New partner in Health practice at Genesis Analytics

Dr Saul Johnson, a well-known epidemiologist and public health specialist, has been made a partner at Genesis Analytics. He joined Genesis in 2016 when the firm bought Anansi Health Consulting and established a Health practice.

The chair and founder of Genesis Analytics, Stephan Malherbe, said the firm was proud to have Johnson join the leadership of Genesis. “Saul brings a rich history of experience of working in the area of public health and preventative medicine through tackling areas such as TB, HIV and AIDS,” said Malherbe.

“In Genesis we like big, complex sectors that are central to the progress of countries, and where market and state play a role. Above all, we like areas where our hallmark rigorous and creative analytical thinking can put to good use. All this is true of health, in spades.

“Health risks and issues don’t respect boundaries, so this is a regional play. Clearly there is massive room for improving health outcomes in the region. Genesis will now become part of this exciting process,” said Malherbe.

Malherbe said Johnson and his team had technical depth, a reputation for creative solutions, and a real ambition to make a mark in a critical area. “Collectively the team has over three decades of experience in planning, implementing and evaluating cutting-edge and innovative programmes in the health sector throughout sub-Saharan Africa.”

Short biography:

Dr Saul Johnson has worked in healthcare in Africa for over 20 years. He has worked as a doctor, epidemiologist, researcher and senior manager in various African countries. He was a co-founder of the health consulting company, Health and Development Africa, and grew it from three people in 2002 to over 50 in 2010, when they sold the company to Mott MacDonald International.

In 2014 Saul resigned from HDA and in 2015 he started Anansi Health Consulting. Saul’s areas of expertise include epidemiology, research, monitoring and evaluation, behaviour change communication, HIV prevention, health system strengthening, and organisational development and change management.

Saul has a particular interest in designing, implementing and evaluating Aids programmes, and is actively involved with monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in a number of African countries. He has led large evaluation programmes in South Africa and Kenya.

Saul has developed and managed a number of large household surveys in South Africa, looking at HIV and TB-related behaviour and at health insurance for low-income households. He was an M&E expert for the Global Fund, working for PwC, from 2003 to 2007. Saul has acted as an adviser and technical expert for projects with USAID, CDC, DFID, UNAIDS and the Global Fund, among others.

Saul lectures at a number of South African universities on epidemiology and M&E, including on the M&E of HIV programmes run by Measure Evaluation and the University of Pretoria. He has been an adviser to UNAIDS on modes of transmission studies as well as on Know Your Epidemic methodologies.