Asad Islam

I delivered the Keynote Lecture at the 6th Japanese Association for Development Economics (JADE) Conference, held on April 13–14, 2024, at JETRO Headquarters, Tokyo. The conference brought together leading scholars and practitioners in development economics to discuss frontier research in areas such as agriculture, health, gender, and education.

My keynote address, titled “Social Networks in Development Program Evaluation,” examined how understanding social networks can enhance the design and effectiveness of development interventions. Drawing on evidence from multiple large-scale randomized controlled trials, I illustrated how network structures influence the diffusion of information, technology adoption, and behavioral change, with examples from agriculture, education, and early childhood development.

The lecture emphasized the importance of incorporating social network data into program evaluation to uncover spillover effects and improve policy targeting. It also discussed the broader implications of social interactions for innovation diffusion, women’s empowerment, and resilience during crises.

I delivered a keynote lecture at the 12th International Conference on Technology, Pedagogy and Society: Critical Appreciation of the Present and Prospects for the Future, hosted by the Aga Khan University – Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) in Karachi, Pakistan, from November 29 to December 1, 2023.

My keynote session, titled “Delivering Remote Learning Using Low-Tech Solutions,” focused on innovative, evidence-based approaches to education during crises, drawing on lessons from large-scale randomized controlled trials conducted across South Asia. The talk examined how low-cost, phone-based interventions can bridge digital divides, support learning continuity, and promote equity in education, particularly in marginalized and low-resource settings.

The presentation emphasized the importance of context-sensitive innovation, inclusive pedagogy, and scalable technology solutions for addressing learning losses and ensuring resilience in education systems. The session formed part of AKU’s broader dialogue on how technology and pedagogy can be harnessed to build equitable, sustainable education futures.

I delivered a special invited talk at FHI 360 in March 2023, focusing on the theme “Addressing Learning Loss Due to School Closures.” The talk brought together education experts and practitioners to discuss strategies for mitigating the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s learning in low- and middle-income countries.

Drawing on evidence from large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal, I presented insights on how low-cost, technology-enabled interventions—such as telementoring and interactive voice response (IVR)-based education—can effectively reduce learning losses and promote educational resilience.

The talk highlighted key findings showing that short, structured phone-based learning support led to significant improvements in literacy and numeracy, with particularly strong effects among disadvantaged students. I also emphasized the importance of parental engagement, teacher training, and mental health support in accelerating recovery and building more equitable education systems.

The discussion concluded with policy recommendations for leveraging scalable digital tools, consolidating curricula, and prioritizing foundational learning to prevent a lasting human capital crisis in the post-pandemic world.

I delivered a keynote lecture at the Faculty Development Programme (FDP) organized by the Amity School of Economics, Amity University Kolkata, held from August 1–5, 2022. The program brought together academics and practitioners to discuss research and policy insights relevant to public health, behavioral economics, and development challenges in the post-pandemic context.

My lecture, titled “Raising Health Awareness and Promoting Vaccine Take-up to Address the Pandemic,” presented evidence from large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia. The research examined how behavioral interventions, local communication strategies, and information campaigns can counter misinformation, improve vaccine confidence, and encourage uptake among hard-to-reach populations.

The talk highlighted the role of trusted community messengers, non-financial incentives, and accessibility improvements in enhancing public health outcomes, offering policy insights for designing scalable, evidence-based interventions during crises.

On October 17, 2022, I delivered a lecture at Fatima Jinnah Women University, Pakistan, as part of the SDCW 2022 Conference, focusing on innovative approaches to remote learning in developing countries.

The session explored the severe learning losses caused by prolonged COVID-19 school closures, particularly in South Asia, where millions of students lacked reliable access to online or in-person education. Drawing on field experiments from Bangladesh and other developing contexts, the lecture demonstrated how cost-effective, low-tech interventions—such as phone call–based tutoring and interactive voice response (IVR) systems—can significantly improve student performance and parental engagement.

The discussion emphasized the importance of scalable and inclusive strategies to strengthen foundational learning, reduce educational inequalities, and build resilience against future crises, including pandemics and climate disruptions.

I delivered a keynote lecture at the Faculty Development Programme (FDP) organized by the Amity School of Economics, Amity University Kolkata, held from August 1–5, 2022. The program brought together academics and practitioners to discuss research and policy insights relevant to public health, behavioral economics, and development challenges in the post-pandemic context.

My lecture, titled “Raising Health Awareness and Promoting Vaccine Take-up to Address the Pandemic,” presented evidence from large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia. The research examined how behavioral interventions, local communication strategies, and information campaigns can counter misinformation, improve vaccine confidence, and encourage uptake among hard-to-reach populations.

The talk highlighted the role of trusted community messengers, non-financial incentives, and accessibility improvements in enhancing public health outcomes, offering policy insights for designing scalable, evidence-based interventions during crises.