Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

The use of information and communication technology in the health sector, commonly known as eHealth, is an appealing solution to addressing the many challenges facing health systems in Africa. However, interventions in e- and m-Health on the continent have remained small in scale. A lack of evidence-based knowledge on effectiveness, sustainability and best practices has prevented interventions from being rolled out on a larger scale.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is launching a competition for innovative and sustainable information and communication technology (ICT) initiatives for the health sector in Africa.

Objective of the Award

We are looking for you to identify for the best authentic African ICT solutions in the health sector and to help fill the knowledge gap on e and mHealth pilots and programs in Africa.

Focus and Problems to be Addressed

The award is focused on improving the delivery and quality of health services in Africa. The criteria for the award will focus on:

• Using ICT to increase access to health services, in particular for the poor and marginalized;

• Using ICT to increase the utilization of essential health services;

• Evaluation of eHealth solutions to improve efficiency in the delivery of health services.

Editor's note: AfDB's categories map to CHMI's reported results criteria, so programs already sharing self-reported statements of impact should think about applying. Reported results categories that relate to improving access are:

1) Programs reporting that they have lowered the cost of services,

2) Programs reporting an improvement in the availability of services, and

3) Programs targeting the poor.

Improving utilization or efficiency are two additional categories that programs can submit results in. All programs should be using information technology to meet these goals.

More about the AfDB award process!

Selection Process

The project proposals will be reviewed by a panel of international experts. The winning project will:

• Be an innovative African solution: There are many ICT solutions out there but in this case it must be relevant and applicable to the African context.

• Involve African stakeholders: It must be demand driven and focusing on a real need.

• Include some form of evaluation. Prove effectiveness in improving health service delivery in Africa.

• Propose a scale-up plan: beyond showing that the solution can improve service delivery beyond its initial context, a plan for a sustainable scale-up should be proposed.

Submit an expression of interest by May 30

Each participant should submit an Expression of Interest before May 30, 2012. This should be a 500-word abstract on the e- or mHealth program running for the competition with the following details:

• Objective of the project;

• Start date and end date of the project;

• Designers and implementers of the project;

• Coordination with Government and other stakeholders;

• Target population and target area of the project;

• Expected results;

• Type of evaluation planned

Requirements for the Final Submission

Short-listed candidates should send by October 31, 2012 an evaluation report of 5,000 words maximum (excluding annexes) with sections including Background, Objectives, Methods, Results, Conclusions, and Recommendations.

Winners

Short-listed candidates and winners will be announced on the AfDB website. Winning evaluation reports will be published in an AfDB publication and in-kind prizes will be granted to the winners. AfDB representatives note that evaluation reports do not need to be formal third-party studies, but rather evidence of monitoring impact over time, similar to CHMI's reported results initiative.

Learn more and apply here.