Data interrupted: Navigating the changing global health data landscape

The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program has been a cornerstone of the global health data ecosystem for nearly four decades, providing critical, comparable, and high-quality data to monitor health, population, and nutrition indicators across more than 90 low- and middle-income countries. With the abrupt termination of U.S. government funding for DHS in 2025, there is an urgent need for the global community to assess and address the implications of this gap and chart a sustainable way forward for generating and making available critical health data.

Following virtual consultations engaging hundreds of Canadian and global partners, CanWaCH is pleased to share the following resource which provides background context, useful insights, relevant links and calls to action for the sector. 

It provides a comprehensive overview of the DHS Program’s history and contributions, maps existing resources and data still available as of this writing, and explores alternative health and population survey platforms. It also highlights national capacities, opportunities for system strengthening, and strategic recommendations for coordinated action. Tailored to meet the needs of policymakers, donors, implementers, researchers, and advocates, the package aims to support informed decision-making, sustained advocacy, and investment in data systems that uphold population health data as a global public good.