Global Support for Digital Health
Collaborating for more resilient and equitable health systems using information and technology
This is DICE
The Digital Health Centre of Excellence - or DICE - is a mechanism to deliver agile and coordinated technical assistance to National Governments on sustainable and scalable deployment of carefully chosen mature digital health solutions that address health priorities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic health systems needs.
The aim is to ensure more equitable coverage of quality health services, including vaccines, maternal and child health services, and nutrition investments through increased use of data and evidence.
DICE will also align with donor agencies and support governments to identify and apply for funding for deployments using costed investment cases.
Areas that DICE can support
Coordinate between donors and development partners at Regional and Global level
Review Concept Notes, TORs, Business Requirements and Proposals
Provide Guidance & support implementation of assessment tools
Advise on existing Digital Global Goods, including existing evidence and plans to scale/institutionalize
Provide recommendations /support in contracting technical experts and partners
Support capacity building, training and knowledge exchange
Priority areas
As countries are operationalizing their COVID-19 pandemic response plans there is an opportunity to identify areas where digital health interventions can amplify these efforts, while improving service delivery, producing actionable data, and strengthening health systems more broadly.
Digital solutions, many of which are mature and already integrated into national systems, can be expanded to provide substantial support to the COVID-19 pandemic using a health system strengthening lens; from planning distribution of commodities and vaccines, tracking supplies, surveillance and case detection, monitoring coverage of services, and communicating to generate demand and reduce misinformation. Many of these solutions can be designed in a way to allow future expansion to other use cases, such as routine immunization.
Where DICE is currently providing support
Currently, 165 countries have joined the COVAX Facility, which includes 92 lower-middle and low-income economies that are eligible for donor-funded vaccines. Both UNICEF and WHO have a large presence across the globe in over 190 countries and territories, reaching the world’s toughest places with populations in greatest need. While DICE support is prioritised for countries that have joined the COVAX Facility, all countries are eligible to apply for support.
By September 2021, DICE has initiated technical assistance support to 16 countries (with needs being scoped out for another 22), including solutions for planning and monitoring of COVID-19 vaccines distribution, maternal and child health service delivery and community mobilisation.
DICE support ongoing
Support needs being scoped out
Members of the consortium
The DICE is a consortium of partners. It is co-hosted by a UNICEF-WHO virtual secretariat that is managing
day-to-day activities and coordination with consortium members and other technical partners like Digital Square. The DICE is currently funded by donations from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, GIZ, BMZ, Gavi and Twilio.
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