In Asia: Weekly Insight and Features from Asia

The phrase “gender equality as smart economics” has become the mantra of such women leaders as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet. While some of Asia’s economies are booming, this does not always lead to greater opportunities for women. In fact, many women across Asia still lack access to [...]

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Colombo is shedding its image as Sri Lanka’s charming but dilapidated capital. Pulsing with new energy and growth, major investments and improvement is palpable since the end of the war. But in the North and East and bordering regions, clashes, attacks, and decades of economic neglect have left a legacy of division and hardship.

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After being hit by the worst flooding in half a century, Thailand and its residents are on the long road to recovery. Waters submerged one-third of the country, left nearly 700 dead, and caused millions in economic damage and lost revenue from major industries…

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To mark Indonesia’s National Literacy Day on October 21, The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia program distributed 3,250 books to almost 50 Community Learning Centers across Jakarta. Located in low-income neighborhoods, these government-supported centers…

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Garbage left in streets and along riverbanks is a significant problem in Nepal and poses extreme health hazards to residents. Exasperated by this unsanitary “free disposal” system of waste, in 1992, 16 bold women from the Kathmandu Valley formed the country’s first NGO to address waste management…

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In recent years, Afghanistan’s battered education system has seen some progress – including more schools for boys and girls, and better access to critical resources such as books and classroom equipment. Yet, the nation’s literacy rate still remains one of the lowest in the world estimated at 27 percent. To help Afghanistan address this ongoing challenge…

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In many ways, Laos, one of Southeast Asia’s most remote countries, is at the epicenter of regional debate over water and environmental sustainability. More than 85 percent of land in Laos lies within the Mekong River Basin, and communities rely on their rivers to survive.

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