Client: Breakthrough ACTION | Year: 2020
Context
In collaboration with Breakthrough ACTION and the Ministry of Health, our team contributed to a national campaign aimed at improving essential family practices and encouraging healthcare-seeking behavior across three provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Building on an earlier phase of intensive field research and concept testing, the focus of our work was to refine, implement, and scale solutions that would strengthen community health delivery at the grassroots level.
In collaboration with Breakthrough ACTION and the Ministry of Health, our team contributed to a national campaign aimed at improving essential family practices and encouraging healthcare-seeking behavior across three provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Building on an earlier phase of intensive field research and concept testing, the focus of our work was to refine, implement, and scale solutions that would strengthen community health delivery at the grassroots level.
Goals
Our goal was to translate previously gathered user insights into practical tools and interventions that would empower community health workers and improve service delivery. The initiative sought to foster more responsive, user-centered health systems by supporting frontline workers in better understanding, documenting, and responding to the needs of the populations they serve.
Our goal was to translate previously gathered user insights into practical tools and interventions that would empower community health workers and improve service delivery. The initiative sought to foster more responsive, user-centered health systems by supporting frontline workers in better understanding, documenting, and responding to the needs of the populations they serve.
Methods
I joined the project at a critical stage, following the initial research and early prototyping phases. My role centered on transforming insights into concrete implementation materials tailored for use in the field. Specifically, I co-developed structured implementation guides and data collection notebooks designed to support community health workers in their daily interactions with families and beneficiaries. These tools helped standardize data collection while embedding a feedback loop to ensure that the interventions remained relevant and responsive.
I joined the project at a critical stage, following the initial research and early prototyping phases. My role centered on transforming insights into concrete implementation materials tailored for use in the field. Specifically, I co-developed structured implementation guides and data collection notebooks designed to support community health workers in their daily interactions with families and beneficiaries. These tools helped standardize data collection while embedding a feedback loop to ensure that the interventions remained relevant and responsive.
The work was grounded in human-centered design principles, with a focus on usability, cultural fit, and empowerment of local actors. We collaborated closely with local teams to iterate on the tools, ensuring clarity and effectiveness in real-world conditions.
Outcome
The structured notebooks enabled community health workers to systematically collect feedback from beneficiaries, feeding directly into an evidence-based refinement of interventions. As a result, the updated tools and practices were scaled across the three provinces, contributing to improved service delivery and increased beneficiary satisfaction.
The structured notebooks enabled community health workers to systematically collect feedback from beneficiaries, feeding directly into an evidence-based refinement of interventions. As a result, the updated tools and practices were scaled across the three provinces, contributing to improved service delivery and increased beneficiary satisfaction.
Our work supported the Ministry of Health’s ambition to embed user-centered approaches into national health programming. The project demonstrated the impact of human-centered design when applied beyond ideation—through implementation, iteration, and scale—to deliver practical improvements within health systems and community outcomes.
Testimonial
"Ben consistently demonstrated an impressive understanding of user-centric methodologies and behavioral design principles, which greatly contributed to the success of our projects. His ability to navigate the complexities of the Francophone African market with respect and acknowledgement of his role as a Designer was invaluable. This ensured that our solutions were not only innovative but also culturally relevant and impactful. He approached every task with enthusiasm, creativity, and meticulous attention to detail, producing high-quality work under tight deadlines. His collaborative nature and strong communication skills fostered a positive team dynamic, making them a pleasure to work with."
- Juanita Rodriguez, Senior Strategic Designer
"Ben consistently demonstrated an impressive understanding of user-centric methodologies and behavioral design principles, which greatly contributed to the success of our projects. His ability to navigate the complexities of the Francophone African market with respect and acknowledgement of his role as a Designer was invaluable. This ensured that our solutions were not only innovative but also culturally relevant and impactful. He approached every task with enthusiasm, creativity, and meticulous attention to detail, producing high-quality work under tight deadlines. His collaborative nature and strong communication skills fostered a positive team dynamic, making them a pleasure to work with."
- Juanita Rodriguez, Senior Strategic Designer
