Empowering Women, Building Communities: The Merauke Women’s School
A school in South Papua, Indonesia, is breaking the cycle of violence against women and empowering them to reclaim their voices in their communities.
Women's Political Participation
Advancing Women’s Rights and Opportunities with Lotus Circle Funds
The Lotus Circle is a vibrant community of committed individuals and organizations supporting The Asia Foundation’s Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality Program to strengthen economic, social, and political rights and opportunities for women and girls in Asia and the Pacific. The Asia Foundation launched the Lotus Circle in 2007 to engage a growing group of philanthropists committed to investing in women across Asia. Funds raised strengthen The Asia Foundation’s work in women's empowerment and gender equality, and promote gender mainstreaming efforts. To date, more than $4.3 million in Lotus Circle Funds have been programmed through more than 100 grants and projects.
Beyond “Capacity”: Gendered Election Processes, Networks, and Informality in Local Governments in Nepal
While many donors and much state attention have focused on building the skills and capacities of elected women to make them effective in their formal political roles, recent research has…
Not Enough Time: Insight Into Myanmar Women’s Urban Experiences
In 2018 The Asia Foundation, in partnership with the Yangon School of Political Science, rolled out the City Life Survey (CLS) following a successful pilot in 2017. The Asia Foundation…
What Advice Do Myanmar’s Female MPs Have for Women Candidates in 2020?
As Myanmar’s historic reform process continues to evolve, more women are needed in leadership roles of all kinds, including in parliaments. Despite their low numbers, the positive contributions of women…
Inspired by Father’s Wartime Experience, Meredith Ludlow and Marc Teillon Give Generously to Educate Young Women in Vietnam
A decade ago, Meredith Ludlow and her husband, Marc Teillon, journeyed to the coastal region of Núi Thành District, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam, to the village of Chu Lai. Ludlow, a Lotus Circle advisor and member of The Asia Foundation's President's Leadership Council, was visiting the place where her father...
Myanmar: Women Breaking and Making the Rules
I was on the grounds of a textile factory an hour outside Mandalay, Myanmar. It was July 2017—peak monsoon season—and the combination of rain, heat, and an overnight bus ride…
Advancing Gender Equality in Asia
Earlier this year, the G7 launched the Gender Equality Advisory Council to promote the integration of gender equality and gender-based analysis across all G7 activities and outcomes. As part of…
Reflections on the Gender 360 Summit
More than 300 gender and youth practitioners convened last month in Washington, DC, for the Gender 360 Summit to explore the theme of positive girl and boy development. Panels examined…
Nepal’s Locally Elected Women Representatives: Exploratory Study of Needs and Capacity Assessment
The successful completion of local, provincial, and federal elections in 2017 was a historic milestone for Nepal, coming after almost two decades. A record number of women representatives were elected…
No Women, No Growth
The 2018 Chatham House International Policy Forum convened last week at a time of international angst. Two British cabinet ministers had resigned over Brexit negotiations, creating more uncertainty around the…
Dawn: Election Mela aims to reduce rejected votes, increase turnout on polling day
Dawn newspaper in Pakistan highlights The Asia Foundation’s participation in an Election Mela, an event designed to raise awareness about voting and political participation. The Asia Foundation, in collaboration with…