Imelda E. Akurut is a health economist and health systems specialist with over a decade of experience across policy, financing, and implementation in global health. She has held technical and advisory roles at Cordaid, CARE, World Vision, Jhpiego, ChildFund International, Amref Health Africa, and Watoto Child Care Ministries. At Cordaid, she led health financing strategies for SRHR services, overseeing results-based financing mechanisms and pioneering digital innovations including Smart Paper Technology and electronic voucher systems. At CARE, she provided multi-country technical oversight for SRHR programming.
Imelda’s expertise spans health financing reform, results-based financing, health systems strengthening, and applied research, with a consistent commitment to bridging global evidence with locally led, community-centered solutions.
She holds an MSc in Health Economics and Health Policy from Brunel University London, an MPH in Population and Reproductive Studies, and a Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification.
She believes that if women and children bear the greatest burden of disease, then women must write the remedy, designing health systems where equity is intentional, not incidental.
Fun fact: Imelda is a devoted lover of God, art, and the soulful world of jazz and blues — though she is the first to clarify that her appreciation is deeply anointed, her vocals decidedly less so.