Skills-Based Learning for DHIS2 Core Teams

A DHIS2 core team is a local team that manages the planning, implementation, customization, evaluation, and maintenance of DHIS2, and coordinates DHIS2 capacity building for local staff. A robust core team is essential to enable local ownership and sustainability of national DHIS2 systems. This team requires a mixed set of skills and competencies in order to handle various challenges involved with their local DHIS2 implementation. These skills enable team members to plan, configure, manage, and modify more complex components of a DHIS2 instance. They go beyond the fundamentals that can be acquired through online DHIS2 Academy courses, and include specialized skills and foundational knowledge on areas beyond DHIS2, such as programmatic knowledge or familiarity with server administration processes and tools.

Our recommended core team structure groups these skills into four core roles (Operational Lead, Implementer, Trainer, and Server Administrator) and four contributing roles (Subject Matter Expert, Program Manager, Security Manager, and Data Scientist) that are relevant for all DHIS2 implementations, as well as two optional roles (App Developer and Integration Expert) that may be required in some contexts.

A DHIS2 core team can vary in size depending on the context, from 1-2 members in a very small country with a simple implementation to a larger team for a large country and/or complex implementation, with each team member potentially covering one or multiple roles.

Below, you can find an overview of the roles in a DHIS2 core team, followed by an introduction to our skills-based learning approach to build core team capacity. See these links for additional information:

• Documentation: DHIS2 core team structure
• Learning paths for building core team skills

The DHIS2 core team requires a mix of various skills in order to help support the implementation. This can include:

• DHIS2 design and systems analysis
• DHIS2 customization, architecture, and metadata, including interoperability and server administration
• DHIS2 implementation best practices, including interacting with users and stakeholders for harmonization of forms, indicators and implementation strategy
• Data use and design of relevant dashboards and reports
• Planning and conducting training of trainers (ToT) and end-user training
• Project management and administration

When planning a core team, it is important to note that you are not looking to assemble a team with all of these skills from the beginning, as that is not realistic in most contexts, but rather to identify individuals that are able to grow into the required roles. A capacity building plan that facilitates this growth is thus a key part of establishing a DHIS2 core team. It is also important to note, however, that some roles require prior knowledge to be done effectively – for example, a System Administrator should already be familiar with Linux, while a Program Implementer or Manager for a public health programme should ideally be familiar with the services and delivery that programme supports.

To support the development of a core team, HISP has developed a framework for skills-based learning that identifies the essential skills and competencies required for each core team role. We offer guidance on how to perform a capacity building needs assessment to identify which areas to prioritize to improve core team performance, which can then inform the development of a capacity building plan. To make it easier to build skills in these areas, we have created a “learning paths” tool that links specific core team skills to relevant DHIS2 training material, Academy courses, and guidance developed by HISP UiO.

• Documentation: Core Team Capacity Building
• Learning Paths tool