Through co-creation efforts, the Diabetes Compass Initiative sought to transform diabetes care pathways through digital innovation for capacity building of local healthcare workers. Malawi and Tanzania serve as examples.
26 August 2025 Andreea Enea
Since its inception in 2021, the Diabetes Compass has strategically embraced a co-creation approach to tackle diabetes care challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This global collaboration aimed to improve the early detection of diabetes and hypertension, strengthen health information systems, and enhance the learning and performance of healthcare professionals (HCPs).
Recognising the importance of local insights and ownership, our partnering countries – Malawi, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania – have been deeply engaged, providing critical understanding of their diabetes care pathways. As a result, the digital solutions were co-designed to address the vulnerabilities identified in this process.
A cornerstone of Diabetes Compass is enhancing the learning and performance of HCPs in low-resource settings – and central to this mission is the development of clinical skills.
In this sense, two major developments were the National Capacity Building Programme (NCBP) in Tanzania and Malawi and the creation of two fully customisable Learning Apps acting as practical ‘job aids’ for doctors and nurses.
These initiatives were made possible due to the synergistic partnerships between WDF, International Medical Press and Nucleus Global - seasoned professionals with expertise in medical education and digital application development.
Prior to the implementation of the NCBP, healthcare providers in Malawi and Tanzania faced significant gaps in their knowledge of diabetes care due to a lack of locally relevant training resources. Through close collaboration among country partners, including ministries of health and relevant organisations, the NCBP began to address this gap by strengthening the existing national eLearning platforms.
A year-long plan comprising four week-long workshops and mentoring sessions has been key in this pursuit. It has also enabled teams in Malawi and Tanzania to absorb, exchange knowledge, and apply newly acquired skills in their local contexts.
The NCBP is anticipated to establish a robust foundation of knowledge and technical skills among local teams, ensuring sustainable competencies in digital healthcare education for diabetes and related non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The impact of the NCBP was reflected in the diverse skills showcased by participants, including instructional design, content development, and software development. This, in turn, facilitated the development and integration of a custom eLearning platform (Moodle LMS).
Moreover, the two country teams revitalised their National eLearning Platforms, improving user experience and implementing new learner tracking functions. A tailor-made diabetes curriculum was also introduced to HCPs, complemented by a multi-format eLearning course with educational videos.
Dr. King R Bunini, is eLearning facilitator at the Tanzania Ministry of Health's Centre for Distance Education (CDE) and one of the participants in the programme.
‘The NCBP has greatly broadened my understanding of effective methodologies for developing eLearning courses’ Dr. King R Bunini, reflects. ‘Initially, my knowledge of what it takes to be an eLearning facilitator was quite vague. However, the hands-on sessions and expert-led discussions provided me with a deeper and more nuanced appreciation of the complexities and applications in this field.’
The programme also helped participants hone essential soft skills, such as confidence and creativity. They were introduced to innovative approaches that sharpened their critical thinking and fostered a more creative mindset – important in creating engaging multimedia products, structuring courses, and designing interactive eLearning activities that improve user experience. Participants also enhanced their proficiency in using digital tools to enrich learning materials.
‘I gained valuable skills that will have a lasting impact in my work. The insights into impact evaluation and assessment methodologies will support decision-making and continuous improvement in future projects. This experience has opened my eyes to new ways of thinking’, Dr. King R Bunini, adds.
The launch of the Learning Apps marked a major advancement in promoting personalised learning and performance support for HCPs. Designed as progressive web applications, they are compatible across multiple platforms and can be easily customised by teams with basic programming skills.
A notable feature is their ability to function offline, providing HCPs with access to relevant content on diabetes and hypertension. This flexibility accommodates their busy schedules, offering concise lessons on essential aspects of care and patient engagement.
The apps were developed as global reference solutions, with content that can be tailored to comply with national guidelines and adapted to local contexts. This ensures that HCPs, regardless of location, have access to educational tools that are both relevant and customisable.
Features such as visually appealing downloadable graphics, miniature 'reflection' cases, expert videos, and multiple-choice questions enrich the learning experience. For those interested in an in-depth understanding, comprehensive case studies with interactive feedback loops are also available.
In addition to functioning as standalone learning tools, these apps support ongoing progress with the national eLearning platforms in both Malawi and Tanzania.
Both the NCBP and the Learning Apps were designed to empower local health teams and strengthen health systems by consolidating knowledge and build skills domestically, addressing a resource gap that was previously unmet. By advancing individual capabilities and system-wide competencies, they strive for a lasting impact.
As participants share, one of the most impactful takeaways has been the improvement of user engagement through interactive elements on eLearning courses, helping attract learners to embark on the learning journey through the use of digital solutions.
The plan is to build upon their experiences by integrating the new strategies into their work. The team in Tanzania focuses on continually improving course design and finding innovative ways to use technology for better learning outcomes.
‘We aim to develop internationally recognised courses starting with NCDs’, adds Dr. King R Bunini. They advocate for increased use of the national eLearning platform among HCPs and position it as an efficient tool for continuous development and career advancement.
Both teams in Malawi and Tanzania are leveraging their newly acquired skills and plan to launch all five modules on their respective platforms by the end of 2025.
As we approach the final phase of the Diabetes Compass initiative, a notable outcome has been the creation of WDF's Digital Health toolbox. This resource is accessible to anyone seeking to strengthen health systems in low and middle-income countries and contains all the digital solutions developed through this project – free to use and adapt to local settings.
Our toolbox is available for all who wish to explore these solutions further. Feel free to delve into the resources developed through Diabetes Compass: Toolbox | Diabetes Compass.