Nyovani is currently Director of Research and Head of the Malawi office of the African Institute for Development Policy, whose headquarters is in Nairobi. She received her MSc and PhD from the University of Southampton and a Doctor of Science honorary degree from the University of Aberdeen.
Between 1994 and 2018, she was at the University of Southampton where she started as a lecturer, rising to Professor of Demography and Social Statistics. She also served as the University’s lead for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity, Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Human and Mathematical Science, and Director of the Centre for Global Health, Population, Poverty, and Policy. Nyovani also worked as a Lecturer at the University of Malawi between 1983 and 1994, and on secondment as a Senior Research Scientist at the African Population and Health Research Center in Kenya (2004-2007).
Nyovani has over 100 peer-reviewed publications on the social determinants of health in the specific areas of maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, food security, and nutritional status. In her current role, Nyovani’s focus is on promoting the use of evidence in decision-making in the public sector (where she is working with researchers and policymakers on effective strategies for policy engagement) and supporting countries to evaluate their progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.