Jakarta. The ASEAN-UK Health Security Partnership (HSP) has announced the first recipients of its grant and peer exchange awards, marking a significant step in strengthening regional cooperation on health security. The grants aim to accelerate the implementation of evidence-based policies and practices, while the peer exchange program will facilitate expert collaboration and the sharing of practical solutions across Southeast Asia.

A total of 20 projects have been selected in the inaugural funding round, spanning government institutions, academia, and civil society organizations. The projects will benefit all ASEAN member states, according to a statement issued by the British Embassy in Jakarta on Sunday.

The initiatives address a range of shared health challenges facing ASEAN and the United Kingdom, including antimicrobial resistance, disease prevention and control, climate-related health risks, and efforts to strengthen pandemic preparedness.

"These challenges directly affect lives and livelihoods. When antibiotics stop working, common infections become harder to treat. When outbreaks are detected too late, they can spread rapidly across borders. In Southeast Asia, travel and trade are integral to daily life, and health threats can disrupt communities, strain health systems, and affect economic stability both regionally and globally," the statement said.

Among the projects selected for funding are:

• Indonesia: Supporting authorities in indigenous communities across Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan to pilot a community-based surveillance model for the early detection of and response to health threats.

• Timor-Leste: Strengthening food safety systems to reduce contamination risks and prevent the spread of drug-resistant infections through imported frozen food products.

• Vietnam: Enhancing disease surveillance and laboratory capacity at provincial and community levels to improve outbreak detection and response under the country's new governance structure.

“The selection of Round 1 grantees under the ASEAN-UK Health Security Partnership demonstrates ASEAN’s commitment to strengthening regional health security through collaboration and innovation. These initiatives will support ASEAN member states in advancing shared priorities and building more resilient health systems for our communities,” ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn said.

Helen Fazey, the UK Ambassador to ASEAN, said the program reflects the UK's commitment to supporting innovators and frontline health professionals across the region.

“By working closely with ASEAN, the UK is backing the innovators and frontline teams strengthening the region’s health defenses where they are needed most. Diseases do not stop at borders, and these new grants and exchanges will help build the resilience that keeps communities safer in Southeast Asia and the UK,” she said.

Funded by the United Kingdom, the HSP program attracted more than 440 applications in its first funding round, highlighting strong interest from institutions and health experts across the region. Several of the projects were co-designed with ASEAN member states and health specialists.

Following a rigorous review process, grants and peer exchange awards were allocated across 11 priority areas related to health security and health systems strengthening.