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Super-efficient Sustainable Cooling Solution for All Applications (S2Cool)
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Context In June 2023, Pakistan experienced extreme temperatures exceeding 52.2°C, a level at which human cells begin to cook, blood thickens, muscles constrict around the lungs, and the brain is deprived of oxygen. This severe heatwave resulted in the death of 120,000 people, the loss of 26 billion potential labour hours (equivalent to $16 billion in lost income), and up to 9% of the country's GDP. The extreme heat, coupled with frequent power outages, worsened the vulnerabilities of socially deprived communities and women, leading to increased hospitalizations and miscarriages, as reported by the UNDP and the National Commission for the Status of Women (NCSW). Dinushika Dissanayake, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director in South Asia, called for urgent global action as these heatwaves severely impacted human rights in Pakistan. Co-creation & Co-designing In response to the crisis, the Pakistan Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration Society organized the 28th International Exhibition and Conference in June 2023. A working group led by Dr. Shahzad, consisting of researchers, stakeholders, and end users, was established to identify the issue and develop potential solutions. The group held its third meeting in December 2023 at the ASHRAE UK Chapter conference at Loughborough, where UK researchers and solution providers were invited to join this international effort. Currently, the working group includes over 50 representatives from Pakistani and UK institutions and industries. Aims and Objectives The S2Cool project represents a pioneering collaboration between the UK and partners in Pakistan. The primary aim is to develop a novel, low-cost, and energy-efficient cooling solution and capacity building platform. The primary objectives of the S2Cool project are: Design and Development: Develop and test the 20kW Novel Indirect Evaporative Cooler (NIEC) and its integration with Mechanical Vapor Compression (MVC) systems. AI Framework Development: Develop and implement an AI framework for process optimization and system integration. GESI and EDI Evaluations: Conduct GESI and EDI assessments to ensure equitable benefits for all community members. Performance and Impact Assessment: Assess performance through life cycle costing, and evaluate social, economic, and sustainability impacts. Technology Scale-up and Commercialization: Establish a framework for technology scaling and commercialization. Capacity Building Platform and Knowledge Dissemination: Develop online platform, conduct training and community engagement sessions, and share knowledge and findings. Potential Applications and Benefits The proposed system is versatile, applicable in residential, commercial, industrial, and vehicular settings, including buses. Its benefits include improved comfort, health, productivity, energy efficiency, and equipment preservation. This project will primarily advance UNSDGs 7 and 13, while also supporting goals 3, 5, 9, and 11 by reducing energy use in air conditioning and lowering emissions to combat climate change and address energy inequity in Pakistan. Ayrton Challenge and Theme The S2Cool project addresses the Ayrton Challenge area of "super-efficient demand." The project aims to develop a cooling solution that is highly energy-efficient, making it suitable for a country with limited energy resources and high electricity costs. ODA Compliance The S2Cool project is compliant with Official Development Assistance (ODA) guidelines, targeting a critical development issue in Pakistan, a low-income country. The project aims to improve living conditions, enhance productivity, and contribute to economic development by providing an affordable and energy-efficient cooling solution. By addressing the impacts of extreme heatwaves and supporting sustainable development goals, the project aligns with ODA objectives of poverty reduction and sustainable development in developing countries.
RELIEF 2: Refugees, Education, Learning, Information Technology, and Entrepreneurship for the Future
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Since 2017, the RELIEF Centre has worked with citizens, NGOs, and other stakeholders to deliver a programme of research and action towards social inclusion, sustainability and better quality of life for communities in Lebanon. During this time, however, Lebanon experienced a number of radical changes and tragedies: destabilisation of government following the 2019 political protests; the horrendous blast in the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020; an economic collapse and currency devaluation; widespread failure of public services and infrastructure; and a series of Covid-related lockdowns that have exerted further pressure on the economy. In this context of compounded crises, RELIEF's work proceeds from the view that future recovery in Lebanon must follow principles of inclusive growth and prosperity, whereby the starting point and primary focus is not aggregate GDP-growth but the things that people need for better quality of life -secure livelihoods, clean and affordable services, good education, and safe, healthy and inclusive environments. In the Lebanese context of economic and political turmoil, however, 'bottom-up' initiatives are essential for developing solutions. RELIEF's work thus focuses on the sustained development of capabilities that can help citizens and communities acquire skills and organise into communities of practice that address emergent challenges. Over the next 5 years, the second phase of the RELIEF Centre (RELIEF II) will focus on strengthening existing capabilities for citizen-led research, action, and transformation. COVID-19
Ethiopia – Human Rights and Peacebuilding Programme (HARP)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Human Rights and Peacebuilding (HARP) programme will support the UK’s strategic response to conflict in Ethiopia. The programme will support peacebuilding initiatives in areas where the UK has a comparative advantage. This will build the capacity of local peace actors (particularly women and youth), provide safe spaces for dialogue and engage with government to respond to community needs. The UK has proven success in investing in these areas in Ethiopia – particularly through the CSSF Funded work of Conciliation Resources in Somali Regional State. HARP will look to continue this activity, as well as supporting further peacebuilding activity in other conflict areas.
Zambia Democratic Governance Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To support the deepening and consolidation of democracy in Zambia in order to build resilience and stabiltiy, and enable development and reform
Invest Salone: Private Sector Development, Trade and Job Creation in Sierra Leone
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To increase investment in Sierra Leone's exporting sectors, including agriculture, tourism, and fisheries leading to economic diversification, household income growth and job creation. The programme will help Sierra Leone meet the economic aspirations of its growing young population, tackling the drivers of instability and illegal migration. It will also make Sierra Leone more competitive in global markets putting put it on a pathway to becoming a future trading partner for the UK.
Empowering Palestinian Institutions and Civil Society in Palestine - EPICS
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
EPICS aims to improve the viability, legitimacy and inclusion of governance and service delivery, to protect and support civic space, and to empower women, in the OPTs. It will provide technical assistance to PA institutions across governance sectors, with a particular focus on financial viability and provision of essential services, in order to protect the fiscal viability and legitimacy of the PA in a declining context. EPICS will protect and support Palestinian civic space by supporting CSOs to hold the PA and other local duty bearers to account for governance and service delivery. EPICS will strengthen women’s empowerment, primarily through supporting coalition building among local and grassroots organisations. Through improving PA viability and legitimacy, it will help reduce the drivers of instability and extremism.
Open Society Enabling Fund (OSEF)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Open Societies Enabling Fund is aimed at supporting and bolstering active contributions of civil society groups in defending Indonesia’s open society with the particular context of 2024 national and local elections amidst the trend of shrinking civic space, increased prosecution of human rights defenders, and further entrenchment of minority rights.
Effective State and Democracy Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The ESD programme aims to embed democratic values in Zambia’s institutions and practices and support an inclusive, effective state, which delivers poverty reduction and growth for all its citizens. It will bring together support for a) public sector delivery b) evidence-based policy and c) constructive engagement to drive long term improvements in Zambia that demonstrate the values and dividends of open society and democracy. This will be done by working with the centre of government on prioritisation and delivery, and with non-state actors (like CSOs) to help tackle key governance issues. The programme is designed to flex in response to political opportunities, including the potential for a new government following 2026 elections.
Democracy Deepening in Mozambique
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Democracy Deepening programme will work with state and non-state actors to contribute to improvements in the enabling environment for political and civic engagement; more empowered civic and political actors; and greater transparency and accountability of political processes.
Good Governance Fund (Phase 3) Eastern Neighbourhood: Supporting Governance and Economic Reform
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Good Governance Fund Phase 3 will deliver demand-led support to governance reforms that allow open societies and economies to flourish. The Good Governance Fund will focus on improving democratic and economic governance, primarily through strategically targeted technical assistance. The Good Governance Fund programme will deliver interventions on a flexible basis, based on identified needs and/or requests from government counterparts or civil society in beneficiary countries (Armenia, Georgia and Moldova) in support of governance and economic reforms. This will support delivery and seek to prevent/reverse democratic backsliding. The Good Governance Fund is part of an integrated portfolio of programmes operating in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Directorate region and supports the delivery of four National Security Council strategies and the Integrated Review.
Security and Justice Programme 2
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Security and Justice Programme (SJP) ultimately aims to help to enhance public safety in Nepal and improve people’s trust in a key institution: the police. It will contribute to increased responsiveness of security and justice providers, particularly gender-based violence (GBV) and increased prevention of GBV and wider public safety problems. Understanding and influencing different social and organisational norms will run through the whole programme to address the prevalence of violence against women and girls. The programme also has a particular focus on the organisational development of the Nepal Police, investigation capability, problem-solving community policing and better climate-resilient solar-powered infrastructure for service delivery, notably police women and children service centres (WCSCs).
Democratic Resilience Platform
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To provide a platform to enable programmes to be developed to improve the governance and democracy of FCDO priority countries.
Effective Governance for Economic Development in Central Asia
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
EGED will help improve the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of economic policies in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. We will support governments in the three countries to generate better data and evidence, use this data for policy design and implementation of up to 15 economic reforms, improved coordination within government, and better engagement with citizens. We will also build the capacity of civil society in the region to hold the governments of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to account on select economic policies. Success will be measured through a) increased public sector revenue generated as a result of better policy planning and monitoring; b) better economic policy outcomes helping improve the livelihoods of Kyrgyz, Uzbek and Tajik citizens and c) improved quality of engagement between government and civil society.
Fiscal Transparency and Accountability Initiative
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To support the analysis of public financial management and the openness of governments in FCDO priority countries about their financial transactions to help to identify financial risks and provide evidence for planning reforms. Aims to strengthen budget oversight, with a particular focus on supreme audit institutions and scrutiny on law-making, and the links with others who are part of the network of accountability. To improve budget transparency, including open budgets and open contracting as key elements of financial accountability and management. Also supporting IFAC to build the managerial and technical capacity of professional accountancy organisations in countries and regions of focus for FCDO to ensure a sustainable supply of professional accountants that support high quality accounting practices and financial information in both the public and private sectors. This contributes towards delivery of SDG 16 by developing effective, accountable and transparent institutions.
Active Citizenship Through Inclusive Volunteering & Empowerment (ACTIVE) programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
ACTIVE will increase local accountability, inclusion and reduce poverty by identifying and empowering the most vulnerable and marginalised people (especially women and girls, the young and people with disabilities) to lead and shape their own development. It will support vulnerable and marginalised people to take-action on issues important to them. It will strengthen civil society and build a culture of volunteerism and civic engagement whilst building the capacity of governments and service providers to respond to the demands of marginalised citizens.
UK-Jamaica Violence Prevention Partnership
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To assist the Government of Jamaica to manage extreme levels of violence to stem gang violence using the public health model.
Public Financial Management Multi Donor Trust Fund – Phase II
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The programme provides support to strengthen Nepal’s Public Finance Management (PFM) systems in the context of the implementation of federalism.
Promoting Civic Space
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Internal drawdown fund to strengthen civic space via Posts and FCDO teams, through support in areas where civic space is closing or under threat.
Tackling Deadly Diseases in Africa Programme 2
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Tackling Deadly Diseases in Africa 2 (TDDAP 2) programme will help implement the UK’s vision for progress on health security in Africa. It will provide technical and financial support to build health security capacity in up to 5 selected countries, including middle ground powers, strengthen key regional bodies such as the Africa Centre for Disease Control and establish long-term partnerships between African, UK and global institutions. Outcomes; • Strengthened regional institutions to help build and improve global health security; • Improved national public health systems and functions with increased national ownership and leadership of outbreak responses; • Communities trained and provided with the knowledge and tools to identify risks and respond to outbreaks; • An emergency response/contingency mechanism to enable the UK to quickly respond to disease outbreaks and help prevent these from escalating to crisis; • Independent monitoring and evaluation component
«Suxxali sunu democratie» - «Enhance our democracy
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme aims to strengthen democratic and parliamentary governance in Senegal by enhancing civil society’s role in public policy processes. It has two main objectives: (1) to improve the institutional and organizational governance of COSCE and build the capacity of its members through targeted training activities, enabling them to play a more informed and proactive role in democratic processes; and (2) to foster structured and meaningful dialogue between civil society actors and Members of Parliament (MPs), particularly around public policy oversight, budget transparency, and public debt. Through the creation of engagement platforms and mechanisms for collaboration, the programme will promote citizen participation, accountability, and more responsive governance. These activities are aligned with ODA objectives, contributing to the economic development and welfare of Senegal by supporting inclusive governance and strengthening institutions that underpin sustainable development.
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