INASIA
Insights and Analysis
And Now, a Bright Spot: Timor-Leste Weathers a Pandemic
Timor-Leste is a young nation and a poor one, but its response to Covid-19 has been focused, disciplined, and remarkably effective. A new public-perceptions survey shows that the government and the public have reaped the rewards.
Covid-19 Raises New Hurdles for CSOs
Civil society organizations in Southeast Asia have responded swiftly to the pandemic, in many cases more nimbly than governments. But civil society is also struggling to cope in a time of emergency government powers and shrinking civic spaces.
Ratan Tata and Eleni Kounalakis in Conversation: Changing the Idea of What a Leader Looks Like
At the recent “Leaders on the Frontlines” event, two powerhouse leaders joined Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, vice chair of The Asia Foundation Board of Trustees, to reflect on leadership and the times when they’ve been tested.
Podcast: The Crisis and the Cracks—Pakistan’s Covid-19 Experience at Taftaan
When a Karachi student returning from Iran became Pakistan’s first documented case of Covid-19, the government quickly moved to quarantine thousands of Shia pilgrims at the remote outpost of Taftaan on the Iran-Pakistan border. But Pakistan’s pandemic response soon stumbled in the resource-poor periphery of the borderland.
Myanmar Peace at a Crossroads in 2020
As the National League for Democracy concludes its first term in government, peacebuilding in Myanmar is at a crossroads. With another election approaching, conflict increasing, and instability compounded by Covid-19, this is a crucial time to reimagine a future peace and how Myanmar can achieve it.
Books for Children in Nepal’s Mother Tongues
Nepal has nearly 200 indigenous languages, each with its own rich folklore and heritage. The Let’s Read project is bringing this heritage to life for Nepali children, in books written in their own mother tongues.
Podcast: A Woman Attorney General for the Bangsamoro
She’s part of the new face of leadership in her long-troubled homeland of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Attorney General Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba sits down with InAsia to talk about the past, the future, and her vision for the Bangsamoro.
Counseling the Counselors amid Covid-19
Sri Lanka’s national mental health service has been overwhelmed by the pandemic. A new program is giving stressed-out counselors professional support and guidance to navigate the Covid crisis.
Afghanistan Flash Surveys to Glean Data on Perceptions of Women, Peace, the Economy, and Covid-19
A new series of quarterly assessments comes at a pivotal moment for Afghanistan, as peace talks open with the Taliban and Covid-19 runs unchecked in the population.