Harvard Center for International Development 64d ago

“Instead of thinking of evidence as an output, you have to think of it as a pathway.” — Maroof A. Syed, President and CEO of CERP At CID’s Road to GEM Speaker Series, Maroof A. Syed explores what it takes to make evidence matter in development. Drawing on the experience of the Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP), he argues that the challenge is not only producing high-quality research, but building institutions that can carry evidence from diagnosis through implementation and scale. Reflecting on the fragmented incentives that shape development systems, Syed describes how researchers, governments, donors, and implementers often operate in silos—even when working toward shared goals. Rather than treating evidence as a static output, he proposes a more integrated approach that aligns data, policy, and delivery. Through examples in energy, agriculture, and education, Syed shows how CERP has worked to bridge the gap between knowledge and action by combining rigorous research, policy engagement, and real-world implementation. The broader challenge, he suggests, is designing institutions that can turn insight into sustained impact. Visit our website: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/cid Please follow us @HarvardCID on: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvardcid Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/harvardcid/ Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/harvard-cid Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/harvardcid.bsky.social Stay up to date with CID Events and jobs/opportunities by signing up for our newsletter: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/cid/subscribe #InternationalDevelopment #DevelopmentEconomics #PublicPolicy #GlobalDevelopment #HarvardCID