Our Services

Development organizations and governments are increasingly employing digital solutions to drive transformative social and economic impact worldwide. Digital solutions can open new economic opportunities for all citizens and improve the reach and delivery of digital services in areas including health, payments, government, and agriculture.

Vital Wave provides end-to-end services to achieve the national or international scale of digital development projects. The firm’s three service areas align with project lifecycles: Market Assessment and Strategy, Digital Solution Implementation, and Optimization and Scale.

Explore Our Services

Click each service to learn more.

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Market Assessment and Strategy
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Digital
Solution
Implementation
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Optimization
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Scale
Market Assessment and Strategy

Market Assessment and Strategy

Vital Wave applies years of field experience, proven methodologies (quantitative and qualitative research, data-driven analytics, and user-focused design), and deep knowledge of the local business systems to deliver actionable strategies to scale digital solutions in diverse markets.

Many projects begin with a strategic needs assessment. Clients engage Vital Wave to landscape local needs, market conditions, and ecosystems and identify problems and opportunities for possible interventions. The company uses an ecosystem approach to define actionable strategies for scale.

When a client invests in digital solutions, Vital Wave helps build awareness and alignment among decision-makers to ensure buy-in and adoption. This process often includes an assessment of the policy and regulatory environment and strategic plans for effective advocacy and policy guidance.

Strategic Needs Assessments
  • Customer Needs Assessments
  • Segmentation Modeling
  • Market Opportunity Modeling
  • Value Chain Stakeholder Mapping and Sustainability Assessments
  • Ecosystem Mapping
Industry & Field Leadership
  • Advocacy and Awareness
  • Resources and Tool Development and Dissemination
  • Stakeholder Alignment and Network Building
  • Organizational Development
  • Fundraising
Policy & Regulatory
  • Local or Regional Regulatory and Policy Environment Assessments (IT, Social, Economic, Business Environment)
  • Digital Program Assessments (Government to Person (G2P), Education, Health)
  • Government Stakeholder Assessments
See All Clients and Partners
North America
Mexico
Facilitation and Launch of mHealth Initiative in Mexico

A group of public and private partners who had successfully launched an mHealth program in Senegal were asked by Mexican…
Africa
South Africa
Research on SMBs in Emerging Markets

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) play a critical role in the economy of most developing countries. Vital Wave was engaged…
Africa
Nigeria
Integrated Digital Payments for Health and Financial Services in Nigeria

An integrated digital payments system in Nigeria could lead to greater synergy between mobile health and mobile financial services. Stronger…
Africa
East African Community
Creation of a Cross-sectoral EAC Regional Digital Strategy

Regional integration efforts in the East African Community (EAC) have advanced rapidly in recent years as the EAC Partner States…
Global
Communications Support for SMART Guidelines

Vital Wave supported the WHO in the design of communications collateral to support the socialization of the WHO SMART Guidelines,…
Africa
South Africa
Study on the Online Capture of Medical Certificate of Cause of Death

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted that cause of death information in South Africa does not serve public health needs. This is…
Global
Understanding Total Cost of Ownership for Digital Health

In partnership with Digital Square, Vital Wave assessed total cost of ownership for digital supply chain systems. Through this work,…
Global
Global HIV Digital Health Strategy Support

Vital Wave worked with a global donor that sought to enable dramatic improvements in the performance of HIV priority program…
Global
An Enterprise Approach to Reducing Inequities

Equal vaccine distribution has long been a challenge. According to Gavi, approximately 1.5 million people are still dying from vaccine-preventable…
Global
The Big Picture of Human Resources for Health Data

A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of the health workforce is even more apparent. Despite advances over the…
Global
Human Resources for Health Assessment

Vital Wave partnered with IntraHealth International and Cooper/Smith to identify concrete opportunities for low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) to better…
South America
Rapid Assessment on Digital Economy Readiness in MENA and LAC

Vital Wave was engaged by a global organization to perform a rapid assessment of the state of the digital economy…
Africa
Data Use Partnership Joint Learning Exchange

Vital Wave partnered with a global foundation to convene a three-day meeting of Data Use Partnership (DUP) country teams in…
Global
Market Analytics to Inform Global Digital Goods

Vital Wave was engaged by a global organization to help establish a greater understanding of two key topics within the…
Global
Strategic Convening on Immunization Data Strategy

Vital Wave partnered with a global alliance seeking to develop a five-year investment strategy to improve data use within immunization…
Implementation & Management

Digital Solution Implementation

Vital Wave implements enterprise-grade platforms and applications with the best-in-class project and product management, engineering, partnership, and business development processes. By applying expertise across business and technical disciplines, the company achieves maximum efficiency, reach, and effectiveness.

Vital Wave plans successful digital initiatives for scale and sustainability from the beginning. Vital Wave accomplishes this through partnership with national governments, international donors, and private-sector companies to plan and implement tech-enabled programs and solutions. The company considers both technical and non-technical elements, including business fundamentals, interoperability, partnerships, and change management.

Vital Wave optimizes established businesses and programs through technical system evaluation and improvement, monitoring and evaluation, and refined business management. The firm tests and proves the efficacy of programs through research, modeling, and pilots. Vital Wave also creates digital common goods and tools to facilitate wider ecosystem development and connections across key stakeholders.

Productization
  • Business Modeling
  • Business Case Development
  • Technology Provider and Partner Evaluation
  • Implementation Planning (Roles, Timelines, Budgets)
  • Operational and Funding Strategies
Technology Implementation Management
  • Whole Solution Definition
  • Solution Build and Implementation
  • Partner Negotiation and Management
  • Business Operations Integration
  • Training and Maintenance Programs
  • Quality Assurance and Program Improvements
  • Local Capacity Building and M&E Functions
Global Goods & Community of Practice Management
  • Design and Management of Communities of Practice
  • Identifying Common Needs and Creation of Digital Global Goods
  • Packaging and Dissemination of Global Goods and Other Collaborative Outputs
See All Clients and Partners
Africa
Nigeria
Evaluation of a Nigeria Investment Portfolio

Since 2012, a prominent health-focused foundation had invested over $40 million in Nigeria through a number of partners and grants…
Africa
South Africa
HIV/TB Data Systems Evaluation and Integration in South Africa

In South Africa, the lack of integration between data systems for various disease areas was a major impediment to improving…
Africa
Uganda
Expanding Bulk Payments and Digital Financial Services in Uganda

As a result of its proof-of-concept, Vital Wave was funded for an additional two-year engagement to address four primary points…
Africa
Ethiopia
Workforce Capacity Forecasting for Ministry Planning

Vital Wave is working with MERQ Consultancy and the Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) to demonstrate the application of workforce…
Global
Digital Public Infrastructure for Health

In collaboration with Co-Develop and PATH, Vital Wave led the development of a report exploring how to take a Digital…
Global
Global
Digital Public Infrastructure for Health

In collaboration with Co-Develop and PATH, Vital Wave led the development of a report exploring how to take a Digital…
Africa
East African Community
Creation of a Cross-sectoral EAC Regional Digital Strategy

Regional integration efforts in the East African Community (EAC) have advanced rapidly in recent years as the EAC Partner States…
Global
Communications Support for SMART Guidelines

Vital Wave supported the WHO in the design of communications collateral to support the socialization of the WHO SMART Guidelines,…
Africa
Technical Assistance for National Electronic Health Record System

Currently, Vital Wave is supporting the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) in Zimbabwe to enhance and scale its…
Global
Understanding Total Cost of Ownership for Digital Health

In partnership with Digital Square, Vital Wave assessed total cost of ownership for digital supply chain systems. Through this work,…
Global
Design and Support of a Common Geo-Registry (CGR) Software Platform

For example, Vital Wave managed and facilitated a consortium of actors working to support the design and development of a…
Global
An Enterprise Approach to Reducing Inequities

Equal vaccine distribution has long been a challenge. According to Gavi, approximately 1.5 million people are still dying from vaccine-preventable…
Global
A Blueprint for the Travel Economy

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every segment of the global economy, but none more so than the travel and tourism…
Africa
Uganda
Health-System Strengthening to Improve HIV Data Exchange in Uganda

Vital Wave provided technical assistance for a government agency to improve data sharing and use between key health information systems…
Global
Managing Machine Learning Projects in International Development: A Practical Guide

As machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly applied in international development, development practitioners need to engage…
Optimization and Scale

Optimization and Scale

Vital Wave optimizes digital solutions, business models, and partnerships for national, regional, and global environments. The company provides highly localized services that build capacity, support ecosystem development, and create a supportive environment for digital solutions diffusion and scale.

Clients approach Vital Wave at all stages of a digital solution investment. Often, programs or solutions show promise at the pilot stage, but expanding and scaling within the broader ecosystem is challenging. Vital Wave extends the reach and effectiveness of programs by creating efficiencies in operations and service delivery.

Vital Wave and its partners support the institutionalization of programs by building capacity and promoting best practices. The company works with clients and government agencies to develop ecosystem-building policies and standards.

Institutionalization
  • Expansion Strategy and Planning (Technical System, Business Operations, M&E)
  • Business Process Reengineering and Refinement
  • Training and Capacity Development
  • Ongoing Business and Technical System Support
Uptake & Use
  • Service-Level Agreement (SLA) Development
  • Data Mapping and Technical Integration
  • Business Process Integration
  • Change Management within Vertical Industry Systems (e.g., Health, Agriculture, Financial)
  • Education and Awareness Programs
  • Usage Incentive Programs
  • Bundling and Cross-Promotion with Complementary Services
Replication &
Standards Creation
  • Policy Guidelines Development
  • Data Standards Development
  • Interoperability Training and Design
  • Reference Technology Specifications Development
  • Solution Customization and Deployment Guidelines
See All Clients and Partners
Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Assessment of Comprehensive Patient Record System in Africa

A patient record system set up to improve health care and inform decision making in a Sub-Saharan African country needed…
Africa
Nigeria
Performance Management Guidance for a Health Project in Nigeria

An international non-profit engaged Vital Wave to provide guidance for a health project in Nigeria. The work focused on all…
Global
M&E Messaging Guidelines and Protocols

Vital Wave designed and implemented a custom toolkit to enable a multinational technology client to implement a Monitoring & Evaluation…
Global
Digital Public Infrastructure for Health

In collaboration with Co-Develop and PATH, Vital Wave led the development of a report exploring how to take a Digital…
Global
Global
Digital Public Infrastructure for Health

In collaboration with Co-Develop and PATH, Vital Wave led the development of a report exploring how to take a Digital…
Global
Communications Support for SMART Guidelines

Vital Wave supported the WHO in the design of communications collateral to support the socialization of the WHO SMART Guidelines,…
Africa
Technical Assistance for National Electronic Health Record System

Currently, Vital Wave is supporting the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) in Zimbabwe to enhance and scale its…
Global
Understanding Total Cost of Ownership for Digital Health

In partnership with Digital Square, Vital Wave assessed total cost of ownership for digital supply chain systems. Through this work,…
Global
An Enterprise Approach to Reducing Inequities

Equal vaccine distribution has long been a challenge. According to Gavi, approximately 1.5 million people are still dying from vaccine-preventable…
Global
A Blueprint for the Travel Economy

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every segment of the global economy, but none more so than the travel and tourism…
Africa
Uganda
Health-System Strengthening to Improve HIV Data Exchange in Uganda

Vital Wave provided technical assistance for a government agency to improve data sharing and use between key health information systems…
Global
Diagnosing Digital Health

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on digital health technology for low and middle-income countries (LMICs) over the…
Global
Moving Beyond Scale

Over the past decade, the field of digital development has exploded in areas such as agriculture, education, and financial services….
Global
Internet of Threats

With the rising popularity of connected devices such as Amazon Echo and Google Home, competition is well underway to get…
Global
Crowdsourcing for Better Working Conditions

The global garment and textile industries generate $3 trillion in revenues annually and employ an estimated 60-75 million people –…