Media contact: Noelle Lemoine, communications assistant; tele: (413) 597-4277; email: [email protected]

Newswise — WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., March 18, 2016—The Center for Development Economics at Williams College will hold a conference, “Tackling Global Poverty” on Thursday and Friday, April 7-8.

Have policy innovations coordinated by the Millennium Development Goals succeeded in tackling the problem of global poverty? Have evaluation technologies contributed optimally to more successful interventions? What innovative policies and approaches have proved most effective at tackling global poverty? How are evidence-building technologies supporting (or hindering) global progress in tackling poverty? How can we improve evidence-building technologies to cultivate the policy innovation required to ensure the success of the Sustainable Development Goals? The conference will address these questions and more in a series of panels and public talks.

Thursday, April 7 – Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall, Bernhard Music Center

4 p.m. “Evaluation Technologies: Have policy innovations succeeded in tackling the problem of global poverty?” Opening presentation via videoconference with Jeffrey Sachs (Columbia University and Earth Institute), followed by panel discussion with Angus Deaton (Princeton), John Hoddinott (Cornell University), and Oliver Babson (Gates Foundation).

8 p.m. Keynote address by Nobel Laureate Angus Deaton: Deaton is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Professor of Economics and International Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the Economics Department at Princeton University. Deaton’s research focuses on the determinants of health in rich and poor countries, as well as on the measurement of poverty in India and around the world.

Friday, April 8 – Griffin Hall, room 3

9 a.m. “What innovative politics and approaches have proved most effective at tackling global poverty?” Presenters: Fred Ssewamala (Columbia), Jessica Leight (Williams College), Oliver Babson, and Diego Angemi (UNICEF).

11 a.m. “How are evidence building technologies supporting (or hindering) global progress in tackling poverty?” Panel discussion with John Hoddinott (Cornell University), Lucie Cluver (Oxford, via videoconference), Frank DeGiovanni (Ford Foundation), and Susan Godlonton (Williams College).

2 p.m. “How can we improve evidence-building technologies to cultivate the policy innovation required to tackle global poverty and ensure the success of the Sustainable Development Goals?” Panel with Angus Deaton, Frank DeGiovanni, Jessica Leight, Jason Wolfe (USAID), Tara Watson (Williams College and U.S. Treasury).

END

For building locations on the Williams campus, please consult the map outside the driveway entrance to the Security Office located in Hopkins Hall on Main Street (Rte. 2), next to the Thompson Memorial Chapel, or call the Office of Communications (413) 597-4277. The map can also be found on the web at www.williams.edu/map

MEDIA CONTACT
Register for reporter access to contact details