Plenary 2: Innovations for a Healthier Global South: What is the role of philanthropy in supporting global health research and interventions? (presented by Institute of Philanthropy)

Moderator Margaret Chan opened the session by emphasising the need for the philanthropic community to join hands in addressing local needs with global impact. 

Rebecca Grais underscored the issue of inequity as one of the most neglected health issues – inequity in terms of access to information, access to care, access to money, and burden of care. She argued for the need to strengthen existing networks of institutions that believe in using scientific knowledge to improve human health, ensuring these networks work cooperatively to address problems at hand.

Ilona Kickbusch traced the historical intersection of public health and politics, emphasising the need for philanthropy to adopt a systemic approach to creating change. She noted the growing influence of women in philanthropy, particularly in Asia, and stressed that a gender-sensitive lens is essential to avoid reinforcing inequalities. Kickbusch also called for philanthropies to be more accountable, urging a shift in focus towards public good and public value. 

Peter Piot reflected on the global fight against HIV and underscored the brilliant work by the coalition of UN organisations, activists, and philanthropists at the local level to ensure antiretroviral therapy is accessible to most people who need it in the world. He also highlighted the importance in engaging affected communities in health decisions, and pointed out that health policies and public engagement must be better integrated to ensure that interventions truly address the needs of those most impacted by diseases.
 
Naveen Rao positioned health as the "human face for climate change," emphasising the urgent need to integrate climate data into health decision-making. He noted that while industries like agriculture and aviation regularly use climate data, only a small percentage of health officials do the same. Rao called for a more transformative approach to understanding the root causes of climate vulnerability, particularly for marginalised groups like children and women. 

Carsten Schicker offered a perspective from the venture capital world, advocating for philanthropies to adopt more agile and innovative approaches to complex challenges like climate change and mental health. He suggested that empowering local actors and fostering innovation would allow communities to develop their own solutions, pointing to lessons philanthropies can learn from the start-up ecosystem. 

Overall, the session reinforced the idea that philanthropy must be grounded in collaboration, equity, and local empowerment to address the complex global challenges of our time.