A health security-based framework for prioritizing regions for digital learning in complex health emergencies

Digital health and learning have expanded significantly in recent decades though their use in settings of acute health emergencies has only recently begun. Growing experience among organizations working in the digital health and learning space suggest that virtual communities of practice in these areas may have value in response to health emergencies. Evaluation of recent virtual programs applied in acute health emergencies suggest that a pre-established digital learning network can serve as a valuable resource when an acute health emergency strikes. This paper introduces the concept, and explores the potential value of developing a prioritization framework, informed by health security assessments, to identify countries most vulnerable to future health crises. By using an anticipatory approach and framework to identify high risk regions, digital learning programs can be developed proactively, building networks that can be activated during emergencies. Creating and prioritizing virtual learning networks in regions at high risk of health emergencies can improve response capacities. Developing a framework to identify countries and regions of greatest risk can help policy makers, educators, and donors, focus limited resources on high need areas.