Empowering communities: a new chapter for Boost in Zimbabwe
Tinashe Madamombe talks to Karen Webb and Ketty Choga from Avert’s takeover partner OPHID about their future plans for Avert’s job aid for community health workers, Boost.
Tinashe Madamombe (Digital Content Writer and Project Manager, Avert) with Karen Webb (Deputy Executive Director, OPHID) and Ketty Choga (Management Support Officer, OPHID).
On 5 December 2024, I sat down with Karen Web and Ketty Choga to discuss their journey in taking ownership of Boost for southern Africa. This innovative digital tool for community health workers is paving the way for improved health outcomes across Zimbabwe and the region, and it’s clear the opportunity to take over and manage Boost came about at a pivotal moment for OPHID.
You’ve been closely involved in Boost from its very early days. What was your first reaction when the idea of taking over the ownership and management of the brand was first suggested?
Karen: My first time hearing about Boost was in 2018 when Simon Moore from Avert was presenting on Boost at the International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam. It immediately stood out as a resource that could align with our mission to strengthen community health systems. My conversation with Simon after his presentation then led to a small-scale case study which resulted in the collaboration between Avert and OPHID to pilot Boost, and subsequently scale it up.
The idea of taking over the Boost brand initially came a shock for OPHID because for us the collaboration between Avert and OPHID has been meaningful and deep from the beginning. It is something we walked the mile on. The idea of taking over was initially quite jarring but Avert has helped facilitate us through.
Ketty: My initial reaction was a combination of excitement and responsibility. Excitement because of the immense potential that Boost holds in transforming health education and community engagement. It was clear from the beginning that this was a chance to make a lasting impact, but it required a strategic and thoughtful approach.
How has that initial reaction changed over the past year?
Karen: As an organisation, our perspective has definitely changed from trepidation to gratitude and embracing the future potential of Boost in southern Africa under OPHID. I remember when I first heard about the transition, my initial reaction was no! This was due to how much we value our partners. The partnership with Avert has been one of the most productive and important efforts in our history. It has grown into something meaningful, and this is not a partnership we wanted to come to an end. From experience, most of these terms (localisation, decolonisation) usually come in language but not in practice, but Avert has walked the talk when it comes to transferring ownership and autonomous power of co-created products to local partners.
Ketty: Just looking at the successful transition processes where we have engaged subgrantees and different stakeholders – receiving buy-in from them – and the excitement from the partners to adopt and roll out the Boost application, has reaffirmed our belief in the potential of Boost.
Why Boost Matters: What is it that you think is so valuable and important about Boost that it should continue?
Karen: Through the voice of our community health workers, ‘Boost is information in your pocket’ and that to me is all we need to hear as an organisation about the importance of Boost. Boost provides community health workers with the tools and knowledge to empower individuals in their communities. This ripple effect can lead to stronger health systems and better outcomes for everyone. Boost is much more than a digital tool—it’s a catalyst for change.
Ketty: Boost bridges critical gaps in community health education by providing accessible evidence-based resources which are tailored to diverse audiences. Basically, Boost has the ability to engage users with practical health information while fostering behaviour change. For that reason, Boost should continue as it remains a vital tool for emerging health needs.
The partnership with Avert has been one of the most productive and important efforts in our history. It has grown into something meaningful, and this is not a partnership we wanted to come to an end.
How does Boost complement your organisation’s wider programming?
Karen: Often the direction of information-giving to community health workers was passive. They would be told, ‘do this or say this.’ Whereas Boost provides community health workers with something that they can use not only for their job but even for their own personal knowledge and use. As an organisation we see Boost as a One Health tool which is providing meaningful evidence-based health information to community health workers, where they are at with speed.
Ketty: We have not only used Boost as a job aid, but we have also used it as a screening tool for HIV, STIs, mental health and most recently TB and malaria. Boost focuses on youth-friendly health education which aligns with OPHID’s programming.
What have been some of the challenges of the transition process?
Karen: The challenge is that we are in uncharted waters. We are in a place that is unknown within global public health. It is not normative for the transition of a Northern partner to a Southern partner, in the way that Avert and OPHID are undertaking. We all recognise the weight of that, and we want to make sure it is done right and that we honour Avert and the communities that Boost serves. In a way, the challenge is in the opportunity to do this.
What has been the highlight of the transition process so far?
Karen: It has been such a rewarding partnership – as an organisation, as a project and as an individual – for the transition process but also for the co-creation process when designing Boost with community health workers. Something that has resonated with OPHID and with me has been the willingness and commitment of Avert and the Boost team to listen to the community. The development of Boost has not been about what we thought everyone needs to know, but it has been tailored as a job aid to meet the needs of community health workers where they are doing the work. Frontline health workers are what drive public health globally, but very specifically within Zimbabwe and within resource limited settings.
This has been something that's been very unique and important and personally rewarding to have the opportunity and the resources that Avert has brought. Often resources come with strings attached, the demands of the funders are often brought to the fore, whereas with Boost it has been reverse engineered, the needs of the communities have been brought to the fore from the beginning.
Ketty: Some of my highlights go beyond the transition process. I've been excited about the confidence and trust that the Avert team has shown in the OPHID team. It's not a very large team that was working on Boost but Avert trusted us. Additionally, Boost has been part of the grander scheme of things and has been integrated into other existing programmes within OPHID. We see other project managers excited to have Boost on board and be part of their programmes as Boost gives uniqueness to their programming compared to other programmes that other partners are implementing in the same areas.
Are there any learnings from the process you’d pass on to others who might be considering similar transitions in future?
Ketty: It is very key for anyone taking over a project or product to have a well-equipped technical team. Additionally, it is important to manage the expectations of subgrantees and stakeholders and have clear communication so as to avoid challenges that may arise.
Karen: The decolonisation and the localisation agenda is something that has been talked about in the global public health field but it’s not something that’s being done practically. I think this is an important moment of reflection and learning and I would advocate for Northern partners who may be considering a similar process, to look at the model that Avert has used in terms of transitioning towards local partners. Avert has managed to demonstrate how to execute the transition model through action and through tangible, meaningful partnerships. We will continue that as a local organisation seeking to build the capacity of other local partners, and we take that spirit with us through Boost.
Boost has been part of the grander scheme of things and has been integrated into other existing programmes within OPHID. We see other project managers excited to have Boost on board and be part of their programmes...
Can you tell us about some of your immediate plans for Boost?
Karen: We are thinking about the plan as concentric circles. Within OPHID we intend to cascade Boost to more local partners, specifically grassroots partners, whether it’s village health workers or other community-based cadres so that we make sure they are using Boost as part of their community-based activities. Ultimately, we want to support Boost adoption by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, for sustainability and scalability to support community health initiatives regardless of the implementing partner.
What most excites you about taking this brand forward?
Ketty: I’m excited about Boost’s potential to transform health systems and empower communities. Its adaptability makes it a unique tool, not just for health education but for diverse needs like food security and climate health. The possibilities for Boost are limitless, and I’m eager to see its impact as it evolves.
Karen: Boost is a powerful health brand with the potential to provide real-time, evidence-based information to community health workers across Africa. It’s not just about HIV — we want to see it expanding into other areas of public health such as climate health, and social protection. Boost’s ability to adapt and address emerging crises makes it an invaluable tool for decentralised healthcare.
Where do you see Boost being in three years from now?
Ketty: By 2028, I hope Boost will be established as a regional leader in digital health innovation, with widespread adoption across Southern Africa. Conversations I have had with partners in countries like Zambia, South Africa, and Botswana highlight a strong interest in adopting a proven digital health tool like Boost. I envision Boost becoming a key resource for health workers and communities, significantly contributing to improved health outcomes across the region. In the next three years, it would be incredible to see Boost adopted in at least one other country in the Southern African region.
Karen: Boost is unique because it’s a proven, evidence-based platform in a landscape where many are developing bespoke applications. Our goal is to cascade Boost further, not only within Zimbabwe but across Southern Africa. In Zimbabwe, our intention is to transition Boost to the Ministry of Health and Child Care so that it can be widely used by community health workers, regardless of their programme focus—whether health, livelihoods, or any other area where health information is critical.
Beyond Zimbabwe, we aim to expand Boost with regional partners, including PEPFAR-supported organisations and others working in community health across Africa. Collaborating with partners like LVCT Health who have rebranded Boost as Himarika in East Africa is part of this vision. What excites me most about Boost is its dynamic nature — it will continue to evolve to meet Africa’s changing needs, ensuring it remains relevant and impactful.
What excites me most about Boost is its dynamic nature — it will continue to evolve to meet Africa’s changing needs, ensuring it remains relevant and impactful.
How do you envision Boost evolving to meet future health and educational needs, particularly within Zimbabwe and the region?
Ketty: One thing I’d like to highlight is how exciting it is to see the innovation happening around Boost, particularly with our vibrant IT team. Recently, they’ve been exploring ways to make Boost more accessible, such as integrating it with platforms like WhatsApp. This kind of thinking is crucial because it meets people where they are, especially young people who spend so much time on their phones. Boost has already shown incredible impact, empowering communities and improving health outcomes. When people are informed about their health, they can respond quickly and seek services, driving sustainable change.
What would you like to say to potential supporter, funders, and partners who might be reading this?
Ketty: To potential supporters, funders, and partners, I’d invite you to join us on this transformative journey. Boost is a powerful tool that has already demonstrated its ability to create healthier futures, not just in our country but across the region and beyond. Your support can help us scale this impact, foster innovation, and ensure more people benefit from access to life-changing health information. Together, we can make this vision a reality.
Karen: The key message to potential supporters is to listen to what community health workers are saying about Boost. This isn’t just about funding an organisation — it’s about being part of a movement to increase access to evidence-based health information. Community health workers have told us how empowered they feel using Boost. They feel confident and legitimized in their roles, and they’ve emphasized that Boost isn’t just for them — it’s for everyone.
This feedback highlights the importance of equitable access to health information. Boost provides a platform that empowers people, not just for immediate health needs but also for self-screening and proactive health management. As an organisation, we’re deeply committed to carrying this vision forward. Boost offers an excellent opportunity to increase equitable access to health information, and we welcome partners who share this passion to help us take this even further.
Tinashe Madamombe is a Digital Content Writer and Project Manager at Avert. This interview took place on 5 December 2024 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
This is one of three blogs that showcase the incredible work of Avert's transition partners as they take over the ownership of transformative digital tools like Be the Know, Boost, and HimaRika. The partners' innovative approaches highlight the bright future of these brands – they will not just continue but thrive and drive meaningful change in health education and outcomes. We hope these interviews offer a glimpse of what lies ahead and we invite you to stay engaged with these evolving brands and the organisations taking them forward.