Health Economist  ·  Impact Evaluation  ·  Sub-Saharan Africa

Martina
Mchenga, PhD

Health economist with over ten years of experience in quantitative health policy analysis, economic evaluation, and health financing across sub-Saharan Africa. I apply quasi-experimental methods and decision-analytic approaches to inform health policy and resource allocation — working closely with governments and international organisations to translate evidence into policy-relevant insights.

Education

2020

PhD in Economics

Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Thesis: Making under-resourced health systems work for vulnerable mothers and children in Malawi

2014

MA in Economics

Chancellor College, University of Malawi

Thesis: Impoverishing effects of catastrophic health expenditures in Malawi

2010

BA in Social Sciences (Economics and Sociology)

Chancellor College, University of Malawi

Professional Experience

Feb 2025 – Present

Health Economist and Health Systems Researcher

Independent Consultant

Sept 2025 – Present

Data Analyst Consultant

FGM Hub — Population Council, Kenya

2025

Health Economist Consultant

University of the Western Cape

Sept–Dec 2025

Consultant

Child Marriage Research to Action Network (CRANK), Girls Not Brides, UK

2021–Dec 2024

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

Centre for Social Science Research (CSSR), University of Cape Town

Oct 2021–Dec 2024

Health Financing Specialist (Consultant)

Providing for Health (P4H) Network / WHO

2020–2021

Health Financing Technical Advisor

Ministry of Health, Malawi (ODI Fellow)

2019–2020

Health Financing Technical Advisor

Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Sierra Leone (ODI Fellow)

2017–2019

Graduate Research Assistant

Desmond Tutu Foundation, Cape Town

2014–2015

Health Economist

Research for Community Equity and Health (REACH) Trust, Malawi

Teaching & Supervision

2024

Course Moderator

Applied Health Economics for Community Health Systems — School of Public Health, University of Western Cape

2025

Guest Lecturer — Health Financing

University of the Western Cape

2023

Guest Lecturer — Domestic Health Financing for UHC

Centre for Global Health, University of Pennsylvania

Ongoing

External Examiner (Master's in Health Economics)

University of Malawi & University of the Witwatersrand

Methods

Difference-in-differences Event study design Sun-Abraham estimator Discrete-time hazard models Regression discontinuity Cost-effectiveness analysis Decision-analytic modelling Latent transition analysis GEE & mediation models

Data & software

Stata (advanced) R (intermediate) DHS surveys NIDS panel IHPS panel SurveyCTO Excel modelling

Available for short-term engagements in statistical analysis, impact evaluation, economic evaluation, and health policy advisory work. Particularly suited to organisations working on health financing, gender, or social protection across eastern and southern Africa. Remote and in-person engagements welcome.

01

Statistical & impact evaluation analysis

Household survey analysis using DHS, NIDS, and IHPS data. Causal identification via DiD, event study, regression discontinuity, and hazard models in Stata and R. Panel data, attrition weighting, and heterogeneity analysis.

02

Economic evaluation

Cost-effectiveness analysis, decision-tree and Markov modelling, and budget impact analysis for health interventions. Experience across HIV prevention, maternal health, TB, and primary care in LMICs.

03

Manuscript & grant writing support

Identification strategy narration, results and discussion writing, and abstract precision for health economics journals. Grant proposal support for Wellcome, NIH Fogarty, and MRC applications.

04

Policy briefs & evidence synthesis

Rigorous, decision-ready policy briefs for UN agencies, bilateral donors, and government health ministries. Experience with WHO, P4H, and Ministries of Health in Malawi and Sierra Leone.

05

Training & capacity building

Applied impact evaluation and health economics workshops (2–3 days), tailored for research institutions, government ministries, and regional bodies. Delivered in Stata and R with real policy applications.

06

Health financing advisory

Technical assistance on UHC strategy, national health financing reform, and NHI design. Former ODI Fellow embedded in Ministries of Health in Malawi and Sierra Leone.

Day rate: USD 400–600 for statistical analysis and impact evaluation · Fixed price per deliverable for writing and policy briefs · Available for remote and in-person engagements across sub-Saharan Africa.