Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) Launched, In February, The ‘Climate Innovation Challenge’ (CIC) That Is A Pool Of US$ 2M In Funding
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) Launched, In February, The ‘Climate Innovation Challenge’ (CIC) That Is A Pool Of US$ 2 Million In Funding To Spur Disruptive Technologies To Build Communities’ Resilience Against The Threat Of Climate Change In South Asia.
Cutting-edge technology solutions will enhance the adaptive capacities of numerous sectors including agriculture, water resources management, resilient infrastructure, policy and planning, etc. After the call for proposal, each eligible innovator would be able to access a maximum of US$150,000 to pilot their innovations at regional or national level.
The CIC was formally launched online through a webinar hosted by ADPC. Panelists included Dr. Md. Enamur Rahman, Minister, Government of Bangladesh, Mr. Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Pakistan, Mr. Kamal Kishore, Member, National Disaster Management Authority, India, Dr. Maksud Kamal, Pro Vice Chancellor, Dhaka University, Bangladesh, Mr. Haris Khan, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist, World Bank and Mr. Hans Guttman, Executive Director, ADPC. Mr. Aslam Perwaiz, Deputy Executive Director of ADPC moderated the webinar session.
The webinar focused on addressing the current experience of witnessing a world of unprecedented challenges in the context of disasters and climate change, at the core of which lies the inherent need for innovative tech solutions.
Panelists briefly outlined the crucial need of Water Resource Management, Climate-smart Agriculture and trans- boundary early warning systems that would effectively play a crucial role in CIC. In addition, they also highlighted the realistic approach of ensuring that such innovative solutions should fundamentally target the end users (beneficiaries) for ascertaining the efficacy, in addition to harnessing non-traditional innovations potentially emerged during the pandemic as well.
ADPC also organized a series of needs assessment national consultations across South Asia and discussed how the Climate Innovation Challenge (CIC) can best support innovators to deploy tech solutions that are scalable and transferable. The consultation brought together members of parliament, government officials from various ministries, and representatives from the private sector. Consultation were held in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Forging partnerships and dovetailing resources for its scalability along with wider sustainability scope of such tech innovations will be the key to the success of the CIC. The CIC was launched under the CARE for South Asia projected implemented by ADPC with support from the World Bank. The launch was also financed by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCFO) of the Government of UK.