Strengthening Ethiopia's health data systems for impact
The ImpactHDSS (IDHSS) Ethiopia project is transforming Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems into a standardized, coordinated platform for high-quality public health data, evidence-informed decision-making, and the foundation of a national Sample-based Registration System for key population and public health data.
Field staff labeling households at Bambasi HDSS, Assosa, February 2026 as part of routine HDSS household identification and surveillance activities.
Intended Outcomes
Standardized HDSS data systems
Provide timely, complete, and gender-sensitive and, equity-oriented data, including vital events and verbal autopsy, to support priority public health actions.
Evidence-driven decision-making
Establish defined data use cases and routine analytical products adopted by policy and planning stakeholders.
Robust and Sustainable HDSS Network
Develop and promote long-term funding and sustainability model for the HDSS Network and national SRS.
Core Components of the IHDSS Project
Governance, Coordination, and HDSS Network Revitalization
Establishing strong, gender-balanced governance structures and a coordinated national HDSS network to ensure strategic leadership, collaboration, and national ownership.
Standardization, Capacity Strengthening, and Equity Integration
Developing and scaling national standards while strengthening site capacity, upgrading systems, and embedding gender and equity across all activities to ensure high-quality, harmonized data systems.
Data-to-Policy Translation, Partnerships, and Sustainability
Advancing data synthesis, research, and CRVS integration through strong national partnerships, structured monitoring, government data stewardship, and long-term sustainability planning.
Key achievements of the ImpactHDSS project
Generated critical system insights through a comprehensive baseline assessment from 16 HDSS sites, informing priority actions for capacity strengthening and data system improvements.
Expanded support to 16 HDSS sites, strengthening collaboration and advancing sustainable institutional arrangements.
Enabled foundational readiness at 15 HDSS sites through targeted financial support to facilitate the adoption of standardized and harmonized tools, systems, and operational processes.
Participants attending the HDSS and Ministry of Health (MoH) Model Woreda Mortality Surveillance and Verbal Autopsy Harmonization Workshop in Addis Ababa, May 2025, aimed at strengthening alignment of mortality surveillance and cause-of-death determination systems.
HDSS Sites
The IHDSS project connects 16 HDSS sites across Ethiopia’s 10 regions, collectively monitoring over 1.4 million people, which is about 1.2% of the total population through continuous health and demographic surveillance. These geographically and ecologically diverse HDSS sites generate vital longitudinal data on births, deaths, migration, and health outcomes, supporting research, policy, and civil registration systems.