TechChange

🤔 Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of orchestrating a global public health conference that unites over 2500 people, both physically and virtually?

Making sure that the leading conference in the global public health sector is a successful pivotal networking opportunity as well as an inclusive, engaging, and accessible one is a MAJOR undertaking, and the TechChange team has learned valuable lessons along the way!

Here are Marion Comi-Morog, TechChange Hybrid Event Manager, top 5 valuable learnings:

⏰Be thoughtful when selecting your date and time (zones).
🏛️Make sure the venue selection fits your vision.
💻The event platform is just as important as your venue.
📅When the project is huge, assign points of contact, deadlines, and milestones.
🌟Most importantly, convene the team you need for success.

Want to learn more in-depth about each learning and tip Marion has to share? Then click here:

Lessons Learned from a Massive Hybrid Event By Marion Comi-Morog, TechChange Hybrid Event Manager 2023 marked the 13th year of the Global Digital Health Forum, and the hybrid event had the highest and most diverse attendance in the conference’s history. More than 700 attendees gathered in Washington D.C., with local “Watch Parties” in f...

3,000 voices, 124 countries, 1 goal: digital health for all. made it happen! 🎉 But how did we do it?

👉 NEW case study: With major support from the Global Digital Health Network, USAID, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, The World Bank Group and many other sponsors, TechChange planned and hosted the world’s largest and most inclusive digital health event: The Global Digital Health Forum!

👉 The outcome: Under TechChange’s leadership, pushed the boundaries of what is possible in hybrid convening, ensuring that nearly 3000 virtual AND in-person participants could exchange ideas, share and hone expertise, and collaborate to move the digital health sector forward.

Read the full story: https://www.techchange.org/tc_work/global-digital-health-forum/

🌍🎉 Wrap-Up of Global Digital Health Forum 2023 🎉🌍

Hi everyone! As we wrap up the incredible journey of , let's take a moment to reflect on the inspiring insights and groundbreaking discussions that made this forum a landmark event in the world of digital health!

📚 Key Sessions & Insights:

Beyond Remote Capacity Building: We kicked off with an insightful session featuring experts like Woinshet Nigatu and Christina Villella, exploring the fusion of virtual learning with health worker performance. Key takeaways included the vital role of digital platforms in capacity building and the innovative use of e-learning platforms and chat-bots for training health care workers.

The Climate Crisis - Digital Health’s Next Frontier: This session, with thought leaders like Dr. Gabrielle Samuel and Peter Benjamin, delved into how digital health technologies not only contribute to climate change but also offer pivotal tools for adaptation and response. The 'One Health' concept was a highlight, emphasizing the inseparable bond between human and environmental health.

Data-Driven Health Systems in COVID-19 Response: Our last session, led by Moussa SANA and Caitlin Madevu-Matson, focused on how health information systems adapted during the COVID-19 crisis. The evolution from fragmented data flows to integrated digital ecosystems was a key highlight, underscoring the power of real-time data in health management.

💡 Innovations and Collaborations:
This year's theme, “Driving Effective and Equitable Digital Health Innovation,” shone through every discussion. We witnessed a plethora of activities, collaborations, and innovations from passionate digital health advocates from across the globe.

🤝 A Big Thank You:
A heartfelt thanks to our panelists, sponsors, volunteers, and the entire GDHF community for making this event a huge success. And of course, a massive shoutout to all participants, both onsite and online, for your enthusiastic engagement!

🏆 Don’t Miss Out - Social Media Challenge:
Here's your chance to win a FREE ticket to GDHF 2024! Just share your favorite moments from the conference on social media with . Hurry, the challenge ends this Friday!

🔜 Stay Tuned for GDHF 2024:
As we close this chapter, the excitement for next year's theme and innovations is already building. Stay tuned for more updates!

Thank you all for being a part of this incredible journey. Let’s keep pushing the boundaries of digital health together! See you at GDHF 2024! 🚀🌐

🎉 Kicking off with a Bang! 🚀 Couldn't join us in person? No worries! Here's a snapshot of the key highlights from the first day of the Global Digital Health Forum 2023.

🔹 Session 1: Digital Transformation in Motion
Keynote Speaker: Sangita Patel, USAID Global Health Bureau

Understanding the stages of digital health maturity in countries is crucial.
The reduced cost of digital technologies opens up new investment avenues in digital transformation.
Government vision and strategies play a pivotal role in enhancing patient care, supporting health workers, improving service delivery quality, and facilitating data exchange for informed decisions.

🔹 Session 2: From Blueprints to Practice
Panelists: Senior digital health officials from Ghana, Indonesia, DRC, Senegal, and Haiti
Moderator: Merrick Schaefer, USAID

Prioritizing integration of digital health tech such as EMRs, telemedicine, and AI.
The importance of sustainable funding models for digital health.
Essential capacity building and training for healthcare workers in digital tools.
Advocacy for policies promoting interoperability, data privacy, and security.

🔹 Session 3: Scaling Locally Owned Community Health Information Systems
Panelists: Representatives from Medic, D-Tree, Kenya’s Ministry of Health, and a Nairobi community health promoter.

Emphasis on local ownership in digital health.
Significance of open-source tools like the Community Health Toolkit (CHT).
Digital tools aiding healthcare delivery and professionalizing Community Health Workers (CHWs).
Necessity of maintaining and updating digital tools for long-term sustainability.

🔸 Parallel Session: Governing Health Data for Improved Health Outcomes
Panelists: Experts from World Bank, TransformHealth, and Macmillan Keck

Governance requires adequate resources and strong political commitment.
Cybersecurity measures are a critical focus area.
Collaborative governance of health data among various stakeholders.
Regulatory sandboxes as a means to foster innovation in the health sector.

🥳 Appy Hour Event: A Toast to Innovation
Spotlight: Dewald Heath, Strategic Information Manager, Kidzalive (Zoë-Life)

Dewald has been working for Zoë-Life, Kidzalive, child-focused intervention aiming to enhance children's health outcomes particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS. Dewald mentioned that working in this area is really challenging. However, It's a rewarding work in the long run. Our work ensures that the children are healthy and thriving, and then they are going to be our future.

And this is a wrap for GDHF day1!

Stay tuned for more updates and insights from ! We've got 2 more days packed with incredible sessions and activities! Don't miss out! 🌍💻👩‍⚕️📈

This fall, we wrapped up not one, but two blended courses for the Digital Advisory Support Services for Accelerated Rural Transformation (DAS) Program! 🎉

Both courses served as an introduction to within agriculture, aiming to address some of the challenges that smallholder farmers face and how they can be applied to an agricultural intervention utilizing digital technology.

We are thrilled with the feedback we’ve received from participants about the course material and delivery. In fact, over 95% of those who filled out the post-course survey said they’d be very likely to recommend the course to their colleagues! 👏

Congratulations to International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Development Gateway, and JengaLab for their support in making the courses such a success, with special thanks to subject matter experts Peter Njuguna and Martine Koopman and to the TechChange facilitators Bethany Shackelford and Paulina Sicius.

💡 PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: We are thrilled to partner with Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) on a course for new Volunteer Leaders to learn the skills, attitudes, and knowledge that will allow them to be the political voice for kids.

In the six-week, self-paced course, SCAN Volunteer Leaders learn how to mobilize their community, increase the reach of campaigns, and build bipartisan support for every child to have a strong start in life. Already, we have received great feedback about its impact!

🗣 From a course participant: "Knowing the power of my story and purpose will help me find those issues concerning children that I'm most passionate about. This training makes the entire process of advocating easier by detailing each step."

Many thanks to SCAN for your partnership and for your work to brighten children’s lives and futures. 👏

This past Saturday, we came together to honor World Humanitarian Day, a day to celebrate humanitarian organizations that protect lives and reduce suffering.

We at TechChange are honored to work alongside one of the largest and oldest humanitarian aid organizations, CARE, and to support their efforts to improve the quality of their work through Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion (DEBI) training.

👉 Sarah Arnason, Lead Manager, Diversity Equity Belonging & Inclusion (DEBI) Learning and Development at CARE, speaks to the impact of DEBI training on 7,000 CARE employees and its powerful ripple effect on the communities they serve.

CARE’s work touches many lives— we encourage you to read about their latest efforts (linked in the comments)! DEBI training is an investment in an inclusive and equitable future that extends far beyond their institution. 🎉

📣 CLIMATE & HEALTH OPPORTUNITY ALERT: Is your nonprofit eager to amplify its impact through data collaborations in Climate and Health? Or keen to share your org's learnings or success story in this area?

👉 Our partners at The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation Data Practice have the perfect opportunity for you: The 2024 Data Practice Design Hive is a three-month intensive program designed to help nonprofits navigate the complexity of data collaborations through mentorship, industry insights, and supplementary support. Keen to share data assets and co-create data projects? Respond to the EOI!

👉 Already doing great work in this space? Submit an abstract for the Global Digital Health Forum to share your work. has a Climate & Digital Health track this year, and the call is open until August 25!

Both opportunities are linked below.

Many thanks to McGovern for their work connecting nonprofits around the world and for their support in getting to this critical moment. 👏