Role of Philanthropy in Pivotal Moment for Health Self-Governance in Asia - Aiding Countries in Achieving Autonomy
In a landmark event, the Philanthropy Asia Summit 2025 brought together health and government leaders to discuss and outline initiatives aimed at improving health and nutrition outcomes across the Asia Pacific region.
One of the key partnerships announced at the summit was the Health for Human Potential (HHP) Community, an initiative launched by the Gates Foundation, along with other private foundations and non-profits, to mobilize over US$100 million in funding for projects that will improve health outcomes for people in the region by 2030. The HHP Community will initially focus on Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam—Southeast Asia’s most populous countries.
President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia announced a free nationwide school meal program to combat malnutrition and stunting, a significant step towards addressing the structural causes of malnutrition. The Indonesian government is also piloting a system of cooperation and food production to support more local community efforts in combating malnutrition.
The summit underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration and systems thinking to address the root causes of malnutrition and related challenges. Participants emphasized the need to align scientific research with actionable policies and leverage systems thinking to tackle deeply interconnected issues like health, nutrition, and energy poverty.
Singapore emerged as a regional philanthropy hub, with initiatives like ImpactCollab engaging high-net-worth individuals to increase philanthropic impact in health and nutrition. The Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Gates Foundation support this endeavour.
The Asia Pacific region has seen significant gains in health and human development in the past decades. However, progress in some areas has slowed, and in some instances, seen a reverse. The Covid-19 pandemic has triggered a further backsliding in progress made in areas such as improvement in maternal and child health, due to growing food insecurity and climate-related challenges.
The Climate & Health Funders' Coalition shared insights on the impact of heat risks on health systems, emphasizing the need for swift, coordinated efforts to safeguard long-term progress and mitigate setbacks. The coalition aims to "fill the evidence" and support governments in driving action at the national level regarding heat risks.
Outdoor workers, such as salt farmers in India, are particularly vulnerable during heat waves and have no choice but to work in extreme temperatures. The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting developing countries in sustaining health services to protect these vulnerable communities.
The staple crop of Asia, rice, is being worked on by organizations like the Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory to decarbonize rice farming and improve rice yields. The number of chronically undernourished children in East Asia and the Pacific has decreased from one quarter to one in seven in the past few decades, a testament to the region's commitment to improving health and nutrition outcomes.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), called for a rethink of the type of support that could help governments navigate challenges in the long term. He urged governments to move away from dependency on aid to self-reliance.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam of Singapore highlighted the need to revolutionize food and nutrition systems as an opportunity for Asia-led philanthropy. He emphasized that addressing malnutrition and related challenges is not just a health crisis but an economic and political one.
These initiatives collectively represent a coordinated regional effort leveraging philanthropic capital, cross-sector partnerships, and innovative approaches to improve health and nutrition outcomes across Asia Pacific. The summit concluded with a call to action for continued collaboration and bold, cross-sector actions to ensure a healthier and more nutritious future for the region.
[1] Source: Press release, Philanthropy Asia Summit 2025 [2] Source: Post-summit report, Philanthropy Asia Summit 2025 [3] Source: Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change report, 2023 [4] Source: ImpactCollab, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Gates Foundation [5] Source: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, various government press releases
- Amidst the climate change crisis, the Health for Human Potential Community, backed by the Gates Foundation and other philanthropic entities, aims to mobilize $100 million to address health outcomes by 2030, with an initial focus on Southeast Asia.
- Addressing the structural causes of malnutrition, President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia introduced a free nationwide school meal program and a system of cooperation for local community initiatives.
- The Climate & Health Funders' Coalition identified heat risks as a significant health issue, advocating for immediate, coordinated action to mitigate setbacks and protect vulnerable populations.
- In an economic, political, and health crisis, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam of Singapore emphasized the need for a food and nutrition systems revolution as an opportunity for Asia-led philanthropy.
- A call to action for continued collaboration across philanthropy, governments, and scientific research was made to ensure a healthier and more nutritious future for the Asia Pacific region, as initiatives like ImpactCollab and the Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory work on decarbonizing rice farming and improving yields.
