Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative at BSPH
About Data for Health
Today, approximately half of all deaths in the world go unrecorded, and health policy decisions are often based on inadequate information. The Data for Health Initiative (D4H), co-funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Australian Government, and the Gates Foundation, partners with low- and middle-income countries to strengthen and standardize birth and death records and to better inform policymaking and improve public health outcomes. At the Bloomberg School of Public Health, the team contributes to this initiative by strengthening risk factor surveillance through mobile phone surveys, promoting the integration of gender equity in health data, and developing e-learning courses to improve population health data skills.
Key Initiatives
At the Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Data for Health initiative encompasses five key streams of work:
A. Mobile Phone Surveys for NCD Behavioral Risk Factors
Since 2015, the Data4Health Initiative at Johns Hopkins has served as an R&D hub advancing the evidence base for mobile phone surveys in low- and middle-income countries. Our team assesses the feasibility, quality, validity, and reliability of using mobile phone surveys to monitor NCD behavioral risk factors, generating the critical evidence needed to advance this novel form of data collection. Our findings directly support the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and national partners in implementing mobile phone surveys for public health surveillance.
B. Gender Equity Unit
The Gender Equity Unit serves as a global hub for integrating gender equity into health data systems. They work to strengthen partner capacity in over 25 low- and middle-income countries through training, mentorship, and technical assistance. They also conduct research studies to demonstrate the importance of, barriers to, and strategies for advancing gender equity in global public health through data systems. Since 2021, the Unit has reached hundreds of partners worldwide with resources, research, and tools to inform more equitable health policies and programs.
C. E-Learning Courses
As part of the Data4Health Initiative, the Center for Global Digital Health Innovation develops e-learning courses to strengthen skills in collecting, analyzing, and applying population health data. The first three courses—offered on Coursera—cover global perspectives on data for health, emerging approaches to measurement, and the role of CRVS systems, with real-world case studies from LMICs. Upcoming courses will focus on digital health foundations and digitalizing CRVS systems.
D. Data4Health Resource Library
The Data4Health Resource Library is a comprehensive online database that houses fact sheets, publications, reports, and other materials related to the initiative. Users can easily search and filter resources by topic, country, or type, making it a practical tool for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. This open-access platform facilitates the sharing of knowledge and promotes evidence-based decision-making in global health.