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About Us
Our mission, vision, and commitment to advancing global health through comprehensive surveillance systems.
The International Network for the continuous Demographic Evaluation of Population Health in developing countries (INDEPTH Network), was established in 1998 as a public good. Over the two decades, INDEPTH Network has coordinated the activities of its members to strengthen Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) core capacities, harmonize various methodologies for data production, improved their ability to conduct large multi-site investigations that answer questions that cannot be addressed with single individual entities, and widely shared both data and results that emanates from such activities.
Our Foundation: The INDEPTH Network provides a robust, large-scale health and demographic surveillance system across developing countries, serving as a unique platform to address current global health challenges. This platform enables the conduct of research and intervention studies to find solutions to these challenges in the developing world.
Our Network Today
The INDEPTH Network currently comprises 16 members (Sites) in 10 countries, covering a population of over 2.9 million people in East, West and Southern Africa.
Our Core Activities
Over more than two decades, the INDEPTH Network has successfully coordinated member activities to:
- Strengthen HDSS core capacities across member sites to ensure sustainable and high-quality surveillance systems
- Harmonize methodologies for data production, enabling comparability and collaboration across diverse settings
- Conduct large multi-site investigations that answer critical questions that cannot be addressed by single individual entities
- Share data and results widely to maximize the impact and accessibility of research findings
- Provide a platform for research and intervention studies addressing global health challenges in developing countries
Geographic Coverage
Our member sites are strategically located across three key regions in Africa:
- East Africa: Conducting surveillance in diverse ecological and demographic settings
- West Africa: Monitoring population health dynamics in the region
- Southern Africa: Contributing vital health and demographic data for research and policy
Our Impact
The INDEPTH Network has been instrumental in generating critical evidence that shapes health policies and programs across Africa. Through our collaborative approach, we have demonstrated the value of continuous population surveillance as a foundation for health research and planning in developing countries, establishing methodological standards and best practices adopted across the continent.
Our Vision
To be the leading global network for health and demographic surveillance, driving evidence-based solutions that improve population health and well-being in low- and middle-income countries.
Our Mission
To strengthen capacity for continuous health and demographic surveillance, foster collaborative research, and generate high-quality evidence that informs policy and practice for better health outcomes worldwide.
Core Values
Our work is guided by fundamental principles that ensure we maintain the highest standards of research integrity and community engagement:
- Scientific Excellence: We are committed to rigorous research methodologies, data quality, and ethical standards in all our surveillance and research activities.
- Collaboration: We foster partnerships among member sites, research institutions, communities, and stakeholders to maximize the impact of our work.
- Community Engagement: We recognize that meaningful engagement with the communities we serve is essential to our success and the validity of our data.
- Equity and Inclusion: We strive to ensure that our research addresses health inequities and that all voices are heard in the generation and use of evidence.
- Innovation: We embrace new technologies and methodologies that enhance the quality, efficiency, and reach of our surveillance systems.
- Capacity Building: We invest in developing local research capacity and leadership to ensure sustainability and ownership of surveillance systems.
Our Commitment: We uphold the trust placed in us by the communities we serve, our member sites, and the global health community. We are accountable for maintaining data quality, protecting privacy, and ensuring that our research contributes to tangible improvements in health and well-being.
Strategic Priorities
To achieve our mission and vision, we focus on the following strategic priorities:
- Strengthening the quality and harmonization of data collection across member sites
- Expanding our network to underserved regions and populations
- Enhancing data sharing and collaborative research opportunities
- Investing in innovative surveillance methodologies and digital health tools
- Building research capacity and leadership at member sites
- Translating research findings into actionable policy and practice
- Ensuring financial sustainability and diversification of funding sources
Looking Forward
As we look to the future, the INDEPTH Network remains committed to evolving and adapting to meet emerging health challenges. We will continue to strengthen our network, embrace innovation, and work collaboratively with partners worldwide to generate the evidence needed to improve population health in the communities we serve.