Practical Insights on COVID-19 Digital Response

usaid covid response

USAID and CDC are mobilizing the international development community to respond to the coronavirus threat in developing countries. Hospitals, clinics, and front line health workers in all healthcare facilities are getting grant funding investments from donors including Gates Foundation and DFID to mount a successful COVID-19 Digital Response and contain the global infectious disease epidemic.

COVID-19 Response Digital Health Solutions

Digital health technology is integral to COVID-19 digital response by government Ministries of Health in low- and middle income countries. We developed several lists of potential eHealth and mHealth applications to support this effort:

We have additional resources planned to guide global health implementing partners and humanitarian response organizations as they develop rapid response interventions to reduce COVID-19 impact on LMICs.

COVID-19 Digital Response Workshop

We convened a special COVID-19 Response Workshop with over 300 donor, government, and health workers who are exploring how digital development practitioners can support LIMC governments, their healthcare systems, and frontline health workers.

Our interactive workshop started with an update on COVID-19 and coronavirus infections, including the latest information on how its spreading and what’s effective in reducing its impact. We heard from government health experts in LMICs on what national health systems are doing to prepare and mitigate COVID-19 impact. We also revisited lessons learned from the West African Ebola response.

Next we broke into small working groups to explore the challenges in responding to coronavirus, and identify use cases where digital development solutions like these can be utilized in COVID digital response. Finally, we heard from solution providers on key disease response innovations, and wrapped up with ideas on the way forward.

More COVID Digital Response Resources

As epidemic control moves into the COVAX stage, we are exploring how Digital Yellow Card Certificates can track who has COVID-19 immunity and when inclusive digital design will ensure digital privacy and security as we build out edutech, agritech, and digital health solutions for COVID-19 Digital Response. Read on for more informatics responses to this enduring pandemic.

How to Safely Collect Data Remotely During COVID-19 Digital Response

How to Safely Collect Data Remotely During COVID-19 Digital Response

Published on: Apr 22 2021 by Guest Writer - 1 Comment
Please RSVP Now to learn more about data collection solutions at the Global Digital Development Forum on May 5. Our amazing agenda features multiple sessions dedicated...
Six Ways Technology Solutions Can Help End Gender-Based Violence

Six Ways Technology Solutions Can Help End Gender-Based Violence

Published on: Mar 31 2021 by Guest Writer - 1 Comment
COVID-19 and related containment measures have triggered a shadow pandemic of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). This global scourge threatens the safety and well-being...
10 Tips for Better Remote Data Collection with Mobile Phone Surveys

10 Tips for Better Remote Data Collection with Mobile Phone Surveys

Published on: Mar 25 2021 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on 10 Tips for Better Remote Data Collection with Mobile Phone Surveys
Many international development organizations invest heavily in phone-based surveys to gather high-quality feedback and project evaluation data. When done correctly,...
Successful Low-Tech Educational Solutions in COVID-19 Digital Response

Successful Low-Tech Educational Solutions in COVID-19 Digital Response

Published on: Mar 24 2021 by Wayan Vota - 1 Comment
The COVID-19 pandemic paralyzed education systems worldwide; at one point, school closures forced over 1.6 billion learners out of classrooms. While smaller in...
USAID Guide: How to Evaluate Distance Learning in COVID-19 Response

USAID Guide: How to Evaluate Distance Learning in COVID-19 Response

Published on: Feb 24 2021 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on USAID Guide: How to Evaluate Distance Learning in COVID-19 Response
As countries around the world have closed learning institutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, teaching and learning have pivoted from in-person instruction...
Applying Game-Based Learning During COVID-19 Digital Response

Applying Game-Based Learning During COVID-19 Digital Response

Published on: Jan 28 2021 by Guest Writer - 1 Comment
Game-based learning using serious computer games has a huge potential to overcome challenges faced by teachers and trainers in low-income countries. Not only does...
Apply Now: 1 Million Euro for African COVID-19 Digital Response Solutions

Apply Now: 1 Million Euro for African COVID-19 Digital Response Solutions

Published on: Jan 18 2021 by Wayan Vota - 24 Comments
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a human tragedy across the African continent. Besides contributing to the loss of over 50,000 people, the pandemic is expected...
How Telehealth is Preserving HIV Service Delivery During COVID-19

How Telehealth is Preserving HIV Service Delivery During COVID-19

Published on: Jan 15 2021 by Guest Writer - 1 Comment
Adapting to the “new normal” of COVID-19 digital response has dramatically impacted our daily lives and routines. For HIV programs, this has required shifting...
Apply Now: Gates Foundation $100,000 COVID-19 Data Science Grants

Apply Now: Gates Foundation $100,000 COVID-19 Data Science Grants

Published on: Dec 28 2020 by Wayan Vota - 21 Comments
There is an immense need for data science researchers to use new analytical processes and emerging datasets in COVID-19 digital response. This need is particularly...
Apply Now: $30,000 Funding for Your Asia AgriTech Solution

Apply Now: $30,000 Funding for Your Asia AgriTech Solution

Published on: Dec 21 2020 by Wayan Vota - 10 Comments
COVID-19 has disrupted the agriculture value chain at every level. The measures taken to contain the spread of the virus have stressed entire food systems. Today,...