Filipino NGOs win AI sustainability grants by Google.org, ADB

Two Filipino NGOs have been named as recipients of grants from the APAC Sustainability Seed Fund 2.0, which provides funding for local sustainability-focused organizations and initiatives in the region in the face of climate change and worsening natural disasters.

The APAC Sustainability Seed Fund 2.0 is supported by Google.org and the Asian Development Bank. The Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) and the University of the Philippines Public Administration Research and Extension Services Foundation (UPPAF), Inc. are the only organizations from the Philippines receiving a part of the US$5 million allocated for the fund. The two organizations are also among those that are supported by AI technology.

ASSIST helps local communities and organizations in the Philippines gain the skills they need to create more sustainable solutions all around, whether it entails technical training or learning about disaster response.

“By leveraging the Sustainability Seed Fund, we plan to scale up through three pathways: geographic expansion into neighboring ASEAN countries, scope expansion by updating and broadening the green skills curriculum, and technological expansion by incorporating advanced delivery methods like VR, AR, and AI technologies,” said Francis Macatulad, ASSIST Executive Director.

Meanwhile, the UPPAF aims to improve transportation in developing countries as a whole by addressing fossil fuel dependence and poor energy efficiency in public transport operations.

“With this generous funding, we aim to revolutionize paratransit systems in developing countries by addressing fossil fuel dependence, poor energy efficiency in public transport operations and the need for inclusive and just transition,” said Dr. Noriel Christopher Tiglao, Professor and Project Leader at UPPAF.

The APAC Sustainability Seed Fund is now in its second year of supporting researchers and social investors who are using AI and cloud technologies to build their sustainability solutions. Recent advances in artificial intelligence can help with mitigation and adaptation efforts, contributing to a more sustainable future for people across the Asia-Pacific region.

To learn more about the APAC Sustainability Seed Fund 2.0 and see the rest of the grantees, visit https://blog.google/around-the-globe/google-asia/18-ngos-tackling-sustainability-challenges-in-asia-pacific/