The Institute of Philanthropy and
Rockefeller Foundation commit US$5
million to advance project and empower local researchers,
governments, and communities in low- and middle-income
countries
BERLIN, Oct. 14,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- At the World Health Summit
in Berlin today (15 October), the
Pasteur Network (PN) announced the launch of a pioneering project
to empower local researchers, governments and communities in low-
and middle-income countries to tackle the health impacts of climate
change.
The three-year Climate and Health Observatories Accelerator
Project was launched with support from the Institute of
Philanthropy (IoP), a charitable organisation established by The
Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust in 2023, and The
Rockefeller Foundation. The project aims to build climate-resilient
health systems by fostering evidence-based, actionable public
health responses in vulnerable regions.
"Launching the Climate and Health Observatories Accelerator
Project marks a pivotal step in understanding how climate change
impacts public health, especially in vulnerable regions. With this
initiative, we aim to generate crucial data that will inform
policies and interventions to protect communities from the growing
threats posed by climate-related diseases," said Dr Amadou Sall,
President of the Pasteur Network.
Call for global action and collaboration
IoP and The
Rockefeller Foundation are committing an initial US$5 million (HK$40
million) to support this initiative. It represents their
first co-funded initiative after signing a formal Statement of
Collaboration on the inaugural Health Day at the 28th United
Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai last December. On that occasion,
the philanthropic organisations agreed to scale up equitable
solutions to address the impact of climate change globally, most
notably for the estimated 3.3 billion most vulnerable people
worldwide.
"We are excited to launch this accelerator project in
collaboration with key global partners," said Dr Naveen Rao, Senior Vice-President of the Health
Initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation. "By empowering local
scientists and engaging directly with communities, we are bridging
the gap between climate data and public health actions, ensuring
that vulnerable populations are not left behind."
"The Institute of Philanthropy is delighted to co-fund the
Climate and Health Observatories Accelerator Project with The
Rockefeller Foundation," said Dr Gabriel Leung, Director of IoP and
Executive Director, Charities and Community of The
Hong Kong Jockey Club. "This is a clear example of
collaborative action which showcases our shared commitment to
advancing health outcomes amid the growing climate crisis and to
addressing global health challenges posed by climate change."
Working locally, acting globally
The three-year
Climate and Health Observatories Accelerator Project will
foster collaboration and develop strategies designed to foster
healthier, more resilient communities.
For example, the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City will focus its efforts on
dengue fever – a mosquito-borne viral illness that is sensitive to
climate change and poses a significant public health threat in
Vietnam.
"Vietnam is one of the
countries most affected by climate change. As the climate changes,
it is imperative to understand the potential impacts on dengue
transmission and develop effective mitigation strategies,"
said Prof Vu Trung Nguyen, Director of Institut Pasteur in
Ho Chi Minh City. "This
initiative could foster collaboration among community stakeholders
and generate evidence-based insights that can inform public health
policies, resource allocation and urban-planning decisions to
mitigate the impact of climate change on dengue transmission in
Vietnam."
Specifically, the project will:
- Create the foundations for climate and health observatories
through a global network of fellows. The Climate Change
Research Fellowship will build and enhance the capacity of
climate-health technical experts, empowering researchers to provide
support to local stakeholders in making informed decisions on
climate and health. Fellows will work closely with local
governments and stakeholders to translate climate data into
concrete public health actions, contributing to the broader vision
of enhancing community resilience to the impacts of climate change.
The fellowship application is available here.
- Advance general tools and practices across the PN's
exemplar members: exemplar PN members Fiocruz in Brazil, Institut Pasteur Dakar in Senegal and Institut Pasteur Ho Chi Minh City
in Vietnam will share their
knowledge of and expertise in climate and health and help guide the
cohort of fellows in their region.
- Increase impact through PN knowledge-sharing: to
develop global goods and deliverables around stakeholder needs and
public health challenges with a focus on collaboration across the
global South. These include technology toolkits, "use-cases" for
climate-informed public health insights, proven solutions and
products, operational best practices and common pitfalls.
For more information on the Climate and Health Observatories
Accelerator Project or to apply for the Climate Change Research
Fellowship, please visit
https://pasteur-network.org/en/posts/careers.
About the Pasteur Network
The Pasteur Network is an alliance of over 30 institutes which
plays a crucial role in tackling global health challenges through
science, innovation and public health. Its distinctive strength
lies in the diversity and extensive geographic reach, spanning 25
countries across 5 continents, fostering a dynamic community of
knowledge and expertise. The Pasteur Network plays a pivotal role
in advancing scientific understanding and applying this knowledge
to real-world health issues, with more than 5,000 scientific papers
published annually. The Pasteur Network is recognized as a WHO
non-state actor. For more information, visit the PN's website
here.
About The Institute of Philanthropy
The Institute of Philanthropy was established in September 2023 through a strategic seed grant of
HK$6.8 billion (US$870 million) from The Hong Kong Jockey Club
and its Charities Trust. Established as a "think-fund-do" tank for
China and Asia, IoP is dedicated to promoting
philanthropic thought-leadership and enhancing sector capabilities
at local, regional and global levels in collaboration with fellow
funders. It seeks to provide an Asia-based platform bringing global
stakeholders together to promote the betterment of societies
everywhere.
About The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on
collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology,
and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities
to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of
humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and
reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food,
health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our
newsletter at rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on
X @RockefellerFdn.
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