# Synchronizing ODK data with DHIS2 **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [October 19, 2022, 8:21am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/synchronizing-odk-data-with-dhis2/39311 "2022-10-19T08:21:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sjlver](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/sjlver/32/17463_2.png) [@Sjlver](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Sjlver)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 8:21am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/synchronizing-odk-data-with-dhis2/39311/1 "2022-10-19T08:21:29Z")
I am interested in tools and documentation about connecting ODK with DHIS2. _Background:_ in my work (distributing bednets against malaria), DHIS2 is commonly used for storing and analysing data. We use it both for summary data (e.g., number of nets distributed per day in a given place) and individual-level data (e.g., GPS coordinates of a household that has received nets). People value the dashboards and analysis features of DHIS2. In addition, there are also political reasons for using it. For data collection, however, ODK is the better solution. It has simpler and more intuitive forms, better data validation, and requires fewer resources on the phones/tablets. ### Existing information - Third-party solutions - Bao Systems built a [KoboToolbox connector for DHIS2](https://apps.dhis2.org/app/9000da31-e6d5-44aa-b739-9bb14d51d0c7). This looks like the most related project. It reads from Kobo's API. Probably does not work with ODK Central. - [OpenFN](https://docs.openfn.org/documentation) has connectors to ODK and DHIS2. It looks like this solution would require a fair amount of coding. Similar projects are [described here](https://community.openfn.org/t/complete-synchronization-between-questionnaire-and-dhis2/172) and look complex. - Forum threads on this topic contain little information: - [Connecting ODK to DHIS2](https://forum.getodk.org/t/connecting-odk-to-dhis2/11712) (no answer beyond "you can import manually") - [Dashboard recommendations for ODK data and Connecting to DHIS2](https://forum.getodk.org/t/dashboard-recommendations-for-odk-data-and-connecting-to-dhis2/10855) (discusses generic methods like Cenral's API, OData feed. Little about DHIS2) - [ODK integration with DHIS2](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-integration-with-dhis2/33085) (undocumented third-party tool) - [ODK to DHIS2](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-to-dhis2/4034) (generic link to ODK APIs) - [ODK and DHIS2 used in Uganda to help vaccinate 19.5 million children](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-and-dhis2-used-in-uganda-to-help-vaccinate-19-5-million-children/33121) (success story without any technical details) ### Request for more information Do you know other tools? Do you have success stories to share, or lessons learned? ---
**Author:** ![Saad](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/saad/32/4537_2.png) [@Saad](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Saad)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 11:12am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/synchronizing-odk-data-with-dhis2/39311/2 "2022-10-19T11:12:24Z")
Hi, I have been engaged with couple of big projects involving DX2 and ODK. I also tried to find some direct link, but could not find a proper one. The only workaround is to have a middleware dashboard which could pull the data from ODK via API, summarize into aggregated counts via programming (this is very important for DX2 counters, and difficult to do if you connect ODK directly to DX2 somehow), and push the data into DX2 via its API. I am into design phase of having this whole setup, and will be completing in the coming months. If you are interested, I will keep you updated. Regards, Saad ---
**Author:** ![Sjlver](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/sjlver/32/17463_2.png) [@Sjlver](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Sjlver)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2022, 1:14pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/synchronizing-odk-data-with-dhis2/39311/3 "2022-10-25T13:14:05Z")
Here's my summary of solutions, after a week has passed and I was able to do a bit more research. - Using [OpenFn](https://docs.openfn.org/documentation): - Bao Systems' [KoboToolbox connector for DHIS2](https://apps.dhis2.org/app/9000da31-e6d5-44aa-b739-9bb14d51d0c7) - Custom solutions: Another update of my thoughts: The _DHIS2 Capture_ app is becoming better and has closed some of the gaps it had compared to Kobo/ODK. For example, adding a new tracked entity requires fewer clicks than it used to, and forms can be structured more intuitively. This means that the benefits of using a combination of Kobo/ODK and DHIS2 are smaller nowadays... the simplest solution might be to use DHIS2 Capture for those cases where the data needs to end up in DHIS2.