In this Q&A, health economist Jacob Novignon talks about the path that took him from mainstream economics into health economics, what PRESTO's evidence synthesis reveals about cash transfers and health, the stubborn myth about alcohol and tobacco, and why he believes the job of a researcher is to put the evidence where policymakers can find it. The Researcher Please tell us about yourself and your work with PRESTO. My name is Jacob Novignon. People often stumble over the surname, so I like to...

In this Q&A, Leah Prencipe talks about the study that first quantified the link between climate distress and youth mental health in Tanzania, the drivers of childhood violence, and why she believes clarity is not the opposite of rigor. The Researcher Can you walk us through your background and what led you to the work you do today? I was born in New York City to Italian immigrants who instilled in me the importance of education and hard work. While I did well academically in high school, I...

PRESTO Researcher Spotlight Series | Issue 01 | Featuring Stephen Okiya At PRESTO, we believe that effective policy begins with rigorous evidence and the people committed to generating it. Our Researcher Spotlight series is designed to take you behind the scenes — introducing the individuals whose expertise, dedication, and curiosity drive the research and analysis that informs policy decisions across Africa and beyond. In this first installment, we sit down with Stephen Okiya, a Statistician...