JCDC participants engage in an interactive, hands-on ETL and Power BI workshop, collaborating to strengthen data management and visualization skills for public health surveillance.

Strengthening Public Health Data Capacity in Jordan: A Collaboration Between UCSF and Jordan’s Center for Disease Control

IGHS News
By Farah Massoud
Posted
JCDC participants engage in an interactive, hands-on ETL and Power BI workshop, collaborating to strengthen data management and visualization skills for public health surveillance.

As Jordan continues advancing its national public health preparedness and response capabilities, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Institute for Global Health Sciences (IGHS) and the Jordan Center for Disease Control (JCDC) have built a collaboration to strengthen public health informatics and data systems capacity throughout the country.

In 2022, UCSF and JCDC launched a capacity-building plan to support JCDC and partner government institutions through practical, hands-on training and mentorship. JCDC is Jordan’s national public health institute, established in 2020 to strengthen the country’s capacity for disease surveillance, epidemic preparedness, and coordinated public health response.

In November 2023, UCSF supported a technical workshop in Jordan designed to strengthen the skills of JCDC and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MODEE) in core data warehousing and analytics concepts. The workshop focused on improving data quality, developing data integration (ETL) processes, and strengthening analytics to support interoperable public health information systems. The sessions introduced participants to foundational concepts needed to support interoperable public health data systems and improve the use of data for decision-making.

Building on the initial meetings, UCSF continued supporting JCDC’s technical capacity development through a workshop held in February 2024. The focus was to enhance JCDC’s capacity to develop and manage ETL processes, strengthen the use of data visualization and dashboard development tools, including Power BI, and support participants in translating public health data into actionable visual insights for decision-makers. The workshop emphasized practical applications and hands-on exercises to help participants build confidence in managing public health data workflows and visualization.

In November 2024, UCSF IGHS conducted an introductory R workshop for JCDC and MODEE staff to strengthen foundational data science and analytical skills. The training introduced participants to data management, visualization, and basic analytical techniques using R, supporting JCDC’s growing efforts to strengthen data-informed public health practice. The workshop also created opportunities for cross-team collaboration and knowledge exchange among participants from different technical backgrounds, helping build a stronger community of practice around public health analytics.

Alongside technical workshops, UCSF IGHS and JCDC collaborated on the development of an initial set of One Health indicators using animal health surveillance data from the Ministry of Agriculture. The collaboration focused on reviewing surveillance datasets, defining priority indicators aligned with international guidelines, and providing guidance on the development of dashboards to strengthen multisectoral public health intelligence and integrated surveillance approaches. These activities supported JCDC’s broader efforts to operationalize One Health concepts and strengthen coordination across human, animal, and environmental health sectors. Today, JCDC has a stronger foundation for managing and analyzing public health data across sectors. Through this collaboration, technical staff have strengthened their skills in data integration, analytics, dashboard development, and data science, while initial One Health indicators and dashboard concepts provide a foundation for future multisectoral surveillance and public health decision-making.

The collaboration demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening national public health systems through sustainable capacity building and institutional ownership. Rather than focusing only on short-term technical support, the partnership aims to support sustainable skills transfer and strengthen Jordan’s ability to manage, analyze, and use public health data effectively. As JCDC continues expanding its role in epidemic preparedness, surveillance, and response planning, investments in data systems and workforce development remain critical components of national health security.