What is Data4Action?
Data4Action is a mobile data collection tool created to collect (online/offline), report, and visualize data. Although developed by UNICEF with the main objective of supporting data collection projects, research and assessments related to immunization in various countries, Data4Action can also support data collection project in any health field. Data4Action is developed to support users who are working in public health, such as UNICEF team, consultants, and partners.
It is an extremely flexible survey tool aimed to facilitate the process of real-time data collection and reporting. Through its survey builder, users can create and customize surveys in the field of immunization such as health facility assessment for operational deployment planning, cold chain inventory assessment, monitoring of installation or maintenance of cold chain equipment, valuation of introducing new vaccines and the monitoring of supply, among others. The tool can also be used for big surveys like EPI coverage, EVM assessment and even for continuous monitoring of facility-based coverage, and vaccine stock levels, in addition to the functionality of cold chain.
Why Data4Action?
One of the most important purposes for which this tool was developed is immunization. With factors such as an increase in vaccine costs, and the need for a higher storage capacity at all levels of the cold chain among others, a real need for a high standard of supply chain management capable of handling all situations including emergencies has risen.
By collaborating with governments, partners and communities, UNICEF aims at increasing demand for immunization through establishing more efficient cold chain and logistic systems in order to reach those unreached.
Given the high user-friendly nature of Data4Action tool which can be utilized both online and offline, it can be used to collect real-time data for any project in any topic or field besides immunization and the factors associated with it.
Who is using Data4Action?
As a mobile data collection tool used to support its respective users in different countries with data collection for different purposes, Data4Action’s main users and /or potential audiences targeted include the government, UNICEF’s Regional and Country Offices, consultants and other partners who need to collect data or periodic assessments such as health facility surveys and cold chain inventory.
With the highly innovative approach of using Data4Action, UNICEF through its MENA regional office have supported several countries in collecting the cold chain inventory data enabling them to carry out a systematic gap analysis on cold chain and prepare the deployment plan based on the data collected. Also, countries were supported in preparing the cold chain inventory report, as well as with the geospatial analysis on cold chain inventory and coverage at subnational levels.
Having begun using this tool in this specified field throughout many countries, UNICEF intends to expand its use in other countries and include other technical fields.
Further, UNICEF will target all health professionals and/or institutions from the health sector which may benefit from this tool. Hence, it has created this platform to encourage its usage for many other technical areas and topics, besides immunization.