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#DataforHealth Innovation Challenge

Call for applications for HealthTech innovation to Improve healthcare data integration and interoperability.

Challenge
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What is the Challenge

The HealthTech Hub Africa, a hybrid pan-African health tech accelerator, launches a call for applications for startups working on improving healthcare data integration and interoperability.

The challenge aims to provide funding to an innovative HealthTech solution that leverages technology to enhance healthcare data integration and interoperability, thus improving access to healthcare information for all. Additionally, the challenge seeks to validate the winning innovative solution within public health systems in one or multiple African countries.

This funding opportunity is made possible through the partnership between The HealthTech Hub Africa and the Global Fund.

Opportunity Statement

HTHA startups and scale-ups can apply their innovations for the following challenge.

#DataforHealth: Using technology to improve healthcare data integration and interoperability.

The solutions must implement technology that improves healthcare data integration and interoperability in one or multiple African countries.

Why is this important?

Despite improvements in healthcare infrastructure and service delivery, health information management remains a significant challenge in Africa. One of the primary obstacles to efficient healthcare delivery is the fragmentation of health information systems and lack of interoperability between them.

A lack of integration and interoperability of health data systems hinders data sharing, leading to incomplete patient records, reduced quality of care, and increased healthcare costs. This can lead to inadequate monitoring of public health trends and outbreaks, resulting in delays in effective response and management of diseases.

Furthermore, this lack of integration hampers the use of data for decision-making, research, and population health management, which are critical components of improving health outcomes.

The World Health Organization has identified digital health interventions and predictive tools in healthcare as key accelerators in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 3 of ensuring good health and well-being for all.

In recognition, The HealthTech Hub Africa launched #DataforHealth challenge to encourage startups to develop and validate technology solutions that could improve healthcare data integration and interoperability, ultimately improving access to healthcare information for all.

The #DataforHealth challenge presents an opportunity for technology innovators, community providers, regulators, grassroots organisations, and governments to collaborate to validate and refine implementable and sustainable solutions to help improve healthcare data integration and interoperability in African health systems.

By providing a platform for collaboration and innovation through technology, the HTHA seeks to support the creation of solutions that address the unique challenges faced by the African healthcare landscape.

Who Can Apply?

2023 Cohort Members 

  • Startups and Scale Ups from the HTHA 2023 cohort are welcome to submit proposals with their fit-to-purpose solutions corresponding to the challenge brief.
  • Startups and Scaleups from both cohorts may collaborate if it strengthens their proposals.
  • HTHA Startups and Scaleups may also partner with local and international organisations not part of the HTHA official patterns.

Exception: Startups and scaleups that have already received an HTHA challenge award for a project are not eligible to apply.

  • Other startups, scaleups and complementary organizations

Local and international organisations not part of the HealthTech Hub Africa official partner network or start-up cohorts can apply in joint venture proposals led by the HTHA start-ups and scale-ups.

We strongly encourage African start-ups and scale-ups not yet part of the HTHA program to collaborate with alumni or current cohort companies to strengthen their existing solutions by combining them for a larger impact and/or to qualify for the challenge.

Which projects are we looking for?

  • The solutions at the core of the project proposals need to have solid proof of validation and traction – both in terms of positive health outcomes and economic viability. We welcome new and proof-of-concept innovations as long as they are ready for early-stage implementation during the project duration.
  • The applicants need to showcase a proven business-to-government monetisation model and revenue model that allows for cost coverage of public health-related tech costs by private partners’ funding.
  • The applicants must showcase the potential for impact within the public healthcare systems. The expectation is for companies and governments to meaningfully partner to test the viability of the project and the potential for impact.
  • The project duration should not exceed six months.

Funding Information

Funding amount: $115,000

Other Awards

  • Access to the expansive networks of BETTEReHEALTH, DHIS2, and HISP and the opportunity to showcase your solution to a broader audience through a collaborative webinar with BETTEReHEALTH.
  • Access to a network of public healthcare champions and mentors.
  • Pro bono resources and technical support from members of the public-private partner network of the HealthTech Hub Africa.
  • HealthTech Hub Africa Project Completion Certificate.
  • Opportunity to present your project results during the HTHA Summits in Kigali, Rwanda and/or Dakar, Senegal, in 2023/2024.

Evaluation Committee

The evaluation of applications will be done by an intersectoral committee composed of the official partner network of the HealthTech Hub Africa and government champions from Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda, Botswana, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, Cameroon, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Libya and others.

We may engage additional outside experts.

What you need to submit

1.     HealthTech Innovation Solution Assessment Form

Download Assessment Form

2. Project Proposal: max 4 A4 pages (one pdf only containing the below items)

  • Description of the solution and its impact (indicators and targets)
  • Implementation plan
  • Description of the technology
  • Sustainability plan and knowledge transfer
  • Profiles of team members
  • Similar experiences in the field
  • Budget and payment plan
  • Clear detailed expected outcome

 

3. Applicant organization’s intro deck (max 10 slides, one pdf only)

4. The budget overview in Excel

5. Annex: (one pdf only containing the below items)

  • Core project team resumes.
  • References and/or letters of intent from public health stakeholders and other partners.

Applications were closed on May 25th, 23:59:59 PM CET.