A flexible LMS powering global health and humanitarian learning

A flexible LMS powering global health and humanitarian learning

Trusted by UNICEF, WHO, our LMS, called ANU, transforms critical content into engaging, user-friendly digital experiences that drive real-world impact.

Setting the scene

SystemSeed created ANU, an open-source Learning Management System (LMS) built in Drupal. Developed through extensive research and user testing, ANU is shaped by the needs of NGOs, health, and education sectors. It supports flexible team structures, review flows, translations, and is continuously enhanced based on feedback.

ANU includes all the features of a standard LMS but stands out for its flexibility. It can be tailored to fit each client’s design, user journey, and project requirements.

Everyday feels like Christmas because more work has been done, and they are always developing and improving… We feel like we have struck gold!
Hannah Burton
Customised ANU • Project manager • Krengeltech
A panoramic image showcasing four screenshots of digital health platforms. The first, on the left, is the 'Activities' section of the MHPSS.net website. The second shows a content page in Arabic with a prominent illustration of a person in a video call. The third screenshot displays the 'MHPSS MSP Guide' with its question-and-answer format and diagrams. The fourth, on the right, is a webpage from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs titled 'Decision Aids for Managing Type 2 Diabetes'.
Screens taken UNICEF's Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Minimum Service Package, The U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs, and WHO's EQUIP platform.

The challenge

Many of our clients, including UN agencies, need digital learning platforms that handle complex content, multiple languages, and global accessibility. Two examples illustrate ANU’s adaptability:

  • UNICEF needed to transform a lengthy emergency response manual into a digital resource. The platform had to feel more like a handbook than a traditional course, allowing users to dip in and out of information as needed.
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) wanted to modernise Step by Step, a proven intervention for adolescent anxiety and depression. Lebanon’s Ministry of Health was already using it via a mobile app, but the existing system was outdated and slow. WHO needed a mobile-first platform that could scale to other countries and cultural contexts.
Three mobile app screens from the 'Step-by-Step' program are displayed side-by-side. The left screen is a 'Welcome' page listing guided sessions. The center screen tells a story about 'Ava's daily life' with an illustration. The right screen shows a 'Toolbox' with exercises like 'Grounding Exercise' and 'Breathing Exercise'.
Screens from the mobile focussed, Step by Step Lebanon, mental health platform.
They’re very ambitious and thorough at their work, and they offer a very creative and holistic approach to what they do. They’re also very attentive to our needs and work in a professional and friendly way.
Erin Duddy
ANU LMS for Impact Investment course • University of Zurich

The solution

For WHO, we integrated ANU into a progressive web app that behaved like a native mobile app. We designed a mobile-first experience where users could personalise their journey by choosing a character and storyline. The intervention unfolded as a visual narrative with interactive exercises.

Key features included:

  • Secure login via phone, SMS, or email.
  • Offline functionality and audio mode for accessibility.
  • Arabic-first design, also available in English.

For UNICEF’s Minimum Services Package (MSP), we reimagined ANU’s course catalogue to look and feel like a digital handbook. Users could filter by UN sector or search by keyword, making navigation simple and intuitive.

On the backend, we built a streamlined structure for editors and translators with a customised review flow aligned to UN publishing standards. We also integrated a guide course within the LMS and unified all tools under one login on a single Drupal platform.

Screenshot of the EQUIP ANU LMS e-learning platform homepage, featuring logos for the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and EQUIP. A left-hand navigation menu shows 'Topics'. The main area of the page displays four course cards in a grid. The course titles are: 'Providing Psychological Care Remotely,' 'Assessing and Supporting People With Suicidal Behaviours,' 'Assessing and Supporting People Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence,' and 'Supervision of Helpers for Remote Psychological Care.' Each card includes the number of modules and lessons and a 'Go to course' button.
An example of ANU, customised for World Health Organization's EQUIP project.
ANU LMS is AMAZING! Thank you for making it open source! Truly appreciate the efforts organisations like you put in to make valuable technology available to organisations like ours!
Jayalakshmi Jayanth
Head of Digital • Ashoka

The outcomes

  • Step by Step remains Lebanon’s most widely used digital mental health intervention, with strong patient feedback and measurable community benefits.
  • UNICEF’s MSP is now the global reference for emergency response guidance, actively used in over 30 countries and available in five languages. Its early availability in Ukrainian was critical for humanitarian agencies responding to the crisis in Ukraine.

Today, ANU continues to support NGOs, health organisations, and education providers worldwide, with both customised implementations and its open-source version available on Drupal.org.

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