Accelerate Women’s Entrepreneurship and Access to Capital in Cambodia: Lessons and Recommendations
March 28, 2023This document presents lessons and recommendations from Accelerate Women’s Entrepreneurship and Access to Capital in Cambodia, an initiative funded by the VISA Foundation and implemented by The Asia Foundation. By providing training courses to large numbers of entrepreneurs in Cambodia, this program aimed to provide participants with digital skills and greater financial literacy to grow their businesses. The results show…
Addressing Human Trafficking Across Asia and the Pacific
March 28, 2023The Asia Foundation’s sustained engagement across Asia and the Pacific for 70 years has positioned us to support effective, locally driven, trauma-informed, and survivor-centered strategies to prevent and respond to human trafficking within and across borders.
GovAsia – Glass Half Full: Civic Space and Contestation in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal
March 21, 2023The past decade has witnessed a surge of interest in and concern over the global trend toward democratic regression. In South Asia, regulatory and institutional frameworks have become increasingly restrictive, curbing the ability of citizens and civil society organizations to occupy and use civic spaces to organize, express themselves, and participate in decisions that affect the lives of people whose…
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Nepal Subnational Governance Program Phase II Quarterly Newsletter Issue 3 – October–December 2022
March 13, 2023The Subnational Governance Program (SNGP) is implemented by The Asia Foundation with funding from the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and in coordination with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration. After a five-year Phase I (including a one-year Bridging Phase), SNGP Phase II commenced in April 2022 and will continue its support in creating…
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Women’s Empowerment & Gender Equality
March 2, 2023The Asia Foundation’s decades-long engagement across Asia and the Pacific enables the Foundation to support effective, locally driven strategies to advance women’s empowerment, gender equality and social inclusion. Through our permanent country offices across, local partners, and program teams, the Foundation works to engage governments in policy and legal change and to support diverse women’s organizations and networks to advocate…
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Carbon Pricing and the Business Case for Emissions Reductions and Nature Conservation in Malaysia: Research Summary and Policy Recommendations
February 21, 2023Two market failures stand out in the context of climate change adaptation. First is the oversupply of negative externalities that arise from otherwise productive economic activity. These negative externalities, in the form of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, are driving the global average surface temperature increase. Second is the undersupply of positive externalities in the form of underinvestment in the protection…
On the Right Tack: Reflections on Coalition-Building Initiatives Across The Asia Foundation
February 17, 2023Coalitions—groups of organizations and individuals that work together to pursue a common policy goal or reform—are crucial to development. Some of The Asia Foundation’s longest-standing and most successful development programs and portfolios have used coalition-building as an implementation modality. This paper examines successful initiatives in Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. By delving into each of these, we…
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Myanmar
February 16, 2023Dramatic changes took place in Myanmar beginning in 2011 that began a transition in this country from half a century of military rule to a hybrid system of government with competitive elections, a lively parliament, a remarkably free media, and an energetic civil society. That transition came to an abrupt halt in 2021 when elected members of the country’s ruling…
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Roadmap for Action on the Care Economy in Asia and the Pacific
February 15, 2023Drawing on the input and expertise of Bali Care Economy Dialogue participants, this Roadmap for Action is a co-created regional agenda for building a resilient care ecosystem in Asia and the Pacific. Beginning with an overview of key issues discussed at the Dialogue, the Roadmap for Action lays out overarching priorities, key asks, and important annual forums to advocate for…
A Survey of the Nepali People in 2022
February 14, 2023A Survey of the Nepali People in 2022 is based on a nationally representative sample of 7,056 Nepalis randomly selected from 588 wards across all seven provinces. The findings are representative both at the national and provincial levels. This survey attempts to gauge Nepalis’ views on the country’s direction, the situation of their household, local conditions, security, identity, social relations,…
