Broadly speaking, there are few education and training policy measures designed with the needs of low-income working age adults in mind. The learn$ave demonstration project was launched in 2000 by Human Resources Development and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) to test the effectiveness of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) in promoting adult learning among low-income adults. learn$ave can uniquely inform policy-makers in Canada and abroad about the potential for IDAs as a social policy instrument to promote participation in adult learning and education.