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Digital Trade Agreements in Asia and the Pacific
March 15, 2024Digital trade agreements (DTAs) are instrumental in expanding the benefits of the digital economy in emerging Asia. Moreover, economies in Asia and the Pacific have been the key architects of trade rules for the digital era. DTAs set trade rules and economic collaboration in the digital economy and establish the minimum framework in which data and transactions are performed digitally…
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Strengthening Care Economies in Asia and the Pacific
March 15, 2024Women’s equal access to economic opportunities is imperative for future growth and prosperity in Asia and the Pacific. The participation of women in the labor force is also critical to women’s advancement and achieving gender equality in the region. However, research has shown that one critical barrier for women to enter the labor force is the double burden of care…
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Timor-Leste
February 29, 2024In Timor-Leste, The Asia Foundation works with local partners to advance citizens’ rights and access to justice, strengthen civil society voices, develop economic growth opportunities, and safeguard women’s rights. Current flagship programs focus on good governance, inclusive economic growth, and women’s empowerment.
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Laos
February 22, 2024The Asia Foundation has worked in Lao People’s Democratic Republic since 1958. We work with local partners and the Lao government to improve governance and access to justice for all citizens, advance women’s rights and opportunities, help communities manage development and safeguard their natural environment, increase access to information, and promote Laos’ international cooperation.
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Mapping of Civil Society Organizations in the Governance Sector in the Maldives
February 20, 2024Mapping of Civil Society Organizations in the Governance Sector in the Maldives was commissioned by The Asia Foundation’s South Asia Grants Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau for South and Central Asian Affairs. Riyan Pvt. Ltd. conducted the research, which examined the operational landscape of civil society organizations (CSOs) working in the governance sector in the Maldives….
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Maldives
February 20, 2024The Asia Foundation has been working in the Maldives since the early 1980s, when it was ranked among the world’s 20 poorest countries, and our work has reflected the changing needs of the multi-island nation. The Maldives spans 90,000 square kilometers, making equitable development a key challenge. With a diverse marine environment of 1,192 small tropical islands, high-end tourism drives…
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Navigating Successful Policy Reform Series: Securing Reserved Seats for Women in Vanuatu’s Municipal Councils
January 26, 2024This paper is part of the Navigating Successful Policy Reform series undertaken by The Asia Foundation’s Coalitions for Change project and the Institute for Human Security and Social Change at La Trobe University. It is one of three case studies exploring developmental policy reforms in Vanuatu, Kenya, and Indonesia that demonstrate politically smart and learning-oriented ways of working to achieve…
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Towards an Equitable and Integrated South Asia: Building Enabling Environments for Women in Trade – India Country Report
January 4, 2024India has registered a two-fold year-on-year growth in exports in recent years and has set a target of USD 1 trillion in exports by 2025. However, India’s trade with other South Asian countries continues to be relatively low, even though it has increased in the last few years. Furthermore, the participation of women in India’s trade is almost negligible with…
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Updates from Washington, DC: The Asia Foundation November and December 2023
December 21, 2023Welcome to The Asia Foundation’s Washington, D.C. November and December newsletter. This final issue of the year features news updates about the Foundation co-hosting the 2023 Australasian Aid Conference, a new partnership with Stanford HAI on AI and the new APAC cybersecurity fund, an InAsia blog post about the Foundation’s 30th anniversary in Mongolia, an InAsia podcast episode about how…
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Local Justice in Timor-Leste: Barriers to Access at the Community Level
December 21, 2023Most people in Timor-Leste resolve their justice problems outside of formal state-based courts and resort to local justice systems. While local justice systems are considered faster and more understandable for people and communities than court proceedings, important barriers still limit access to local justice. This report offers a justice ecosystems approach that acknowledges the diverse ways people access justice, and…