Making Data Talk: Using Scorecard for Strengthening Data Use at Local Levels

This paper describes an intervention for strengthening information availability and data use at the sub-national levels. The intervention focused on implementing district and facility-level scorecards for the immunisation program in Rwanda routine HIS. The intervention was designed as an action research project involving local users in diagnosing the current situation, planning, implementing, and reflecting on the outcomes and lessons learned. The main findings show that anchoring interventions within existing local structures promote and sustain data use practises at local levels. Using digital tools such as scorecards could enhance data availability and promote analytical discussion among managers and health workers, leading to informed decision-making. The paper contributes to the data use literature by illustrating how data can be made available to users in a useful way that enables discussion and analysis among stakeholders and how data managers can be engaged through a participatory approach to improve information systems.