The Asia Foundation

The Asia Foundation supports efforts to build more effective and responsive law and justice mechanisms at both local and national levels and through both formal and informal institutions. We work with partners in government, nongovernmental...

The Asia Foundation supports efforts to build more effective and responsive law and justice mechanisms at both local and national levels and through both formal and informal institutions. We work with partners in government, nongovernmental organizations, and within communities, with the ultimate aim of helping to increase access to justice, improve community safety, strengthen peace and security, and accelerate sustainable economic and social development.

Rule of law in Timor-Leste remains in a state of transition. Since Timor-Leste’s official declaration of independence and promulgation of the Constitution in 2002, there have been a range of notable achievements in the formal justice...

Rule of law in Timor-Leste remains in a state of transition. Since Timor-Leste’s official declaration of independence and promulgation of the Constitution in 2002, there have been a range of notable achievements in the formal justice sector: the penal and civil codes were drafted and adopted; court actors were trained and appointed to positions as judges, prosecutors, and public defenders; and a court of appeals and four district courts were established and operationalized.

To take stock of the citizenry’s perceptions of their justice system in light of developments over the last four years, The Asia Foundation conducted the second nationwide survey of Law and Justice in Timor-Leste: a Survey of Citizen Awareness and Attitudes Regarding Law and Justice in December 2008. This survey was made possible by the generous support of the Australian Agency for International Development/Justice Facility and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). A democracy assessment survey.

Rule of law in Timor-Leste (East Timor) remains in a state of transition. Since Timor-Leste’s official declaration of independence and promulgation of the Constitution in 2002, there have been a range of notable achievements in the...

Rule of law in Timor-Leste (East Timor) remains in a state of transition. Since Timor-Leste’s official declaration of independence and promulgation of the Constitution in 2002, there have been a range of notable achievements in the formal justice sector: the penal and civil codes were drafted and adopted; court actors were trained and appointed to positions as judges, prosecutors, and public defenders; and a court of appeals and four district courts were established and operationalized.

To take stock of the citizenry’s perceptions of their justice system in light of developments over the last four years, The Asia Foundation conducted the second nationwide survey of Law and Justice in Timor-Leste: a Survey of Citizen Awareness and Attitudes Regarding Law and Justice in December 2008. This survey was made possible by the generous support of the Australian Agency for International Development/Justice Facility and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). A democracy assessment survey.

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.

The Timor-Leste Legal Education Project is a broad-based partnership between The Asia Foundation and Stanford Law School that works closely with local institutions to strenthen legal education in Timor-Leste. The project's goal is to...

The Timor-Leste Legal Education Project is a broad-based partnership between The Asia Foundation and Stanford Law School that works closely with local institutions to strenthen legal education in Timor-Leste. The project's goal is to institutionalize ways for local actors to positively influence the development of domestic legal education in Timor-Leste.

The Timor-Leste Legal Education Project is a broad-based partnership between The Asia Foundation and Stanford Law School that works closely with local institutions to strenthen legal education in Timor-Leste. The project's goal is to...

The Timor-Leste Legal Education Project is a broad-based partnership between The Asia Foundation and Stanford Law School that works closely with local institutions to strenthen legal education in Timor-Leste. The project's goal is to institutionalize ways for local actors to positively influence the development of domestic legal education in Timor-Leste.

A report on legal empowerment in Asia, including how legal empowerment is relevant to the development community and can be incorporated into development programs. Features three pilot projects in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan; and...

A report on legal empowerment in Asia, including how legal empowerment is relevant to the development community and can be incorporated into development programs. Features three pilot projects in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan; and overview of the Asian Development Bank's technical assistance for legal empowerment; defining and measuring the impact of legal empowerment; and conclusions and recommendations.

(In Vietnamese) The legal handbook is part of an Asia Foundation project to enhance the efforts of CSOs to deliver social services to vulnerable populations affected by the global economic crisis. This handbook provides migrant workers with...

(In Vietnamese) The legal handbook is part of an Asia Foundation project to enhance the efforts of CSOs to deliver social services to vulnerable populations affected by the global economic crisis. This handbook provides migrant workers with information on their rights, procedures, and contacts for support.

Building on a decade of support for development in East Timor, The Asia Foundation launched a major law reform program in 2002 to respond to the needs of the newly independent nation. The Asia Foundation supports the legal development efforts...

Building on a decade of support for development in East Timor, The Asia Foundation launched a major law reform program in 2002 to respond to the needs of the newly independent nation. The Asia Foundation supports the legal development efforts of government and civil society to strengthen the justice system at the national and local levels. The East Timor program strengthens the accountability and transparency of the judicial system, assists in the development of effective and accessible legal aid services and alternative dispute resolution, and strengthens women’s access to justice.

Haré husi tulun ba Timor-Leste iha dékade ida nia laran, The Asia Foundation halo lansamentu ba programa boot reforma lei nian iha tinan 2002 hodi hatan ba nesesidade nasaun independente foun ida ne’e nian. The Asia...

Haré husi tulun ba Timor-Leste iha dékade ida nia laran, The Asia Foundation halo lansamentu ba programa boot reforma lei nian iha tinan 2002 hodi hatan ba nesesidade nasaun independente foun ida ne’e nian. The Asia Foundation fó apoiu ba inisiativa dezenvolvimentu legál husi governu no sosiedade sivil hodi hametin sistema justisa iha nivel nasionál no lokál. Programa ba Timor-Leste hametin transparénsia no responsabilidade sistema judisiál nian, tulun dezenvolvimentu asistensia legal no rezolusaun alternativa ba disputa atu bele sai efetivu no asesivel, nune’e mos hametin feto sira nia asesu ba justisa.

This project by the Center for Research and Communication, supported by The Asia Foundation, evaluates the Roll-on/Roll-off (RO-RO) Transport Policy developed to reduce the high cost of transporting goods from Mindanao to Manila. The RO-RO...

This project by the Center for Research and Communication, supported by The Asia Foundation, evaluates the Roll-on/Roll-off (RO-RO) Transport Policy developed to reduce the high cost of transporting goods from Mindanao to Manila. The RO-RO policy's goal is to establish an integrated national highway system consisting of both road and nautical networks. The system would promote and facilitate seamless movement of people and goods from Mindanao to Luzon through the Visayas and has already delivered benefits, including reduced transport cost, increased regional trade, enhanced tourism and agricultural productivity, growth in investments, and development in the countryside as well as poverty reduction.

Over the U.S. Memorial Day weekend, the Securing Our Future (SOF) Water Quality Monitoring (WQM) team traveled to Uvurkhangai Aimag, and sampled the Orhon River from points 33 km south of Kharkhorin, and continuing north with the flow to Ugii...

Over the U.S. Memorial Day weekend, the Securing Our Future (SOF) Water Quality Monitoring (WQM) team traveled to Uvurkhangai Aimag, and sampled the Orhon River from points 33 km south of Kharkhorin, and continuing north with the flow to Ugii Nuur. The team comprised Tamir who came to the Foundation from a multi-year stint with the Hovsgol GEF project which established the Long-term Ecological Research site on the eastern shores of Lake Khuvsgul. As the team’s water chemist, she will collect valuable data on dissolved minerals, trace metals, and other organic and in-organic elements using state-of-the art technology, including a photo-spectrometer. This chemical data will be correlated with biologic data gathered by National University PhD student Narangarvuu.

For more than a decade, The Asia Foundation's Local and Economic Governance programs have supported broad-based economic development and reform in Indonesia, working with local business, government, and civil society to enhance their roles and...

For more than a decade, The Asia Foundation's Local and Economic Governance programs have supported broad-based economic development and reform in Indonesia, working with local business, government, and civil society to enhance their roles and effectiveness in policy reform and to promote business-friendly policies. Partnering with an extensive network of nongovernmental organizations, business associations, academics, community groups, and government agencies, the Foundation supports initiatives to improve the business environment through policy and institutional reform and develop pro-poor and gender-sensitive local policies and budgets.

For more than a decade, The Asia Foundation's Local and Economic Governance programs have supported broad-based economic development and reform in Indonesia, working with local business, government, and civil society to enhance their roles and...

For more than a decade, The Asia Foundation's Local and Economic Governance programs have supported broad-based economic development and reform in Indonesia, working with local business, government, and civil society to enhance their roles and effectiveness in policy reform and to promote business-friendly policies. Partnering with an extensive network of nongovernmental organizations, business associations, academics, community groups, and government agencies, the Foundation supports initiatives to improve the business environment through policy and institutional reform and develop pro-poor and gender-sensitive local policies and budgets.

The Foundation's Forda program is designed to help small and medium-sized businesses tackle the problems that really matter to them. In collaboration with the National Network for Small and Medium Enterprises (JNP-UKM), the Foundation has...

The Foundation's Forda program is designed to help small and medium-sized businesses tackle the problems that really matter to them. In collaboration with the National Network for Small and Medium Enterprises (JNP-UKM), the Foundation has helped to establish 39 Forda in Indonesia, 25 of those based in Sulawesi.

DUKUNGAN ASOSIASI USAHA KECIL DAN MENENGAH - Transisi demokrasi Indonesia telah memberi kesempatan kepada publik untuk mempengaruhi pembuatan kebijakan. Mengingat kelompok usaha kecil dan menengah mencakup 99 persen dari seluruh usaha di...

DUKUNGAN ASOSIASI USAHA KECIL DAN MENENGAH - Transisi demokrasi Indonesia telah memberi kesempatan kepada publik untuk mempengaruhi pembuatan kebijakan. Mengingat kelompok usaha kecil dan menengah mencakup 99 persen dari seluruh usaha di Indonesia, maka keputusan-keputusan mengenai kebijakan yang mempengaruhi iklim usaha memiliki konsekuensi yang luas secara nasional. Meskipun demikian, kelompok usaha kecil dan menengah harus mengembangkan saluran-saluran yang tepat untuk menyuarakan pandangan-pandangan mereka.

The Transparent Accountable Governance (TAG) program of The Asia Foundation addresses some
of the local governance problems in the Philippines through customized technical assistance, supporting civic engagement, and by working with the...

The Transparent Accountable Governance (TAG) program of The Asia Foundation addresses some
of the local governance problems in the Philippines through customized technical assistance, supporting civic engagement, and by working with the leagues of local governments.

While one third of Mongolia's 2.7 million citizens are still nomadic, half of Mongolia’s population now resides in Ulaanbaatar, and harsh winters combined with the depletion of natural resources push more and more Mongolians to settle in...

While one third of Mongolia's 2.7 million citizens are still nomadic, half of Mongolia’s population now resides in Ulaanbaatar, and harsh winters combined with the depletion of natural resources push more and more Mongolians to settle in developed areas. The Asia Foundation works with government and NGO partners to support more effective service delivery, citizen engagement, and local government orientation on the skills and knowledge needed for the urban context.