Research Fellows

MICHEL ADURAYI AMENAH

Executive Director & Senior Research Fellow

Michel Adurayi Amenah is a development economist with expertise in health economics, public policy, and systems strengthening across Africa. He serves as Director of Research and Policy at Rewrite to Build, where he leads research initiatives focused on advancing equity and sustainability in health, education, environment, and economic opportunity.

​

Michel is currently pursuing a PhD in Health Economics and Policy at Lancaster University, where his research focuses on improving the efficiency of primary healthcare systems, particularly for early detection and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Ghana. He also contributes to projects under the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Global Research Centre for NCD Control in West Africa.

​

He has worked extensively across Africa with institutions such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the University of California, Berkeley. His professional experience spans Ghana, Burkina Faso, Niger, Rwanda, and South Sudan, focusing on health financing, catastrophic health payments, adolescent mental health, sugar-sweetened beverage taxation, energy poverty, and technical efficiency of health facilities.

​

In addition to his research work, Michel plays an active role in policy development, including supporting the ongoing revision of Ghana’s national School Health Policy in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. His contribution helps ensure that school-aged children’s physical, mental, and reproductive health needs are integrated into education sector planning and delivery.

​

Michel’s research has been published in peer-reviewed international journals, covering areas such as health systems performance, adolescent and reproductive health, and service delivery efficiency. His work emphasizes the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods to inform practical, context-specific policy reforms. For a full list of his publications, visit his ORCID profile: ORCID profile.

​

At Rewrite to Build, Michel drives the organization’s research, policy, and knowledge translation agenda. He oversees the development of policy briefs, insight reports, and technical papers that respond to real challenges across Africa’s development sectors. Michel also supports capacity building for young researchers and coordinates research-based advocacy initiatives that amplify the voices of underrepresented communities. His leadership ensures that Rewrite to Build’s work is grounded in evidence, responsive to context, and aligned with the goal of reimagining development systems that work for everyone, especially the most vulnerable.