Pru Life UK champions climate resilience with sustainability partnerships

Pru Life UK is stepping up its commitment to sustainability through strategic partnerships that help address the negative impacts of climate change and enhance community resilience amid worsening climate-related challenges.

Through the Climate and Health Resilience Fund (CHRF) that was set up by Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of Prudential plc across Asia and Africa, a Php 10 million grant was awarded to CARE Philippines to work with Pru Life UK for the rollout of the Sustainable Health Interventions for Eradicating Leptospirosis and Dengue (SHIELD) Project in target communities in Malabon and Valenzuela City.

Launched in March 2024, the CHRF is a USD 2 million initiative that aims to support local programmes that mitigate climate-related health risks and build community resilience in Asia and Africa.

Consultations for the SHIELD Project has officially begun with a site visit in Malabon, where city health department officials and project team members gathered to discuss plans for a year-long intervention. Together, they laid the groundwork for collaboration focused on:

• Raising awareness and promoting preventive behaviours, such as the Department of Health’s 5S strategy (Search & Destroy, Self-Protection, Seek Early Consultation, Support Fogging and Sustain Hydration);
• Training local health workers and community leaders to identify, manage, and respond to disease outbreaks;
• Enhancing urban planning and infrastructure, including drainage systems and mosquito breeding site elimination; and
• Distributing protective equipment, such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and implementing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) initiatives.

The SHIELD Project marks just one of Pru Life UK’s ongoing efforts to address climate-related challenges. Alongside public health interventions, the company is also driving initiatives that promote environmental sustainability and encourage cross-sector collaboration.

“As we confront the growing challenges of climate change in the Philippines, it is critical that we unite to empower our communities. With Pru Life UK’s support through the Climate and Health Resilience Fund, we’re addressing significant health risks and enhancing community resilience. This partnership underscores our commitment to ensuring that our interventions empower all individuals, especially women and girls, to not only survive but to flourish amid these challenges. Through SHIELD, we are forging a path toward a sustainable and equitable future,” Reiza Dejito, Country Director of CARE Philippines shared.

Pru Life UK also joined the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) in hosting the “Finance in the Climate-Health Nexus: Adapting to Heat” dialogue. Organised with ECCP’s Special Committee on Open Finance and Financial Inclusion (SCOFFI), the event brought together experts and industry leaders to discuss strategies for safeguarding public health in the face of escalating climate-related challenges.

Key points raised at the ECCP event includes:

• The need to increase investments in addressing climate change and its impact on public health
• Barriers to effective cross-sector collaboration between healthcare practitioners, financial sectors, policymakers, and environmental agencies
• Opportunities for innovation and co-investment to address the growing climate-health nexus

“As part of our long-term sustainability efforts, we are committed to helping communities build resilience to climate change and gain access to resources that promote lasting growth,” said Atty. Paul Mandal, Pru Life UK’s Senior Vice President and Chief Legal, Government Relations, and Sustainability Officer. This underscores Pru Life UK’s climate and health advocacy and the importance of financial security as a climate adaptation measure. 

Through these partnerships, Pru Life UK reaffirms its commitment to creating lasting impact and a healthier, more sustainable future for Filipinos.

For more information about Pru Life UK’s sustainability initiatives, visit www.prulifeuk.com.ph.