The study is rolling out a randomized controlled trial in Addis Ababa’s 23 poorest districts—using the Urban Productive Safety Net Program roster to identify 1,400 CBHI‐eligible, non‐enrolled urban households—randomly assigned (350 each) to one of four arms (50 % top‐up premium subsidy; targeted CBHI information via Health Belief Model–based workshops and leaflets; both subsidy and information; or control). With interventions delivered in partnership with the Ethiopian Health Insurance Agency, it will measure effects on CBHI enrollment, health service utilization, and broader economic and welfare outcomes (household consumption, labor supply, productivity, subjective well being). By generating rigorous, locally relevant evidence on which levers most effectively boost insurance uptake and utilization, the project aims to inform national policy on scaling CBHI as a pathway to universal health coverage in Ethiopia.
Research Team: NIERA members Alebel Bayrau Weldesilassie (PhD), Shibiru Ayalew Melesse (PhD) and collaborator Jemal Mohamed Adem (PhD) from Ethiopian Policy Studies Institute.
Team Members
Alebel Bayrau Weldesilassie Lead Research Fellow
Alebel Bayrau Weldesilassie is a Lead Research Fellow at the Policy Studies Institute (formerly EDRI) in Ethiopia. He holds a PhD in Production Theory and Resource Economics from Hohenheim University, Germany, and an MSc in Economics from Addis Ababa University. He has over 16 years of postdoctoral experience in research and policy analysis, focusing on […]
Shibiru Ayalew Melesse Senior Lecturer
Shibiru Ayalew Melesse is a seasoned researcher, consultant, trainer, and an Assistant Professor of Technology and Innovation Management at Adama Science and Technology University (ASTU), Ethiopia, with over 18 years of experience in academia, research, and community engagement. He holds a PhD in Technology and Innovation Management, an MBA, and a BA in Management. He […]