Crisis as Catalyst: Introducing Urban Transport Reforms in the Philippines Amidst the Global Pandemic
June 2, 2023Crisis as Catalyst traces urban and active transport reforms in the Philippines, which rapidly grew due to the transportation restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic. John T. Sidel, professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science, delves deeper into how Coalitions for Change and the Move As One coalition explored the possibilities of alternative transport mobilities, pursued reform…
X-Border Local Research Network
May 18, 2023In Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, conflict and instability endure in contested border regions where local tensions connect with regional and global dynamics. The Asia Foundation, the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, the Rift Valley Institute, and their local research partners established the X-Border Local Research Network in 2018 to develop a better global understanding of political,…
How to Become a Carbon Neutral Office in Lao PDR
May 18, 2023Our vision at The Asia Foundation is for a peaceful, just, and thriving Asia. But we’re facing an unprecedented climate crisis, and without action, it will destroy the vision we’ve been striving to achieve for over 70 years. It’s not enough to work on climate issues at arm’s length; we must be willing to change our behavior and confront the…
Accessibility and Disability Inclusion on the Public Transport System in Phnom Penh
May 11, 2023Persons with disabilities continue to face exclusion and discrimination in areas ranging from education to employment, access to public services, and other social services. There are 289,135 persons with disabilities living in urban areas in Cambodia, where access to services, including public transport, is essential. However, persons with disabilities have reported incidents in which they have been made to pay…
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Go Digital ASEAN
May 11, 2023The Go Digital ASEAN initiative broadens digital skills participation across the region, reaching individuals and communities with the most to gain from digital literacy—from farmers and home-based handicraft producers to small-scale hotels, restaurants, and shops. Endorsed by the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, the project is implemented by The Asia Foundation with funding from Google.org, Google’s…
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Elections in Mongolia (1992-2021)
April 27, 2023Mongolia’s transition to democracy has been cemented over eight democratic election cycles, each of which has featured multi-party competition, led to peaceful transitions of power, and been deemed free and fair by most observers. These achievements are reminders that Mongolia remains a strong, albeit young, democracy that has shown resilience. Despite a positive overarching narrative, Mongolia’s democracy and its elections…
Carbon Pricing and the Business Case for Emissions Reductions and Nature Conservation in Malaysia
April 27, 2023In the context of climate change mitigation, two market failures stand out: an oversupply of “negative externalities” in the form of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and an undersupply of “positive externalities” in the form of the protection and conservation of natural capital. The failure to address these market failures plays an important role in the continued worsening of climate change….
Towards a Community-based Green Economy in Sabah
April 21, 2023Sabah is a natural resource-rich state in Malaysia faced with many environmental, socioeconomic, and political challenges. It is home to a large indigenous population with a self-sustaining economy long depending on the extractive industry, timber, and palm oil, with the base-level dependence on natural resources growing at a steady pace. The hallmarks of a green economy are low carbon, efficient,…
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Digital Skilling in Asia and the Pacific: Efforts of Asia-Pacific’s Corporate Sector
April 19, 2023Over the past decade, public and private sector institutions have implemented a wide range of digital skilling programs. Given the demand for upskilling and re-skilling the workforce, these programs often have overlapping audiences, objectives, and content. A plethora of digital skilling programs are beneficial to the Asia-Pacific population, but due to a lack of information on the digital skilling landscape,…
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Strengthening Women’s Climate Leadership
April 13, 2023Engaging women as climate leaders is essential to developing effective policies and strategies to respond to the impact of climate change and building resilience in local communities. When women’s climate leadership is elevated and coupled with financial and technical resources to support grassroots women’s solutions, communities are more resilient to climate impact, better decisions are made, and more lives are…
