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Screen4SpLDs - Development of an Automated Pre-Screening Tool for Specific Learning Disabilities in Children.
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Specific Learning Disabilities (SpLDs) is a common term in today's society, which manifests in different ways and can cause various difficulties in daily life. For one person it might be the lack of attention, for another, it might be struggling to read fluently or conduct basic mathematical calculations; these are different groups of Learning Disabilities. Early detection and treatment of SpLDs are crucial, as it enables the start of interventions that support the best outcomes for children living with SLDs. Not addressing SLDs at a young age has a major influence on development into adulthood and results in a high economic cost, exceeding the lifetime costs of asthma, intellectual disability, and diabetes have a huge shortage of special educators to conduct SLDs screening and subsequently providing treatment post diagnosis. There are nearly 90% of the world's children reside in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). The challenge of early detection and early intervention of SpLDs is exacerbated by limited expertise, including limited screening, diagnostic and treatment resources in LMICs. For instance, in the Global South, the skilled human resource and tools to assess SpLDs are very limited. Thus, these children are undiagnosed and negatively reinforced by the community by stigmatizing and labelling them. These factors all lead to low self-esteem and behavior problems that further interfere with their ability to learn. In vulnerable communities, which are often already poverty stricken, this operates as a vicious cycle, simply because optimal education is the main method of breaking this vicious cycle. We aim to target these developmental issues by developing and piloting low-cost mobile app-based solution for the screening of SpLDs that will lead to early intervention. Specific learning disorder may affect handwriting in a way that can be visually distinguished. The purpose of the proposed research is to evaluate the ability of deep learning to distinguish between those who have SpLDs and those who do not, from their handwriting. The proposed solution requires no more than taking a photo of the handwritten image on a mobile phone and passing it to the prediction model and getting the prediction results. Based on the proposed solution, the SpLDs screening can be conducted at home, in a school study area without any additional special setting. The important factors of this app are simplicity, ease of use, less training requirement, the accuracy of the results, and reliability. This app can serve from individual to national level for screening SpLDs in children. This will reduce the burden of the shortage of special educators, and this will be a huge relief for LMICs. This will, in general, reduce the inequalities faced by vulnerable and marginalized children, by providing an opportunity to receive optimal health and educational services. This will lead to the improvement of quality education received by ALL which in turn will contribute to wider societal improvements. In addition to the direct impact on the child, the spillover effects on the family and community development are significant. Further, creating an opportunity to screen a larger population will increase societal awareness of SpLDs and reduce the stigma
Weather and Climate Science for Service Partnership (WCSSP) India - Calls- tender-PML
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
River outflow to the ocean in the NEMO model of the Regional Coupled System is currently prescribed as pure fresh water input, either at the surface or on a few ocean levels. However, in reality, fresh water gets mixed with marine water in estuaries, and the inflow into the ocean has a very different salinity and temperature profile with depth than what is currently done in the NEMO model at river outflow points. Current Met Office simulations do have stability issues at river outflow points, because of the current crude estimation of river flows. Estuary box models are considered as the way forward for ocean models which can't explicitly resolve estuaries (Matte et al. 2025). This will enable better numerical stability to run month-long or multi-decadal simulations and better oceanic circulation, due to improved temperature and salinity profiles near coastlines. This work will allow a better understanding of the interactions between river outflow and the ocean to enable partners to better assess potential impacts and thus mitigate against climate change. Primary beneficiaries would be the South Asian region, particularly those countries with an Indian Ocean coastline.
Environmental Pollution Programme
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
The Environmental Pollution Programme’s aim is to work with ODA-eligible countries and regions to reduce the adverse impacts of pollution. Work will improve health and reduce environmental harm and poverty that results from chemical, air, waste and water pollution, as part of the Triple Planetary Crisis. 2021-22: Scoping year to share expertise, best practice and invest in research to strengthen the capacity of low- and middle-income countries to meet their obligations under UN Multilateral Environment Agreements and frameworks. 2022-2025: Phase one delivering two multi-year projects in Vietnam and South Africa through delivery partners Global Alliance on Health and Pollution, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and in country organisations. The programme reduced pollution and its impacts on the environment and health by promoting sustainable, economically viable practices, strengthening regulations, and enhancing awareness through multi-sector engagement, robust evidence projects, capacity building and monitoring to support policymaking. 2025-26: Phase two delivered a one-year programme which built and expanded on the successful approaches on reducing air pollution and increasing uptake of integrated pest management in Vietnam, adding new work on waste and plastic pollution. The programme launched in Uganda and focussed on developing a Health and Pollution Action Plan, creating a framework for future action that is aligned with priorities of national stakeholders. The programme also established the Regional Pollution Forum platform, taking a multilateral approach in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa to amplify impact by spreading knowledge of successful interventions.
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.
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.
Science & Technology Accelerator - Systems
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme will transform fragmented science and technology (S&T) ecosystems across Africa and Asia through strategic investment in locally led research, institutional capacity building, and evidence-based policymaking. Through country-level programming, working through local partners and equitable partnerships, it will generate context-specific knowledge, build capability at individual, institutional, and government levels, and scale innovative research to tackle development challenges. Co-designed with regional stakeholders and leveraging UK expertise, the programme aligns development with diplomatic priorities in FCDO priority countries to advance UK foreign policy through S&T. By addressing systemic gaps and catalysing significant co-investment to amplify impact, SS4ST positions the UK as a trusted partner in shaping science-driven development in the Global South - fostering inclusive growth, reducing aid dependency, and creating foundations for mutual prosperity.
Southeast Asia: Strengthening Research and Innovation for Development (SEA-StRAID)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
SEA-StRAID will help to build an equitable research ecosystem in Southeast Asia that promotes lower middle-income country (LMIC)-led research agendas for developing and implementing solutions to local, regional and global challenges. The programme will deploy technical advice, capacity building support, and funding for regional R&D partnerships. It will aim to improve access to global research, build respectful partnerships, enable countries to recruit and retain quality researchers, and build a stronger, more stable research system that will help the region to achieve sustainable economic growth.
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.
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 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.