Research

I apply a wide range of quantitative methods, ranging from RCTs to machine learning, and draw on a wide range of data sources, ranging from surveys to large-scale administrative and health insurance data. My projects are carried out in close collaboration with local researchers, policymakers, governments, and implementing partners, ensuring that they are socially and politically relevant and responsive to real-world challenges. I received the SNIS International Geneva Award for research of particular relevance to international organizations.

Peer-reviewed Publications

Impact of school feeding programmes on educational attainment and economic returns in five African countries

Forzy, T., Ramponi, F., Iversen, I., Durizzo, K., Kim, S. et al. (2026). Nature Health, forthcoming.

Optimizing health, financial risk protection, and equity in health benefits package design toward universal health coverage

Jiao, B., Houhamdi, S., Getnet, F., Wang, M., Durizzo, K., Owusu, R., Watkins, D., Memirie, S.T., Verguet, S. (2026). Social Science & Medicine, in press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119579

Unpacking the impact of COVID-19 on child immunization: evidence from Ghana

Durizzo, K., Awoonor-Williams, K., Harttgen, K., Günther, I. (2024). BMC Public Health, 24(1): 1652. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19033-4

Awarded for: SNIS International Geneva Award

Toward mandatory health insurance in low-income countries? An analysis of claims data in Tanzania

Durizzo, K., Harttgen, K., Tediosi, F., Sahu, M., Kuwawenaruwa, A., Salari, P., Günther, I. (2022). Health Economics, 31(10): 2187-2207. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.4568

Economic Recovery but Stagnating Mental Health During a Global Pandemic? Evidence from Ghana & South Africa

Durizzo, K., Asiedu, E., Van der Merwe, A., Günther, I. (2022). Review of Income and Wealth, 68(2): 653-689. https://doi.org/10.1111/roiw.12587

Managing the COVID-19 pandemic in poor urban neighborhoods: The case of Accra and Johannesburg

Durizzo, K., Asiedu, E., Van der Merwe, A., Van Niekerk, A., Günther, I. (2021). World Development, 137: 105175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105175

Working papers

Reducing petty corruption in healthcare with insurance literacy: Evidence from an RCT in Ghana

Durizzo, K., Asiedu, E., Günther, I.

Which women in Africa are excluded from health insurance and health care? Insights from machine learning

Durizzo, K., Harttgen, K., Günther, I.

Cost dynamics of noncommunicable diseases in a national health insurance context: Empirical evidence from Ghana

Durizzo, K., Owusu, R., Verguet, S.

School Feeding at Scale: Lessons from Brazil's National School Feeding Program on Coverage, Financing, and Local Procurement

Durizzo, K., Borges, S., Porrua, P., Barbieri, P., Campos Martins, P., Santos, K., Ribeiro de Albuquerque, F., Verguet, S.

Research in Progress

Impact of road expansion policy on the usage of maternal and child health services in sub-Saharan African countries

Status: Data analysis ongoing

Effect of the implementation of CLAIM-it on performance of health facilities and the NHIA in Ghana

with Abekah-Nkrumah G. and Janssens W.

Status: Fieldwork ongoing

Are laws without enforcement just good advice? Evidence from the Swiss Corporate Sustainability Reporting Mandate on Human Rights Reporting

with Brugger F., Günther I., Schmitt-Ott N., Etienne D., Vogelsanger S.

Status: Data analysis ongoing

Impact of displaced people on health facility stock and consumption in DRC

with Lordemus S. and Bardy T.

Status: Data collection ongoing

Research

Peer-reviewed Publications

Impact of school feeding programmes on educational attainment and economic returns in five African countries

Optimizing health, financial risk protection, and equity in health benefits package design toward universal health coverage

Unpacking the impact of COVID-19 on child immunization: evidence from Ghana

Toward mandatory health insurance in low-income countries? An analysis of claims data in Tanzania

Economic Recovery but Stagnating Mental Health During a Global Pandemic? Evidence from Ghana & South Africa

Managing the COVID-19 pandemic in poor urban neighborhoods: The case of Accra and Johannesburg

Working papers

Reducing petty corruption in healthcare with insurance literacy: Evidence from an RCT in Ghana

Durizzo, K., Asiedu, E., Günther, I.

Which women in Africa are excluded from health insurance and health care? Insights from machine learning

Durizzo, K., Harttgen, K., Günther, I.

Cost dynamics of noncommunicable diseases in a national health insurance context: Empirical evidence from Ghana

Durizzo, K., Owusu, R., Verguet, S.

School Feeding at Scale: Lessons from Brazil's National School Feeding Program on Coverage, Financing, and Local Procurement

Durizzo, K., Borges, S., Porrua, P., Barbieri, P., Campos Martins, P., Santos, K., Ribeiro de Albuquerque, F., Verguet, S.

Research in Progress

Impact of road expansion policy on the usage of maternal and child health services in sub-Saharan African countries

Effect of the implementation of CLAIM-it on performance of health facilities and the NHIA in Ghana

with Abekah-Nkrumah G. and Janssens W.

Are laws without enforcement just good advice? Evidence from the Swiss Corporate Sustainability Reporting Mandate on Human Rights Reporting

with Brugger F., Günther I., Schmitt-Ott N., Etienne D., Vogelsanger S.

Impact of displaced people on health facility stock and consumption in DRC

with Lordemus S. and Bardy T.