Caterina Favaretti is one of our Data Analysts here at Elucid. We decided to pick her brain about her work here at Elucid, and about why she thinks our data solution is meaningful. Liene Izule from our Comms Team, interviewed Caterina – and learned something new in the answer to every question!

Liene: Can you talk a bit about your background in data?

Caterina: My background is in behavioral research and impact evaluation, specifically in healthcare. I started with a Master’s in Economics, where my thesis focused on evaluating a health-financing scheme for hospitals in Malawi. That’s where I first got really into working with data—not just analyzing it but thinking about how it can be used to measure real-world impact. After that, I worked as a research assistant at the Heidelberg Institute for Global Health, where I helped run large-scale online randomized controlled trials testing interventions against COVID-19 misinformation. Now, during my PhD at the Technical University of Munich, I’ve been running field experiments in India and Uganda to explore ways to improve healthcare-seeking behaviors, particularly for non-communicalble diseases. So, a lot of my work involves study design, data collection, cleaning, and analysis—but also thinking about the mechanisms behind interventions and how they drive change.

Before joining, what were your first thoughts about Elucid’s data approach? Did anything stand out to you?

What really stood out to me about Elucid’s approach was how it goes beyond just compliance metrics or standard sustainability reporting. A lot of companies focus on high-level indicators, but Elucid seemed to take a much more nuanced, people-centered approach – looking specifically at how health actually affect supply chains in a measurable way.

What made you decide to work at Elucid? 

Having only worked in academic settings, I wanted to explore what the other side looks like and I was curious about how research and data are used in real-world decision-making. What specifically drew me to Elucid was the chance to work at the intersection of data, healthcare, and social impact. The mission of improving supply chains – not just from a business perspective but also to enhance worker well-being – immediately resonated with me.

How does your PhD relate to the work you do now?

My PhD focuses on understanding healthcare-seeking behaviors, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, which directly connects to my work at Elucid. A big part of my research has been testing interventions to encourage people to access preventive care – something that’s critical for worker well-being and supply chain sustainability. The skills I developed during my PhD, like study design, survey development, behavioral data analysis, and impact evaluation, are the same ones I use now to assess the effectiveness of Elucid’s programs. So in many ways, my PhD gave me the perfect foundation for this role.

What types of data do we collect, and why is it valuable for understanding supply chains? 

Elucid collects both quantitative and qualitative data to provide a full picture of supply chains. On the quantitative side, we track healthcare-related data such as the types of treatments workers seek, the number of claims filed, and patterns in healthcare usage. To complement this, we gather qualitative insights on, for example, barriers to care, financial constraints, and perceptions of healthcare quality. This mix of structured metrics and real-world experiences allows us to move beyond basic reporting to understand not just what is happening, but why.

What sets our data in apart from other types of sustainability data?

Elucid’s data stands out because of its depth, worker-centered focus, and actionability. Most sustainability reporting focuses on environmental impact or compliance, which are important, but they often miss the human side of supply chains. Elucid doesn’t just track numbers, it also uncovers hidden challenges like barriers to healthcare, financial stress, and workplace health risks that often go unnoticed in standard sustainability reporting. Most importantly, our data drives change. We don’t just highlight issues: we provide insights that help companies take action to improve worker well-being, strengthen supply chain resilience, and create lasting impact.

How does healthcare data help us understand and improve worker productivity in supply chains?

Healthcare data helps us see the direct link between worker health and business outcomes like absenteeism, efficiency, and turnover. When workers face untreated illnesses or barriers to care, they are more likely to miss shifts, experience reduced productivity, or even leave their jobs in search of better conditions. By analyzing illness patterns, medical claims, and access barriers, companies can identify these challenges early and implement targeted solutions. For example, enrolling workers in national health insurance schemes or subsidizing essential care can reduce sick days, improve overall well-being, and create a more stable, productive workforce. In the long run, this benefits both workers and the supply chain as a whole.

What connections have you seen between healthcare access and child labor? How does health data help companies address this challenge?

We know that child labor is driven by a mix of economic and social factors, but one thing that often gets overlooked is how healthcare costs can add to that burden. When a parent gets sick and can’t work, families lose income, and if they’re also dealing with high out-of-pocket medical expenses, the financial strain can increase the likelihood that children step in to help support the household. In some cases, when access to healthcare is limited, preventable illnesses can become long-term issues, making it even harder for families to recover financially. Health data helps companies pinpoint where healthcare-related financial stress is contributing to the risk of child labor—whether it’s due to high medical costs, frequent illness, or barriers to care. With this insight, companies can take proactive steps, like subsidizing essential healthcare services, enrolling workers in national health insurance, or improving access to preventive care. While healthcare is just one piece of the puzzle, reducing financial strain on families can be a crucial step in addressing child labor and building more sustainable supply chains.

What role does our data play in understanding gender equality in supply chains?

Women in supply chains face greater barriers to healthcare due to lower incomes, limited autonomy, and restricted decision-making power. Elucid’s data helps uncover these gender-specific challenges. By analyzing both quantitative and qualitative insights, we can see how factors like cost, time constraints, and social dynamics affect healthcare access for women compared to men. With these insights, companies can design targeted interventions—whether that’s increasing access to maternal health services, offering childcare support, or ensuring that healthcare benefits are both accessible and easy for female workers to use. In this way, companies can foster a more inclusive, equitable, and productive supply chain over time.

Are there trends in healthcare access or farmer well-being that have changed over time? What does that tell us?

A recent impact evaluation in Ghana found that Elucid’s programs have significantly improved healthcare access and farmer well-being. Over one year, 86% of beneficiaries reported better healthcare quality, 30% had fewer sick days, and out-of-pocket expenses dropped. Beyond that, 92% reported a better quality of life, and 96% saw improved household health. These trends highlight the importance of integrating healthcare initiatives within supply chains—not just as a social good but as a strategy to promote stable and productive farming communities.

What’s one insight from our data that really stuck with you? Why was it meaningful? 

One really striking insight came from an impact evaluation we did in the Diana Region of Madagascar—91% of beneficiaries accessed essential healthcare services for the first time through our programs. That really highlights how huge the gap in healthcare access was—and how much of a difference targeted programs can make.

How does analyzing this data help us measure the real impact of healthcare programs? Can you share an example? 

Analyzing healthcare data helps us move beyond assumptions and actually measure whether healthcare programs are making a difference in workers’ lives. By tracking key indicators—like how often workers seek healthcare, how many sick days they take, how much they spend out of pocket, and how they feel about their health—we can compare data before and after a program is implemented to see if it’s truly effective. However, to confidently say that a program is working, the data needs to be reliable. Since many of these indicators are self-reported (meaning workers share their own experiences rather than objective records), we take extra steps to ensure accuracy. That includes training data collectors, creating a confidential environment so workers feel safe giving honest answers, using validated measurement tools, and designing surveys that minimize bias and aren’t overly burdensome for respondents.

What’s something about our data that companies might overlook but is actually really important? 

One key aspect of Elucid’s data that companies might overlook is the power of qualitative insights in shaping effective interventions. Many companies prioritize hard metrics—like absenteeism rates, healthcare usage, or financial costs—because they are easy to quantify. But qualitative data, if properly collected, such as workers’ perceptions of healthcare quality, the challenges they face in seeking care, or the financial trade-offs they navigate, is just as critical. By combining quantitative trends with qualitative context, companies can design interventions that actually work—not just on paper, but in real-world settings. As Elucid continues to grow, this approach has the potential to drive meaningful, lasting change in supply chains.

Hungry for more?

If Caterina has given you a taste of our data solution and you want to learn more about the data we have already collected and surrounding our programs, make sure to check out our recent independent evaluation by 60_decibels here, or take a look through some of the articles on our knowledge hub!