DGHI Impact Report — 2023-2024

Justice Nonvignon

Professor of Health Economics, University of Ghana
Legon, Ghana

Check the cell phone contacts of many high-level officials in health ministries in sub-Saharan Africa and you’ll find Justice Nonvignon, Ph.D., near the top. A health economist and public health researcher, Nonvignon has evaluated and advised health programs in more than a dozen African countries and is a go-to consultant for major global health players such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank and the Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI). From 2021 to 2024, he led the Health Economics and Financing Programme at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which provides technical assistance to strengthen the efficiency and capacity of public health systems across the continent. An expert on financing and measuring the impact of public health and nutrition programs, Nonvignon was a visiting scholar with DGHI’s Center for Policy Impact in Global Health in 2019 and frequently collaborates with DGHI’s policy researchers on projects assessing the effectiveness of investments in public health.

I am working to change

…the capacity of country-based health programs by ensuring that policymakers have the right tools to make evidence-informed decisions. I want to inject more sustainability by ensuring that country decision-makers do not continuously rely on external partners, but instead work closely with country-based academic and research institutions. I am also working to ensure that frameworks for delivering efficient, high-impact health interventions are relevant to local contexts and fit their purpose.

The biggest challenges we face

…relate to contextualizing and tailoring “global” solutions to local health systems’ problems. It can be a struggle to capacitate country and regional decision makers to understand and use evidence independently; it requires extensive (sometimes time-consuming) engagements with decision-makers to gain a clear understanding of where exactly they need help.

One-size-fits-all does not work to bring lasting impact to health systems in low- and middle-income countries.

Partnering with DGHI helps us

…combine and catalyze our strength to address problems in a sustainable way. DGHI faculty have the expertise and experience to support work with policymakers in a practical manner. For example, DGHI worked with the University of Ghana to undertake a series of research studies on health financing transitions, which resulted in high level engagement with policymakers.

It’s important for our partners to

…acknowledge that one-size-fits-all does not work to bring lasting impact to health systems in low- and middle-income countries.

I am inspired by

…the opportunity to work closely with country and regional policymakers to understand their real need and, together, co-create sustainable solutions

In five years, I hope

…to help country policymakers strengthen capacity to mobilize local solutions to solve local problems. I would like to see countries catalyze the power of domestic financing for health, ensuring they are on a path to sustainably funding their health priorities and reducing the dependence on donor funding.

Justice Nonvignon

Professor of Health Economics, University of Ghana

Legon, Ghana

Check the cell phone contacts of just about any health minister in sub-Saharan Africa and you’ll find Justice Nonvignon, Ph.D., near the top. A health economist and public health researcher, Nonvignon has evaluated and advised health programs in more than a dozen African countries and is a go-to consultant for major global health players such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank and the Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI). From 2021 to 2024, he led the Health Economics and Financing Programme at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which provides technical assistance to strengthen the efficiency and capacity of public health systems across the continent. An expert on financing and measuring the impact of public health and nutrition programs, Nonvignon was a visiting scholar with DGHI’s Center for Policy Impact in Global Health in 2019 and frequently collaborates with DGHI’s policy researchers on projects assessing the effectiveness of investments in public health.

I am working to change …

… the capacity of country-based health programs by ensuring that policymakers have the right tools to make evidence-informed decisions. I want to inject more sustainability by ensuring that country decision-makers do not continuously rely on external partners, but instead work closely with country-based academic and research institutions. I am also working to ensure that frameworks for delivering efficient, high-impact health interventions are relevant to local contexts and fit their purpose.

The biggest challenges we face …

… relate to contextualizing and tailoring “global” solutions to local health systems’ problems. It can be a struggle to capacitate country and regional decision makers to understand and use evidence independently; it requires extensive (sometimes time-consuming) engagements with decision-makers to gain a clear understanding of where exactly they need help.

Partnering with DGHI helps us …

… combine and catalyze our strength to address problems in a sustainable way. DGHI faculty have the expertise and experience to support work with policymakers in a practical manner. For example, DGHI worked with the University of Ghana to undertake a series of research studies on health financing transitions, which resulted in high level engagement with policymakers.

It’s important for our partners to …

…  acknowledge that one-size-fits-all does not work to bring lasting impact to health systems in low- and middle-income countries.

I am inspired by …

… the opportunity to work closely with country and regional policymakers to understand their real need and, together, co-create sustainable solutions

In five years, I hope …

… to help country policymakers strengthen capacity to mobilize local solutions to solve local problems. I would like to see countries catalyze the power of domestic financing for health, ensuring they are on a path to sustainably funding their health priorities and reducing the dependence on donor funding.