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South Asia Region
Integrating and scaling seasonal climate-driven dengue forecasting
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Outbreaks of climate sensitive diseases present a major growing threat to human health, but they are predictable and maybe even preventable. The mosquito transmitted disease dengue is one of the fastest growing global infectious diseases and now causes over 400 million annual cases globally. Dengue is becoming the primary acute infectious disease threat in countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia. Between 2017 and 2019, Vietnam averaged over 200,000 cases every year and in Malaysia dengue fever has the highest incidence rate among any other communicable disease (398 cases per 100,000). Dengue outbreaks are preventable with existing interventions, but only if they are used in the right places at the right times. The ability to forecast disease outbreaks months in advance can reduce the burden on health services. This is important in resource-constrained Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) where they can make the difference between an effective and efficient proactive response compared to a costly and often unsuccessful reactive response. We aim to demonstrate the value of disease forecasting via a local level dengue forecasting system in Vietnam and Malaysia, which will pave the way for scale up of dengue forecasting and other digital health solutions for climate sensitive diseases. We have developed the necessary disease forecasting techniques as part of the Dengue forecasting MOdel Satellite-based System (D-MOSS) project. Although this system has been operational since July 2019 in Vietnam and July 2020 in Malaysia, more work is needed to bridge the implementation gap to ensure forecasts have direct actionable and measurable impacts on preventing outbreaks at a local level. Further research is required to establish if the forecasting techniques already in operation are capable of producing accurate forecasts at the required spatial and temporal resolutions, tailored to the practices applied by specific sectors of the health system. We will test this by co-developing new forecasts that provide advance predictions in Vietnam and Malaysia. Through a series of longitudinal workshops we will develop risk assessment protocols that link forecasts to outbreak prevention activities at different sectors of the Vietnamese and Malaysian health systems. These knowledge gaps will be addressed by a multidisciplinary team of dengue experts, modellers, public health experts, software engineers and early warning systems experts from multiple institutes in Vietnam, Malaysia and the UK. Training and co-design of the research is central to all aspects of our proposal and we intend to leverage the equitable partnerships established as part of the D-MOSS project to meet our aims. Cross-cutting activities will compare and contrast the operational context in these countries and enable collaboration between them with the goal of deriving generalisable principles and specific guidelines for expansion to other countries. This research will demonstrate clear health value against dengue and other Aedes mosquito-borne diseases (e.g. chikungunya, Zika) in Vietnam and Malaysia, and a plan for how the intervention will be scaled up to other LMICs currently struggling to address the growing threat of dengue and other climate-sensitive diseases. In the longer term, this project will provide evidence on the value of forecasting to health systems for a wide range of health conditions.
Pulmonary rehabilitation delivered in low resource settings for people with chronic respiratory disease: a 3-arm assessor-blind implementation trial
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
MRC AGHRB Award to conduct a 3-arm individually randomised, assessor-blinded hybrid-1 implementation trial to evaluate clinical effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for people with chronic respiratory disease (CRD), in Bangladesh and India
Sources, impacts and solutions for plastics in South East Asia coastal environments
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
This project has a widely cross-disciplinary team and will tackle the plastic pollution crisis in coastal environments of Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand with a new angle. The project will deploy advanced, state-of-the art techniques to quantify the impact of different plastic debris - dominated by smaller abundant microplastic (MP) particles - at different trophic levels from the complex microbial communities inhabiting the surface of MPs, to bivalves and fish. The project will identify new microbial degraders, key enzymes involved in biodegradation pathways and understand how sunlight can enhance the (bio)degradability of recalcitrant polymers.
Sources, impacts and solutions for plastics in South East Asia coastal environments
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
This project has a widely cross-disciplinary team and will tackle the plastic pollution crisis in coastal environments of Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand with a new angle. The project will deploy advanced, state-of-the art techniques to quantify the impact of different plastic debris - dominated by smaller abundant microplastic (MP) particles - at different trophic levels from the complex microbial communities inhabiting the surface of MPs, to bivalves and fish. The project will identify new microbial degraders, key enzymes involved in biodegradation pathways and understand how sunlight can enhance the (bio)degradability of recalcitrant polymers.
GCRF Living Deltas Hub
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
River deltas comprise only 1% of global landscapes, yet support over half a billion people. Deltas are tightly coupled social-ecological systems (SESs), but human exploitation, environmental degradation and threats from climate change increasingly threaten these delicate interfaces between land and water. The intractable development challenge addressed by this bid is how to avoid the collapse of South and SE Asian deltas as functioning, highly productive social-ecological systems in the face of human development and the projected consequences of climate change. The proposed Living Deltas Hub focuses on the delta SESs of three major rivers in South and Southeast Asia: the Red River and Mekong (Vietnam) and Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM: Bangladesh, India). Deltas form part of wider river basins and so the Hub will also engage with other riparian country researchers, in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The stakes for the project are clear: 70% of the Mekong delta is highly vulnerable to flooding with 7 million people at risk. Sea level rise in Bangladesh could displace between 3 and 13 million by 2100. SE-Asian mega-deltas produce 88% of the world's rice, but the 98cm of sea level rise predicted under IPCC AR5 (2014) would render 16% of arable land in Bangladesh and 25% in Vietnam unusable by 2100. Upstream damming and sediment retention is also a major threat, with resulting delta subsidence putting 12 million people in 23 Asian cities at risk from water inundation. As human impacts increase, the need for locally-rooted sustainable development strategies underpinned by traditional knowledge becomes ever greater. The GCRF Living Deltas Hub will co-develop the transdisciplinary frameworks needed to understand delta SESs, and will work with delta-dwellers and policymakers to develop solutions that can help realise the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in delta contexts. The Hub is novel - no other existing or previous international delta initiative has specifically addressed the SDGs by co-creating new natural and cultural heritage understandings of deltas. It is timely, as it addresses the crucial challenges of SE Asian delta degradation early in the lifespan of the SDGs and so contributes to the development of SDG monitoring and planning - globally and regionally, as well as in country contexts. The Hub is innovative as it emphasizes transdisciplinary integration of the earth and life sciences, social sciences, humanities and arts, to address these common challenges The Hub will operate on a model of 'equitable partnership', involving delta-dwellers and the research community in developing knowledge and policy for better delta futures. The Hub comprises six innovative work packages co-developed with Global South partners and research institutes addressing specific in-country and delta-scale needs. Its new knowledge will serve to build capacity and shape policy at local, national, regional and global levels. The Hub will have lasting impact through improved livelihoods and more resilient communities, sustainable management and conservation, improved monitoring of SDG indicators and better policies for sustainable development. The Hub brings together a transdisciplinary team of experts and practitioners from Global 'North' and 'South'. Hub strengths are in: coupled human and natural systems analyses; demography and international development; natural hazard modelling and coastal resilience; environmental monitoring and modelling; policy and practice of resource management, hazard, risk and resilience; SDG-focused analyses of delta systems and their vulnerability to hazards; justice and governance; behavioral finance; delta nutrition and food security; and gender-sensitive research. Working together with stakeholders from delta countries, the research team have the knowledge, expertise and track record to build new understandings of delta change, new partnerships, and new solutions.
Risks and Solutions: Marine Plastics in Southeast Asia - RaSP-SEA
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Working regionally with Malaysian and Thai partners, this project will build capacity, generate knowledge, and test innovative solutions under three interlinked, interdisciplinary themes: 1. Modification and transformation of plastics in the environment, 2. Hazard, risk, and impacts, 3. Intervention, mitigation, and adaptation. This project will deliver new knowledge of the flow and life cycle of plastic waste within the Southeast Asian region, the levels of plastic pollution currently pervading this region, and the risk that macro- and microplastic pollution poses to SE Asian coastal ecosystems and wildlife, ecosystem functions, and the livelihoods they support. Trialling of interventions, mitigation, and adaptation approaches will be of benefit to public policy, conservation, materials engineering, business, fisheries, environmental education, and economics.
Risks and Solutions: Marine Plastics in Southeast Asia - RaSP-SEA
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Working regionally with Malaysian and Thai partners, this project will build capacity, generate knowledge, and test innovative solutions under three interlinked, interdisciplinary themes: 1. Modification and transformation of plastics in the environment, 2. Hazard, risk, and impacts, 3. Intervention, mitigation, and adaptation. This project will deliver new knowledge of the flow and life cycle of plastic waste within the Southeast Asian region, the levels of plastic pollution currently pervading this region, and the risk that macro- and microplastic pollution poses to SE Asian coastal ecosystems and wildlife, ecosystem functions, and the livelihoods they support. Trialling of interventions, mitigation, and adaptation approaches will be of benefit to public policy, conservation, materials engineering, business, fisheries, environmental education, and economics.
Climate Action for a Resilient Asia
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
A Technical Assistance facility will build capacity of national and subnational governments and vulnerable communities to integrate climate resilience into government-wide policy and planning and also work with the private sector, banks and financial regulators to support the integration of climate-related risks into investment decisions. A portion of the programme budget will be earmarked for coordinated policy work and regional cooperation in specific sectors or themes which require a regional approach where we have existing successful regional partnerships which can be scaled up, and or there is demand from country offices for a multi-country approach. Enable management of the programme including monitoring and evaluation, research, knowledge dissemination, communication, advisory support to country offices if required.
Global Innovation Fund
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To identify and support innovative solutions to development challenges which show proven, cost effective impacts that vastly exceed current practice.
ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility (ACGF)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This Programme supports ODA-eligible Association of South East Asia Nations members grow sustainably and meet the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals by financing infrastructure investments linked to clear, measurable green targets. The Programme helps the UK meet is International Climate Fund targets and is consistent with HMG’s Indo-Pacific Tilt and FCDO’s climate objectives in Asia.
MECS - Modern Energy Cooking Services
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
MECS is the FCDO research and innovation programme that accelerates the uptake of clean and modern energy cooking practices in Africa, South Asia, and the Indo-Pacific, in alignment with the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 7. Targeting the 2.1 billion people who still lack access to clean cooking solutions in developing countries (especially women), MECS develops research around modern energy cooking, funds pilots to scale up new clean cooking technologies and business models in developing countries, and conducts policy research to inform and influence national strategies and planning. MECS is delivered via two lead organisations - Loughborough University and the World Bank ESMAP – in collaboration with hundreds of regional and local downstream partner organisations (including 16 other universities). It contributes to International Climate Finance (ICF) objectives and is one of the main FCDO programmes contributing to the £1b Ayrton Fund for clean energy innovation.
ASEAN-UK Women Peace and Security Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The ASEAN-UK Women Peace and Security (WPS) Programme works with ASEAN to advance and strengthen the WPS agenda, including promoting women’s participation in conflict prevention, resolution and recovery, preventing violence against women and promoting social cohesion in the region.
ASEAN-UK Health Security Partnership
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The UK-ASEAN Health Security Partnership is a five-year programme that will improve capacity for the prevention, detection and response to health threats in Southeast Asia, contributing to improved regional and global health security. The programme will build cooperation between UK and ASEAN public health actors, support mobilisation of a One Health approach and advance equitable access to health in countries of focus, including by strengthening health systems. The programme will offer demand-driven grant funding and technical support to improve preparedness for health emergencies at country and regional level, including through support to relevant ASEAN institutions in line with UK-ASEAN priorities.
ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The programme will leverage expertise in UK institutions to support the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states implement ASEAN initiatives that will reduce poverty in the region and in particular support women’s economic empowerment and small businesses. It aims to reduce barriers to development in ASEAN Member States (AMS) and the overall ASEAN Economic Community, to increase prosperity and provide the foundation for more inclusive economic development that benefits the poorest. The programme will support reforms covering regulatory reform, financial services, and trade through technical assistance, capacity building and knowledge-transfer partnerships. It will look to harness the potential of digitalisation in ASEAN.
ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (SAGE) Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme will help to improve the learning outcomes, agency and freedoms of women and girls and other left-behind groups across the full range of countries in ASEAN, in line with the commitments to ASEAN as a Dialogue Partner. It will deploy technical advice to support regional partnerships and reform initiatives that can influence and multiply domestic and multilateral education finance. In Low- and Lower Middle-Income Countries, activity will focus on basic education. We will provide technical assistance, capacity building and evidence assessments to help ASEAN Member States (AMS) design and implement more cost-effective measures to address the foundational learning crisis, including post-COVID-19 recovery. It will also help to expand access to high quality digital skills, technical and vocational education with a focus on enabling marginalised adolescent girls ty digital skills, technical and vocational education with a focus on enabling marginalised adolescent girls.
The Evidence Fund - 300708
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Evidence Fund procures and manages research and evaluations that primarily benefit ODA eligible countries. Most research and evaluations paid for by the Evidence Fund are country-specific, and all respond to requests for evidence to inform programme or policy decisions. Primarily serving research requests from HMG’s Embassies and High Commissions in ODA eligible countries, and from HMG policy and strategy teams, the Evidence Fund strengthens the evidence behind the UK’s priority international development investments and development diplomacy. The Evidence Fund also invests modest amounts of non-ODA, to strengthen the evidence behind wider UK foreign policy.