Our innovation focus advances inclusive technologies and sustainable social enterprise to drive community impact. Through the Palladium Challenge Fund, we support solutions that prioritize local perspectives, inclusivity, and transformative technology, piloting projects that address global challenges with long-term resilience.
In 2023, the Palladium Challenge Fund focused on identifying proposals that offered groundbreaking, sustainable solutions to pressing humanitarian challenges. Emphasizing local empowerment, these initiatives were selected for their potential to drive long-term, community-centered change. The following two projects stood out for their innovative approaches and commitment to impactful outcomes.
Heat AI for Decision-Making
Practical Action Consulting Nepal is developing an automated dashboard called Heat AI. This dashboard integrates Indigenous practices documented through case studies and technical reports, combined with artificial intelligence (AI). The system collects, analyses, and visualises data on heatwaves, using various data sources, including local contributions. It monitors environmental conditions, analyses heat island effects, forecasts risks, and provides recommendations for preparedness and humanitarian responses.
Digital ‘Twin’ of the Global Food System
Uncharted Waters is developing a unique tool that addresses the risks to water and food security in a rapidly changing world. Tailored to meet the diverse needs of organizations, the digital ‘twin’ of the global food system harnesses the latest climate data. By using machine learning, it integrates comprehensive information on climate, food production, and trade. The tool is being tested in collaboration with the Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR), a leading NGO in India, specializing in watershed restoration and rural livelihood development.
