Ulaanbaatar, May 26, 2026—The Asia Foundation President and CEO Laurel E. Miller recently visited a public kindergarten in Mongolia to see firsthand how early literacy initiatives are helping strengthen the foundational…
Trâm was raised in a poor family in Vietnam’s Vinh Long province. Her mother was a housewife, and her father worked as a seasonal worker. Their humble thatched house couldn’t…
Armed conflicts and human security threats disproportionately impact women, which is why women worldwide are leading movements for peace and the safety and well-being of their communities. The Asia Foundation…
Despite women’s labor force participation being historically high in Thailand, there has been a significant decline over the past decade, due to the rising burden of childcare and eldercare. Without…
Hydroponic technology – the method of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil- is revolutionary for the island of Shaviyani Atoll Maaungoodhoo in the Maldives. Hydroponics is…
Indonesia has long faced challenges in reading literacy, ranking among the lowest-performing nations globally. This pressing reality highlights the urgent need to enhance reading skills and cultivate a love for…
Last week, Let’s Read Bangladesh and BRAC University hosted “Translating Stories for Young Minds,” a workshop that inspired students to make reading more accessible for children. The event combined hands-on…
Indonesia is a rising powerhouse in Southeast Asia, committed to eradicating extreme poverty by 2024. While the country's poverty rate has declined to 1.1% in 2023, provinces like East Nusa Tenggara face higher rates, with extreme poverty affecting 3.9% of the population. Achieving this ambitious target requires improved data accuracy and program integration.
Across India, MSMEs remain an important part of the country's economy and the livelihoods of women entrepreneurs, providing 120 million jobs and driving innovation. However, their businesses are the most at risk, with 83% of small businesses reporting cybersecurity breaches that result in substantial financial harm.
Access to high-quality, culturally relevant educational materials is crucial for helping children develop strong reading skills. However, a lack of reading resources and support can hold back young learners in…
Across Asia and the Pacific, girls and women remain underrepresented in university majors and careers in STEM. Overcoming barriers and advancing STEM opportunities for women and girls is critical to…
In Pakistan, like much of Asia and the Pacific, women remain heavily underrepresented in STEM fields – creating a critical gap in both higher education and the growing digital economy.…