The Asia Foundation

In Mongolia, trafficking in persons for commercial and sexual exploitation is on the rise, though relatively few cases have been tried, and fewer perpetrators convicted. Law enforcement and judicial officials face daunting challenges in...

In Mongolia, trafficking in persons for commercial and sexual exploitation is on the rise, though relatively few cases have been tried, and fewer perpetrators convicted. Law enforcement and judicial officials face daunting challenges in their efforts to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate human trafficking cases. Though Mongolian anti-trafficking statutes were significantly strengthened in early 2008, weaknesses remain in the interpretation and implementation of the legal code.

The Asia Foundation has been at the forefront of addressing human trafficking issues in Mongolia since 2002. In May 2009, the Foundation was awarded a two-year program to reduce and deter human trafficking, from and within Mongolia, through...

The Asia Foundation has been at the forefront of addressing human trafficking issues in Mongolia since 2002. In May 2009, the Foundation was awarded a two-year program to reduce and deter human trafficking, from and within Mongolia, through improved investigation, prosecution, and prevention.

Press Release: The Asia Foundation in partnership with the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research released findings from their third opinion poll, the 2008 National Youth Survey, which gauges Malaysia's youth perceptions on lifestyle, current...

Press Release: The Asia Foundation in partnership with the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research released findings from their third opinion poll, the 2008 National Youth Survey, which gauges Malaysia's youth perceptions on lifestyle, current issues, values, politics, and their own levels of civic and social involvement.

Thai version. Press release announcing the release of "Constitutional Reform and Democracy in Thailand - A National Survey of the Thai People," a nationwide opinion poll in 26 provinces gauging the national mood toward election...

Thai version. Press release announcing the release of "Constitutional Reform and Democracy in Thailand - A National Survey of the Thai People," a nationwide opinion poll in 26 provinces gauging the national mood toward election reform, participation in politics, amending the constitution, and more. A democracy assessment survey.

Since early 2011, The Asia Foundation and the Korea Development Institute have been working together to move development effectiveness forward by facilitating mutual learning among both emerging Asian development cooperation partners and...

Since early 2011, The Asia Foundation and the Korea Development Institute have been working together to move development effectiveness forward by facilitating mutual learning among both emerging Asian development cooperation partners and "traditional" aid donors.

Report from the Seoul authors' workshop, which provided a forum for focused discussion on the forthcoming publication, Inclusive Growth and Development Cooperation: Experiences and Lessons from Asia, which draws from the past year's...

Report from the Seoul authors' workshop, which provided a forum for focused discussion on the forthcoming publication, Inclusive Growth and Development Cooperation: Experiences and Lessons from Asia, which draws from the past year's dialogues in New Delhi and Beijing. At the workshop, participants shared comments and critical analysis of each draft chapter.

Back Matter of Built on Dreams, Grounded in Reality: Economic Policy Reform in the Philippines, a volume of case studies on Philippine economic policy reform that contributes to the discourse on institutional change to create a better...

Back Matter of Built on Dreams, Grounded in Reality: Economic Policy Reform in the Philippines, a volume of case studies on Philippine economic policy reform that contributes to the discourse on institutional change to create a better understanding of how human actors engender change.

This publication is made possible by the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

The Asia Foundation collaborated with a team of Stanford graduate students to conduct a mapping study of current anti-human trafficking efforts in India. This document contains research that was conducted as background for the report,...

The Asia Foundation collaborated with a team of Stanford graduate students to conduct a mapping study of current anti-human trafficking efforts in India. This document contains research that was conducted as background for the report, including analysis of the legal framework, profiles of states included in the study, and an overview of different types of counter-trafficking interventions.

A Measure of Economic Governance at the District Level (June 2010)

The Asia Foundation releases a pioneering survey ranking the business-friendliness in 19 districts in Bangladesh. 3,800 firms – many of them micro, small, and...

A Measure of Economic Governance at the District Level (June 2010)

The Asia Foundation releases a pioneering survey ranking the business-friendliness in 19 districts in Bangladesh. 3,800 firms – many of them micro, small, and medium-sized businesses – were polled on their perceptions of the local business environment, such as entry costs, transparency, informal charges, tax administration, and land security.

As leaders of influence in society, religious and secular leaders are well placed to contribute to national development efforts and advancement of democratic values. Bangladeshi society confers high stature and respect on these individuals,...

As leaders of influence in society, religious and secular leaders are well placed to contribute to national development efforts and advancement of democratic values. Bangladeshi society confers high stature and respect on these individuals, whose contributions to community life and public affairs reflect special knowledge, understanding, leadership, and personal integrity. The Asia Foundation has worked with these leaders to strengthen development efforts in Bangladesh since 2004, with the support of USAlD/Bangladesh.

In November 2008 the Election Working Group (EWG) completed a twenty-first rapid assessment of citizen perception of recent events. This preliminary report focuses on citizen perceptions on issues related to the national election.

The...

In November 2008 the Election Working Group (EWG) completed a twenty-first rapid assessment of citizen perception of recent events. This preliminary report focuses on citizen perceptions on issues related to the national election.

The data reflect the situation in the last week of November 2008. The Asia Foundation and Data International Ltd. provided technical support. Conducted in 12 districts of the country (two in each of the six divisions), the perception study gathered impressions from a cross-section of ordinary citizens, civil society representatives, and local businesspersons through informal individual interviews in (i) each divisional headquarters and a proximate rural thana in the same district; and (ii) district headquarters of another randomly chosen district in each division and a proximate rural thana in the same district. A formal questionnaire with a mix of quantitative and qualitative questions was administered.

Summary: In November 2008 the Election Working Group (EWG) completed a twenty-first rapid assessment of citizen perception of recent events. This preliminary report focuses on citizen perceptions on issues related to the national...

Summary: In November 2008 the Election Working Group (EWG) completed a twenty-first rapid assessment of citizen perception of recent events. This preliminary report focuses on citizen perceptions on issues related to the national election.

The data reflect the situation in the last week of November 2008. The Asia Foundation and Data International Ltd. provided technical support. Conducted in 12 districts of the country (two in each of the six divisions), the perception study gathered impressions from a cross-section of ordinary citizens, civil society representatives, and local businesspersons through informal individual interviews in (i) each divisional headquarters and a proximate rural thana in the same district; and (ii) district headquarters of another randomly chosen district in each division and a proximate rural thana in the same district. A formal questionnaire with a mix of quantitative and qualitative questions was administered.

Michael Finnegan, Senior Research Associate at the National Bureau of Asian Research, assesses ways of expanding the U.S.-ROK alliance relationship based on a comparative analysis of the NATO and U.S.-Japan alliances. An earlier draft of this...

Michael Finnegan, Senior Research Associate at the National Bureau of Asian Research, assesses ways of expanding the U.S.-ROK alliance relationship based on a comparative analysis of the NATO and U.S.-Japan alliances. An earlier draft of this paper was presented at the Center for U.S.-Korea Policy's inaugural seminar in Seoul on February 17, 2009, "Prospects for Deepening the U.S.-ROK Alliance."

Since its inception in 2005, the Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) has been a critical tool for measuring and assessing the standards of economic governance in Vietnam's 64 provinces from the perspective of private sector...

Since its inception in 2005, the Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) has been a critical tool for measuring and assessing the standards of economic governance in Vietnam's 64 provinces from the perspective of private sector businesses. However, while the PCI has been influential in identifying issues that impact the enabling environment for private sector development, it cannot provide detailed feedback on what provincial governments can actually do to improve economic governance, and thereby support private sector development. In repeated conversations with provincial and national-level policy-makers, The Foundation has found that policy-makers are increasingly aware that there are governance problems at the provincial-level, but do not have the research and technical support to understand what specific reforms are most effective in improving the governance environment. The primary objective of the research is to map best practices in transparency/access to information that can be formulated into targeted technical assistance packages. The research includes both quantitative analysis of the PCI dataset and qualitative analysis of the case studies.

Since its inception in 2005, the Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) has been a critical tool for measuring and assessing the standards of economic governance in Vietnam's 64 provinces from the perspective of private sector...

Since its inception in 2005, the Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) has been a critical tool for measuring and assessing the standards of economic governance in Vietnam's 64 provinces from the perspective of private sector businesses. However, while the PCI has been influential in identifying issues that impact the enabling environment for private sector development, it cannot provide detailed feedback on what provincial governments can actually do to improve economic governance, and thereby support private sector development. In repeated conversations with provincial and national-level policy-makers, The Foundation has found that policy-makers are increasingly aware that there are governance problems at the provincial-level, but do not have the research and technical support to understand what specific reforms are most effective in improving the governance environment. The primary objective of the research is to map best practices in transparency/access to information that can be formulated into targeted technical assistance packages. The research includes both quantitative analysis of the PCI dataset and qualitative analysis of the case studies.

In March, 2002, The Asia Foundation organized and convened a conference on "United States-Thailand Relations in the 21st Century" in Washington, D.C., bringing together 10 senior Thais from government, business, academia, along with their...

In March, 2002, The Asia Foundation organized and convened a conference on "United States-Thailand Relations in the 21st Century" in Washington, D.C., bringing together 10 senior Thais from government, business, academia, along with their American counterparts.