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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.
Wajibika Programme in Tanzania
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The vision for the Wajibika programme is that it uses a strategic and flexible mix of ODA funding and coordinated diplomatic influencing to help Tanzania move further in the direction of a more "Open Society." Promoting an open societies agenda in Tanzania will contribute to an improved policy environment for reform e.g. on the business environment and education, both which are top UK priorities for Tanzania - and facilitate more open Tanzanian relationships with key partners, including the UK. The Wabijika Programme in Tanzania will be a flagship Open Societies programme for FCDO Tanzania. It will strengthen media and civil society, promote more inclusive politics and improve accountability, delivering HMG's Force for good.
Shifting the Power – Strengthening African Civil Society
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
By partnering with Comic Relief and the British public through five annual televised matched appeals, Shifting the Power will build the capacity of locally led civil society organisations in Ghana, Zambia and Malawi that are working in areas which are a priority for both DFID and Comic Relief - early childhood, mental health, gender justice and shelter. Locally led, Southern based CSOs will be supported to become more effective, sustainable and better able to represent local people’s priorities. The programme will communicate a positive narrative to the UK public about how aid is empowering local people to pursue their own priorities and to stand up for their rights.
Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The PACE is designed to support more accountable and inclusive institutions to respond to Nigeria’s governance and climate change challenges. This is a governance programme, seeking to address the governance challenges that undermine development and perpetuate social exclusion in Nigeria.
Global Children’s Care Reform Campaign
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Foreign Secretary has launched a global initiative to ensure every child has the right to a safe and loving family environment, progressively ending institutionalisation of children in care and ensuring that no child is left behind. Care Reform will help to protect some of the most vulnerable children in the world and enable them to access the care and support they need for improved opportunities and outcomes in life. Harm caused by institutional care includes adverse impacts on children’s physical, emotional and psychological development, and can lead to wider damaging societal effects. This Programme provides seed funding underpinning the initial phases of this Campaign and allows for: programme funded roles; technical assistance to signatories of a Global Charter; support for Hope and Homes’ Back to Family’ Campaign; and civil society, youth and lived experience engagement.
Mandatory core contributions to the Commonwealth Secretariat
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Commonwealth Secretariat, the principal intergovernmental organisation of the Commonwealth of Nations, runs programmes that help to contribute to more stable, democratic frameworks in which sustainable development and climate-resilience can be supported in small and vulnerable Commonwealth states. The Commonwealth Secretariat’s programme funds contribute across a range of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. They have an impact on the lives of Commonwealth citizens by promoting the shared goals and values embodied in the Commonwealth Charter on democracy, human rights and the rule of law, building resilience and taking action on climate change and protection of the natural environment, promoting economic development and boosting trade and investment.
Strengthening Inclusive Democratic Governance and Electoral Process in Nepal
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Strengthening Inclusive Democratic Governance and Electoral Process in Nepal” through the pooled fund mechanism Nepal Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework Fund for support to Nepal 2026 elections (Jan–Dec 2026) seeks to restore public trust and foster an enabling environment for Nepal’s general election while safeguarding integrity and inclusion.
BHC Honiara - FY25-26 ODA
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme is for the ODA Allocation for the Solomon Islands post for the financial year 2025-2026.
Eastern Neighbourhood Partnership for Resilience Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The programme will strengthen political, societal and economic resilience across the Eastern Neighbourhood by supporting democratic institutions, inclusive governance, civic space, and effective public services. It will counter hybrid threats, disinformation and external interference by investing in civil society, independent media, and local leadership. Targeted technical assistance will help reform minded governments deliver sustainable, citizen focused change, while economic support will improve regulatory quality and reduce vulnerability to external shocks.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Partnerships for Development
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Partnerships for Development (formerly known as GREAT for Partnership) will multiply the UK’s development impact by boosting partnerships between UK’s institutions and their counterparts in the developing world. It will leverage the skills and expertise from a range of UK institutions and supply them initially to DFID partner countries, based on tailored demand. It will initially prioritise the Extractives, Financial Accountability and Anti-Corruption sectors.
UK Aid Match II Fund
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To support the achievement of the Global Goals through funding UK-based civil society organisations to deliver projects that assist in ending extreme poverty and building a better world by 2030. The programme will also provide opportunities for the UK public to engage in international development issues and have a say in how a portion of the aid budget is spent.
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.
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.
Disability Inclusive Development Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme will deliver a set of interventions to support people with disabilities in a number of developing countries. The programme will deliver tangible outcomes for people with disabilities including access to education, jobs, healthcare and reduced stigma and discrimination and encourage global actors to prioritise the issue. The programme will also test innovative approaches to disability inclusion and generate high quality research to fill gaps and discover what works in this under-resourced area. A lack of attention and funding has severely limited evidence of what works to deliver inclusion in international development for approximately 800 million people with disabilities in developing countries. Interventions that work will be scaled up, widening their reach, and new learning and evidence shared across the global development community and national governments.
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.
Serious Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To counter serious and organised crime, build the investigative capacity of select partners and close the loopholes in the justice system that hinders the prosecution of cases.
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