Prudence Foundation Unveils D-Tech Awards and AVPN Alliance to Accelerate Climate & Health Innovation

Prudence Foundation Unveils D-Tech Awards and AVPN Alliance to Accelerate Climate & Health Innovation

(IN BRIEF) Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of Prudential plc, has announced the return of the SAFE STEPS Disaster Tech Awards for 2025. The awards, which feature two tracks—“Climate & Health” and “Smart Resilience”—will be held on 11 June 2025, offering over US$150,000 in cash prizes, in-kind contributions, live pitch opportunities at Echelon Singapore 2025, and AWS support. Applications are open until 21 March 2025. In tandem with the awards, the Foundation is launching an 18-month Mobilising Adaptation Investments Project in partnership with AVPN to address the significant funding gaps for climate adaptation in developing countries, as highlighted by WHO and UNEP reports. The initiative underscores the critical role of technological innovation and collaborative action in enhancing disaster preparedness and community resilience against climate change impacts on health. 

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 14-Mar-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Prudence Foundation, the community investment branch of Prudential plc, is thrilled to announce the return of the SAFE STEPS Disaster Tech (D-Tech) Awards for its fourth edition in 2025. This event gathers innovative minds from across the globe to present their technology solutions and pioneering ideas aimed at boosting disaster resilience.

This initiative is perfectly aligned with Prudence Foundation’s mission to fortify community resilience against disasters that are increasingly driven by climate change and its repercussions on health. The grand finals are slated for 11 June 2025 and will showcase two distinct solution tracks: “Climate & Health” and “Smart Resilience.” Competitors stand to win over US$150,000 in cash prizes as well as in-kind contributions from key strategic partners, opportunities for live pitches at Echelon Singapore 2025, and support through Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud technology. The 2025 D-Tech Awards benefit from the support of renowned organizations such as 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 for entries are now open until 21 March 2025, and comprehensive details regarding eligibility criteria, the timeline, and other pertinent information are available for review.

In addition, Prudence Foundation is launching the Mobilising Adaptation Investments Project. According to the COP29 Special Report on Climate Change and Health by the World Health Organization (WHO), climate change stands as the most significant threat to human health. Complementing this, UNEP’s Adaptation Gap Report 2023 highlights that the current flow of climate adaptation finance to developing countries is 10 to 18 times below what is needed, calling for enhanced funding for both climate and health solutions. In response to these pressing challenges, Prudence Foundation is partnering with AVPN to unlock financial support for market-ready solutions that are poised for scale. This 18-month project will focus on creating a knowledge product to guide investors, offering capacity-building support to innovators, and catalyzing increased investment in climate and health adaptation solutions.

Nicole Ngeow, Executive Director of Prudence Foundation, commented, “We believe that technological innovation plays a crucial role in enhancing disaster preparedness, recovery, and resilience. With climate change triggering more frequent and severe disasters globally, there is a greater need than ever to build resilience and support solutions that can mitigate or respond to these challenges. Through the D-Tech Awards, in partnership with AVPN, we are dedicated to creating a supportive ecosystem that enables innovative solutions to scale, thereby strengthening community resilience in the face of escalating risks from climate change.”

Madhavika Bajoria, Executive Director, Health Impact at AVPN, added, “The convergence of climate change and health necessitates urgent, collaborative action. Our partnership with Prudence Foundation through the 2025 D-Tech Awards represents a significant stride towards establishing a robust ecosystem for climate and health innovation. By leveraging our network of social investors and our expertise in impact-driven capital, we aim to accelerate the development and scaling of solutions that protect vulnerable communities and build enduring resilience across Asia.”

About Prudence Foundation

Resilient Communities, Today and Tomorrow

Established in 2011 in Hong Kong, Prudence Foundation is the community investment and philanthropic arm of Prudential plc. The Foundation builds Financial Wellbeing, and Climate and Health Resilience for underserved Asian and African communities. We are committed to sustainable, long-term solutions that empower individuals and communities to make informed financial decisions, access affordable financial products, as well as be more prepared and protected against climate related health risks. We actively engage in public-private partnerships, collaborate with governments, NGOs, communities, and other private sector entities to build collective efforts for lasting change. To date, our programmes are implemented across 16 markets in Asia and Africa, reaching millions of people.

For more information: www.prudencefoundation.com

About SAFE STEPS D-Tech

SAFE STEPS D-Tech aims to find, fund, and support innovative technology solutions that enhance disaster resilience. The programme focuses on addressing real-world challenges before, during, and after natural disasters by promoting advancements in Climate & Health and Smart Resilience. Through partnerships with the United Nations Office of Disaster Risk Reduction, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Amazon Web Services, and E27, the initiative offers grants, mentorship, and global recognition to innovators, helping to strengthen community resilience and save lives.

For more information: www.safestepsdtech.com

About AVPN

AVPN is the largest network of social investors in Asia, comprising over 600 funders and resource providers across 33 markets. Our mission is to increase the flow and effectiveness of financial, human, and intellectual capital in Asia by enabling members to channel resources towards impact. As an ecosystem builder, AVPN enables its members to connect, learn, act, and lead across key pillars and improve the effectiveness of deployed capital, bringing local field needs, regional expertise, and policy insights to the forefront.

For more information about AVPN and our work, please visit our website and read our latest Annual Review 2023/24.

Media contacts

Prudential
Sonia Tsang +852 5580 7525 sonia.ok.tsang@prudential.com.hk
Janice Wong +852 6188 6381 janice.wong@prudential.com.hk

SOURCE: Prudential plc