The Data Informed Platform for Health (DIPH) is a decision-making support system which facilitates review and use of data in local level decision-making in the health sector. A prototype phase, which was piloted in three health districts in West Bengal, India, successfully demonstrated it to be an effective mechanism for multi-sectoral data sharing and data-based decision making using local programme and service data at district level.

During the workshop the IDEAS team, led by Dr Bilal Avan, provided background information on the DIPH and outlined research plans for a learning phase in Ethiopia.

The Co-Creation Workshop was attended by participants from the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), the Ethiopia Data Use Partnership (DUP), L10K and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, who fund the DIPH research through a grant to the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Participants agreed that the DIPH model offers value added to the existing data related initiatives already being implemented in the East African country. The DIPH model would be useful especially in terms of enhancing structured decision-making, collaboration among a wide range of stakeholders and the consideration of multiple data sources, beyond the Health Management Information System. Another area the DIPH could potentially facilitate is the more strategic allocation of funds throughout Woredas, as well as more regular quarterly problem solving strategies, rather than relying solely on annual plans. A follow-up workshop in the coming months will work towards mapping potential Woredas as interventions sites, developing an evaluation strategy and setting up an advisory group.

Dr Bilal Avan described the workshop as a great success, highlighting the Government’s enthusiasm for a DIPH learning phase in the near future.