Read the interview with Niklas Bengtsson, who on 15 April 2026 took up his post as a new member of the Expert Group for Aid Studies (EBA). Drawing on his extensive experience of aid evaluation and development economics research, Niklas aims to help strengthen evidence-based priorities in an increasingly complex aid context.
Niklas Bengtsson is a professor of economics at Uppsala University. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt
In his research, he has worked on both randomised field experiments and observational studies, including in South Africa and Tanzania, focusing on children’s health, education and development. He has led several research projects evaluating the effectiveness of aid, including the role of civil society. His research focuses on development economics, with a particular emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa, though he also has many years’ experience in public finance research.
Why did you accept the role as a member of EBA?
I accepted because it is a role that feels both important and meaningful at a time when aid issues are very much in the spotlight. The needs are great and, in some cases, growing, whilst at the same time there are new political priorities and a more complex geopolitical situation to navigate.
This means that the issue is not just about how much aid is given, but how it is given and what it actually leads to. These are issues that I find both interesting and urgent to work on.
What do you think you can contribute to the expert group?
I am an economist by training and have worked extensively on causal inference – that is, how we can draw reliable conclusions about cause and effect. In my own research, I have often used randomised trials, but I see them as just one tool among many.
At the same time, it is important not to forget that economic theory and empirical evidence, even outside direct experiments, have given us a great deal of knowledge about what we can expect to work. Insights of this kind are crucial when setting priorities in development aid, not least given the remit of organisations such as Sida.
I hope to contribute a systematic approach to thinking about evidence and evaluation, where different methods play different roles. For me, it is fundamentally about trying to understand what works, why it works, and in what contexts.
What are you most looking forward to in your work at EBA?
I’m looking forward to gaining an insight into how aid works in practice and to working alongside people with different experiences to my own.
What I find particularly exciting is the intersection between people driven by a desire to do good – to improve the world – and the more analytical, sometimes quite demanding, approach from academia. It is precisely at that intersection that I believe something very interesting can happen, not least for younger researchers and practitioners who want to combine commitment with analytical rigour.
Is there anything in particular you hope you and EBA will achieve in the future?
I hope we can help make evidence-based issues more vibrant and relevant in the development aid debate – not just as a technical matter, but as a natural part of how we think about priorities and interventions.
If EBA can continue to be a place where different perspectives meet, and where practical experience and academic rigour interact, I believe it can contribute to both better decisions and greater interest in development aid issues.