ODA has been engaged by ToroDev to support its data analysis and visualization of findings of the research on health data governance in Eastern Africa. This task is to be accomplished between March – May 2023. Our data science and research expertise is expected to add value to the study findings and recommendations, as well as tap into the experiences of ToroDev in advocacy interventions over years.
ToroDev boasts of along time partnership (over 10 years) with SPIDER – The Swedish Program for ICT in Developing regions, a digital and research center at the Department of Computer & System Sciences (DSV), Stockholm University – Sweden. A number of ICT for development projects have been funded by SPIDER and implemented by ToroDev in Uganda and Kenya, since 2012.
Most recently in February 2023, SPIDER approached ToroDev to for renewed partnership to conduct a research on “Health Data Governance” in the East African region countries (Uganda, Tanzania & Kenya). The study findings are recommendations are aimed at supporting the “My Data : Our Health” campaign, spearheaded by Transform Health Coalition, an international digital health advocacy organization headquartered in Barcelona, Spain.
Specific tasks for ToroDev to complete are the following;
- Evaluating policies, laws and regulations on health data governance in the three East African countries and providing perspectives on their adequacy, recommendations for reform/review and appropriate and implementation aimed at promoting inclusive access to better health care.
- Assessment of awareness among the population on health data, its management, security and value in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. This includes an analysis of public debate on the topic within the aforementioned countries as well as individual surveys. This will provide a benchmark on campaign progress in the future.
- The main framing of these discussions and the narrative and discourse used to talk about these issues, with a set of qualitative indicators the campaign can use to track its impact on the national and regional conversation on the issue of health governance in East Africa.
- Explore the current health data protection and privacy practices , including data generation, management and utilization systems and the trends in digitalization (use of modern digital technology) in data governance in East Africa (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania).
- Make policy and practice recommendations on health data governance in East Africa to improve trust and credibility of health data.
