Sunway University, Fondation Hoffmann Team Up To Address Health Challenges In Southeast Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- Sunway University and Fondation Hoffmann have signed a groundbreaking partnership through a grant agreement at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, marking the launch of a transformative collaboration to address the pressing planetary health challenges facing Southeast Asia.

Sunway University in a statement today said the project aimed to pioneer new solutions for the region’s interconnected environmental and public health crises.

It said the combined economies of the ten ASEAN states make it the planet’s fifth-largest economy, representing about 670 million consumers.

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“Economic growth and development across Southeast Asia are expected to exceed the global average for the next several years. It is a vibrant region, home to some of the world’s most biodiverse nations.

“However, beneath this thriving façade lies a region teetering on the brink of environmental catastrophe, with devastating and accelerating impacts on the health and well-being of its people,” the statement read.

According to the statement, the Fondation Hoffmann grant represents a significant milestone for the Global South as it is the first such grant awarded to an institution in this region, building on its support of renowned institutions around the world.

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It said through the strategic partnership with Sunway University, the collaboration focused on advancing research, advocacy and capacity development in three pivotal areas, such as training journalists and media influencers, addressing governance gaps and business transformation.

“It underscores the vital role of businesses, media, and governance in creating a sustainable future, emphasising that they are key drivers of change to mitigate the environmental and health crises threatening the region,” it added.

The Grant Agreement amounting to CHF3.4 million (approximately RM17 million) was signed at a ceremony held in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Tent at the WEF by Fondation Hoffmann president André Hoffmann and Sunway Centre for Planetary Health executive director Prof Dr Jemilah Mahmood on behalf of Sunway University.

Dr Jemilah was quoted in the statement as saying that “This grant is a game changer. Through our partnership with Fondation Hoffmann, we aim to build regional capacity, foster innovative solutions, and inspire action among businesses, policymakers, and communities across Southeast Asia.

“We take great pride in being the first university in the region recognised for leading the way in planetary health and are deeply honoured to be entrusted with this grant partnership,” she added.

Meanwhile, André Hoffmann said partnering with Sunway University as a dynamic institution from the Global South is a significant milestone, as this collaboration embodies our firm commitment to championing transformative work that is placing planetary health so that it can address critical globally driven challenges, especially within the ASEAN region.

 “We are proud to actively support prestigious educational institutions around the world in groundbreaking research and collaborative initiatives, including INSEAD and the Geneva Graduate Institute, among others,” he said.

Ranked as the top private university in ASEAN, Sunway University brings a wealth of expertise to this initiative, while Fondation Hoffmann is an international philanthropic organisation committed to fostering innovative solutions for sustainable development to address global challenges and enhance lives across the globe through strategic partnerships.

-- BERNAMA