Commentary: Cross-Sector Partnerships Can Unlock Solutions to Global Problems Like Climate Change

By Lim Seok Hui

Today’s complex global challenges, like climate change, demand focused action from all of us. To build a better future, we need bold thinking and decisive collaboration. As we consider our shared path forward, three key insights emerge.

First, the interconnectedness of today’s urgent global challenges such as climate change requires systems thinking and a holistic approach. Recognizing how closely the causes and effects of multiple crises are linked allows us to move beyond specialized fields and drive more sustainable change.

Climate change and ecological devastation — air pollution, water contamination, extreme weather events and diseases aggravated by environmental factors — disproportionately impact low-income and marginalized communities, leaving them more vulnerable to shocks such as flooding, droughts and outbreaks of disease.

However, the interconnected nature of these issues also means that positive developments in one area can lead to beneficial outcomes in others. For example, the United Nations recognizes education as a crucial tool for addressing climate change. An educated population can better mitigate and adapt to its impacts while empowering the next generation of climate leaders and advocates.

It is only when we are willing to adopt a systems-based lens and look at the climate crisis holistically, can we then identify its root causes, understand its complex relationships, and find the most effective pathways to making an impact. This might involve funding critical research in underexplored areas, such as the intersections of climate and health, supporting innovative early-stage solutions that can scale, and integrating climate considerations into policy design.

Second, multi-sector partnerships are essential to drive these efforts. To make meaningful progress, we need expertise, resolve and resources from different geographies, sectors, communities and asset classes. This will accelerate the innovations in technology and financing that can bring about global systems change.

Asia’s philanthropic sector can amplify its impact by partnering with public and private stakeholders to unlock capital and catalyze solutions. Success depends on aligning mutual goals, collective action and shared resources.

For these partnerships to endure, a foundation of trust is key. Philanthropists must prioritize transparency, accountability and open communication to build strong, trustworthy relationships with their partners. Transformative philanthropy also requires collaboration with governments, which have the resources, authority and reach to drive significant community change.

The private sector plays a critical role, given its ability to mobilize substantial and sustainable financing. The International Monetary Fund estimates that approximately 80% of the transition financing required by emerging economies — responsible for around two-thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions — must be provided by the private sector.

Local communities, delivery partners and researchers are equally important. It is crucial that beneficiary communities co-create and own philanthropic initiatives, with execution led by experienced actors on the ground.

A powerful example of such collaboration is the World Mosquito Program’s (WMP) use of the Wolbachia bacteria to combat dengue fever. This innovative approach, scaled through philanthropic and private funding, has reduced dengue outbreaks by up to 95% in communities across Colombia and Brazil. Philanthropy played a pivotal role in scaling this breakthrough, funding mosquito-breeding facilities and partnering with local NGOs to introduce Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes into affected areas. This collaboration across philanthropy, public health sectors and local communities demonstrates the transformative potential of multi-sector partnerships.

Combining diverse expertise fosters innovative, scalable solutions. With all hands on deck, philanthropy, business and government can harness their collective strengths to unlock lasting global solutions.

Third, ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of philanthropic initiatives requires a strong focus on evidence-based outcomes and rigorous impact measurement. Philanthropic interventions must be data-driven to guarantee success and maximize their impact. By consistently measuring and evaluating outcomes, philanthropists can demonstrate the viability of pilot projects and build the case for larger-scale investments from the private and public sectors.

At the 2024 Philanthropy Asia Summit, speakers emphasized how health and education are foundational to economic and social development. These sectors, given their transformative potential, need systems-based approaches, where philanthropic capital can unlock further funding by demonstrating positive outcomes. Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman of Ayala Corp., highlighted how the Ayala Foundation, in partnership with the Department of Education in the Philippines, trialed innovative approaches in two public schools. After rigorous evaluation, the foundation developed an evidence-based model for school management, allowing it to scale confidently and attract greater investment.

A robust impact measurement framework enables philanthropists to determine which projects are delivering the greatest value and which may require adjustment or additional support. This data-driven approach validates the success of initiatives, making them more attractive to funders and enhancing their scalability and long-term sustainability. When philanthropic organizations focus on demonstrable outcomes, they create a ripple effect, encouraging other stakeholders to adopt similar approaches and ensuring continued support for impactful projects.

Beyond immediate results, inclusive, technology-driven interventions that support continual learning and adaptation are essential. By backing solutions that address both present challenges and future needs, philanthropists can help build resilient systems capable of responding to evolving global crises.

The power of evidence-based interventions lies in their ability to shape future strategies and guide more effective decision-making. Philanthropy must champion accountability and transparency, ensuring that successful projects are scaled and sustained while those with lesser outcomes are re-evaluated and refined.

The path forward is clear. Tackling the world’s complex, interconnected challenges requires systems thinking, a disciplined focus on outcomes, and multi-sector partnerships to unlock financing and innovation. Solving our global climate challenges means solving for Asia. There is significant opportunity to drive impact in the region, and stakeholders across sectors must come together to build on this positive momentum, and prime Asia as a force for good.

Lim Seok Hui is chief executive officer of the Philanthropy Asia Alliance.

For more takeaways from the Philanthropy Asia Summit 2024, which took place from April 15 to April 18 in Singapore, access our full insights report, titled Partnerships for Impact: A Roadmap on Collaboration to Catalyse Climate, Education, and Health Action in Asia.

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