The Asia Foundation

In this issue: "National Geographic and Dr. Sakena Yacoobi Honored at Lotus Awards," "Visionary NGO Leader Sir Fazle Hasan Abed of BRAC is Asia Foundation Fellow," "Asia Foundation at Google's Big Tent on Open Data and Disaster Preparedness,"...

In this issue: "National Geographic and Dr. Sakena Yacoobi Honored at Lotus Awards," "Visionary NGO Leader Sir Fazle Hasan Abed of BRAC is Asia Foundation Fellow," "Asia Foundation at Google's Big Tent on Open Data and Disaster Preparedness," "Renowned Philanthropist Dr. Chong-Moon Lee Launches New Projects to Combat Human Trafficking," "Luce Scholars Report for Assignments in Asia," "Multimedia," "Briefly Noted," "Rockefeller Foundation Supports Post-Flood Recovery and Environment Initiative in Thailand."

In this issue: "Asia Foundation Hosts Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Visits President U Thien Sein and Furthers Engagement in Burma," "Carnegie Corporation Gives $1 Million Grant to Educate Afghan Women," "David D. Arnold Addresses Pacific Council on...

In this issue: "Asia Foundation Hosts Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Visits President U Thien Sein and Furthers Engagement in Burma," "Carnegie Corporation Gives $1 Million Grant to Educate Afghan Women," "David D. Arnold Addresses Pacific Council on Burma," "Extraordinary Milestone in Mindanao Peace Process," "Books for Asia Updates," "Briefly Noted: Asian Ambassadors Series," "Multimedia", "Remembering Robert Schwantes," "Kahng Foundation Scholarships for North Korean Women."

LankaCorps is a unique volunteer program for young professionals, between the ages of 21 and 29, of Sri Lankan heritage who want to contribute to this dynamic, multi-ethnic nation. After decades of war, The Asia Foundation believes these...

LankaCorps is a unique volunteer program for young professionals, between the ages of 21 and 29, of Sri Lankan heritage who want to contribute to this dynamic, multi-ethnic nation. After decades of war, The Asia Foundation believes these fellowships will help contribute to the island's long-term recovery.

Fellows are placed in six-month assignments with established businesses, nonprots, and government departments. They participate in local social and economic initiatives and organizations, while discovering themselves and gaining a deeper understanding of contemporary Sri Lanka.

The Asia Foundation has engaged in a wide range of programs to help Afghan women and
girls expand their opportunities and strengthen their rights. These initiatives provide women
and girls with the skills, tools, awareness, and...

The Asia Foundation has engaged in a wide range of programs to help Afghan women and
girls expand their opportunities and strengthen their rights. These initiatives provide women
and girls with the skills, tools, awareness, and knowledge they need to improve their lives. The
Foundation has ensured the active participation of women in Afghanistan’s political process
through education and technical support to the Afghan elections process. These initiatives began in 2002 when the Foundation re-established its office in Kabul, and built upon the Foundation’s history of working with Afghan educational institutions for women since 1954.

The Asia Foundation initiated the Ellsworth Bunker Asian Ambassador Series program in 1998 to bring together Washington-based Asian diplomats and American political, business, media, and policy leaders for off-the-record discussions of key...

The Asia Foundation initiated the Ellsworth Bunker Asian Ambassador Series program in 1998 to bring together Washington-based Asian diplomats and American political, business, media, and policy leaders for off-the-record discussions of key issues important to Asia's future. Unprecedented changes in Asia — social, economic, political, and strategic — present both opportunities and challenges for countries in the region and the United States. This program series allows both Asian ambassadors and select individuals in Washington to discuss and explore issues of mutual interest and change in the region.

THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ASIA FOUNDATION IN INDONESIA, CAMBODIA, VIETNAM, SRI LANKA, AND BANGLADESH

The Asia Foundation’s approach to effective economic governance builds on the knowledge that the engine for sustainable growth is...

THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ASIA FOUNDATION IN INDONESIA, CAMBODIA, VIETNAM, SRI LANKA, AND BANGLADESH

The Asia Foundation’s approach to effective economic governance builds on the knowledge that the engine for sustainable growth is the formal and informal MSME sector, the major source of employment for most countries in Asia. However, the growth and job-generation performance of MSMEs are often constrained by a wide spectrum of institutional obstacles. To address the constraints to MSME growth, the Foundation has developed specialized tools to analyze local business environments, measure the quality of local economic governance, assess progress through a set of quantitative and qualitative indicators, and support policy reforms. Local Economic Governance Indexes (EGIs), developed in collaboration with local and international partners, are one of these tools.

11x17 version.

The Asia Foundation’s approach to effective economic governance builds on the knowledge that the engine for sustainable growth is the formal and informal MSME sector, the major source of employment for most...

11x17 version.

The Asia Foundation’s approach to effective economic governance builds on the knowledge that the engine for sustainable growth is the formal and informal MSME sector, the major source of employment for most countries in Asia. However, the growth and job-generation performance of MSMEs are often constrained by a wide spectrum of institutional obstacles. To address the constraints to MSME growth, the Foundation has developed specialized tools to analyze local business environments, measure the quality of local economic governance, assess progress through a set of quantitative and qualitative indicators, and support policy reforms. Local Economic Governance Indexes (EGIs), developed in collaboration with local and international partners, are one of these tools.

Across Asia, there is a growing commitment to
democratic principles of governance and citizen
participation. However, in many Asian countries,
women still face serious cultural, social, and legal
barriers that constrain...

Across Asia, there is a growing commitment to
democratic principles of governance and citizen
participation. However, in many Asian countries,
women still face serious cultural, social, and legal
barriers that constrain their full participation in
democratic processes. The Asia Foundation works
with local partners across the Asia-Pacific region
to increase the number of women voting; improve
the quality of women’s votes; encourage that elections
are free and fair and ensure that women’s
votes are counted; and help women to enter politics
and become candidates and leaders themselves.

The Asia Foundation has had a dedicated program to increasing women’s participation in democratic processes and public decisionmaking across the Asia-Pacific region since 1992. The Foundation’s commitment to advancing women’s...

The Asia Foundation has had a dedicated program to increasing women’s participation in democratic processes and public decisionmaking across the Asia-Pacific region since 1992. The Foundation’s commitment to advancing women’s political participation is based on the recognition that broad citizen participation is not only an important end in itself, but it is also the key to addressing the immediate, practical, and longterm strategic needs of women. Ultimately, increasing women’s political participation is an effective means for promoting more open, democratic societies in which women are full participants and beneficiaries of national development. Working with and through local partner organizations in 21 countries throughout Asia, the Foundation serves as a regional resource providing technical expertise, training, and financial support.

The Books for Asia program in Cambodia operated from 1955 to 1966, and resumed distribution in Cambodia in 1993. Since then, Books for Asia has annually distributed approximately 50,000 books to various Cambodian universities, schools,...

The Books for Asia program in Cambodia operated from 1955 to 1966, and resumed distribution in Cambodia in 1993. Since then, Books for Asia has annually distributed approximately 50,000 books to various Cambodian universities, schools, non-government organizations (NGOs), ministries, and government institutions open to the public. Since its inception in Cambodia, the Books for Asia program has distributed more than 600,000 books and journals. In the mid and late 1980s, the Books for Asia program provided books for Cambodian refugees in Site II (Aranyaprathet) and other camps on the Cambodian-Thai border. These book donations were especially important to the educational institutions established in the camps to serve the education needs of Cambodian refugees. In a country where communities were devastated during the Khmer Rouge period and most educational resources were destroyed, books donated by The Asia Foundation have served as a valued resource for readers and their research.

Commitment is growing among small Cambodian business owners to strengthen their own network as well as their relationship with the public sector, as demonstrated by the large turnout and vigorous participation of business owners who came...

Commitment is growing among small Cambodian business owners to strengthen their own network as well as their relationship with the public sector, as demonstrated by the large turnout and vigorous participation of business owners who came together for the cross-provincial meeting at the Sovana Phum Hotel in Kampong Chhnang on March, 28, 2007.

The Asia Foundation supports economic reform programs to encourage sustainable market-led growth, poverty reduction, and private sector involvement in the policy reform process. Better policies will boost business growth and employment, and...

The Asia Foundation supports economic reform programs to encourage sustainable market-led growth, poverty reduction, and private sector involvement in the policy reform process. Better policies will boost business growth and employment, and help improve competitiveness and reduce poverty.
In Cambodia, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) dominate the economic landscape, particularly in the provinces. MSMEs owners are among those most affected by a poor business environment, consisting of opaque regulations, lack of information, and extensive costs associated with corruption and over-regulation. The Asia Foundation’s economic reform program in Cambodia supports reform of policy-making process, empowerment of the private sector— particularly provincial MSMEs and development of a more business-friendly environment. The program encourages increased transparency and greater competition to create appropriate incentives for investment and trade.

In partnership with Acehnese institutions, The Asia Foundation has supported community development, education and economic reform programs in Aceh since the 1970s. Because of these longstanding partnerships, the Foundation was able to respond...

In partnership with Acehnese institutions, The Asia Foundation has supported community development, education and economic reform programs in Aceh since the 1970s. Because of these longstanding partnerships, the Foundation was able to respond quickly in the aftermath of the December 2004 tsunami, helping its partners to mobilize volunteers, deploy health workers, and conduct relief operations.