Dr. Zana Somda : Bridging Health and Agriculture Inequities with Data-driven Solutions
Welcome to the website of Zana Somda, Ph.D. As a seasoned health economist with over two decades of experience, Dr. Somda is dedicated to creating equitable systems and empowering decision-making processes at the subnational and national levels.
Health Economics and Beyond
Dr. Somda is a distinguished health economist and financing advisor who has a proven track record of supporting governments and organizations to tackle real-world challenges through data-driven solutions. With over 20 years of experience in the health sector, he has provided technical assistance and consulting services to global health projects and programs funded by renowned donors such as USAID, UK/DFID, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Dr. Somda's expertise lies in the strengthening of national health financing systems and initiating reforms towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC). He has helped develop long-term health financing strategies, facilitated evidence-based financial planning and resource tracking, and mobilized resources in underfunded areas. Dr. Somda's contributions have paved the way for groundbreaking reforms in the health sector, enabling organizations to make informed decisions and deliver impactful interventions.
Dr. Somda's Recent Endeavors: Strengthening Health Systems and Improving Health Outcomes
Breaking Barriers: Leveraging Strategic Purchasing for
Healthcare Resilience in Burkina Faso
In the vast and intricate landscape of healthcare delivery in sub-Saharan Africa, strategic
purchasing stands out as a beacon of hope, particularly in regions grappling with security
deficits. Burkina Faso, akin to many of its neighboring countries, confronts multifaceted
challenges in providing essential health services amidst conflict and instability. The nation's
healthcare system, already strained by resource limitations and infrastructural shortcomings,
faces additional complexities exacerbated by ongoing insecurity.
By comprehensively understanding the landscape of healthcare delivery in Burkina Faso,
policymakers can develop targeted strategies that address the multifaceted challenges posed by insecurity while harnessing the potential of strategic purchasing to drive positive health outcomes and build a more resilient healthcare system.
IMPACT Project in Madagascar
Public Sector Medicine and Health Supplies Procurement System in Madagascar: Analysis of the Total Cost of the Public Logistics Chain
Dr. Zana Somda played a crucial role in the IMPACT project, a collaboration between USAID, Population Services International (PSI)/Madagascar, and various partners such as Management Sciences for Health (MSH), PATH, Telma Foundation, and Banyan Global. Over the course of five years, from September 2018 to September 2023, Dr. Somda worked tirelessly to enhance the capacity of the Malagasy health system. His involvement in the project included leading activities to strengthen the public sector's logistics management information system (LMIS) and supply chain management. Dr. Somda's efforts aimed to ensure the continuous availability and accessibility of pharmaceutical products and public health inputs to all Malagasy people. Through his dedication and expertise, Dr. Somda contributed to improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of the public health input procurement system in Madagascar.
Expert Working Group Country Mission to Uganda
EWG with the General Director of the Ugandan Ministry of Public Health.
The EWG with the Director of National Institute of Public Health.
The EWG Team.
Dr. Somda's recent work in Burkina Faso on strengthening health data use.
As a consultant for Cooper/Smith, Dr. Somda travelled to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso to work with the country's Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene (MSHP) in the second phase of the Data Use Partnership initiative funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Cooper/Smith's is supporting the MSHP to strengthen its coordination and governance structures in digital health and helping improve the use of health data in decision-making processes.
Dr. Somda guides African Union's emergency preparedness policy at EWG meeting.
At the EWG meeting held at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from Dec. 7-9, 2022, Dr. Somda played a pivotal role in guiding the priority setting for emergency preparedness and response. Invited as an expert, he assisted the African CDC's Health Economics Program in developing policy briefs and guidance on this critical issue to guide African Union member states.
Senior Level Expertise
Notable Qualifications
Education
PhD Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia, USA 2003
MS Environmental Economics, University of Georgia, USA 2001
PhD Horticulture, University of Georgia, USA 1989
MS Horticulture, University of Georgia, USA 1985
Engineer Agric. and Rural Development, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 1982
BS Agricultural and Biological Sciences, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 1980
Language
Fluency in French, English, and local languages of Burkina Faso and Ghana.
Country Experience
Lived and worked in USA, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, and Nigeria, including short-term and remote assignments in Benin, Botswana, Eritrea, Haiti, Madagascar, Mali, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
Donor Experience
USAID/PEPFAR, CDC, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UKaid/DFID, WHO.
Dr. Zana Somda, Senior Technical Consultant
Strengthening healthcare surveillance systems with his technical expertise in Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.
