The Countdown to 2030 country collaboration in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Prevention; the Kinshasa School of Public Health (University of Kinshasa), the Global Financing Facility (GFF), and other key actors involved in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and health and nutrition (RMNCH+N). This partnership benefits from technical and financial support provided by Countdown to 2030 via Johns Hopkins University and the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC). The initiative is fully in line with the DRC government’s policy of generating scientific evidence and building national capacity for data analysis, and supports annual and mid-term reviews of the country’s health progress and performance, with a particular focus on reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and nutritional health, as well as adolescent reproductive health.

Data production

Data production in the DRC, essential for guiding public action, faces many challenges, including delays in large-scale surveys (DHS, MICS) due to logistical, economic and security constraints. For example, only three DHS surveys have been conducted: in 2007, 2013 and 2020—each spaced seven years apart. However, thanks to the collaboration with Countdown to 2030, the DRC was able to analyze RMNCAH+N data for the period 2019-2023, using the DHIS2 system and available surveys. This initiative, overseen by Countdown to 2030, has strengthened the country’s ability to generate analyses that support decision-making.

Dissemination

In preparation for the dissemination meeting, a presentation was shared with stakeholders. The Countdown country team committed to providing communication materials related to the programs covered by the analyzed data, including the National Nutrition Program, the National Reproductive Health Program, the National Adolescent Health Program, the Expanded Programme on Immunization, and the directorate responsible for coordinating programs on family health and specific groups. To ensure wide dissemination of the session, the media were actively engaged in the preparations. During the meeting, high-quality media coverage was provided, with key moments captured by the communications team. These visuals were later used across various platforms, including a video spot designed for social media. This video helped reach a wider audience, including stakeholders who were unable to attend the event.

General objectives of the dissemination strategy:

• Present recent evidence from the analysis carried out by a joint team from the Ministry of Health and academics from the University of Kinshasa’s School of Public Health.
• Raise stakeholder interest in using the evidence produced by the Countdown 2030 DRC team.
• Mobilize stakeholders to monitor RMNCAH+N indicators.

After the Countdown 2030 annual meeting in Kigali, the country team finalized the analyses and completed the data analysis document (Chartbook). The country collaboration also benefited from the support of APHRC’s Countdown 2030 communications team. Following the finalization of the Chartbook document, the country team organized a validation meeting for the final version, followed by a restricted meeting with the Secretary General for Health to present the results of the analyses and demonstrate the importance of the work carried out in collaboration with the School of Public Health and the Ministry of Health.

Testimonies Secretary General for Health: “DHIS2 data are often overlooked, but innovative approaches such as those presented here can encourage their use. This is very promising, because the best way to improve the quality of DHIS2 data is to use it. We are convinced that the Countdown 2030 team can make a major contribution to improving the quality of DHIS2 data in the DRC”.

Using data to influence policies and programs

On Friday August 02, 2024, the DRC Ministry of Health hosted an event to disseminate the results of the Kigali analysis workshop. Although coordinated by the Ministry, the event was primarily organized by the Countdown to 2030 team, with additional Ministry stakeholders joining online via Zoom. The session was chaired by the DRC’s Secretary General for Health and attended by all central directors of the Ministry of Health, specialized program managers, and technical and financial partners, including representatives from donor agencies and implementing organizations in the MNCH sector. The entire Countdown to 2030 DRC team was also present. The dissemination session had an estimated total of over 70 participants, including 36 attending in person.

Specific recommendations made

• The Secretary General for Health committed to signing a circular note to expand the scope of the Countdown to 2030 DRC team’s analyses of health sector data.

  Extend the team’s analyses to other health sectors (beyond RMNCAH+N).

• Encourage the use of DHIS2 data to improve its quality.

The DRC’s Secretary General for Health promised to follow up and signed the circular addressed to the various departments concerned.

Learn more:

• DRC 2024 Data Uptake Brief (French)