Jacob Novignon, PhD

Jacob Novignon, PhD
Senior Research Fellow
Contact Info
jnovignon@ug.edu.gh
Education
PhD Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria (2015)
MA Economics, University of Malawi, Malawi (2011)
BA Economics, University of Cape Coast, Ghana (2007)

Bio:Jacob Novignon joined CSPS in 2024 as a Senior Research Fellow. He previously worked as a Senior Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi – Ghana. He has over 10 years’ experience working in research, evaluation and programming related to health economics in sub-Saharan Africa. He is passionate about conducting research around health economics and finance that contribute to improving health policies while enhancing healthcare utilization, especially among the poor. 

Research: Over the years, Dr Novignon has worked on a range of topics including health financing, inequality analysis of health outcomes and utilization, efficiency of health systems and social protection. His research has mostly used quantitative economic and impact evaluation methodologies. He has also worked as a consultant for various organizations including World Health Organization in Geneva, UNFPA-WCARO, UNFPA-ESARO, Results for Development, UNDP, African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), African Health Economics and Policy Association, among others.  He has published extensively in top peer-reviewed journals and served as a presenter, panelist and/or facilitator at several national and international conferences/workshops.

 

Selected projects

Title: Adolescent mental, sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing policy, program and primary care implementation priorities in West Africa (AdoWA)

Duration: 2021-2024

Position: Co-Investigator

Funded by: United Kingdom Research Institute Medical Research Council (UKRI MRC)

Objective: The project sought to understand what and why are adolescent wellbeing policy and programme priorities, how are adolescent mental, sexual and reproductive services funded and how efficient are available resources used? The project aimed to generate evidence to inform country and sub-regional policy development advocacy and priority setting.

 

Title: Improving experiences and outcomes for individuals with severe stigmatizing skin diseases: Developing an integrated case finding and management intervention in Ghana and Ethiopia

Duration: 2019 - present

Position: Co-Investigator

Funded by: NIHR, UK

Objective: Multi-disciplinary partnership across five institutions that seeks to conduct research to produce evidence that will contribute to improve experiences of severe and stigmatizing neglected tropical diseases of the skin.

 

Title: Impact assessment of European Investment Bank’s development finance in Jamaica

Duration: 2019-2020

Position: Principal Investigator

Funded by: European Investment Bank (EIB) through Global Development Network

Objective: The project used quasi-experimental techniques to evaluate the impact of EIB’s development finance initiative in Jamaica through affordable loans to small and medium scale enterprises.

 

Title: The role of health insurance in mitigating the economic consequences of health shocks in Ghana

Duration: 2016-2017

Position: Principal Investigator

Funded by: African Economic Research Consortium (AERC)

Objective: The project tested the hypothesis that Ghana’s national health insurance scheme, touted as the most important health financing reform in the country’s history, has secondary impacts that include alleviating the economic consequences of ill health.

 

Title: Assessing domestic and donor financing for maternal neonatal and child health in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA)

Duration: 2017-2018

Position: Co-Investigator

Funded by: African Economic Research Consortium (AERC)

Objective: At the core of health system challenges in developing countries is inadequate financing of essential health commodities and infrastructure. This project assessed the fiscal space potential of countries in SSA with a focus on both domestic and external funding sources.

 

Selected publications

(See more at ResearchGate ; Google Scholar)

Journal articles

Amenah, M. A., Novignon, J., Fenny, A. P., Agyepong, I. A., & Ensor, T. (2025). Services availability and readiness assessment of adolescent sexual and reproductive health in primary healthcare facilities: Evidence from selected districts in Ghana. Reproductive Health, 22(1), 14.

Tabiri, K. G., Tahiru, M., Atakorah, Y. B., & Novignon, J. (2025). Does free secondary education mitigate the impact of teen births on educational outcomes? Evidence from Ghana. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 11, 101311.

Djossou, G. N., Sandy, J. F., & Novignon, J. (2025). Does mobile money adoption and credit access improve enterprise innovation and performance in Sierra Leone? Review of Development Economics.

Atakorah, Y. B., Arthur, E., Osei-Fosu, A. K., & Novignon, J. (2024). The impact of Ghana’s national health insurance exemption policies on healthcare-seeking behaviour. SSM-Health Systems, 3, 100035.

Nadege, D. G., Novignon, J., & Araar, A. (2024). The role of formal, informal, and family credit in the business performance of young entrepreneurs in Benin. Review of Development Economics, 28(4), 1374-1391.

Amenah, M. A., Ibrahim, N., Tapsoba, L. D. G., Novignon, J., Fenny, A. P., Agyepong, I. A., da Silva, R. B., & Ensor, T. (2024). Adolescent mental health services in West Africa: A comparative analysis of Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Niger. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 18(1), 130.

Hailemichael, Y., Novignon, J., Owusu, L., Okyere, D., Mtuy, T., Alemu, A. Y., Ocloo, E. K., Koka, E., Palmer, J., Walker, S. L., & Gadisa, E. (2024). The role of economic factors in shaping and constituting the household burden of neglected tropical diseases of the skin: Qualitative findings from Ghana and Ethiopia. Social Science & Medicine, 117094.

Agyepong, I. A., Agblevor, E., Odopey, S., Addom, S., Enyimayew Afun, N. E., Agyekum, M. P., Asante, P. Y., Aye, G. E., Darko, N., Diarra, A., Fenny, A. P., Gladzah, A., Ibrahim, N., Kagambega, A., Wallace, L. J., Novignon, J., Yaogo, M., Borgès Da Silva, R., Ensor, T., & Mirzoev, T. (2024). Interventions for adolescent mental, sexual and reproductive health in West Africa: A scoping review. Public Health in Practice (Oxford, England), 8, 100530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100530

Okyere, D., Ocloo, E. K., Owusu, L., Amoako, Y. A., Tuwor, R. D., Koka, E., Novignon, J., Asante-Poku, A., Siam, I. M., Afreh, E. K., & Agbanyo, A. (2024). Improving experiences of neglected tropical diseases of the skin: Mixed methods formative research for development of a complex intervention in Atwima Mponua District, Ghana. PLOS Global Public Health, 4(6), e0002833.

Phillips, R. O., Owusu, L., Koka, E., Ocloo, E. K., Simpson, H., Agbanyo, A., Okyere, D., Tuwor, R. D., Fokuoh-Boadu, A., Akuffo, R. A., & Novignon, J. (2024). Development of an integrated and decentralised skin health strategy to improve experiences of skin neglected tropical diseases and other skin conditions in Atwima Mponua District, Ghana. PLOS Global Public Health, 4(1), e0002809.

Atakorah, Y. B., Arthur, E., Osei-Fosu, A. K., & Novignon, J. (2023). Economic inequalities in health insurance subscription renewal: Evidence from Ghana's national health insurance scheme. Social Science & Medicine, 116514.

Kumar, M. B., Bath, D., Binyaruka, P., Novignon, J., Lawn, J. E., & Pitt, C. (2023). Donor aid mentioning newborns and stillbirths, 2002-19: An analysis of levels, trends, and equity. The Lancet Global Health, 11(11), e1785–e1793. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00378-9

Novignon, J., Arthur, E., Tabiri, K. G., Atakorah, Y. B., & Nonvignon, J. (2023). Does health insurance mitigate the economic impact of negative health outcomes? Evidence from Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme. Journal of Social and Economic Development, 1-21.

Frempong, R. B., Novignon, J., & Stadelmann, D. (2023). Inequalities, exclusion, and COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa. In COVID-19 in Africa: Societal and Economic Implications (pp. 129-156). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.

Arhin, K., Oteng-Abayie, E. F., & Novignon, J. (2023). Cost efficiency of primary health care facilities in Ghana: Stochastic frontier analysis. Discover Health Systems, 2(1), 31.

Arhin, K., Oteng-Abayie, E. F., & Novignon, J. (2023). Effects of healthcare financing policy tools on health system efficiency: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa. Heliyon, 9(10).

Quinones, S., Lin, S., Tian, L., Mendola, P., Novignon, J., Adamba, C., & Palermo, T. (2023). The dose-response association between LEAP 1000 and birthweight–no clear mechanisms: A structural equation modeling approach. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23(1), 364.

Dumedah, G., Abass, K., Gyasi, R. M., Forkuor, J. B., & Novignon, J. (2023). Inefficient allocation of paratransit service terminals and routes in Ghana: The role of driver unions and paratransit operators. Journal of Transport Geography, 111, 103643.

Aryeetey, G. C., Nonvignon, J., Malm, K., Owusu, R., Baabu, B. S., Peprah, N. Y., Agyemang, S. A., Novignon, J., Amon, S., Dwomoh, D., & Aikins, M. (2023). Cost of inappropriate prescriptions for uncomplicated malaria in Ghana. Malaria Journal, 22(1), 1-9.

Arhin, K., Oteng-Abayie, E. F., & Novignon, J. (2023). Assessing the efficiency of health systems in achieving the universal health coverage goal: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa. Health Economics Review, 13(1), 1–16.

Owusu, L., Tuwor, R. D., Ackam, N., Loglo, A., Agbavor, B., Agbanyo, A., Dornu, O., Antwi, P. B., Oppong, M. N., Adjei, J. K., Frimpong, V., & Novignon, J. (2023). Role and capacity needs of community-based surveillance volunteers in the integrated management of skin neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs): A qualitative study from central Ghana. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1–12.

Quinones, S., Mendola, P., Tian, L., Lin, S., Novignon, J., Angeles, G., & Palermo, T. (2023). Ghana’s Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (1000) program seasonally impacts birthweight: A difference-in-differences analysis. International Journal of Public Health, 39.

Amporfu, E., Arthur, E., & Novignon, J. (2023). Billing the insured: An assessment of out-of-pocket payment by insured patients in Ghana. Health Services Insights, 16, 11786329221149397.

Novignon, J., Prencipe, L., Molotsky, A., Valli, E., de Groot, R., Adamba, C., & Palermo, T. (2022). The impact of unconditional cash transfers on morbidity and health-seeking behaviour in Africa: Evidence from Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Health Policy and Planning, 37(5), 607–623.

Novignon, J. (2022). Improving microcredit and firm performance in Jamaica: A case study of the development bank of Jamaica. Journal of Development Effectiveness, 1–17.

Tabiri, K. G., Adusah-Poku, F., & Novignon, J. (2022). Economic inequalities and rural-urban disparities in clean cooking fuel use in Ghana. Energy for Sustainable Development, 68, 480–489.

Otieno, P., Angeles, G., Quiñones, S., van Halsema, V., Novignon, J., & Palermo, T. (2022). Health services availability and readiness moderate cash transfer impacts on health insurance enrolment: Evidence from the LEAP 1000 cash transfer program in Ghana. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 1–13.

Novignon, J., & Tabiri, G. K. (2022). Leveraging COVID-19 pandemic response for improved health system financing: Lessons from Ghana. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management.

Novignon, J., Prencipe, L., Molotsky, A., Valli, E., de Groot, R., Adamba, C., & Palermo, T. (2022). The impact of unconditional cash transfers on morbidity and health-seeking behaviour in Africa: Evidence from Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Health Policy and Planning.

Novignon, J., Aryeetey, G., Nonvignon, J., Malm, K., Peprah, N. Y., Agyemang, S. A., Amon, S., & Aikins, M. (2021). Efficiency of malaria service delivery in selected district-level hospitals in Ghana. Health Systems, 1–10.

Novignon, J., Lanko, C., & Arthur, E. (2021). Political economy and the pursuit of universal health coverage in Ghana: A case of the National Health Insurance Scheme. Health Policy and Planning.

Novignon, J., Atakorah, Y. B., & Chijere Chirwa, G. (2021). Exemption for the poor or the rich? An assessment of socioeconomic inequalities in Ghana’s national health insurance exemption policies. Health Policy and Planning.

Barroy, H., Cylus, J., Patcharanarumol, W., Novignon, J., Evetovits, T., & Gupta, S. (2021). Do efficiency gains really translate into more budget for health? An assessment framework and country applications. Health Policy and Planning.

Pulok, M. H., Chirwa, G. C., Novignon, J., Aizawa, T., & Makate, M. (2020). Levels of and changes in socioeconomic inequality in delivery care service: A decomposition analysis using Bangladesh Demographic Health Surveys. PLOS ONE, 15(11), e0242325.

Ratcliffe, H. L., Schwarz, D., Hirschhorn, L. R., Cejas, C., Diallo, A., Elorrio, E. G., Fifield, J., Gashumba, D., Hartshorn, L., Leydon, N., Novignon, J., & Mohamed, M. (2019). PHC Progression Model: A novel mixed-methods tool for measuring primary health care system capacity. BMJ Global Health, 4(5), e001822.

Novignon, J., Djossou, N. G., & Enemark, U. (2019). Childhood mortality, intra-household bargaining power, and fertility preferences among women in Ghana. Reproductive Health, 16(1), 1–12.

Atim, C., Arthur, E., Achala, D. M., & Novignon, J. (2019). An assessment of domestic financing for reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child health in Sub-Saharan Africa: Potential gains and fiscal space. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 1–11.

Novignon, J., Ofori, B., Tabiri, K. G., & Pulok, M. H. (2019). Socioeconomic inequalities in maternal health care utilization in Ghana. International Journal for Equity in Health, 18(1), 1–11.

Fonta, L. F., Nonvignon, J., Aikins, M., Novignon, J., & Aryeetey, G. C. (2019). Economic analysis of health inequality among the elderly in Ghana. Journal of Population Aging. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-019-09245-7

Book chapters

Frempong, R. B., Novignon, J., & Stadelmann, D. (2023). Inequalities, exclusion, and COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa. In COVID-19 in Africa: Societal and economic implications (pp. 129–156). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.

Novignon, J. et al. (2021). The impact of private sector projects in Africa: Studies from the EIB-GDN programme cycle 3. European Investment Bank, Economics Department and the Global Development Network.

Working papers

Novignon, J., Arthur, E., & Nonvignon, J. (2021). Health insurance and the economic impact of negative health outcomes in Ghana (Research Paper No. 468). African Economic Research Consortium (AERC).

Djossou, G. N., Novignon, J., Atchade, T. B., & Abdelkrim, A. (2020). The role of formal, informal, and family credit in the business performance of young entrepreneurs in Benin (Working Paper No. 2020-16). Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP).

Novignon, J., Chirwa, G. C., & Frempong, R. B. (2020). Impact of agricultural input subsidy on nutritional outcomes in Malawi (Working Paper No. 005). African Economic Research Consortium (AERC).

 

Professional service

  • Scientific review committee member, 5th African Health Economics and Policy Association Conference, Accra.
  • International Health Economics Association (IHEA) Student Paper Prize Award Committee Member, 2023.
  • IHEA Special Interest Group Convenor on Health Financing, 2021
  • Abstract Review Committee Member, IHEA Conference, 2023
  • Program Chair, IHEA Congress Scientific Committee
  • Editorial Board Member, International Journal for Equity in Health, BMC Health Services Research
  • Member, Technical working group on the development of a sub-national primary health care assessment tool, Ghana Health Service (GHS)

 

Memberships

  • International Health Economics Association (IHEA)
  • African Health Economics and Policy Association (AfHEA)
  • African Econometric Society (AES)
  • African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) Network