Global Nexa Initiative Launches to Support Climate and Health Innovations

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Global consortium seeks bold, scalable solutions that reduce climate-driven health harms on vulnerable communities

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LONDON, June 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — At London Climate Action Week, Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) and the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation) today announced the launch of Nexa, a global initiative to support locally led innovations that address the growing health impacts of climate change. Nexa is led by GCC (in partnership with the Government of Canada) and SFA Foundation, together with a global network of collaborators that includes Novo Nordisk Foundation, Sanofi Foundation, Fund for Innovation in Development, and members of the Global Grand Challenges Network in Botswana, Brazil, Malawi, Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa. Nexa aims to mobilize upwards of US$50 million in partner investment to expand the impact of urgently needed climate-health innovations in low-and middle-income countries. The first Nexa funding call opens June 22 for innovations in Africa and the Americas. 

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The climate crisis has been described in The Lancet  as the greatest global health threat of the 21^st century.  An estimated 3.6 billion people worldwide live in climate-vulnerable regions.  Nexa responds to the challenges communities across low- and middle-income countries face as intensifying climate pressures drive new and worsening health risks and place additional strain on already overburdened health systems.  

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“Communities around the world are facing rapidly growing threats to their health and livelihoods while global climate commitments are weakening,” said Dr. Karlee Silver, CEO, Grand Challenges Canada. “Nexa is about supporting bold, locally led innovation to transform how people stay healthy in the face of climate change.”  

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Nexa is informed by findings from the largest climate and health survey to date, which engaged 6,400 respondents across 107 low- and middle-income countries. In 2025, Grand Challenges Canada, the Science for Africa Foundation and the Global Grand Challenges Network partnered with The Geneva Learning Foundation to gather insights from health workers, scientists, innovators, policymakers, and humanitarian workers affected by climate-related health threats. Findings are being prepared for publication in an academic journal. 

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“Climate and health is one of the defining challenges of our time and it will require new models of partnership and investment,” said Dr. Tom Kariuki, CEO of the Science for Africa Foundation. “Those closest to these challenges are often closest to the solutions. Nexa demonstrates what is possible when African priorities, local innovation, and global collaboration come together around a shared goal.” 

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Rising temperatures, changing disease patterns and severe weather events disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses, children, and underserved communities with limited access to healthcare. Nexa will support bold innovations that focus on three key climate-related drivers of health risks to vulnerable communities: changing vector patterns (causing malaria and dengue), extreme heat, and poor air quality.  

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“The Government of Canada is proud to support Nexa. Investments in locally led climate and health innovations can create new pathways for vulnerable communities to overcome the health impacts of climate change and safeguard global health,” said the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Canada’s Secretary of State for International Development.
  
Nexa will provide catalytic funding for both early-stage and growth-stage climate and health innovations that strengthen health systems adaptation and resilience and have a strong potential for impact and scale. Proof of Concept innovations will receive up to US$200,000 over 18-24 months to support early-stage ideas. Proven solutions will receive approximately US$250,000 – $2,000,000 of Transition to Scale funding each, depending on the maturity of the innovation.