Our mission as a digital public good is to make high-quality, open population data accessible and usable for better decision-making. Delivering on that mission increasingly depends on strong partnerships, particularly with platforms that sit at the core of national data systems. It is in this context that we are pleased to be part of the first cohort of Strategic Technology Partners in the DHIS2 ecosystem.
DHIS2 is a free, open-source platform used by governments and organisations around the world to collect, manage, and analyse data, most commonly for health systems. It is now the largest health management information system globally, supporting data use across more than 80 countries. Because it often serves as a national system of record, DHIS2 plays a central role in how data is translated into policy, planning, and service delivery. Its open and modular architecture also makes it possible for complementary tools and datasets, such as those produced by WorldPop, to be integrated directly into existing workflows. For a closer look at how this already works in practice, see our previous post, Mapping the future: how WorldPop Global 2 is revolutionizing health data in DHIS2.
The DHIS2 Technology Partners programme provides a structured way for organisations to collaborate around this shared ecosystem. Being part of the Strategic Partner cohort signals a deeper level of engagement. For WorldPop, this means working more closely with DHIS2 developers, implementers, and the wider Health Information Service Provider (HISP) network to ensure that our open population data can be more easily accessed, interpreted, and applied within DHIS2 environments. It also creates opportunities to co-develop tools and guidance that bring together population data and routine health data in more meaningful ways, while expanding the reach of our datasets to countries that already rely on DHIS2 for day-to-day decision-making.
For users of WorldPop’s open data, the significance of this partnership lies in its practical implications. Population data becomes most valuable when it is combined with other sources, particularly health service data. Strengthening interoperability with DHIS2 helps ensure that WorldPop open data can be used more seamlessly within the systems that policymakers and practitioners already depend on. This can support more accurate population denominators for health indicators, improve the targeting of interventions, and enable more effective planning and resource allocation at both national and subnational levels. Ultimately, it contributes to more consistent and informed data-driven decision-making, especially in resource-constrained settings.
Both WorldPop and DHIS2 are part of a broader movement toward open, interoperable digital public infrastructure. DHIS2 itself is widely recognised as a Digital Public Good, designed to be freely used, adapted, and integrated across different contexts. Becoming a Strategic Partner reflects a shared understanding that no single platform can address every need in isolation. Instead, greater impact comes from connecting systems, aligning standards, and making data easier to use across domains.
For WorldPop, this step is less about formal designation and more about practical progress. It reinforces our commitment to ensuring that our data continues to meet users where they are, within the tools and systems they already use, while increasing the real-world impact of our open population data.
Please join the launch webinar to find out more on the DHIS2 Technology Partnership Program on Friday, 24th April at 13:00 CET: https://dhis2.org/events/webinar-technology-partners/
