The Asia Foundation

San Francisco

The Asia Foundation has been awarded a four-star rating for sound fiscal management. This marks the fourth consecutive year the highest rating has been awarded to The Asia Foundation by Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities. Only 12% of rated charities have received two or more consecutive four-star ratings. Each year, Charity Navigator releases its ratings to provide donors with information needed to give them greater confidence in the charitable choices they make.

To make an online donation to The Asia Foundation now, please click here.

Ulaanbaatar

The Asia Foundation recently released the results of a second corruption benchmarking survey in Mongolia. These surveys are aimed at better understanding the scope and incidence of corruption at the household level, as well as public attitudes toward corruption, in Mongolia. Despite the government’s progress creating the legal framework and institutions needed to fight corruption, perceptions and the incidence of corruption are little changed from the first survey, which was conducted in March 2006.

Two-thirds of respondents perceive that corruption has increased in the last three years, and that it most likely affects politics and business. Approximately three-quarters of Mongolians report no personal experience with corruption over the three-month recall period. However, a significantly larger percentage of respondents said that they would pay a bribe if they had the money. At the same time, over half of Mongolians demand strong punitive measure against corruption.

Under this program, a total of six surveys are being conducted semiannually. This survey represented 601 respondents in Ulaanbaatar and four provinces: Arkhangai, Selenge, Uvs and Khentii.

The survey report is available for download in PDF format in English and Mongolian. To view the English version, click here. To view the Mongolian version, click here.

San Francisco

The Asia Foundation announces its first ever Annual Fund to give individuals an opportunity to support the people of Asia and the Foundation’s work. Donations to the Fund will ensure that The Asia Foundation can continue to respond quickly and effectively to opportunities and challenges throughout the Asia Pacific.

With an extensive network of offices, staff, and partners throughout the region, The Asia Foundation works in more than 20 countries to develop and implement programs that increase economic opportunity, find solutions for long-term conflict, improve the environment, support women’s rights, reduce human trafficking, ensure fair elections, and much more. The Foundation also distributes hundreds of thousands of books annually to schools, universities, public libraries and other institutions throughout Asia.

Click here to give to The Asia Foundation Annual Fund now.

Click here to learn more about The Asia Foundation Annual Fund.

The Asia Foundation Releases Single-Largest Public Opinion Survey Ever Conducted in Afghanistan

Kabul and San Francisco

Afghans give opinions on security, democracy, poppy cultivation, the economy, and the roles of Islam and women in society in first of three polls to be conducted through 2008

Kabul and San Francisco – November 9, 2006 – Today, The Asia Foundation released findings from the single-largest, most comprehensive public opinion poll ever conducted in Afghanistan.

The poll, “Afghanistan in 2006: A Survey of the Afghan People,” reflects perceptions of democracy, security, poppy cultivation, and the 2005 parliamentary elections — as well as attitudes towards governing institutions, the role of women and Islam in society, and the impact of media. It was conducted between June and August 2006 and consists of a random sample of 6,226 in-person interviews with Afghan men and women, 18 years of age and above, from different social, economic, and ethnic communities. Rural and urban areas in 32 of the 34 provinces were covered, with Uruzgan and Zabul — representing approximately 1.1 percent and 1.2 percent of the population, respectively — excluded due to extreme security conditions.

Click here to view the 2006 survey in its entirety (pdf, 3.9MB).

The survey is separated into seven different categories and opens with findings on the overall national mood in Afghanistan in 2006, which states that 44% of Afghans think the country is headed in the right direction, 21% feel it is moving in the wrong direction, 29% had mixed feelings, and 4% were unsure. This is in comparison to The Asia Foundation’s 2004 survey, “Democracy in Afghanistan,” when 64% of Afghans believed the country was headed in the right direction, 11% felt it was moving in the wrong direction, 8% had mixed feelings, and 16% were unsure.

The survey’s findings will be scrutinized by experts in a companion, analysis document due to be released in December 2006.

The 2006 poll — which was funded through the Foundation’s ongoing cooperative agreement with the U.S. Agency for International Development — was designed, directed, and edited by the Foundation, with all in-person interviews completed by Afghan men and women employed by the Afghan Center for Socio-economic and Opinion Research (ACSOR) in Kabul. This year’s poll builds on the 2004 Foundation survey, with two more set to be conducted in 2007 and 2008, allowing for the measurement of changing opinion among average Afghans.

Phnom Penh

The results of a study comparing the business environments of Cambodia’s ten most economically active provinces and municipalities were announced today in a seminar for 200 representatives from government, private enterprise, donor agencies and the media.

This survey, the 2006 Provincial Business Environment Scorecard (PBES), is a joint initiative of the International Finance Corporation’s Mekong Private Sector Development Facility (IFC-MPDF) and The Asia Foundation, with funding from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). Click here to view the Summary Report in pdf format (1.1MB).

According to the 2006 PBES, which is based on interviews with 500 business leaders in 10 provinces, the eastern border provinces of Kampong Cham and Svay Rieng have the best business environment. These are followed in descending order by Kampong Chhnang, Kampot, Kandal, Banteay Meanchey and Battambang. Those lowest ranked were the capital, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville.

The seminar stressed that no province excels in all areas. Even top-ranked Kampong Cham scored poorly on indices related to unofficial charges, pro-activity of authorities, and resolution of disputes. Priority areas for improvement in all ten provinces were costs of starting a business, property rights, transparency (specifically access to information on regulations), participation in policymaking, informal charges, and crime prevention.

His Excellency, Suy Sem, Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy thanked IFC-MPDF and The Asia Foundation for conducting the PBES this year and committing to conduct this for at least two more years. “This is very valuable assistance. An annual survey that ranks provinces on the business-friendliness of their policies, regulations and services will encourage local officials to be more responsive to the needs of entrepreneurs. This will lead to a better business environment, greater investment and ultimately to job creation and a reduction in poverty.”

Dorothy Berry, IFC’s Vice President for Human Resources and Administration, congratulated the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, and the Ministry of Commerce for their endorsement of the survey. “Research worldwide shows that for business environment reform to succeed, it must be implemented effectively at the sub-national level. If communication between national and local authorities is weak and local authorities lack the resources to implement reforms, these reforms will not succeed.”

Recognizing this, IFC and other development agencies, including The Asia Foundation, have been surveying business environments in developing countries and helping authorities to simplify regulations at the provincial or municipal level.

“This, says Dorothy Berry, “is where complex, costly and time consuming regulations take their toll on the businesses that must comply with them.”

As examples of successful reform, Dorothy Berry cited the cities of La Paz in Bolivia, and Quezon in the Philippines. “In La Paz, after just one year of simplifying business registration with IFC assistance, the time to get an operating license became 13 times faster. As a result of this and other improvements, the number of registered businesses rose by an astonishing 20%. In Quezon City, much faster times for obtaining business licenses and permits means that the number of permits issued rose by almost 70%. Quezon City businesses also reported more satisfaction with municipal services and less corruption. The municipality gained too, with revenues rising by almost 40%.”

Roderick Brazier, Country Representative of The Asia Foundation, stressed the important role the private sector, and especially small and medium enterprises, play in reducing poverty. “Across Asia sometimes as many as 99% of non-farm workers are employed by SMEs. Helping the small business sector to grow more effectively, reduces poverty by creating jobs for poor Cambodians. Conversely, obsolete or unclear regulations, cumbersome administrative procedures, or bureaucratic red tape and corruption, stifle the growth of small businesses and prolong poverty.

“IFC-MPDF and The Asia Foundation hope that the PBES results will encourage the public sector to improve policies by adopting good practices from high-scoring provinces. We also hope that business owners and business associations will use the data contained in these findings to encourage officials to improve their performance. In our work on similar surveys in Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, we found that publicity about the surveys encouraged a large and influential audience to pay attention to business environment issues for the first time.”

Her Excellency Lisa Filipetto, Australian Ambassador to Cambodia stated, “It is our hope that the PBES scores will enhance the dynamic for change at the local level, for both the public and private sectors, by strengthening the demand for an improved business environment and improving the ability of provincial authorities to supply the conditions to satisfy that demand.”

Several development agencies have already indicated interest in assisting provincial authorities to improve economic governance in order to meet private sector demand for a better business environment and through this improve economic growth and increase incomes for Cambodia’s poorest people.

About The Mekong Private Sector Development Facility
The Mekong Private Sector Development Facility (IFC-MPDF; www.mpdf.org) is a multi-donor funded initiative set up by the International Finance Corporation in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Lao PDR, to reduce poverty through sustainable private sector development. The Facility works through six interrelated programs that seek to improve the business environment; develop the financial sector; improve managerial capacity; and increase sustainable business practices in three sectors that are central to economic growth and poverty reduction – tourism, agribusiness, and garments. IFC-MPDF’s donors are the Asian Development Bank, Australia, Canada, Finland, IFC, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

For more information, contact:
Ann Bishop (012-931-244)
Sok Meng (012-812-841)
Phone: (855-23) 210 922
Fax: (855-23) 215 157

Washington D.C. AND San Francisco

Launches in Washington D.C. October 17; Opens in
San Francisco November 6

Representing one-quarter of the world’s population, women in Asia are assuming a multitude of leadership roles and overcoming barriers such as illiteracy, poverty, violence and discrimination. Today, in recognition of the important achievements of Asian women leaders, The Asia Foundation launched Portraits of Leadership: Women Changing the Face of Asia — an exhibition of short stories and photographs of trailblazing women who have made significant contributions in Asian politics, law, business, media, education, and the arts. The exhibition is open to the public at the historic Union Station in Washington, D.C. and will travel to San Francisco’s One Market building in November.

From the first and only female Muslim lawyer in Nepal to an Emmy nominated, 19-year- old Afghan video journalist, eleven women are profiled “at work” through short narratives and large-scale color photographs, shot by a team of fine art and editorial photographers.

“Portraits of Leadership depicts some of the courageous Asian women leaders that the Foundation is proud to have supported,” said Carol Yost, director of The Asia Foundation’s Women’s Empowerment Program. “All of the women, regardless of their age, vocation, or nationality are united in their commitment to increasing opportunities for women.”

In conjunction with the exhibition, a related panel discussion will be held in Washington, D.C. at the Carnegie Building on October 18, featuring profiled women political leaders from Cambodia, Korea, and Thailand.

“In order to accelerate progress, our programs enable women to share lessons learned and build networks that transcend borders,” adds Yost. “We are pleased to share these remarkable stories that we hope will both educate and inspire Americans about how Asian women leaders are helping to build societies committed to equal rights for all citizens, women and men.”

Portraits of Leadership will visit Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington D.C., October 17 to October 29, 2006; The Concourse at One Market, One Market Street, San Francisco, California, November 6 to November 20, 2006. The exhibition is free to the public, and is partially funded through a donation from Chevron.

ABOUT THE WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM
For more than half a century, The Asia Foundation has been a leader in helping women in Asia to realize their potential. The Foundation’s Women’s Empowerment Program develops women’s leadership, strengthens women’s organizations, increases women’s rights and ensures their personal security, and creates new political and economic opportunities for women across the Asia-Pacific region. The Asia Foundation is committed to a world where women have the means to help themselves and the voice to make a difference.

New documentary film presented by Foundation’s Digital Media Lab

San Francisco

Following its 2005 Emmy nomination for “Afghanistan Unveiled,” The Asia Foundation announced today that a new documentary film, “The Observer,” is currently in post-production. Produced and directed by Bay Area filmmaker John C. Karr, the film is set against the chaotic first parliamentary election in Afghanistan in more than 25 years—and revolves around the complex, dangerous work of young election observers from across Asia. A series of special preview test screenings of this work-in-progress will be held in conjunction with the 29th Mill Valley Film Festival in Mill Valley, California.

Muhammad “Badrul” Hisham Bin Ismail is a young Malaysian, Muslim man who hesitantly embarks on a risk-filled journey to join an election mission to Afghanistan in 2005. Skeptical yet curious, inexperienced but committed, Badrul is a newcomer to international election observation. His experiences, and that of the other young observers, will lead them all to face some hard truths about Afghanistan–and themselves.

“The Observer” was produced and directed by Karr and was shot entirely in Afghanistan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Thailand. The film is a production of The Asia Foundation’s Digital Media Lab.

For more information, please visit www.observer-movie.com.

About the Digial Media Lab

The Digital Media Lab, founded by The Asia Foundation and based in San Francisco, identifies and presents relevant Asia Pacific region stories to audiences around the world. The lab generates compelling documentary film and broadband media, including a growing online archive of video interviews with Asian and U.S. leaders. A core objective of the Digital Media Lab is to encourage the use of digital media as a communications tool by Asia Foundation partners. In 2005, “Afghanistan Unveiled,” a documentary film launched by the Digital Media Lab and produced by Foundation-supported Afghan women journalists, received an Emmy nomination for Best Long Form Documentary.

For more information, please visit the Press Room.

San Francisco

The Asia Foundation, the premier non-profit organization devoted to Asia’s development since 1954, announced today the addition of four new members to its Board of Trustees. The new board members will attend their first Foundation board meeting on October 15 in New York City.

Gina Lin Chu, a vocal proponent of open East-West dialogue and an advocate for Asian American communities; Jared Frost, founder of RMI and longtime supporter of Foundation programs in Indonesia; David Michael Lampton, Dean of Faculty, George and Sadie Hyman Professor and Director of China Studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies; and Judith F. Wilbur, daughter-in-law of the Foundation’s founding member Brayton Wilbur Sr. and active on the boards of several foundations will be welcomed as new trustees at the annual fall board meeting this month in New York. Their knowledge and contributions to a developing Asia Pacific region will prove invaluable as the Foundation continues its work in over 20 Asian countries and looks ahead to new projects in 2007.

“We are very pleased to have these outstanding persons join our Board of Trustees and honored by their commitment to support the works of The Asia Foundation,” said Douglas Bereuter, the foundation’s president. “Their interest and knowledge of Asia and U.S.-Asia relations will lend support and vision to our important programs throughout the region.”

The annual fall meeting will feature a special panel discussion by two Foundation board members. Michael Armacost, former undersecretary of state and former U.S. ambassador to Japan and the Philippines, and J. Stapleton Roy, former U.S. ambassador to Singapore, China and Indonesia will present a talk, entitled Current Events in Northeast Asia. Both specialists in American policy in the area, the two trustees will discuss how the current state of affairs will shape ongoing U.S. strategies in Northeast Asia. Lynn Sherr of ABC News 20/20 and author of Outside the Box: A Memoir will moderate the discussion.

Gina Lin Chu is a longstanding supporter of various non-profit organizations and projects that help promote multi-cultural awareness, particularly among Asian and American communities. Mrs. Chu is a trustee of the Bhutan Foundation as well as the Asia society, where she has been actively involved with many major special events, projects and committees. She serves on the Executive Committee at the Asia Society. She is a recipient of the Philanthropy/Community Service Award from the Committee of 100 and was honored as Philanthropist of the Year by the Asian American Federation of New York in May 2006. Born and raised in Taiwan, Mrs. Chu came to New York to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology before leaving the business world to raise her two daughters.

Jared Frost is Executive Advisor (previously CEO) and co-founder of the RMI Group, a support services group aimed at construction and oil exploration in Indonesia. RMI has cooperated with various multinational development agencies to fund projects throughout South and Southeast Asia in areas such as education, equipment maintenance training, transmigration, applied agricultural research, watershed and river basin development, village infrastructure as well as local government management. Mr. Frost has sponsored Asia Foundation projects in Indonesia since the early 1980’s. He received his MBA in International Business Operation from the George Washington University, and was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from that school in 1987. He resides in Indonesia.

David Michael Lampton is Dean of Faculty, George and Sadie Hyman Professor and Director of China Studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. A specialist in Chinese domestic politics and foreign policy, his articles have appeared in numerous major publications. In addition to his academic post, Mr. Lampton is also Senior International Advisor on China for Akin Gump, a member of both the Executive Committee of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations as well as the Council on Foreign Relations, and he served as the National Committee’s president from 1988 to 1997.  Mr. Lampton received his Ph.D. from Stanford University as well as an honorary doctorate from the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Far Eastern Studies. He served in the enlisted and commissioned officer ranks of the U.S. Army Reserve.

Judith F. Wilbur is chair of the Wilbur Family Foundation, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Wilbur Ellis Company and the Asian Art Museum Commission and Foundation, where she has chaired several major advancement projects. She is the widow of Brayton Wilbur Jr., former Chairman of the Board at The Asia Foundation and whose father, Brayton Sr., was a founding member of the Foundation in 1954. Mrs. Wilbur is former President of the Commonwealth Club, and the recipient of numerous social service awards. She is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley.

For more information, please visit the Press Room.

New U.S. initiative to Boost Cambodian Government’s Efforts to Fight Human Trafficking

Phnom Penh

At a launch event yesterday evening, the U.S. and Cambodian governments announced the start of the second phase of USAID’s anti-trafficking in persons project to be implemented by The Asia Foundation. Since 2003, the U.S. government has provided approximately $5 million to support counter-trafficking programs in Cambodia. This new phase will provide an additional $4.5 million over the next three years and will promote greater coordination with the Royal Government of Cambodia and other stakeholders to build an innovative and collective approach to prevent human trafficking, protect victims, help prosecute traffickers, and facilitate the reintegration of trafficking survivors.

Speaking at the event, US Ambassador Joseph A. Mussomeli said, “This project is a landmark approach in Cambodia. Government, civil society and international organizations are collaborating to identify trafficking trends so we can stop trafficking before it happens and fight trafficking where it takes place.”

The project has six main aims: increase awareness about the demand for trafficked persons and promote safe migration alternatives; document the effectiveness of counter-trafficking programs and share best practices; establish a minimum standard of care at shelters and ensure continuity of care throughout the referral process; promote access to justice for victims and promote successful prosecutions; and support income-generating activities to protect vulnerable populations from exploitation. This program will also set a baseline to measure effectiveness of donor efforts in this field.

Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia H.E. Sar Kheng said, “The Ministry of Interior…. is fully committed to combating….the heinous and inhuman crime of human trafficking. To achieve this objective we have undertaken strict and determined legal and operational measures in the forms of our own initiatives and resources in conjunction with the international community, donor countries, nongovernmental and international organizations whose willingness and determination are to protect and rescue victims of trafficking and prosecute traffickers.”

The project will broaden the scope of anti-trafficking work in Cambodia to address trafficking of adults and young children for sex, labor, begging and other forms of exploitation. Project partners — including Catholic Relief Services, World Vision-Cambodia, International Justice Mission, Hagar and World Hope — will target anti-trafficking activities in key areas. Throughout, The Asia Foundation will work closely with the Center for Advanced Study to measure the effectiveness of activities so that good practices can be shared and replicated.

For more than a decade, The Asia Foundation has been a leader in the fight against human trafficking in Asia by implementing country-specific programs and supporting regional workshops to share lessons on key trafficking issues. The recently published “Review of a Decade of Research on Trafficking in Persons, Cambodia” and companion e-database provide a comprehensive assessment of existing research on human trafficking in Cambodia.

Click here for more information about The Asia Foundation’s programs in Cambodia.

Click here for more information about The Asia Foundation’s anti-trafficking programs.

The Asia Foundation, the Microsoft Corporation, and the Guangdong Women’s Professional Technical College recently opened a new information technology learning center for migrant women workers and local community members in Panyu, China. The center, hosted by the Guangdong Women’s Professional Technical College, aims to provide migrant women workers and community members, particularly those from disadvantaged groups, with information technology (IT) skills that will help to increase their career opportunities in the future. More than 2000 migrant women workers and other community members will receive basic IT training at the center in the course of the two-year program.

The Panyu center is part of the Foundation’s broader migrant women worker program in China and is a component of a larger first-of-its-kind program in Guangdong to teach computer skills to migrant women workers. This is the second Community Technology Learning Center (CTLC) The Asia Foundation has opened in Guangdong with the support of the Microsoft Corporation, and the Guangdong Women’s Professional Technical College.

In the first year of this program, more than 1,000 women workers learned IT skills and many also learned how to become IT trainers themselves at the first CTLC in Sanxiang Township, Zhongshan City, Guangdong.

Microsoft generously supported the programs with software and a $100,000 grant, the Guangdong Women’s Professional Technical College is contributing funds to purchase of computers, house the CTLC, and provide internet access and computer maintenance.

The Guangdong Women’s Professional Technical College CTLC is equipped with 57 computers, 20 of which were provided by Microsoft, 37 by the college.  Leaflets about the free classes were distributed in nearby factories through collaboration with local women’s federation and the Export Promotion Office.

“As a leader in the information industry, we hope that our efforts will allow those who have not had the opportunity to study to get a grounding from which they can grow, to develop their unlimited potential,” Zhang Ye, Community Affairs Director, Microsoft China said.

“This program is an important development of The Asia Foundation’s multi-sector programs for migrant women workers that help to build their confidence, increase their livelihoods, and integrate them socially into their communities,” said Jonathan Stromseth, The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative for China.

“The Guangdong Women’s Professional Technical College attaches great importance to this cooperation program. Even before the program’s official launch, the college staff have put in a lot of work and in fact, 300 people have already taken part in the computer training at our college,” Wu Hongyue, president of the college said.

Wen Xin, a migrant worker originally from Hubei Province who took part in the Sanxiang program, attended the new CTLC launch ceremony and noted, “By studying, women workers moved away from the feeling that computers are something mysterious and learned some computer skills.”

The Asia Foundation looks forward to continuing the CTLC program with the generous support of Microsoft Corporation.

Ulaanbaatar

Khan Bank and The Asia Foundation Partner to Promote Education and Learning Nationwide

Today in Mongolia, The Asia Foundation and Khan Bank launched the Mobile Library that will begin a 20-day journey across Mongolia in an effort to promote education and learning nationwide. The Mobile Library will travel to 10 soums in 5 aimags where 10,000 books worth more than US$200,000 will be donated to schools.

“Our partnership with one of Mongolia’s most sound and best-branched banks will help inspire the next generation of leaders and thinkers across the country,” according to William Foerderer Infante, The Asia Foundation’s representative in Mongolia. The Foundation’s Books for Asia program, has donated hundreds of thousands of books to libraries, universities, schools, and other educational institutions over the past decade. With Khan Bank, The Asia Foundation will deliver books and other educational materials more broadly and to more remote parts of the country in the future.

“Khan Bank is deeply committed to building strong communities where reading and learning captivates and informs youth and adults. Our 405 offices are in every community and neighborhood of the country, and each represents an opportunity to deliver learning and knowledge,” said J. Peter Morrow, Chief Executive Officer of Khan Bank. “We are using our unique banking network to support education everywhere.”

On the first trip, the Mobile Library will travel from Ulaanbaatar to Uvs and back. Before the end of the year, Khan Bank and The Asia Foundation are planning at least two more trips, one across northern Mongolia, and the other to Eastern aimags.

For more information, contact:
Ariunzaya
The Asia Foundation
330-524, 323-413
zaya@asiafound.mn

Jakarta

Today in Jakarta, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, The Asia Foundation, and The United States Library of Congress’ Regional Office for Southeast Asia signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a joint books program. In the first two years of the program, The Asia Foundation will contribute over 50,000 books worth approximately US $2 million (Rp 18 billion) to the libraries of six state Islamic universities. This collaboration will foster the exchange of scholarly information between the academic community in Indonesia and graduate programs focusing on Indonesian studies in the United States. This shared information will improve access to high-quality Indonesian research for scholars in the United States, assist Indonesians in keeping abreast of research conducted in the United States, and foster cooperation between research libraries in the two countries.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Rector, Azyumardi Azra, The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative, Douglas Ramage, and The United States Library of Congress Field Director, William Tuchrello.

Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Rector Azyumardi Azra welcomed this collaboration by saying, “It will make a significant contribution to the collections of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University’s main research library and its 48 study program libraries as well as the libraries of the other state Islamic universities and institutes. This will provide students and academics at these institutions with access to current, high quality academic publications in a wide range of subject areas.”

The recent introduction of study programs to supplement Islamic studies disciplines within the state Islamic universities identifies a strong need for library development as well as access to the most recent research from outside Indonesia for students attending these institutions. As the libraries in these six universities grow, this collaboration will expand to include participation from the state Islamic institutes (IAIN) and state Islamic colleges (STAIN).

The Asia Foundation Country Representative Douglas Ramage added, “Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University is a valued long-term partner of The Asia Foundation and one of Indonesia’s foremost higher education institutions. The high quality of the research produced by the state Islamic universities and institutes in the area of Islamic studies make it a natural partner for both The United States Library of Congress and The Asia Foundation, in the effort to provide broader access to Indonesian research in this area.”

An initial contribution of 4,000 books worth over US$150,000 (Rp 1.35 billion) will be made in August 2006. Following this, two shipments per year, each containing over 12,000 books, will be sent to Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University and distributed to state Islamic universities and institutes. These books are new publications donated by American academic publishers and managed through The Asia Foundation’s longest running program, Books for Asia. Since 1954, Books for Asia has distributed more than 41 million books, software programs, and other educational materials to more than 50,000 institutions in 40 countries.

Under this partnership, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University will provide the United States Library of Congress with copies of books and scientific journals in both print and electronic form produced by the state Islamic universities and institutes.

The United States Library of Congress Field Director William Tuchrello said, “Indonesian state Islamic universities and institutes have for many years produced high-quality books and journals which showcase research conducted by individuals and research centers in these institutions. It is anticipated that this exchange will enable students and researchers working outside Indonesia to access scholarship from Indonesia in their area of study.”

The books, journals and electronic media contributed by the state Islamic universities and institutes will be placed in the collection of the Library of Congress as well as in the Center for Research Libraries in Chicago. “The United States Library of Congress will also improve access to these publications by providing electronic copies where possible,” Mr. Tuchrello confirmed.

About Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University
Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) is a leading Islamic research university which aims to produce high-quality research in order to compete at both the national and international levels. To ensure that graduates have both the professional expertise to work effectively in their chosen fields, as well as strong morals, the curriculum integrates the study of religion with science and technology. The university was established in 1957 as the State Academy of Religious Sciences (ADIA). In 1963, it was converted into the State Islamic Institute (IAIN), and in 2002 it became the first State Islamic University (UIN). In 2007, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University will celebrate its Golden Anniversary. For more information, visit: http://www.uinjkt.ac.id.

About The Asia Foundation
The Asia Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open Asia-Pacific region. The Foundation supports programs in Asia that help improve governance, law, and civil society; women’s empowerment; economic reform and development; and international relations. Drawing on 50 years of experience in Asia, the Foundation collaborates with private and public partners to support leadership and institutional development, exchanges, and policy research.

With a network of 17 offices throughout Asia, an office in Washington, D.C., and its headquarters in San Francisco, the Foundation addresses these issues on both a country and regional level. In 2006, the Foundation provided more than $53 million in program support and distributed 920,000 books and educational materials valued at $30 million throughout Asia.

About The United States Library of Congress
The United States Library of Congress has the world’s largest library collection, with more than 130 million publications, including more than 29 million books and other printed materials, 2.7 million recorded materials, 12 million photographs, 4.8 million maps, and 58 million transcripts. The library’s primary mission is to provide members of the United State Congress and the public with information and resources to enhance their knowledge and the knowledge of future generations. The library’s resources are also available to the international scholarly community. The Library of Congress has several representative offices overseas. The Jakarta representative office, established in 1963, serves as the regional headquarters for South-East Asia and manages offices in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Manila. For more information, visit: http://www.loc.gov and http://www.locjkt.or.id.

San Francisco

Public Policy and Economics Expert Assumes Leadership Position

The Asia Foundation, the premier non-profit organization devoted to Asia’s development since 1954, announced today the appointment of Roderick Brazier as its country representative in Cambodia. In this position, he will lead Foundation efforts in Cambodia to contribute to democracy, and broad-based national development. For the past three years, Mr. Brazier has been the assistant country representative in Indonesia for The Asia Foundation. In that role, he developed and managed on-the-ground programs in the areas of economic reform, gender, counter trafficking, elections, and legal reform. He has also served as the Foundation’s director of economic programs in Jakarta from 1999 to 2003. Mr. Brazier officially began his post in Phnom Penh yesterday.

“Not only does Rod have outstanding experience in foreign affairs across the Asia-Pacific region, he has a strong, nuanced understanding of our key areas of focus in Cambodia: governance, human rights, and economic reform,” said Douglas Bereuter, president of The Asia Foundation. “His expertise will tremendously benefit the people and organizations we support there.”

Prior to working for The Asia Foundation, Mr. Brazier worked for CastleAsia, a Jakarta-based consulting firm. Before that, he worked as an analyst of Indonesian politics and business in the Australian Prime minister’s Foreign Affairs Advisory Agency, the Office of National Assessments, and in the Australian Department of Defense.

Mr. Brazier’s articles on the Indonesian and regional economy have been published in the International Herald Tribune and Jakarta Post, and he is a certified native speaker in the Indonesian language. Mr. Brazier holds a bachelor’s degree (with honors) in Asian and International Studies from Griffith University, Australia and a master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

The Asia Foundation maintained an office in Cambodia from 1955 until 1975, and in 1989, resumed programs with Cambodian refugees along the Thai-Cambodia border. It reestablished its representative office in Phnom Penh in 1993.

San Francisco and Kabul

United Nations Development Programme Awards The Asia Foundation $10.6 million to Strengthen the Office of the President

The Asia Foundation, the premier non-profit organization devoted to Asia’s development since 1954, announced today an agreement of  $10.6 million awarded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the development of central executive institutions involving the Office of the President in Afghanistan.

The award, which goes into effect immediately, will strengthen the Office of Administrative Affairs, the Council of Ministers Secretariat, and the Presidential Chief of Staff Office’s capacity by upgrading their organizational structures, procedures, office equipment and facilities, information technology, and policy coordination processes.

“With our priority focus on Afghanistan’s development, we are honored to be working with the United Nations Development Programme,” said Douglas Bereuter, President of The Asia Foundation. “This award will support the crucial objective of strengthening key intra-governmental relationships and democratic governance in Afghanistan.”

The award will be managed through the Foundation’s Kabul office, which has supported a range of projects in Afghanistan since 1954. Since 2002, the Foundation has assisted governance activities that include the Emergency Loya Jirga, constitutional process, 2004 presidential elections, and 2005 parliamentary elections.

Last week in Tokyo, Doug Bereuter, President of The Asia Foundation, joined 300 influential corporate, government, and civil society leaders at the World Economic Forum on East Asia to discuss how to best meet the most pressing challenges of the region. Mr. Bereuter was a featured speaker on panels that addressed community building and energy efficiency in East Asia.

One of the sessions in which Bereuter participated was “An East Asian Community: Is there a Design that Can Deliver,” which also included Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak of Malaysia; Sadako Ogata, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency; Ong Keng-Yong, Secretary-General of ASEAN; Mari Pangestu, Minister of Trade of Indonesia; and Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.

A summary and webcast of the session can be accessed by clicking here.

Research Assesses a Decade of Data and Case Studies in Cambodia

San Francisco

Trafficking in persons is one of the most urgent human rights problems in Asia, and Cambodia is a known source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation or forced labor. Today in the United States, The Asia Foundation, the premier non-profit organization devoted to Asia’s development since 1954, released a comprehensive assessment of research on human trafficking in Cambodia titled, The Review of a Decade of Research on Trafficking in Persons, Cambodia. A companion e-database will follow later this month.

The publication and online database, resulting from a long-standing partnership between The Asia Foundation and the Phnom Penh based, Center for Advanced Study, are the latest tools to share information and build cooperation among groups fighting human trafficking in Cambodia.

The Review of a Decade of Research on Trafficking in Persons, Cambodia, provides a comprehensive assessment of over 70 research studies, highlighting what is and what is not known about human trafficking in Cambodia. The Review analyzes past studies, identifies gaps in information, offers suggestions for future research, and calls upon the counter-trafficking community to work together to create a solid base of knowledge that will inform and strengthen future efforts to counter trafficking in Cambodia.

“In order to continually strengthen efforts to prevent human trafficking, assist victims in their recovery, and bring traffickers to justice, accurate information must be readily available to policymakers and practitioners,” said Carol Yost, Women’s Empowerment Director at The Asia Foundation. “The Review underscores the need for increased coordination and collaboration on sharing of information so that counter trafficking initiatives are guided by on-the-ground realities and experience.”

With input and support by The Asia Foundation, the Center for Advanced Study accumulated The Review’s data and supporting material. The Foundation then contracted BaseBloc to design a database to feature this body of research and relevant information. The project was supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The Review’s online companion database will initially feature 72 studies analyzed in the review, and allow counter-trafficking stakeholders in Cambodia to share their research and findings by adding comments to each report and submitting their own reports directly through a website interface.

The release of The Review–which was unveiled at an event earlier this month in Phnom Penh–and the online database emphasizes the Foundation’s commitment to facilitating sharing of information as a tool to improve counter-trafficking interventions. In Cambodia, The Asia Foundation also maintains the first Asia-wide, multi-lingual web portal, www.TIPinAsia.info, a comprehensive directory of counter-trafficking resources. The Review is available to download, here, in PDF format (1.62MB).

The Asia Foundation’s counter-trafficking programs are designed to combat human trafficking in a number of different ways ranging from direct services for victims, including support of shelters, safe migration education for vulnerable populations, community prevention networks, school-based education programs designed to raise awareness of young people to the dangers of trafficking, training for counseling service providers, and reintegration services and vocational training for victims. The Asia Foundation first opened its office in Cambodia in 1955. In 1989, after a break of more than 15 years, The Foundation resumed program activities with Cambodians. It reestablished its representative office in Phnom Penh in 1993.

First-ever, comprehensive tool to facilitate and drive governance reforms to improve the business environment

Washington, DC and Hanoi, Vietnam

In an effort to break business barriers in Vietnam, today, The Asia Foundation announced the largest and most comprehensive survey of Vietnam’s business perceptions of the performance of provincial governments. The Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) provides the first-ever full ranking and assessment of provinces based on their regulatory environments to improve private sector growth.

The 2006 PCI — developed and implemented by The Asia Foundation and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry as a part of the larger USAID-funded Vietnam Competitiveness Initiative project managed by Development Alternatives, Inc. — polled over 6,300 Vietnamese private sector firms in all 64 provinces, enabling them to voice their concerns and experiences with their respective provincial governments.

The PCI rates provinces on a 100-point scale in an effort to explain why some parts of Vietnam perform better than others in terms of private sector dynamism and growth. The index combines the perceptions of businesses on key aspects of local business environments directly influenced by the actions and attitudes of provincial officials with credible and comparable data from official sources.

In 2005, the first PCI was released based on the perceptions of 2,020 businesses across 42 provinces. It quickly became an important tool to identify and drive areas in need of regulatory, policy, and governance reform. Cited as one of the “Top 10 Economic Events” of 2005 by Vietnamese national TV news (VTV1), the PCI was also a central part of donor efforts to promote private sector development at the provincial level.

With the inclusion now of all 64 provinces and a tripling of the amount of responses, the 2006 PCI takes a more comprehensive and decisive look at areas such as business establishment costs, transparency and access to information, inspections, confidence in legal institutions, and labor training. 2006 has also seen a strong response from smaller, more remote provinces not included in last year’s PCI. This year, strong performers include Binh Duong, Da Nang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, and Dong Nai. The outstanding newcomer is Lao Cai, which performed consistently well across all sub-indices.

“The Asia Foundation is proud to have aided in producing the 2006 Provincial Competitiveness Index,” says Doug Bereuter, President of The Asia Foundation. “It is a landmark assessment that provides a sound resource not only for the Vietnamese Government, but for the private sector interested in Vietnam’s business environment.”

Download and view the full report in PDF format, here (3.47 MB).

Launched in Hanoi today, U.S. events will take place in Washington, DC on June 13, 2006, and San Francisco on June 15.

DISASTER RESPONSE: The Asia Foundation assesses needs for May 27 earthquake victims

Yogyakarta, Indonesia

On Saturday May 27, the city of Yogyakarta in Indonesia was near the epicenter of a 6.2 earthquake. Thousands of people have been killed or injured in this disaster. The Asia Foundation, in partnership with Give2Asia, is looking into appropriate responses to help those affected. Give2Asia has established the G2A Yogyakarta Earthquake Fund to raise money for short-term and long-term recovery. Give2Asia is working with field staff in Indonesia to prioritize needs and to identify local organizations near the quake that are providing essential services in the affected areas.
Click here to donate online now to the G2A Yogyakarta Earthquake Fund.

POST-TSUNAMI RESPONSE

Since the tsunami of December 2004, The Asia Foundation has worked on a variety of programs addressing longer term needs of tsunami survivors and tsunami-affected communities.

Examples of Foundation post-tsunami programs include:

• A 16-month assessment of reconstruction efforts in Aceh, Indonesia to identify areas that still require attention and improvement.
• Providing legal aid services to those in Southern Thailand who must resolve land ownership disputes, , inheritance and unemployment issues, and adoptions of orphans.
• Working to reduce conflict in Sri Lanka by building local government bodies’ capacity to conduct participatory development planning; collect and manage financial resources; and improve local-level service delivery.
• Cohosting a post-tsunami summit where government leaders, private voluntary organizations, and American companies most active in tsunami reconstruction discussed coordinating aid efforts.
• Working to rebuild the fishing industry in affected areas of India.

This is just a sample of The Asia Foundation’s post-tsunami work, which has been made possible in part by the World Bank, the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Indonesia, USAID, numerous individuals, and the Foundation’s partner organization Give2Asia. For more information about specific activies, please use the links to the right.

Study Designed to Advance International Community’s Impact in Sri Lanka during Critical Time

Washington, DC

Yesterday in Washington, The Asia Foundation and the World Bank convened Sri Lankan senior policy makers, conflict experts and members of the diplomatic community to introduce the study, Aid, Conflict and Peacebuilding in Sri Lanka, which analyzes the conflict in Sri Lanka since 2000 and the international response to it.

Sri Lanka is currently witnessing its worst period of violence since a ceasefire between the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan government – which has already seen over 3,000 violations – was agreed on four years ago. Approximately 200 Sri Lankans have been killed in the past month, putting the country in a fragile and precarious state.

Released in Colombo earlier this year, the study was designed to guide both diplomats and aid donors through impasses of the peace process, like the one we are witnessing today.

“This strategic conflict assessment is a timely and relevant document, which aims for better collaboration between diplomats and aid donors so we can effectively work together towards peace in Sri Lanka,” said Douglas Bereuter, President of The Asia Foundation. “We hope it will serve as a principal source of information for the international community during such a fragile time in the peace process.”

Upon other findings, Aid, Conflict and Peacebuilding in Sri Lanka states that international assistance programs in Sri Lanka must be based on a sound and shared understanding of the conflict’s complexities, one which is lacking in today’s environment. Once that premise is reached, diverse forms and sources of international engagement – ceasefire monitoring, peace negotiations and development assistance – must be more strategic and coordinated.

“We in the World Bank are proud to be part of this multi-donor effort to better understand the dynamics of conflict in Sri Lanka,” said Ian Bannon, Manager of the Conflict Prevention and Reconstruction Unit at the World Bank. “We believe that this shared analysis can help us do a better job of harmonizing our support with that of other international partners to assist the people of Sri Lanka.”

The conference featured Jon Hanssen-Bauer, Norwegian Special Envoy for the Peace Process in Sri Lanka; Jeffrey Lunstead, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka; Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Secretary to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Plan Implementation; Professor G.L. Peiris, Member of Parliament, United National Party in Sri Lanka; Gajen Ponnambalam, Member of Parliament, All Ceylon Tamil Congress in Sri Lanka; Ian Bannon, Manager of the Conflict Prevention and Reconstruction Unit at The World Bank; and Nilan Fernando, The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative to Sri Lanka.

Download a factsheet summarizing this in-depth study.

Visit the Sri Lanka publications page, which includes downloads of the full study.

Deepak Thapa, the first recipient of The Asia Foundation’s William P. Fuller Fellowship in Conflict Resolution, recently appeared on the PBS program “Foreign Exchange” to discuss the recent political turmoil in Nepal. Thapa is considered one of the foremost authorities on the Maoist insurgency in Nepal, and as the Fuller Fellow, came to the U.S. to study theoretical and applied approaches to conflict management and resolution.

To view the interview, visit the Foreign Exchange web site, and choose one of the links next to “Watch the Show Online.” The interview with Deepak Thapa is the first segment, and lasts approximately 6 minutes.