Africa Data Value Chain Survey
The project is currently engaged in a two-phase assessment of the data lifecycle across Africa, from data creation to utilization. The objectives are to understand the data ecosystem across different African institutions, assess the current data capability/maturity levels in various member states, evaluate the progress made by different countries in harnessing the data value chain, and identify training needs across the data ecosystem domains in African institutions. This effort is a joint initiative between Africa CDC and APHRC.
Rapid Online Assessment
The first phase involves a rapid online survey targeting key personnel across various member states. The primary focus is on evaluating the data ecosystem, data capability/maturity, and data value chain across Africa. This phase will help identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for enhancing data science applications in the region.
Comprehensive Survey
Following the rapid assessment, a comprehensive survey will be conducted. This phase will build on the findings from the rapid assessment and involve key informant interviews, in-depth analysis, desk reviews, and stakeholder engagements across member states. The comprehensive survey aims to benchmark African data capabilities against international standards and identify areas for collaboration and investment.
Assessment Focus Areas
Data Ecosystem
Exploration of data sources, collection methods, governance, platform infrastructure, and user needs across member states.
Data Capability/Maturity
Use of the Automated Data Maturity Test Tool by HESA to assess and visualize the maturity levels of different member states, focusing on people and culture, technology, data activities, and business processes.
Data Value Chain
Examination of the maturity level of the data value chain, including collection, publication, uptake, and impact, to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.
Needs Assessment
Identifying infrastructure and training needs across the various domains of the data ecosystem.
Collection
A cross-sectional survey using an electronic structured questionnaire will be conducted across institutions in the pathfinder countries, with respondents purposively selected based on their expertise in data science-related activities, guided by the Ministries of Health and National Public Health Institutes.
This rapid assessment aims to unlock the potential of data to drive growth and development in Africa by providing insights for targeted interventions and innovative products using data science and AI technologies, ultimately informing strategies for optimizing the data value chain and data management capabilities to enable effective data-driven decision-making and innovation across the continent.
Publication
The findings from the survey will be analyzed and synthesized into actionable insights, highlighting strengths, gaps, and key recommendations for advancing data science capacity across the participating institutions. Reports will be generated to provide individualized feedback to each institution, outlining their data capability maturity levels and offering tailored recommendations for improvement.
Additionally, the comprehensive report will be published to inform policymakers, donors, and other stakeholders about the current landscape of data science in African health and research institutions. The preliminary report from Phase 1 of this survey underscores the importance of collaboration, investment in infrastructure, and targeted capacity-building efforts to bridge existing gaps and harness the full potential of data science for public health and development.
Uptake
The insights from the Data Value Chain Survey are actively shaping the implementation of the DSWB project, guiding targeted interventions to support Pathfinder institutions in achieving their data science goals. Findings have already led to the establishment of new initiatives, such as the formation of a data governance working group to address challenges related to data sharing and legal frameworks.
Institutions have begun leveraging the feedback to refine their data management strategies, enhance staff capacity, and adopt advanced data visualization and analytics tools. The DSWB project is facilitating collaboration between academic institutions and health organizations, fostering a dynamic environment for knowledge exchange and skill development.
By continuously monitoring and evaluating progress, the project aims to ensure that the recommendations from the needs assessment translate into meaningful improvements in data systems, contributing to more effective public health interventions and evidence-based policy-making across Africa.
