‘When Wonky Works’ subject of May 9 Chanchlani lecture

A Northwestern University professor will present ‘When Wonky Works: Success, Failures and Learning Gaps in Implementation Science for Public Policy’ as part of his winning the Chanchlani Global Health Research lecture at McMaster University on
May 9.

Dean Karlan’s lecture will explore the efficacy of microfinance, health-care initiatives, and agriculture as global poverty solutions.

Karlan is a distinguished professor of economics and finance and co-director of the Global Poverty Research Lab at Northwestern. He is renowned for his research on global poverty, which has already influenced public policy internationally.

His lecture will be streamed over Zoom from 4 to 5:15 p.m. Register at https://mps.mcmaster.ca/emailers/chanchlani-lecture-2022//index.html.

Karlan has investigated sustainable income generation for households in abject poverty, credit and savings markets for low-income households, agriculture for smallholder farmers and the impact of charitable donations. His work has taken him to Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, the Philippines, Senegal, and Uganda.

“I am excited to welcome Dean Karlan to McMaster to learn more about his work in impoverished communities and to seek his advice for our own Health Equity initiatives,” said Sonia Anand, professor of the Department of Medicine and director of the Chanchlani Research Centre.

Karlan is also the founder and president of Innovations for Poverty Action, co-founder of Impact Matters and co-author of three books, More Than Good Intentions, Failing in the Field and The Goldilocks Challenge.

At the time of the lecture, Karlan will also receive the annual Chanchlani Global Health Research Award. The award was launched in 2012 by the Chanchlani family and McMaster to recognize a leading scholar in the area of global health.