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Expanding syphilis screening among pregnant women in Indonesia using the rapid dual test for syphilis & HIV with capacity building: The DUALIS Study
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of syphilis, or congenital syphilis, is the second leading cause of preventable stillbirth globally, preceded only by malaria. While significant progress has been made over the past decade in preventing MTCT of HIV, the same cannot be said for syphilis. In 2016, there were more than half a million (about 661,000) cases of congenital syphilis, resulting in over 200,000 stillbirths and neonatal deaths. It is crucial that all women are provided with early syphilis screening and treatment as part of high-quality antenatal care (ANC). Transmission of HIV and syphilis to newborns is essentially preventable through the use of affordable and reliable rapid tests to support early diagnosis and treatment in pregnancy. A single rapid test for syphilis was added to Indonesia's MTCT HIV programme in 2013. While the level of HIV testing in pregnancy has been gradually rising since that time from 2% to 27%, testing for syphilis has barely shifted from 0.45% to 0.9%. Based on an estimated syphilis prevalence rate of 1.2%, it is predicted that 10,169 stillbirth cases could potentially be averted by increasing the coverage of antenatal syphilis screening in Indonesia. The dual test for HIV/syphilis point-of-care testing for pregnant women has been shown to be an effective and cost-saving tool for accelerating syphilis testing uptake in several low- and middle-income countries. It was approved for use in Indonesia in 2019 but is yet to be implemented. This is in part due to the low political priority given to syphilis compared with HIV, low levels of investment by the government and donors, and a paucity of evidence on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the dual test in routine care in Indonesia. For this study, we have partnered with the Indonesian Ministry of Health, WHO Indonesia, and a community NGO to evaluate the impact of the dual test with supporting elements (including capacity building the areas of screening procedures, inventory management, staff and patient engagement, data management and referrals, standard operating procedures, procurement and supply) in 4 districts of Indonesia. This cluster-randomised trial will be the first in Southeast Asia to assess the effectiveness, acceptability, cost-effectiveness, and affordability of the dual test for HIV and syphilis in routine ANC services. This intervention has the potential to contribute significantly to improved maternal and child health in Indonesia while building health system capacity to strengthen the prevention, detection, and treatment of syphilis.
Enhancing Indonesia's Disaster Preparedness Through an Innovative Multi-Risk Management Framework with ICT ecosystems
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Indonesia stretches along one of the most tectonically active boundaries in the world. Since 1970, earthquakes in Indonesia have led to over US$20 billion in economic losses and to hundreds of thousands of fatalities, sadly, many preventable with a better understanding of earthquake risk. Seismic risk increases over time and is exacerbated by rapid population growth and urbanisation. One of the greatest risks arises from substandard vulnerable structures, which account for a large proportion of fatalities and comprise most of existing building stock in urban and suburban regions of West Sumatra. Particularly in Padang city, such substandard structures are highly vulnerable and experienced catastrophic collapses during the 2009 West Sumatra earthquake. Whilst the Indonesian government has made some progress towards meeting the objectives set in the UN' Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the risk of vulnerable structures in West Sumatra (one of the least developed areas in Indonesia) remains very high. As a result, there is an urgent need for better disaster preparedness, reliable vulnerability assessments and appropriate seismic risk management strategies to reduce potential losses in future earthquakes. In recent years, Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) have been proposed to enhance the quality of data and accuracy of seismic risk calculations. Field data from building images (i.e. building categories, geo-tag location) obtained from deep learning approaches can be used to calculate the empirical vulnerability of buildings, but such information is only useful if it is calibrated with real data and integrated into earthquake risk assessment frameworks. Social media can also provide large amounts of eyewitness data (e.g. video and images) about an earthquake but harnessing this data into useful information for emergency responders, search and rescue workers, and structural engineers is still a challenge and requires the use of big data and artificial intelligence. The aim of this project is to develop an innovative, rapid and efficient framework for multi-hazard seismic risk assessment with ICT ecosystems to enhance West Sumatra's disaster preparedness, using Padang city as a pilot case study. For the first time, the developed framework will consider the effect of earthquakes, tsunami, landslides and liquefaction. The methodology will be subsequently integrated into the innovative management system KERIS. The new framework and KERIS system are expected to support West Sumatra's Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) in coordinating Disaster Risk Reduction efforts and policies in West Sumatra. The collaboration brings together leading institutions of the UK (University of Warwick) and Indonesia (Unversitas Bung Hatta, Institut Teknologi Bandung, and BPBD) with expertise in the fields of structural engineering and ICT. This collaborative project has the following Objectives. 1) Develop a rapid and efficient (on data management and computation) multi-hazard risk assessment methodology including data from ICT ecosystems using Padang as a pilot case study. 2) Propose innovative seismic risk mitigation and DRR management strategies, including a mobile app and the integration of the new framework into a new knowledge-management system (KERIS). 3) To organise workshops, seminars, networking events and visits between staff in the three universities so as to establish new long-term collaborations between them. The outcomes of the proposed research will give stakeholders in West Sumatra innovative and efficient tools for disaster mitigation, which is expected to reduce earthquake-related losses and promote sustainable development in the region.
Feasibility study of a peer-led, school-based, adolescent smoking prevention intervention (ASSIST) in culturally different middle income countries
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
MRC Adolescent Health feasibility study of a peer-led, school-based, adolescent smoking prevention intervention (ASSIST) in culturally different middle income countries
MICA: A targeted combination intervention approach for acute HIV infections to curb the explosive epidemic among high-risk populations in Indonesia
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
MRC AGHRB Award looking at a targeted combination intervention approach for acute HIV infections to curb the explosive epidemic among high-risk populations in Indonesia
High Dose Oral Rifampicin to Improve Survival from Adult TB Meningitis - (HARVEST) Trial
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
MRC/JGHT 8 award phase III randomized, doubleblind placebocontrolled clinical trial evaluating whether ~3.5x higher oral doserifampicin has a 6month survival benefit as the primary endpoint, additionally pharmacokinetic measurements and safety are included as important secondary endpoints in Indonesia
Safely transforming phytoremediation crops into bioenergy
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
This project will optimise technology to efficiently and safely produce biogas using plants grown on contaminated land. Terra Power is based in the UK and was founded to develop this technology. The project involves partners in the UK, UAE, and Indonesia. Our UK partner, Loughborough University, brings research expertise, AD capabilities, and all required lab equipment. Terra Power worked with Loughborough to deliver a successful proof-of-concept project, and published results in a co-authored paper in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Phytoremediation (June 2020) Our UAE partner, Zest Associates, brings cleantech commercialisation expertise, green finance expertise, start-up incubation experience and project leadership capabilities critical for successful delivery. Our Indonesian partner, Nexus3, brings access to test sites, skills in site characterisation, toxics management, and testing the production of mercury-absorbent polymer locally, maintaining relationships with target communities, policymakers and local subcontractors. This project supports the production of cost-effective and locally secure low-carbon energy for the energy-poor in countries affected by site contamination, tackling the energy trilemma. The project also delivers co-benefits including reduced carbon emissions, valorising remediation activities, improving health, especially of women and children, restoring soils, create local economic development, in turn addressing Sustainable Development Goals 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 & 15, and supporting compliance with the UN Minamata Convention on Mercury.
Factors affecting childhood exposures to urban particulates (FACE-UP)
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
GCRF Health and Context award looking at factors affecting childhood exposures to urban particulates (FACE-UP) in Indonesia and Nepal
Development of host-directed therapy for targeting Mycobacterium tuberculosis persisters
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global challenge. It is estimated that nearly 10 million people will die from infection with multi-drug resistant bacteria by 2050 if novel antimicrobials and advanced control measures are not introduced. While mechanisms of acquired AMR are well established the biology of persisters, drug-sensitive bacteria that survive exposure to bactericidal drugs and result in treatment failure, remains poorly characterised. Persisters are particularly important in tuberculosis (TB) which is the main cause of mortality from infection in Southeast Asia. Indonesia has the world’s second highest TB burden which is further complicated by the low rate of treatment coverage, low successful treatment rate of multi-drug resistant (MDR)TB and high number of TB re-treatment cases. The TB relapse rate in Indonesia is nearly 4 times higher than TB reoccurrences in Leicester, indicating that a higher proportion of patients are not cured or do not adhere to prescribed regimens. This challenging situation has a negative impact on Indonesian health system, people well-being and economy. Thus, reducing TB recurrence by improving TB treatment and educating patients is the key need in Indonesia. TB requires prolonged chemotherapy with a combination of drugs. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative TB agent survives in infected patients by adopting a special difficult-to-culture (DC) persister-like state. These drug recalcitrant DC Mtb persisters are believed to cause TB relapse and failed TB treatment. DC Mtb are highly abundant TB patients and can be recovered from sputum. Host immune factors associated with the inflammatory response trigger formation of DC Mtb, while anti-inflammatory drug dimethyl fumarate (DMF) removes DC Mtb from infected animal tissue. The central hypothesis of this proposal is that DC Mtb can be eliminated via host-directed therapy by altering the immune response and the niche that promotes their formation and survival. This collaborative project between the University of Leicester (UoL) and Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) is aimed to investigate the biology of DC Mtb persisters and to develop new chemotherapeutic for rapid eradication of DC Mtb in patients. This will be achieved by completing the following objectives: (1) discovery of drugs with dual anti-mycobacterial and anti-inflammatory activities suitable for elimination of DC Mtb; (2) determination of the factors that affect abundance of DC Mtb in infected patients; (3) exploration of the molecular mechanisms underpinning bactericidal effects of the new drugs on Mtb persisters; (4) to increase public awareness about the importance of adhering to treatment and eliminating Mtb persisters. The proposal applicants will embrace a collaborative multidisciplinary approach supported by complementary expertise in clinical TB research, generation and assessment of Mtb persisters, infection studies, omics technologies. Research activities will be enhanced by interactions with key stakeholders, clinicians, researchers, patients. These interactions will be directed on identification of further health and research needs concerning TB treatment and management, formulation of innovative solutions and increase of public awareness about the importance of AMR, TB and Mtb persisters. The proposed project will strengthen research in both institutions by enabling exchange of materials, protocols, and knowledge, provision of training, publishing of research finding and exploring translational opportunities. The development of host directed anti-persister therapy will have a direct impact on improvement of TB treatment and management in Indonesia and will stimulate expansion of the existing collaboration for controlling major infectious diseases.
Emergence, Persistence and Control of Avian Influenza Zoonotic Risk
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) persists in poultry in several countries around the world, with Africa and Asia most severely affected by the disease. The H5 subtype is a major public health concern, with 889 human cases reported to April 2024, approximately half of which were fatal. Poultry to human transmission is especially prevalent in regions where smallholder poultry farming is commonplace, with Indonesia previously being most severely affected by human disease. Additionally, since 2019, there has been a significant increase in cases of H5N1 in poultry and wild birds in Europe and North America and reports of spillover cases to mammalian populations, including recently in cattle farms in the USA, resulting in the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring that H5N1 poses a risk to humans. The overall aim of this project is to develop an understanding of the demographic, management and behavioural characteristics that affect transmission risk of avian influenza viruses (AIV) within and between poultry farms and between poultry and humans. This will allow us to provide critical information for farmers, government authorities and the general public in Indonesia to implement appropriate surveillance and interventions for reducing the risk of human exposure to HPAI. Our project will consist of three work packages (WPs). In WP1 we will undertake a human behavioural survey and a field study of poultry farms in Indonesia. Using a questionnaire, we will collect information on human behaviour, farming habits, temporal changes in farm/flock sizes, and syndromic detection of disease (e.g. flock death records). Laboratory samples for virological and serological analysis will be taken to detect the presence of current HPAI viruses and antibodies against AIV in poultry and humans. In order to obtain accurate data on circulating H and N subtypes, pseudotyped virus (PV) will be used in neutralisation tests. These biological data will be used in WP2 and WP3. Information will also be collated on the human population, the distribution of poultry farms in Indonesia and case reporting data in the region. In WP2 we will construct a mathematical model to simulate the spread of HPAI within and between poultry farms and at the poultry-human interface. The model will utilise the data from WP1 to determine transmission parameters and the spatial pattern of transmission risk. This will provide information regarding regions that should be targeted for surveillance to reduce the likelihood of future poultry outbreaks and consequently lower the human health risk. In WP3, the model will be used to determine the effectiveness of active surveillance and intervention strategies and their impact upon zoonotic disease transmission. We will employ an adaptive management framework that will enable surveillance and control strategies to be modified during outbreaks as more information becomes available. The key deliverables of this grant will be an increased understanding of the human health implications of HPAI outbreaks in Indonesia, an identification of high-risk regions and an exploration of appropriate adaptive strategies for future outbreaks. The Indonesian team has a proven track record of working with local policy makers which will ensure that our policy recommendations are communicated to appropriate national authorities and local practitioners. The project investigators also collaborate closely with the WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organisation and will liaise closely with these agencies during the project, thereby maximising both the regional and global impact of this research.
INTERCEPT: INTerrupting prolifERation of Carbapenem resistance in Indonesia: clinical and genomic Evaluation of Pathways of Transmission
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Bacteria that are resistant to last-line antibiotics of the carbapenem class are a global public health threat, and classified as critical priority pathogens by the World Health Organisation. In Indonesia, they are a serious problem and common disease-causing bacteria are frequently resistant to carbapenems. The routes by which people acquire these bacteria are unknown, but scarce data from Indonesia and experience in other settings suggests that transmission in hospitals is likely common: strategies to block transmission are needed. Infection prevention and control (IPC) and antimicrobial stewardship provide tools to do just that; the principles of these disciplines have been established in high-income settings since the 1950s, yet despite sporadic attempts to deploy them in Indonesia, carbapenem resistance has emerged and proliferated. This mirrors the earlier rapid spread of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria: these bacteria – problematic to treat in their own right - confer resistance to older antibiotics of the beta-lactam class. Carbapenems are commonly used to treat, which in turn has driven carbapenem resistance. To break this vicious cycle, new interventions to block transmission of resistant bacteria that are locally-adapted and sustainable are required. But understanding transmission is complex. Bacteria can resist antibiotics by acquiring genes that confer resistance, but these acquired genes can be transported by many vehicles, often nested, like a Matryoshka Russian doll: “jumping genes” (transposons) can jump to and from bacterial chromosomes and replicating genetic fragments (mobile genetic elements like plasmids), which can themselves jump between bacteria. Bacteria can move between animals, the environment, and humans, living harmlessly in the human gut (so-called colonisation) prior to causing invasive disease when they escape into (for example) the bloodstream. At the health system level, humans carry resistance genes with them as they move between health facilities and the community; travel disseminates them globally. INTERCEPT brings together UK and Indonesian researchers to tackle this problem, using cutting-edge techniques to identify key transmission routes across this complex system, then co-designing and piloting interventions to block them. At different levels of the Indonesian health care system, we will test humans and the environment for colonisation with carbapenem-resistant bacteria, as well as community members and hospital wastewater, defining flow of resistance genes into and out of health facilities. We will recruit a cohort of patients with bloodstream infection to properly define current treatments and outcomes of people with carbapenem-resistant infection, and identify and interview key stakeholders to understand perceived barriers to the implementation of effective antimicrobial stewardship and IPC interventions. Whole-genome sequencing techniques will fully describe bacteria and resistance genes and mobile genetic elements, tracking them through this system; mathematical models will identify key transmission routes. We will take clinical strains into the laboratory where molecular biology techniques developed at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine will allow us to understand mechanisms of resistance and the capability of carbapenemase genes to transfer within and between bacteria. Ultimately, insights from these analyses will inform design of locally-adapted interventions. We will convene workshops of key institutional and government stakeholders to co-design interventions, and pilot them whilst ongoing sampling assesses the impact on transmission. INTERCEPT will provide practical data to guide interventions aligned with national and international AMR-control priorities, suitable for scale-up and larger scale assessment, but also insights into transmission of carbapenem resistance that will benefit hospitalised patients in Indonesia, and worldwide.
Rice-straw powered biowaste to energy
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
This consortium, let by Carnot Ltd, seeks to develop the world's first profitable rice-straw bioenergy demonstrator for a rural community in Lombok Island, Indonesia. Rice straw is separated from the grains during harvesting and either combusted (producing CO2) or left to decompose (producing methane with 25\* Global Warming Potential) due to challenges with harvesting it, particularly in flooded paddy fields (a common occurrence). Straw Innovations has created innovative technology that overcomes the barriers to harvesting it in all weathers, unlocking a potential 300Mt of rice straw generated in Asia every year. Rice straw has high ash content (around 20%), comprising about 75% silica. This, combined with other components in the straw (chlorine, potassium) causes melting and slagging / fouling in boilers when combusted. Hence, it is not an easy fuel to chop or combust. PyroGenesys have developed a lower-temperature pyrolysis process which can convert rice straw into Biochar, a carbon-sequestering fertiliser that can be used by the rice farmers, and biofuel. The carbon sequestered can be traded on carbon removal markets. Surplus biofuel not used to generate electricity can be sold. Electricity is a low-value commodity and renewable electricity projects will typically require very large scale to be profitable and attract funding required from investors. PyroGenesys' process solves this problem by opening up two very high-value revenue streams. Carnot is developing ceramic engine gensets with double the efficiency of state-of-the-art diesel gensets, capable of operating on all fuels. These will provide electricity to the rice mills as their base load as well as electricity to a rural community. Integrating Carnot's gensets enables revenues generated by biofuel sales to be maximised. Indonesia: * Is the world's 5th largest GHG emitter. * Is the largest producer of biofuels worldwide. * Has mandated to convert a significant portion of its palm oil into FAME biodiesel. There is a reluctance to move to renewable energy due to fossil fuel sunk costs/subsidies and no proven profitable off-grid low-carbon energy business model. This demonstrator project aims to be the catalyst to breaking the deadlock and unleashing investment into Indonesia's enormous renewable energy potential. Key project outputs: * Pilot-scale demonstration of business model feasibility * 200,000kg rice-straw feedstock; * 76,000kg value-added-biochar/53,200kg carbon sequestration/80,000kg biofuel; * 2.28MWh electricity provided to rice mill.
An implementation trial of continuous quality improvement for antenatal syphilis and HIV detection and treatment in Indonesia: The MENJAGA study
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
The dual elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis through screening and treatment of pregnant women has been identified as a global public health priority. Indonesia has set an ambitious EMTCT target of 2030. Currently, only 27% of pregnant women are tested for HIV and 1% for syphilis (using a mixture of rapid tests and laboratory-based testing), this is despite 98% of pregnant women attending antenatal care at least once during pregnancy. Moreover, only 48% of those testing positive for HIV and 30% for syphilis receive treatment. This poses a formidable challenge and is recognised as one of the most significant gaps in antenatal care in Indonesia. Persistent barriers to antenatal screening for HIV/syphilis include (but are not restricted to): limited awareness among health workers of the need for universal screening; some women are fearful of the test; lack of local standard operating procedures at the clinic level; supply chain gaps in tests and treatments; problems with the referral processes; and difficulties tracking women as they move across the health system. Context-specific interventions to better support the integration of HIV and syphilis testing and treatment into the Antenatal care (ANC) platform are urgently needed in Indonesia. Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), which involves local ANC teams systematically collecting and reflecting on local data to inform the design and implementation of service delivery, has been effectively used to strengthen ANC services in a number of Sub-Saharan African countries. This approach holds considerable promise for Indonesia, a highly populous and diverse country where a 'one size fits all' approach to the delivery of quality ANC rarely applies. Using a cluster-randomised design, we will evaluate the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, acceptability, fidelity and reach of a multi-faceted CQI intervention to improve antenatal testing and treatment of HIV and syphilis in public and private ANC clinics in 6 districts across 3 Provinces (West Java, South Sumatra and South Kalimantan). This 3-year multi-disciplinary study will involve clinicians, epidemiologists, economists, social scientists, health services researchers and policy-makers from the Indonesian Ministry of Health (research partner), the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the Universitas of Gadjah Mada, the University of Sebelas Maret and the Kirby Institute. A range of other stakeholders will be involved throughout the study (e.g. patient advocacy groups; implementing agencies; specialist professional associations; clinics and ANC services) to assess the appropriateness and acceptability of the intervention and barriers and facilitators to scale up. This research has the potential to contribute significantly to improved maternal and child health in Indonesia while also strengthening the underlying health system.
ORRAA Programme
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
The Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) is a multi-sector alliance that aims to drive investment into coastal natural capital through the development of innovative finance solutions. These products will reduce vulnerability and build resilience in the most exposed and vulnerable coastal regions and communities. The UK has committed £13.9 million into ORRAA, delivered in two phases. A successful Phase 1 in 2021-22 provided £1.9m in grant funding, followed by Phase 2 from 2022-2026 with £12m committed in grant funding. The UK’s investment will address 2 challenges faced by coastal communities and the ocean environment: 1) Tackling the impacts of anthropogenic climate change and biodiversity loss. 2) Overcoming barriers that prevent finance flowing into nature-based solutions. The grant awarded to ORRAA will support their aims to drive at least $500 million of investment into coastal and ocean natural capital, and produce at least 50 new, innovative finance products, by 2030. This would positively impact the resilience of 250 million climate vulnerable people in coastal areas worldwide.
Legacy Landscapes Fund
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
Legacy Landscapes Fund aims to guarantee long-term conservation funding to protect biodiversity, promote climate resilience, and foster equitable development in some of the world’s most outstanding landscapes. The UK will work together with LLF and its partners to help narrow the biodiversity finance gap and deliver the global 30by30 target on land by sourcing significant and sustained funding for protected areas with high biodiversity and critical ecosystems. LLF are a multi-donor conservation trust fund established in 2020 that deliver long-term support to vital protected areas and their buffer zones in the global south. Their ambition is to fund 30 landscapes by 2030, and they benefit from partnerships with a range of public and private donors and NGOs who provide strategic support and effective, inclusive implementation. Central to LLF's approach is an understanding that long term and predictable funding helps them to deliver better outcomes and builds capacity more effectively. LLF, it's partners and Defra are committed to the equitable delivery of 30by30, and this funding will focus on maximising benefits for Indigenous peoples and local communities and promoting gender equity.
The Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (ISFL) - Bio Carbon Fund
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
A multilateral project administered by the World Bank which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the land use sector through sustainable landscape management, whilst improving the livelihoods of forest communities. The ISFL combines upfront technical assistance with results-based finance which rewards countries which implement landscape-level approaches that reduce emissions from the forest and land-use sector. ISFL works with 5 countries: Colombia, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Mexico and Zambia. Defra is supporting programmes in Indonesia and Zambia with upfront finance and potentially all countries with results based finance.
Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is a widespread and lucrative criminal activity causing major global environmental and social harm. The IWT has been estimated to be worth up to £17 billion a year. Nearly 6,000 different species of fauna and flora are impacted, with almost every country in the world playing a role in the illicit trade. The UK government is committed to tackling illegal trade of wildlife products and is a long-standing leader in efforts to eradicate the IWT. Defra manages the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, which is a competitive grants scheme with the objective of tackling IWT and, in doing so, contributing to sustainable development in developing countries. Projects funded under the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund address one, or more, of the following themes: • Developing sustainable livelihoods to benefit people directly affected by IWT, • Strengthening law enforcement, • Ensuring effective legal frameworks, • Reducing demand for IWT products. By 2023 over £51 million has been committed to 157 projects since the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund was established in 2013. This page contains information about Rounds 7 onwards. For information about Rounds 1 to 6, please see the IWTCF website -https://iwt.challengefund.org.uk/
Global Programme on Sustainability
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
The programme supports sustainable economic growth that is both long-lasting and resilient to climate-related stressors. It does this through the integration of natural capital into decision making by governments, the private sector and financial institutions. The inability to value natural capital can undermine long-term growth and critically, the livelihoods of the poorest people dependent on ecosystems for their livelihoods. This programme directly addresses this challenge by (i) investing in data and research on natural capital; (ii) assisting countries to integrate this analysis into government policy making; and (iii) integrating this data and analysis into financial sector decision making.
Darwin Initiative
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
The Darwin Initiative is the UK’s flagship international challenge fund for biodiversity conversation and poverty reduction, established at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. The Darwin Initiative is a grant scheme working on projects that aim to slow, halt, or reverse the rates of biodiversity loss and degradation, with associated reductions in multidimensional poverty. To date, the Darwin Initiative has awarded more than £195m to over 1,280 projects in 159 countries to enhance the capability and capacity of national and local stakeholders to deliver biodiversity conservation and multidimensional poverty reduction outcomes in low and middle-income countries. More information at https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/the-darwin-initiative. This page contains information about Rounds 27 onwards. For information about Rounds 1 to 26, please see the Darwin Initiative website -https://www.darwininitiative.org.uk/
Newton Fund Indonesia programme delivery
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Newton Fund Indonesia programme delivery to support the delivery of ODA activities in Newton Fund countries
Xurya Pte. Ltd
British International Investment plc
Xurya is a solar development and asset management company based in Indonesia that sources, develops, operates, and maintains distributed solar projects. SEACEF II is investing $5m in the first tranche of funding (50%), and BII is co-investing $2.5m (50%) alongside the Fund.