three months. Time commitment is estimated at four to ten hours per week, depending on how much prior experience a scholar already has with randomised evaluations. The final schedule and exact time expectations will be shared before the program begins.
Scholars who finish the training and pass the assessment submit a revised concept note. That revised note becomes the basis for deciding who receives proposal-development support and possible mentorship.
What You Need Before Applying
Start preparing early. The application window is relatively short (17 September to 16 October 2026), and the required materials take time to assemble well.
Core documents and statements requested:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) that clearly shows your PhD, institutional affiliation, quantitative training, and any relevant research experience.
- One to three examples of your research (papers, working papers, or other substantial research outputs that demonstrate empirical or quantitative work).
- Brief statements covering: your research experience; any experience with randomised evaluations; your interest in evaluating AI-enabled interventions; and your specific interest in the PAIE Scholars Program.
- A working concept note that describes the research idea you want to develop. The note should explain how the idea could ultimately lead to a randomised evaluation. It does not need a fully designed intervention or an implementing partner at this stage.
The online application form itself contains the exact word limits and detailed instructions. Always follow the form requirements rather than any external summary.
Application Deadline
Applications open: 17 September 2026
Deadline: 16 October 2026 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET)
Eastern Time is several hours behind West Africa Time and other African time zones. Convert the deadline carefully so you do not miss the cut-off. Late applications are not accepted once the form closes.
Before You Apply – Practical Checks
Use this short list to avoid common mistakes:
- Confirm that your country is on the official eligible-countries list published by PAIE/J-PAL (World Bank LMIC classification for Asia and Africa).
- Verify that your primary professional affiliation is a university in that country, not merely a secondary appointment or consultancy role.
- Make sure your PhD is already completed; the program is not open to current PhD candidates.
- Review the word limits on the application form before drafting long statements.
- Prepare a concept note that is realistic. The organisers explicitly say a fully developed design or partner is not required at the first stage, so do not over-promise.
- Check that you can commit the expected weekly hours during the training window.
- Save copies of every document you upload in case you need to reference them later.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted through an online Google Form provided by the organisers. The form collects academic background, research experience, quantitative training details, and the materials listed above.
Steps in plain language:
- Read the official program page carefully and download or bookmark the eligible-countries list.
- Prepare your CV, research examples, statements, and working concept note offline first so you can edit them properly.
- Open the official application form once applications open on 17 September 2026.
- Complete every required section, respecting word limits and file-type rules.
- Submit well before the 16 October 2026, 12 PM ET deadline to avoid last-minute technical problems.
- Keep a record of your submission confirmation if the form provides one.
(Official application form linked above. Applications open 17 September 2026.)
Application Checklist
- Confirmed eligibility (PhD completed + primary university affiliation in eligible LMIC Asia/Africa)
- CV updated and ready
- 1–3 research examples selected and prepared for upload
- Statements drafted (research experience, randomised-evaluation experience, AI interest, program interest)
- Working concept note written within the required length and structure
- English-language materials proof-read
- Deadline converted to local time and calendar reminder set
- Application form completed and submitted before 12 PM ET on 16 October 2026
AlertNaija247 Student Tip
Treat the working concept note as the heart of your application. Many strong candidates lose points by writing a vague or overly ambitious idea. Choose one concrete social or economic problem that matters in your region, explain why an AI tool might help address it, and show that you understand the value of rigorous evaluation. You do not need a finished design or a signed partner letter at this stage. Clarity, feasibility, and a genuine pathway toward a randomised evaluation matter more than polished presentation.
Also remember that the US$1,000 is a completion award, not a stipend you receive on day one. Plan your time so you can finish the training and assessment without neglecting your university responsibilities. If you later reach the proposal-development stage, use the up-to-US$10,000 grant carefully for the allowed activities only—background research, partner identification, site visits, and proposal writing—never for primary data collection from people.
Apply Now
If you meet the eligibility criteria and have a research idea related to the evaluation of AI for social good or poverty reduction, begin preparing your materials now so you are ready when the form opens on 17 September 2026.
Deadline: 16 October 2026, 12:00 PM Eastern Time.
The PAIE Scholars Program offers a rare combination of rigorous methods training and a staged funding pathway for researchers based in low- and middle-income countries in Asia and Africa. It is competitive, the financial support is stage-gated, and success depends on completing each requirement carefully. Applicants who prepare a clear concept note, meet every eligibility rule, and respect the deadline give themselves the strongest possible chance.
Stay focused on the official requirements, start early, and use the training opportunity to strengthen both your skills and your research idea. Good luck with your application.