Discover the Exemplars of the Pasteur Network Climate and Health Observatory Accelerator Program
Supported by the The Rockefeller Foundation and the Institute of Philanthropy the Pasteur Network Climate and Health Observatory Accelerator project unites leading research institutions to address the health impacts of climate change.
Read more about the project : https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/news/pasteur-network-launches-pioneering-project-at-world-health-summit-to-tackle-health-impacts-of-climate-change/
At its core are three exemplar observatories working in regions highly affected by climate-driven health risks:
In Brazil, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz)’s Climate and Health Observatory is at the forefront of research on how environmental changes impact public health. It gathers and analyzes climate and health data to inform public policies, enhance disease surveillance, and strengthen community resilience to climate-driven health threats like vector-borne diseases. Learn more about their work here.
In Senegal, the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) plays a crucial role in addressing West Africa’s vulnerability to extreme weather events like heatwaves and droughts. IPD conducts research on public health impacts, particularly vector-borne diseases. Its efforts enhance resilience to climate-related health threats through real-time meteorological data and evidence-based policy recommendations, empowering communities to respond to emerging challenges like arboviruses and viral hemorrhagic fevers.
In Vietnam, the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) focuses on Southeast Asia’s susceptibility to rising temperatures, flooding, and their implications for vector borne diseases such as dengue. HCM monitors disease outbreaks while working closely with government and local communities to direct preventive measures. Its mission is to reduce the burden of vector borne diseases by strengthening surveillance systems and promoting sustainable practices.
The Pasteur Network will introduce the project and the exemplars as part Global Public Health Week 2025, on “Day 2 : Climate and Health” April 8, 2025 at 1:00 pm CET.
Link to the webinar : https://hivecenter.who.int/event/bc41be1c-d92f-4fc7-8648-b3da282c8a0e
Launch of a Climate-Health Observatory Accelerator program during the Pasteur Network Climate and Health Convening
(Dakar, June 4-5, 2024)
On June 4-5 in Dakar Senegal, 60+ participants, including members of the Pasteur Network and external experts met to discuss how the Pasteur Network can help address the growing impact of climate change on global health, fostering collaborative research and innovative solutions to mitigate emerging health threats and improve public health resilience
The event was supported by The Rockefeller Foundation and the HKJC Institute of Philanthropy who are funding the Pasteur Network’s new Climate-Health Observatory Accelerator program which aims to:
- Create foundations for C-H observatories through global network of Fellows.
This fellowship program is a unique opportunity designed for members in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) to empower researchers to provide support to local stakeholders in making informed decisions with regards to climate and health. - Advance generalizable tools and practices through Pasteur Network Exemplars
Exemplar members of the Pasteur Network will share their knowledge and expertise in climate and health and help to guide the fellowship cohort in their region - Scale impact through shared knowledge via Global Goods and an internal knowledge sharing platform. The 2-day event in Dakar focused on the Accelerator project in more detail, including break-out discussion sessions specifically on the fellowship program design and development of global goods.
Global experts also presented and facilitated discussion on various topics such as updates on the progress of the Pandemic Treaty (Dr. Maria de Lourdes Aguiar Oliveira from FioCruz), important trends and considerations for integrating climate aspects into health surveillance efforts (Dr. Linda Venczel from PATH), connecting climate-health recommendations with policy and investment decisions for government stakeholders (Mr. Jackson Kimani from Climate Action Platform for Africa-CAP-A), showcase of the WHO HIVE collaboration platform (Mr. Brian Yau from WHO), and a round table discussion on the development and dissemination of global goods (Dr. Cristina Tato from Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, Mr. Gaurav Godhwani from Civic Data Lab, and Dr. Felipe Colón-González from Wellcome Trust)
The convening was also an important celebration of Institut Pasteur de Dakar’s 100th anniversary, including a tour of the institute and a celebration cocktail. Celebrating IP Dakar’s 100th anniversary marks a century of pioneering research, innovation, and contributions to global health, reinforcing its vital role in combating infectious diseases and improving public health worldwide The Pasteur Network extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Rockefeller Foundation and the Institute of Philanthropy for their generous support, which made the meeting in Dakar on June 4-5th possible. We also wish to thank all the participants for their invaluable contributions and engagement, which were instrumental in advancing our discussions on the critical intersection of climate and health.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Climate change threatens to reverse decades of global development progress and puts the health and livelihoods of future generations in jeopardy. Data indicates a rapid increase in temperature, humidity and rainfall which negatively impacts health, agriculture and vulnerable populations including women. For example, increasing temperatures and rainfall from El Nino support growth of mosquitoes in new locations which previously did not support mosquito populations resulting in spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. There is an urgent need to invest in creative solutions that adapt and build resilience to these existing and future climate related challenges.
The Global Grand Challenges network of partners are pleased to announce a joint funding call of approximately USD 12M. This funding is aimed to support innovators addressing the critical intersection of climate change, health, agriculture, and gender. The partners include Science for Africa Foundation-Grand Challenges Africa; Grand Challenges Rwanda; Grand Challenges Brazil; Grand Challenges Ethiopia; and Grand Challenges India in partnership with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, Foundation S-The Sanofi Collective S, Rockefeller Foundation and Pasteur Network. This funding follows a 2022 climate and health call for applications by Grand Challenges Canada and the South African Medical Research Council-Grand Challenges South Africa.
“Climate change is one of the greatest global health challenges of our time. To help solve it, we need science to understand and address the climate and health crisis, especially to support actions that benefit and protect the most affected people and communities. By bringing different funders together under the common umbrella of the Grand Challenges partnership, we can ensure that promising scientific solutions to climate change are supported and delivered to achieve impact at scale,” said Alan Dangour, Director Climate and Health, Wellcome
We seek innovative projects utilizing transdisciplinary approaches to better adapt to, mitigate, or reverse the combined, deleterious effects of climate change on health, women’s lives, and agriculture. Preference will be given to innovations that are formulated locally or adapted from other contexts. We are especially interested in cross-cutting solutions at the intersection of multiple scientific and engineering disciplines and locally led, system-level innovations that are scalable and sustainable. This request for proposals by Grand Challenges partners will provide innovators with seed grants of up to USD 200,000 each for a period of 24 months to execute their visionary projects.
Announcing the request for proposals today on behalf of all Grand Challenges partners at COP28 session on Climate-Health Solutions Showcase’ in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Science for Africa Foundation, home of Grand Challenges Africa, CEO, Tom Kariuki said: “the people whose health and wellbeing are being harmed first and worst by the climate crisis are also the ones who contribute least to its causes, and who are least able to protect themselves and their families against it—namely people in low-income and disadvantaged countries and communities. In low-income settings, rising heat, extreme weather events, changes in precipitation patterns, shifts in duration and prevalence of climate-sensitive diseases (malaria, dengue, many foodborne and water-borne diseases), and increased potential for the emergence of novel diseases damage already weak primary health care systems and community health structures. Together with our partners, we are committed to fostering collaborative efforts to catalyse innovations that will safeguard the well-being of our communities and pave the way for a more sustainable, resilient future.”
“Grand Challenges India is keen to attract proposals that build resilient systems to mitigate climate change impact on agriculture and human health. Solutions may include responsive adaptation mechanisms, accurate surveillance and monitoring systems, predictive models, early detection of vector-borne, waterborne diseases, and infectious pathogens of concern. Strengthening research capacities, developing smart healthcare, integrating crop-livestock system to enhance agroecosystem resilience, soil health and biodiversity are some of the focus areas. The call would encourage research and innovation utilizing transdisciplinary approaches to better adapt and mitigate or reverse the combined, deleterious effects of climate change impact on agriculture and health in India.” said Shirshendu Mukherjee, Mission Director, Grand Challenges India.
“Foundation S is pleased to support this public-private effort to strengthen community resilience to the impacts of climate change on health. Outputs of this work will help facilitate the much-needed evidence and data required to support innovative approaches for climate adaptation at the local level,” said Vanina Laurent-Ledru Director General, Foundation S.
“Continuing to make progress against diseases like malaria means addressing climate, health and development in a complementary way,” said Kedest Tesfagiorgis, Deputy Director of Global Partnerships & Grand Challenges at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “I’m excited to see the global network of Grand Challenges partners, including the seven partners from five continents supporting this call, contributing the diversity of expertise and perspective needed to foster cutting-edge, locally relevant innovation in communities around the world.”
The funding represents a pivotal step towards addressing climate change contributing to a healthier, more resilient future. Proposals should address the following critical areas:
- Climate & health outcomes; including gender related impact
- Climate and nutrition
- Adaptation strategies for agriculture and income development, with a focus on women’s agriculture livelihoods.
- Knowledge management and data integration of climate and health databases
- Effective response and resilient supply chains for crisis management
To read more and apply for this request for proposals please visit : https://gcgh.grandchallenges.org/grant-opportunities
About the Global Grand Challenges Network of Partners
The global grand challenges network of partners support innovative solutions to “Grand Challenges” in health and development with a vision for a world where local, regional, and global innovation ecosystems are thriving and fostering solutions in the places where they will have the most impact. Together, Grand Challenges (GC) partners have invested US$1.6 billion, awarding 3,800 grants to a diverse pool of scientists and researchers in 118 countries. These include various GCs and their host institutions below:
- Grand Challenges Africa, Science for Africa Foundation
- Grand Challenges Canada, Government of Canada
- Grand Challenges South Africa, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)
- Grand Challenges Rwanda, Rwanda’s National Council of Science and Technology (NCST)
- Grand Challenges Brazil, Brazil’s Ministry of Health
- Grand Challenges Ethiopia, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health and hosted at Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI)
- Grand Challenges India, India’s government, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistant Council (BIRAC)
In addition to national government funding, these GCs are also supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, Foundation S -Sanofi Collective, Rockefeller Foundation and Pasteur Network.
Media Enquiries:
Juliette Mutheu, Corporate & Science Communications