Sulemana Nurudeen

Sulemana Nurudeen is a PhD Candidate with the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic, University of Ghana. He is a development researcher by training with experience in applied research, impact evaluation, and development policy analysis. His doctoral research focuses on spatial health inequalities and health system performance in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), with particular attention to neonatal mortality. 
His PhD thesis, titled “Neonatal Mortality in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs): A Spatial Comparative Analysis of Determinants and the Role of Health System Factors” investigates the spatial pattern and distribution of neonatal mortality across selected Low-and Middle-Income Countries(LMICs)  and examines how spatial variation in the socioeconomic, demographic, and health system factors influence neonatal outcome. His research further explores how health system factors moderate and mediate the relationship between socioeconomic and maternal factors on neonatal outcome. By applying spatial and quantitative analytical framework, the study aims to generate evidence that can inform targeted policy interventions and strengthen newborn health systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). 
His academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of Global Health and Development, Health Economics, Development Economics, Labour Migration, Child Labour, Climate change and Just Energy Transition, green jobs, SMEs and Sustainable Livelihoods. 
Professionally, Nurudeen has extensive experience consulting with international development organizations and research institutions, including International Labour Organization (ILO), UNDP Ghana, Trade Union Congress, GIZ Ghana, Trades Union Congress-Ghana, World Bank, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and Plan International Ghana.
His work has involved leading and supporting large-scale surveys, impact evaluations, and policy research projects addressing issues such as health systems performance, labor migration, health financing, social protection, youth development, SMEs and Economic Transformation. 
Nurudeen holds a Master of Arts in Development Studies from the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, and a bachelor’s degree in economics and Entrepreneurship Development from the University for Development Studies. 

Publications

Karbo, R. T., Frewer, L. J., Areal, F., Jones, G., & Sulemana, N. (2024). A systematic review of the efficacy of theories used to understand farmers’ technology adoption behavior in lower-to-middle-income countries. Development Studies Research, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/21665095.2023.2294696

Azure, F. N., Bhebe, M., Sulemana, N., Okova, D., Edusei, A. K., & Lukwa, A. T. (2026). Governance gaps and system-feasible reforms at the sub-district level: Evidence from two sub- districts in Ghana’s primary health care system. SSM - Health Systems, 100202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmhs.2026.100202

Conferences
Co-presenter on “Evolving Dynamics of Cancer Epidemiology: The Financing and Challenges with OOPE and Impact on Livelihoods at the Ghana College of Health Sciences 5th Biennial Scientific Conference (2024)

Education International 17th Research Network Conference 25-27 October 2022, Brussels, Belgium