The United Kingdom and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have announced the first recipients of grants and peer exchange awards under the ASEAN-UK Health Security Partnership (HSP) programme, marking a significant milestone in regional health cooperation. The announcement was made on 5 June 2026 at the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia.
A total of 20 projects have been selected in this inaugural funding round, spanning government, academic, and civil society sectors across all ASEAN Member States. The grants are designed to accelerate the implementation of evidence-based policy and practice, while the peer exchanges will facilitate expert collaboration and the sharing of practical solutions throughout the region.
The initiatives address pressing shared health challenges facing ASEAN and the United Kingdom, including drug-resistant infections, disease prevention and control, climate-related health risks, and progress towards pandemic preparedness. These challenges directly affect lives and livelihoods across Southeast Asia. When antibiotics stop working, common infections become harder to treat. When outbreaks are detected too late, they can spread rapidly across borders. In a region where travel and trade are integral to daily life, health threats can disrupt communities, strain health systems, and impact economic stability both regionally and globally.
Among the funded projects are several notable examples. 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, efforts will focus on strengthening food safety systems to address contamination and prevent the spread of drug-resistant infections in imported frozen food. In Viet Nam, the programme will enhance disease surveillance and laboratory systems at provincial and community levels to detect outbreaks earlier and respond faster under the country's new governance structure.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, welcomed the initiative, stating: "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."
UK Ambassador to ASEAN, Helen Fazey, emphasised the importance of the partnership, noting: "By working closely with ASEAN, we are backing the innovators and frontline teams strengthening the region's health defences 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 in the UK."
The HSP programme, funded by the United Kingdom and implemented by FHI 360 UK, received over 440 applications for this first funding round, reflecting strong interest and engagement from diverse institutions and health experts across the region. Several of the grants were co-designed with ASEAN Member States and health experts, reflecting the spirit of partnership at the heart of the ASEAN strategy and strengthening Member States' capacities to respond collectively to shared health threats.
Following a rigorous review process, grants and peer exchange awards were made across 11 ASEAN health security and health systems strengthening priorities. This partnership in health security exemplifies 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, deepening cooperation as a trusted partner in regional health security.
Sources: [asean.org]
