HISP Groups

The HISP movement is rapidly growing and is now a global network of independent organizations and individuals. This includes Universities, NGOs, donors, Ministries of Health, health programmes, consultants etc. With different competencies, interests and strategies, these different actors are contributing in different ways to strengthening health information systems and health outcomes in developing countries based on the implementation and use of DHIS2. 

With the rapid growth of this network, there is a call for HISP UiO to clarify our relations with partners working in the countries. The list presented here is an answer to this call by making explicit who we define as HISP Groups. HISP UiO collaborates with different kinds of organizations and individuals. 

Definition of a HISP Group

As a particular group of partners, we define HISP Groups as our long term and trusted partners located in developing countries and collaborating with us on (including, but not limited to):

• DHIS2 open source software development;
• National, regional and global capacity building activities including hosting and arranging DHIS2 Academies and developing teaching curriculums and materials;
• Joint research and academic activities;
• Implementation support to Ministries of Health, health programmes and others;
• Development of integrated health Information architectures in countries and generally;
• Development of tripartite agreements between the Parties and Ministries of Health for the strengthening of health information systems;
• Develop a network of action, linking researchers, students, projects, Universities and health authorities in a cooperative network.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

The collaboration between HISP UiO and the HISP Groups is based on a shared understanding and adherence to the following guiding principles (regulated through a Memorandum of Understanding):

1. Give priority to activities strengthening sustainable national health information systems;
2. Support development processes broadly and the capacity strengthening and empowerment of health staff;
3. Support country ownership of health information systems and build resilience;
4. Focus on the use of information to improve health service delivery;
5. Foster local innovation and entrepreneurship;
6. Support research by giving researchers access to data and empirical sites;
7. Promote reciprocity and sharing in the global HISP movement;
8. Promote transparency and trust in the global HISP movement;
9. Commit to free and open source software and standards;
10. Develop software applications that are generic and reusable;
11. Adhere to the principles of hierarchy of standards;
12. Engage the users in participatory design and development;
13. Develop integrated, not stand-alone systems;
14. Software development based on global standards and best practices;
15. Design training materials for global use and as a public good;
16. Document and share best practices, case studies and knowledge as a public good;
17. Professional project management including planning, reporting, financial management etc.;
18. Professional execution of contracts, in terms of deliverables, their quality, timeliness etc.;
19. Duly acknowledge all outputs emerging from projects or research.

Global HISP Groups

Trusted, long-term partners appointed as HISP groups (external web page)