A Framework to Assess and Address Human Capacities Needed to Leverage Open Source Software Platforms in Developing Countries

Abstract

While open source health information software platforms provide developing countries a low-cost, quick and less risky way to build health information systems as compared to in-house solutions, human resource capacity challenges can limit their ability to leverage such platforms. Drawing from a case study focusing on the deployment and operation phases of the DHIS2 platform in Malawi, we observe open source software platforms require a range of human resource capacities that go beyond capacity to use the platform. To fully leverage open source health information software platforms entails the availability of platform usage capacity, platform deployment capacity, platform customisation capacity and platform module development capacity. Most capacity building initiatives for information systems in developing countries have been short-term efforts focused on initial end user capacity to use such systems. However, to cope with rapid innovations and evolution associated with open source software platforms, capacity building ought to be a continuous process encompassing a range of human resource capacities not only use of the platform.