Simprints & DHIS2
Simprints builds trusted, open-source biometric identification used by governments, NGOs and implementation partners in health and humanitarian programs. It works as the identity layer for DHIS2 Tracker, adding offline enrolment, identification and verification inside the Capture App. Each person links to one verified record, which supports continuity of care and helps programs increase coverage.
Jump to a section on this page
About Simprints
Simprints is a non-profit that researches, builds and deploys biometric ID so that vaccines and health services reach the person they are meant for. SimprintsID connects to the DHIS2 Android Capture App through standard Android intents, so implementers can add biometrics to an existing Tracker program without rebuilding the app or setting up a separate identity system.
Our matching algorithms are designed for last-mile settings and diverse population. The Responsible Biometric Deployment Handbook sets out how we protect people’s data. To date, SimprintsID has enrolled more than 4.5 million people in over 18 countries.
Our R&D team is now building a contactless algorithm designed to identify children from birth. In 2025 the team enrolled over 12,000 infants, 95% of them under six months old, and captured more than 200,000 biometric images.
Simprints is a Strategic DHIS2 Technology Partner.
DHIS2 use case
Simprints works as the identity layer for DHIS2 Tracker. It connects to the DHIS2 Android Capture App through native Android custom intents, so health workers can run offline 1:N identification and 1:1 verification at the point of care without leaving DHIS2.
A biometric match links the person to their existing Tracker record or pre-fills a new enrollment, which removes manual data entry and spelling errors. Each person keeps one verified record as they move between community visits, mobile outreach and health centers.
Simprints works with the HISP Centre at the University of Oslo (HISP UiO) to extend custom intent capabilities in the Android app. Together they have also built tools such as extended Z-score calculations for child growth and acute malnutrition tracking.
Real-world example
In South Sudan, Action Against Hunger (ACF) partnered with Simprints to add biometrics to DHIS2 Capture across its Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) services. Health centers in these fragile humanitarian settings can see more than 300 patients a day. Children move between static clinics, mobile teams and separate treatment episodes, which puts them at risk of missed follow-ups and duplicate enrollment at neighboring facilities.
Each child is linked to a single biometric ID in DHIS2 Tracker. Offline cross-matching between facilities flags duplicate enrollments, so rations aren’t doubled up and therapeutic supplies reach the right children. Clinicians can see when a child moves from Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) to Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and act sooner. The deployment also supports an embedded Relapse to Malnutrition Randomized Controlled Trial. Biometric identification confirms each child’s study arm, which prevents cross-contamination between control and treatment groups across sites.