Zvandiri has always placed connection at the center of its work, training and mentoring young people living with HIV to become peer counselors. These young leaders, known as Community Adolescent Treatment Supporters (CATS) and Young Mentor Mothers (YMMs), are the heartbeat of Zvandiri’s model. As governments across the region scale peer-led health services, Zvandiri has continued to innovate to ensure these young people have the tools they need to deliver high-quality, compassionate care.
In 2024, this commitment led to the launch of Zvandiri Connect, a youth-centered digital health platform built on Dimagi’s CommCare system. Zvandiri Connect brings together all the tools, guides, counseling workflows and data systems previously spread across paper forms and separate resources, combining them into one easy-to-use digital application. For the first time, peer counselors can access complete case files, screening tools, counseling content, videos, referral pathways and follow-up reminders directly from a single device.
The shift has transformed the work of peer counselors. Instead of juggling fragmented information, CATS and YMMs now work with integrated digital case management tools that streamline planning, improve accuracy and strengthen continuity of care. From HIV adherence support and viral load monitoring to mental health screening, TB prevention, sexual and reproductive health and caregiver engagement, every service is now connected.
“We struggled to find a system that could integrate our service delivery tools, data collection requirements and quality management processes into one cohesive platform. With CommCare, we have a one-stop shop which our young peer counsellors can use to plan, deliver and document the comprehensive support they provide for other children and adolescents.”
Tanyaradzwa Napei, Head of Strategic Information and Evaluation, Zvandiri
This integration has not only improved quality, it has enabled scale. In just months, Zvandiri deployed the platform across nine provinces, equipping 950 peer counselors to support more than 60,000 children, adolescents and young adults from 480 sites in 43 districts. The rapid rollout has strengthened national systems, improved service efficiency and reduced the burden of paperwork for young providers, giving them more time to focus on what matters most, connecting with their peers.
The scale of the work is important, but the impact is felt by the young people and families reached. Caregivers receive timely reminders, young people get information that makes sense to them, and peer counselors feel confident and supported.
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