Davos, January 21th 2025 – Sunway University and Fondation Hoffmann have officially signed a groundbreaking partnership through a grant agreement at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, marking the launch of a transformative collaboration to address the pressing planetary health challenges facing Southeast Asia. The project aims to pioneer new solutions for the region’s interconnected environmental and public health crises.
The combined economies of the ten ASEAN states make it the planet’s fifth-largest economy, representing some 670 million consumers. 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.
A Grant to Catalyse Change
The Fondation Hoffmann grant represents a significant milestone for the Global South, as this is the first such grant awarded to an institution in this region, building on its support to renowned institutions around the world. Through a strategic partnership with Sunway University—a non-profit private institution ranked first among private universities in the ASEAN region—this collaboration focuses on advancing research, advocacy, and capacity development in three pivotal areas:
1. Training Journalists and Media Influencers: Enhancing media capacity to report on the planetary crisis and its impacts on human health and well-being
2. Addressing Governance Gaps: Strengthening policies including a planetary health focus in global, regional and national governance
3. Business Transformation: Pioneering new approaches to help businesses understand the connections between their operations and planetary health
It underscores the vital role of businesses, media, and governance in creating a sustainable future, emphasizing that they are key drivers of change to mitigate the environmental and health crises threatening the region.
A Collaborative Approach to Planetary Health
The Grant Agreement amounting to CHF 3.4 million (approximately RM17 million) was signed at a ceremony held in the SDG Tent at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, by André Hoffmann, President of Fondation Hoffmann, and Prof. Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, Executive Director of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, on behalf of Sunway University.
“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. 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,” said André Hoffmann.
Sunway University: Leading the Charge
Ranked as the top private university in ASEAN, Sunway University brings a wealth of expertise to this initiative. As a non-profit institution committed to advancing sustainable development, Sunway is ideally positioned to lead this project.
“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,” said Prof. Dr. Jemilah Mahmood. She added, “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.”
Source: Press Release
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