International collaboration is key to fight against the pandemic. To that end, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) continues to fund research projects on the effects of COVID-19 in Peru and other countries around the world.
Currently, the UK and Peru are working together on five projects, investigating communities particularly vulnerable to the pandemic, such as the elderly, children, local farmers' markets and more. These projects funded under this scheme add to the scientific cooperation between the two countries already underway through the Newton-Paulet Fund, in partnership with CONCYTEC, and the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).
So far, the UK has invested around £29.3 million in more than 50 projects on COVID-19 in developing countries, reaffirming its commitment to support science and technology applied to solutions to social issues.
On the announcement of projects' funding, UK Ambassador Kate Harrisson said:
I am delighted that Peru and the UK are collaborating on projects in response to COVID19. These projects will have a direct positive impact on the lives of thousands of Peruvians.
They will shed new light on the effects of the pandemic on food markets, fish workers, mental health in senior adults or nutrition in mothers and young children, and thus help improve their wellbeing.
The pandemic requires a coordinated and global response, and the cooperation of both countries is a sign of our commitment in this regard and our excellent bilateral relationship.
Most of the funded research focuses on the communities most affected by COVID-19 in Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia, and, they are carried out collaboratively between UK and local experts and institutions. The purpose and importance of these projects is to develop short and long-term social, economic and health solutions, areas that have been severely affected by the pandemic. Finally, these projects seek to improve the response capacity of developing countries to future pandemics.
The projects in Peru chosen for funding in collaboration with UKRI are the following:
Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of older Peruvian adults.
- UK lead institution: University College London
- Peruvian Lead Institution: Universidad San Martin de Porres and PRISMA
Promoting health and safety in traditional food markets to combat COVID-19 in Peru and Bolivia
- UK lead institution: Royal Veterinary College
- Peruvian Lead Institution: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos
Enhancing the resilience of fishing communities to the impacts of COVID-19 in Northern Peru
- UK lead institution: University of St Andrews
- Peruvian lead institution: Inter-Agency Consortium Piura (Project Partner)
- UK Lead Partner: Loughborough University
- Peruvian lead institution: UNICEF Peru (Project Partner)
- UK lead institution: University of Leeds
- Peruvian lead institution: Health Without Limits Peru (Project Partner)
