The Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN), together with philanthropic leaders in Asia, have joined to launch the second round of their pooled fund to address maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition in Southeast Asia. The fund has raised $1 million so far this round, with contributions from Asia – Chevron, Johnson & Johnson Foundation, Quantedge Advancement Initiative, and Vitol Foundation.

Southeast Asia has some of the highest out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures in the world, according to a statement released by AVPN. The fund will aim to impact outcomes in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

‘Every day, more than 800 women die from preventable complications related to pregnancy or childbirth around the world,’ said Angeline Chin, Senior Director at Global Community Impact Asia Pacific, Johnson & Johnson. ‘An overwhelming number of these deaths occur in low- and lower-middle-income economies where many women and girls have inadequate access to health services.’

‘The flexibility that minimally restricted funding permits, enables effective and resourceful organisations to adapt their programmes and plan for growth and in turn serve the people they work with more efficiently,’ said Sarah Jeffery, Head of Health at the Vitol Foundation.

Nonprofit organisations working in the maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition space throughout the identified countries are invited to apply for grants, which will range from $100,000-$300,000, by 25 July 2022.

‘Through our first round of Philanthropic Pooled Fund, we have proven that collaborative philanthropy can bring impact at scale and address the key challenges in Southeast Asia’s healthcare services,’ said Naina Subberwal Batra, CEO of AVPN. ‘The second round of the Healthcare Pooled Fund will continue to strengthen the progress made in improving healthcare, with a particular focus on MNCHN, to create a more sustainable and systemic change and ensure a brighter, healthier future for the next generation.’

Alliance magazine is reporting live at the AVPN conference this year. Follow along on alliancemagazine.org and twitter.com/Alliancemag.