UK and ASEAN announce health security grants and exchange awardees

The ASEAN-UK Health Security Partnership (HSP) programme announced the first recipients of its grants and peer exchange awards in Jakarta on 10 June 2026, according to a press release by the UK Mission to ASEAN. A total of 20 projects were selected in this first funding round, spanning government, academic, and civil society sectors, and benefiting all ASEAN Member States. The grants are designed to accelerate the implementation of evidence-based policy and practice. The peer exchanges will facilitate expert collaboration and the sharing of practical solutions across the region. Together, the awards aim to strengthen surveillance, collaboration, and pandemic preparedness across ASEAN.

The initiatives address pressing shared health challenges facing ASEAN and the UK. These include drug-resistant infections, disease prevention and control, climate-related health risks, and progress towards pandemic preparedness. In Southeast Asia, travel and trade are integral to daily life, and health threats can disrupt communities, strain health systems, and impact economic stability, regionally and globally. When antibiotics stop working, common infections become harder to treat. When outbreaks are detected too late, they can spread rapidly across borders.

Examples of funded projects include initiatives in three countries. In Indonesia, authorities in indigenous areas of Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan will pilot a new model of Community Based Surveillance for early detection and response to health threats. In Timor-Leste, the programme will strengthen food safety systems to address contamination and prevent the spread of drug-resistant infections in imported frozen food. In Viet Nam, support will enhance disease surveillance and laboratory systems at provincial and community levels. These efforts aim to detect outbreaks earlier and respond faster under the country’s new governance structure.

Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, said the selection of Round 1 grantees demonstrates ASEAN’s commitment to strengthening regional health security through collaboration and innovation. UK Ambassador to ASEAN, Helen Fazey, said, “By working closely with ASEAN, we’re backing the innovators and frontline teams strengthening the region’s health defences where they’re needed most.” She added that diseases don’t stop at borders, and the new grants and exchanges will help build resilience that keeps communities safer in Southeast Asia and in the UK. The HSP programme, funded by the United Kingdom, received over 440 applications in this first round. Several grants were co-designed with ASEAN Member States and health experts.

Following a rigorous review process, grants and peer exchange awards were made across 11 ASEAN health security and health systems strengthening priorities. The partnership reflects the shared commitment of the United Kingdom and ASEAN to protect communities and strengthen regional resilience. Through these awards, the UK reaffirms its support for ASEAN’s efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats. The initiative deepens cooperation as a trusted partner in regional health security. It marks the first step in a broader collaboration to address shared health challenges across the region.