HONG KONG SAR -
Media OutReach Newswire
- 14 March 2025 - Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of
Prudential plc, announces the return of the SAFE STEPS Disaster Tech
(D-Tech) Awards for its fourth edition in 2025. The awards bring
together innovators from around the globe to showcase their technology
solutions and innovations that enhance disaster resilience.
This initiative aligns with Prudence Foundation's focus area to build
community resilience against disasters exacerbated by climate change and
its impacts on health. The finals will take place on 11 June, 2025,
featuring two solution tracks: "Climate & Health" and "Smart
Resilience". The competition offers over US$150,000 in cash prizes and
in-kind contributions from strategic partners, live pitch opportunities
at Echelon Singapore 2025, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud
technology support. The 2025 D-Tech Awards are supported by the
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC),
Amazon Web Services,
E27, and
AVPN.
Applications are now
OPEN for entries until 21 March, 2025. Details of the application criteria, timeline and other relevant information can be found
here.
Mobilising Adaptation Investments Project
In the COP29 Special Report on Climate Change and Health
[1]
published by the World Health Organization (WHO), Climate Change is the
biggest threat to human health. UNEP's Adaptation Gap Report 2023
[2]
states that current flow of climate adaptation finance to developing
countries falls short by 10-18 times, and calls for scaled up funding
for climate and health solutions. To address funding gaps in global
climate technology, Prudence Foundation is partnering with AVPN to
unlock financing support for market-ready solutions that are prepared to
scale. This 18-month project includes developing a knowledge product to
guide investors, providing capacity-building support to innovators, and
fostering investment flow into climate and health adaptation solutions.
Nicole Ngeow, Executive Director of Prudence Foundation, said,
"At Prudence Foundation, we believe technological innovation has a
significant role to play in improving disaster preparedness, recovery
and resilience. With climate change resulting in more frequent and
intense disasters across the world, the need to build resilience and
support solutions that mitigate or respond to disasters has never been
greater. Through the D-Tech Awards and in partnership with AVPN, we aim
to create a supportive ecosystem to help innovative solutions to scale
and enhance community resilience in the face of increasing risks
exacerbated by climate change".
"The intersection of climate change and health demands urgent,
collaborative action. AVPN's partnership with Prudence Foundation,
through the 2025 D-Tech Awards, is a powerful step towards building a
robust ecosystem for climate and health innovation. By mobilising our
network of social investors and leveraging our expertise in
impact-driven capital, we will accelerate the development and scaling of
solutions that protect vulnerable communities and build lasting
resilience across Asia, "said
Madhavika Bajoria, Executive Director, Health Impact at AVPN.
[1]
COP29 Special Report on Climate Change and Health
[2]
Adaptation Gap Report 2023 | UNEP - UN Environment Programme