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Meet the Umbrella Fund's First Cohort Partners: Catalyzing Change Through Institutionalize Geospatial Training Program
Published on
August 2025
Introduction
Today, we are introducing implementing organizations for our investment track 1, which focuses on establishing portable and replicable geospatial and health data training programs. In Nigeria, three organizations received sub-award to establish a standardized geospatial and health data curriculum and institutionalized it in accredited training institutions to enhance continue access for health data teams at the national and subnational levels in both countries. While in DRC, an anchor organization, with four implementing partners will work together to deliver critical capacity development resources across thirteen provinces.
Our grant-making approach was built by working with the in country-data stakeholders at the national and subnational levels to identify gaps and opportunities for geospatial investment. Together, we identified the need to address the existing geospatial capacity gaps, including the fragmented and uncoordinated geospatial training programs, limited incorporation of local use cases in the development of geospatial training programs, unsustained geospatial capacity development initiatives, and a disconnect between training content and stakeholder needs.
Investing in Local Expertise
After running a competitive call for concept notes in both Nigeria and DRC, the Umbrella Fund will be funding four projects starting from June 2025. The selected projects will achieve the following outcomes:
Increased geospatial data literacy for health program teams at the national and subnational levels in Nigeria and the DRC
Reduced effect of attrition within the primary healthcare system due to an increased skilled workforce
Decreased dependency on external partners for geospatial data analysis for program planning and implementation at the primary healthcare level
Strengthened geospatial capacity because of the adoption (portability and replication) of the curriculum by other development partners
We are pleased to share that, over the next 6 months, the Umbrella Fund will be investing in and testing solutions with:
Solina Health – a health system advisory firm committed to improving health outcomes globally by improving health system effectiveness and sustainability through innovations and bridging knowledge–action gaps. The firm has implemented a diverse range of interventions spanning areas such as RI landscape assessment, HIV integrations programs, vaccine supply chain management, etc. Solina Health will be implementing the project at the national level with the National Space Research and Development Agency.
Fact Foundation – a Nigeria-based development organisation focused on driving positive change through evidence-based decision-making and innovative solutions that empower communities facing emerging and ongoing development challenges. Fact Foundation has recently supported the Nigeria government to implement projects including e-CVRS implementation, displacement and mobility needs tracking, cash barometer assessment, etc. Fact Foundation will be implementing this intervention at the subnational level with the University of Maiduguri, representing Borno state.
e-health Africa (eHA) – a non-profit organisation that empowers Africa vulnerable and underserved communities to achieve healthier lives by strengthening health systems through innovative and data driven digital solutions. eHA has expertise cutting across public health emergency management, disease prevention and monitoring, laboratory system and diagnostic, climate adaptation in health, etc. eHA will also be implementing this intervention at the subnational level in Kano state, with the Bayero University Kano.
The Kinshasa School of Public Health (KSPH)– an academic institution in DRC with the aim of becoming the centre of excellence in public health training, research and community services at the national and regional levels. It is committed to improving the health and well-being of Congolese through research and community engagement activities. KSPH will be implemented at the national level while partnering with organisations, including Université Officielle de Mbuji-Mayi, Université Officielle de Bukavu, Université de Lubumbashi, and Université de Kananga across selected provinces in the DRC.
Working together on innovative solutions: Below, we share more information about the interventions our partners are delivering.
National-level Implementation
At the national level, our partner will lead the development of a geospatial curriculum through extensive coordination and alignment with real-world data applications in health programs. The initiative will also include training national-level health data teams and establishing pathways for the adoption and scale-up of the developed curriculum at the subnational level.
In Nigeria, national implementation and coordination will be led by Solina Health in partnership with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). While the Kinshasa School of Public Health (KSPH) will lead the corresponding effort in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Subnational-level Implementation
The subnational level implementation involves gathering on-the-ground insights to inform national curriculum design, supports institutionalization in accredited institutions in selected states, pilots the training, and sets up mechanisms for sustained training beyond the implementation phase.
In Nigeria, Fact Foundation (in partnership with the University of Maiduguri, Borno State) and E-health Africa (EHA) (in collaboration with Bayero University Kano, Kano State) will lead the implementation of this investment track at the subnational level. Conversely, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Kinshasa School of Public Health will collaborate with four other academic institutions across 13 provinces to deliver the program.
Moving towards a better future
We are optimistic that these interventions will generate impact and rich learnings that will strengthen the geospatial capacity landscape of primary healthcare data teams in Nigeria and DRC. Working with our partners, we are confident we can enhance geospatial literacy and revolutionize access to standardised, tailored, and sustainable geospatial training curriculum for health data teams at the national and subnational levels in both countries.
To learn more or partner with us, follow us on our social media at Umbrella Fund or contact us at team@umbrellafund.org.
