In July 2023, Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and technical partners, introduced the Minimal Digital Ecosystem (EDM), comprising eight digital tools aimed at improving the governance, efficiency, quality and equity of primary care and free healthcare for women and children. RESADE carried out the first EDM evaluation data collection between December 2023 and January 2024 in four districts (TENADO, ZINIARE, SAPOUY, MANGA). The evaluation uses a hybrid approach combining qualitative, quasi-experimental and mixed methods analyses. Tool deployment varies by district: seven tools in TENADO, five in ZINIARE, five in SAPOUY and one in MANGA at the time of collection. The tools studied include FIS, NetSIGL 2.0, m-Health communautaire, E-Flux Financier, E-Gratuité, E-Qualité, REC-maternité and REC-PCIME. User profiles differ according to the tool in terms of age, gender, role and level of education. The majority had received formal training, but high levels of perceived complexity remained for some tools (notably E-Quality, NetSIGL and FIS). Five tools had at least 20% of users who had not yet mastered the application. Despite these difficulties, attitudes towards the tools and satisfaction levels were very positive overall, often exceeding 90%. These results underline the importance of adapting tool design and reinforcing training and follow-up to improve mastery and reduce perceived complexity. A second collection is planned to deepen the analysis and clarify inconsistencies.
