By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Grand Challenges Canada
(GCC) and the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation) have launched
Nexa, a new global initiative aimed at supporting locally led innovations that
address the growing health impacts of climate change in low- and middle-income
countries.
The initiative was unveiled
during London Climate Action Week in the United Kingdom and brings together a
coalition of international partners seeking to strengthen health systems and
improve resilience in communities most vulnerable to climate-related health
risks.
Nexa is led by Grand
Challenges Canada, in partnership with the Government of Canada and the Science
for Africa Foundation, alongside a global network of collaborators that
includes the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Sanofi Foundation, the Fund for
Innovation in Development, and members of the Global Grand Challenges Network
in Botswana, Brazil, Malawi, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa.
The initiative aims to
mobilise more than US$50 million in partner investments to scale climate-health
innovations. Its first funding call opened on June 22, 2026, targeting
innovators across Africa and the Americas.
The launch comes amid
growing concern over the health consequences of climate change. According to
global health experts, rising temperatures, changing disease patterns and
increasingly frequent extreme weather events are placing additional pressure on
already strained healthcare systems, particularly in developing countries.
Speaking at the launch,
Grand Challenges Canada Chief Executive Officer Dr. Karlee Silver said
communities around the world are facing rapidly increasing threats to their
health and livelihoods while global climate commitments continue to weaken. She
noted that Nexa seeks to support bold, locally driven innovations that can help
people remain healthy in the face of climate change.
The initiative is informed
by findings from what organisers describe as the largest climate and health
survey conducted to date. The survey engaged 6,400 respondents across 107 low-
and middle-income countries and gathered perspectives from health workers,
scientists, innovators, policymakers and humanitarian practitioners affected by
climate-related health challenges.
Science for Africa
Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr. Tom Kariuki said climate and health
represent one of the defining challenges of the modern era and require new
approaches to partnership and investment. He emphasised that communities
closest to these challenges are often best positioned to develop effective
solutions.
Nexa will focus on
supporting innovations that address three major climate-related health threats:
changing vector-borne disease patterns, including malaria and dengue fever;
extreme heat; and poor air quality. These risks disproportionately affect vulnerable
populations such as children, pregnant women, individuals with chronic
illnesses and underserved communities with limited access to healthcare.
The Government of Canada has
expressed support for the initiative, describing investments in locally led
climate and health innovations as critical to helping vulnerable communities
adapt to the health impacts of climate change while strengthening global health
security.
Through its funding
programme, Nexa will provide support for both early-stage and growth-stage
innovations. Proof-of-concept projects will be eligible for grants of up to
US$200,000 over 18 to 24 months, while more mature solutions will be able to
access Transition to Scale funding ranging from approximately US$250,000 to
US$2 million, depending on their stage of development.
