The Asia Foundation

In this context, and with support from USAID, The Asia Foundation (TAF) undertook this
assessment in order to develop a broad understanding of the context, issues, and opportunities
surrounding development of sub-national governance...

In this context, and with support from USAID, The Asia Foundation (TAF) undertook this
assessment in order to develop a broad understanding of the context, issues, and opportunities
surrounding development of sub-national governance in Afghanistan. The objectives of this
assessment are as follows:
1) To review the current context of sub-national governance in Afghanistan;
2) To identify challenges to SNG as well as opportunities for further reform; and
3) To present a set of strategic recommendations that could be addressed by USAID and
TAF, as well as the donor community in Afghanistan and national government.

This report looks back at a decade of trafficking-related research in Cambodia. It systematically reviews what the available information can—and cannot—tell us about the patterns, extent and consequences of trafficking in Cambodia...

This report looks back at a decade of trafficking-related research in Cambodia. It systematically reviews what the available information can—and cannot—tell us about the patterns, extent and consequences of trafficking in Cambodia (and in relation to its neighboring countries). This also involves a critical assessment of the major approaches, perspectives and debates that have guided the research; the ways in which the studies were conducted; and the extent to which specific research findings can be generalized to Cambodia as a whole, taking into account the limits of the targeted groups, sectors and locations.

Abstract of paper for a Center for U.S.-Korea Policy-Brookings seminar, "Expanding the Agenda for Cooperation between the United States and Republic of Korea," January 5, 2010, Washington, DC. Event details are available

Abstract of paper for a Center for U.S.-Korea Policy-Brookings seminar, "Expanding the Agenda for Cooperation between the United States and Republic of Korea," January 5, 2010, Washington, DC. Event details are available here.

Abstract of paper for a Center for U.S.-Korea Policy-Brookings seminar, "Expanding the Agenda for Cooperation between the United States and Republic of Korea," January 5, 2010, Washington DC. Event details are available

Abstract of paper for a Center for U.S.-Korea Policy-Brookings seminar, "Expanding the Agenda for Cooperation between the United States and Republic of Korea," January 5, 2010, Washington DC. Event details are available here.

This guide has been developed to help civil society groups understand and analyze government budgets as a first step towards engaging in such dialogue. The guide can be used to facilitate budget literacy trainings and to help civil society...

This guide has been developed to help civil society groups understand and analyze government budgets as a first step towards engaging in such dialogue. The guide can be used to facilitate budget literacy trainings and to help civil society organizations engage in budget analysis on their own following training. It may also be useful to new parliamentarians, who often are not given formal budget training, despite their responsibility to enact the budget in most countries. While basic information on budgets is covered, this guide has been specifically modified for consideration of the tehsil level budget in Pakistan. This manual does not cover analysis of other local government budgets (such as union or district), nor does it include analysis of provincial and national budgets.

Paper Presented at the 4th Asian Regional Conference of the World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR)

The Asia Foundation conceptualized and funded a study that looked into the cleavages, roots of conflict and possible...

Paper Presented at the 4th Asian Regional Conference of the World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR)

The Asia Foundation conceptualized and funded a study that looked into the cleavages, roots of conflict and possible mechanisms of conflict management in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao or ARMM. In partnership with the Office of the President and TNS-TRENDS, a probability survey of households in ARMM and adjacent areas was undertaken. The findings indicate a high level of pride for one’s ethnicity and religion, high church attendance and high regard for religious leaders in ARMM. The study also revealed that Muslim ethnic groups are more divided than they would care to admit. Interfamily and clan conflicts tend to be more prevalent than “military-rebel” wars or “Muslim-Christian” feuds. On conflict resolution, majority says that appealing to higher authorities would be the most effective means. When asked what would be best for ARMM, most would prefer that Islamic laws be implemented in ARMM rather than support moves to secede from the Philippines. The study findings give much insight on how to further explore new and efficient ways of managing conflicts in ARMM.

This paper utilizes a unique dataset of 500 firms in ten Cambodian provinces and a natural experiment to rigorously test one of the most important propositions in political economy; that the predictability of a corruption is more important for...

This paper utilizes a unique dataset of 500 firms in ten Cambodian provinces and a natural experiment to rigorously test one of the most important propositions in political economy; that the predictability of a corruption is more important for firm investment decisions than the amount of bribes a firm must pay, provided the bribes are not prohibitively expensive. We find persuasive evidence that this hypothesis is correct.

Cambodia, where the Provincial Business Environment Scorecard (PBES) was first implemented in 2006, and Sri Lanka where the first Economic Governance Index (EGI-SL) was conducted in 2007, are the two most recent additions to the LEGIs...

Cambodia, where the Provincial Business Environment Scorecard (PBES) was first implemented in 2006, and Sri Lanka where the first Economic Governance Index (EGI-SL) was conducted in 2007, are the two most recent additions to the LEGIs developed by The Asia Foundation and its partners.  These two indexes, based on the experience of The Asia Foundation in the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam, had to be adapted to the specific economic and administrative context of Cambodia and Sri Lanka.  They have, however, the same objectives:
• Providing updated information to the private sector about the business environment in their area, and thus creating a demand for an improved business environment.
• Creating a frame of reference for local leaders and public officials as they seek to improve policies and economic governance practices in their area.
• Stimulating a proactive and competitive process involving all relevant stakeholders in their efforts to offer a more supportive business environment.

Indonesia's "big bang" decentralization in 2001 shifted much of the responsibility for local economic development to now more than 400 district governments. But the performance of these districts has varied widely. This paper attempts to...

Indonesia's "big bang" decentralization in 2001 shifted much of the responsibility for local economic development to now more than 400 district governments. But the performance of these districts has varied widely. This paper attempts to understand the determinants of sub-national (district) growth in Indonesia and map how these determinants have changed since prior to the crisis.

The executive summary of the research Mr. Wiratmadinata conducted during his six-month fellowship at the University of Maryland's Center for International Development and Conflict Management, as The  Asia Foundation's William P. Fuller...

The executive summary of the research Mr. Wiratmadinata conducted during his six-month fellowship at the University of Maryland's Center for International Development and Conflict Management, as The  Asia Foundation's William P. Fuller Fellow in Conflict Resolution for 2008.

An abstract of the paper "The Political Economy of Successful Reform: Asian Strategems" by Mr. Dennis Arroyo, Director of National Planning in the Philippines' National Economic Development Authority, who conducted this research through the...

An abstract of the paper "The Political Economy of Successful Reform: Asian Strategems" by Mr. Dennis Arroyo, Director of National Planning in the Philippines' National Economic Development Authority, who conducted this research through the The Asia Foundation-Stanford APARC Fellowship.

An excerpt from Expressing Islam: Religious Life and Politics in Indonesia, edited by Greg Fealy and Sally White (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies), 2008, pp. 174-191. Reproduced here with the kind permission of the...

An excerpt from Expressing Islam: Religious Life and Politics in Indonesia, edited by Greg Fealy and Sally White (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies), 2008, pp. 174-191. Reproduced here with the kind permission of the publisher, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore.

This article assesses Lee Myung-bak's foreign policy performance since his inauguration based on a critical review of initial steps in relations with the United States, Japan, and China; recent developments in inter-Korean relations; and...

This article assesses Lee Myung-bak's foreign policy performance since his inauguration based on a critical review of initial steps in relations with the United States, Japan, and China; recent developments in inter-Korean relations; and efforts to design a global strategy for South Korea including Lee's emphasis on resource diplomacy.

Scott Snyder examines transparency issues as a challenge for both North Korean leaders and the international community.  The Japanese translation of this article was published in the new book North Korea and Human Security (Kita Chousen...

Scott Snyder examines transparency issues as a challenge for both North Korean leaders and the international community.  The Japanese translation of this article was published in the new book North Korea and Human Security (Kita Chousen To Ningen no Anzenhosho), edited by Masao Okonogi and Atsuhito Isozaki (Tokyo: Keio University Press, March 2009).