‘Rating the rankings’: how are the NHS acute trust league tables performing?

Exactly a year ago, the NHS league tables were re-introduced. CEPA’s analysis ‘rates the rankings’, assessing whether the league tables for acute trusts are achieving their stated objectives after their first year.

CEPA named as one of the UK’s top 5 economics consulting firms in 2026

Based on feedback from clients, consultants and other sector participants, Consultancy UK has placed CEPA in the top, diamond level ranking of economics consultancy providers in the UK.

Unitaid publishes CEPA’s evaluation of its investments to support introduction of novel P. vivax treatments

The evaluation also highlights broader strategic lessons for Unitaid in the context of tightening global health financing and increasingly difficult prioritisation decisions.

The Lancet publishes article, with contributions from CEPA, about measuring the impact of antimalarial R&D investment

The Lancet Global Health, a “world-leading global health journal”, has published an article showcasing CEPA’s work for the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV). CEPA helped MMV to establish their impact measurement framework in 2022 and is pleased to see that work being used as the foundation for the article.

Tensions in the UK pharmaceutical sector are rooted in economics

In 2025, the pharmaceutical sector’s confidence in the UK has exhibited an unprecedented decline. AstraZeneca, Merck and Eli Lilly have paused or cancelled major investments, with other companies raising criticisms and concerns.

Analysis of the UK Government’s official methods to assess the value of innovative life sciences manufacturing

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has published a detailed analysis of the application and design of the HM Treasury Green Book, which was prepared by CEPA.

The Government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England: A headline review

With the NHS celebrating its 77th birthday, the UK Government offered a gift in the form of a 10 year health plan. The government’s strapline is that the NHS is ‘broken’ but with previous plans having been unable to steady the ship, can the latest one succeed?

The hidden health crisis: How fossil fuels threaten human health

Giulia Gasparri, a CEPA Consultant with significant global health and climate change sector expertise, has today delivered a session at the fifth edition of the Global Community Health Annual Workshop organized by the UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education.

CEPA retains its Platinum Rating as a top economics consulting firm in 2025

Consultancy UK, the online platform for the UK's advisory and consulting industry, has once again awarded CEPA a platinum-level ranking.

Immunisation: a critical pillar of climate adaptation

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has published a technical paper, developed with support from CEPA, which makes the case for the integration of immunisation as an effective anticipatory measure into climate adaptation strategies.

CEPA immersive work experience

We were delighted to welcome three Economics A-Level students for a two-day immersive course at CEPA. We introduced the students to the world of economic consultancy and shared insights into some of our key sectors - energy, water and global health.

Analysis of the deterioration in A&E performance across the NHS in England

CEPA's statistical analysis of A&E performance data across NHS trusts considers the influence of NHS-wide factors, the significance of regional variation and the extent of differentials across individual trusts.

A ‘broken’ NHS, £22.6bn and a big reform agenda

In the context of an ambitious government reform agenda and the Autumn Budget, this CEPA report reviews the state of the NHS and provides a strategic assessment of the government’s policies and plans.

CEPA continues to grow with additional consulting staff in the UK

We are delighted to welcome eight new members of the CEPA consulting team in London, with two directors, two consultants and four economists adding to CEPA’s expanding pool of people to support our clients.

CEPA’s Strategy Review of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is published

CEPA was appointed to conduct the end-term strategic review of The Global Fund for 2017-22.

CEPA co-founder knighted in the King’s 2024 Birthday Honours

We congratulate Dr Keith Palmer OBE, who has been recognised for his exceptional contribution to international development.

Women in Economics: Breaking Barriers Together

CEPA Senior Consultant Charlotte Hallam joined the panel for the Women in Economics event, along with female economists from the Bank of England, KPMG and the Fraser of Allander Institute.

CEPA supports water, regulatory finance and global health practices with promotions to its partnership

Join us in congratulating Tom Cochrane and Kaveri Kumar on their recent promotions to the firm’s partnership. They join CEPA’s existing global Partners to lead a growing team of more than 50 economic, public and financial policy consulting experts.

Reputation acknowledged by ranking recognition

CEPA thanks those clients, industry leaders, associates and future economists for the feedback they provided to Consultancy.uk, resulting in the firm’s high-level, 2023 ranking as one of the “Top Economics consulting firms in the UK”.

LSE students present findings about biodiversity policy

We are pleased to have supported another cohort of students undertaking the Capstone Course at the London School of Economics (LSE). 

CEPA has again been recognised as one of the UK’s leading management consultants

We are grateful for the continued positive feedback from the market, which has led to CEPA retaining its position in the Financial Times' ratings.

CEPA evaluates Unitaid’s $22m investment aimed at supporting access to medicines

Our Global Health team's evaluation of Unitaid's portfolio to 'support access to medicines through innovative use of Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights' has been published.

Our report on “Accelerating the Equitable Deployment and Access to Innovations” is published by the Global Fund

A technical evaluation by CEPA's Global Health team, to assess how the Global Fund is performing in terms of supporting innovations.

CEPA’s independent outcome evaluation of CEPI is published

Dr Richard Hatchett, the Chief Executive Officer of The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations praises our work, describing it as “a fair, balanced and independent perspective”.

Operational review of Global Fund supported HIV prevention programs for Adolescent Girls and Young Women

CEPA was commissioned by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) to conduct an operational review of Global Fund-supported HIV prevention programs for AGYW across 13 priority countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Unitaid publishes CEPA’s reports on HIV Self-Testing and Covid-19

Our external evaluations are considered to be an essential component of Unitaid's approach to grant management and monitoring, transparency and accountability, and communicating impact and learning.

Independent Outcome Evaluation for The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations

Our global health team's Independent Outcome Evaluation has been published by The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

The potential impact of future innovation in support of Unitaid’s strategy

We explored the potential impact of ten promising innovations that Unitaid may support during its 2023-27 strategic period, which could make a significant contribution to advancing global health targets.

Evaluation of Unitaid’s COVID-19 portfolio of investments

CEPA was appointed by Unitaid to undertake a portfolio-level evaluation assessing the contribution of Unitaid’s COVID-19 response and alignment with the ACT-A partnership.

Evaluation of the UNAIDS contribution to Efficient and Sustainable Financing

CEPA was appointed by the UNAIDS Independent Evaluation Office to lead an evaluation of the Joint Programme’s work on equitable, efficient and sustainable financing for the HIV response.

Unitaid HIV self-testing evaluation

End of project evaluation of Unitaid’s HIV Self-testing (HIVST) portfolio.

CEPA recognised as one of the UK’s leading management consultants

Following another year of providing high-quality advice to our clients across our core sectors, we are grateful for the positive feedback from the market, which has led to CEPA’s inclusion in the Financial Times’ independent ratings report.

Modelling the impact of a patent pool for essential medicines in low- and middle-income countries

The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is a Geneva-based organisation that negotiates and manages licences for essential medicines, which it makes available to generic manufacturers for the benefit of low- and lower-income countries.

CEPA modelling shows the economic and public health impact of voluntary licensing

Licences negotiated by the Medicines Patent Pool will save the international community an estimated USD 3.5bn and 170k lives by 2030. This is according to a new methodology for estimating the impact of licences that was validated via a peer-reviewed article published in The Lancet.

CEPA evaluates Unitaid’s investments in Hepatitis C

Unitaid has invested more than US$45 million since 2015 in support of improving access to care for hepatitis C. We are pleased to have provided them with a portfolio evaluation and end of grant evaluations.

Unitaid molecular diagnostics portfolio review

CEPA was appointed by Unitaid to conduct a portfolio-level joint end-of-grant evaluation of its investments in Point of Care (POC) molecular diagnostics for HIV.

Evaluation of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH)

CEPA was commissioned by the PMNCH Board to conduct an external evaluation of PMNCH. The evaluation was of strategic importance in the context of developing the next Strategic Plan for PMNCH for the period 2021-2025.

Gavi supply and procurement strategy evaluation

CEPA was appointed by Gavi to conduct an evaluation of the 2016-20 Supply and Procurement Strategy (their market shaping strategy). This large-scale evaluation involved an assessment of the design, implementation and results of the strategy.

TERG / Global Fund HIV primary prevention review

The Global Fund Technical Evaluation Reference Group (TERG) commissioned CEPA to conduct a review of the Global Fund’s investments in HIV primary prevention.

Evaluation of Unitaid Next Generation Indoor Residual Spray (NgenIRS) project

Unitaid commissioned CEPA to conduct an end of project evaluation of the NgenIRS project which aimed to facilitate the creation of a sustainable market for third-generation Indoor Residual Spraying (3GIRS) products.

Unitaid long-acting HIV drugs modelling support

Unitaid commissioned CEPA to develop a model to quantify the potential uptake and impact of long-acting drugs for anti-retroviral treatment of HIV.

Gavi eligibility and transition and co-financing policy evaluation

Evaluation of Gavi’s Eligibility and Transition and Co-financing Policies.

Power of Nutrition Results Framework

CEPA was engaged to evaluate CEPI's results management system. This focused on assessing whether the approach to monitoring and reporting results was relevant, meeting the needs of its donors.

Applying the ‘no-one worse off’ criterion

Laura Grobicki has contributed to an article published in the journal 'AIDS', related to the HIV allocative efficiency modelling work she undertook in Togo.

Evaluation of cooperation agreements between health organisations

The Global Fund commissioned CEPA to conduct an evaluation of its Cooperation Agreements with WHO and the Stop TB Partnership on the provision of technical assistance to support the development of country concept notes and grant-making.

Thematic review to assess an approach to investing in resilient & sustainable systems for health

CEPA conducted a thematic review to assess the Global Fund’s current approach to investments in Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH).

Evaluation of community, human rights and gender interventions

CEPA was appointed to develop an evaluation framework and methodology to help the Stop TB Partnership to evaluate its community, human rights and gender focused work.

Monitoring of Gavi Market Shaping Externalities

As part of its Supply and Procurement Strategy for 2016-2020, Gavi committed to monitor any negative and positive unintended consequences, so-called externalities, that could arise from its market shaping activity.

Evaluation of Gavi health system strengthening support to Nepal

Gavi commissioned an evaluation of its Health System Strengthening (HSS) support to Nepal through the pooled funding mechanism.

Modelling ROI on reproductive, maternal, newborn, child & adolescent health & nutrition interventions

CEPA conducted a modelling of the Global Financing Facility’s return on investment for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH-N) interventions.

Making markets for children with HIV

Our evaluation of the impact of Unitaid's support for treating children living with HIV demonstrated the pivotal role the organisation had in creating a market for paediatric antiretroviral (ARV) medicine.

Framework for integration of disease programmes into health systems

CEPA was commissioned by the Global Fund to develop a framework and diagnostic tool for assessing governance-level bottlenecks to the integration of disease programmes into national health systems.

Mid-term evaluation of the Unitaid “Self-testing Africa (STAR)” project

CEPA was appointed to review the implementation of the first phase of Unitaid’s HIV self-testing grant to identify areas that worked well and those that worked less well, determine the extent to which the project achieved its intended impacts.

Advisory support to the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

CEPA was asked to carry out an analysis of the factors affecting provision of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) for Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent related health programmes (SRMNCAH).

Review of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control

CEPA was appointed by the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) to conduct an independent review of the revitalised Task Force.

Evaluation of the ‘Improving Severe Malaria Outcomes’ project

CEPA was appointed to conduct a mid-term and an end-term review of Unitaid’s “Improving Severe Malaria Outcomes” project.

Development of Global Strategy for Womens’, Childrens’ & Adolescents’ Health

CEPA supported the PMNCH’s Consultation on the Global Financing Facility in conducting a global consultation process and producing a report.

Gavi’s new country engagement framework

CEPA was appointed by Gavi to capture feedback and document lessons during the early implementation phase of Gavi’s new country engagement framework approach.

Development of Gavi application guidelines

CEPA was commissioned to develop Gavi’s Application Guidelines and Forms for 2016 and 2017.

Health systems strengthening country evaluations

CEPA conducted a meta-review of 14 country evaluations of Gavi HSS support in order to inform Gavi’s review of its HSS window of support.

Prospective evaluation design for the Bangladesh Home Fortification Project

CEPA supported CIF with an evaluation of the Bangladesh Home Fortification Project, aimed at reducing anaemia among young children.

Evaluation of the Stop TB Partnership

CEPA was appointed to undertake a Value for Money (VfM) evaluation of the Stop TB Partnership covering the period 2007 to 2013.

Innovative financing mechanisms for malaria elimination

CEPA was appointed to review current financing trends for malaria eliminating countries and consider suitable innovative financing mechanisms that could be developed to support malaria elimination.

Review of Unitaid’s Medicines Patent Pool (MPP)

CEPA undertook a review to closely assess the strategic direction, positioning and operations of the MPP.

Evaluation of the Norway India Partnership Initiative

CEPA was appointed by the Evaluation Department at Norad to conduct a process evaluation of the Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI) with the aim to reduce child and maternal mortality.

Investment case for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics

The purpose of the assignment was to prepare an investment case for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems, to serve as a key advocacy document to garner support for and investment in, CRVS systems.

Mid-term review of GAIN’s Infant and Young Child Nutrition programme

CEPA conducted a mid-term review of GAIN’s Infant and Young Child Nutrition programme.

Evaluation of Gavi Phase II

A consortium led by CEPA carried out the second evaluation of Gavi. The evaluation assessed Gavi’s performance since inception, focusing on the period between 2006 and 2009.

Drugs and diagnostics for communicable diseases

CEPA was commissioned by the Global Fund to conduct a Market Dynamics Study focusing on seven product areas (drugs and diagnostics for the three disease areas, and Long-Lasting Insecticide-treated Nets).