The Asia Foundation

The Asia Foundation’s Women’s Empowerment Program is committed to improving the lives and livelihood of women throughout Pakistan. With over 54 years of experience on-the-ground in Pakistan, our programs include initiatives to...

The Asia Foundation’s Women’s Empowerment Program is committed to improving the lives and livelihood of women throughout Pakistan. With over 54 years of experience on-the-ground in Pakistan, our programs include initiatives to encourage women to vote, raise women’s awareness of their rights, and give women the skills to earn an income. The Asia Foundation has just completed a very successful 18-month long program to empower impoverished women in eight provinces in Pakistan. The goal of the project was to train women to use new technologies and understand markets so that they could become successful as entrepreneurs.

The Asia Foundation maintains elections programs, including monitor and voter education, in nine countries in Asia. In recent years, the Foundation has implemented significant elections programs in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia,...

The Asia Foundation maintains elections programs, including monitor and voter education, in nine countries in Asia. In recent years, the Foundation has implemented significant elections programs in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Timor-Leste.

The women of Afghanistan face a number of daunting social and humanitarian challenges. Two of the most pressing are the inability to participate fully in all aspects of Afghan society and the lack of access to education. The Asia...

The women of Afghanistan face a number of daunting social and humanitarian challenges. Two of the most pressing are the inability to participate fully in all aspects of Afghan society and the lack of access to education. The Asia Foundation supports the Ministry of Women’s Affairs Initiative to Support Policy and Advocacy (MISPA). MISPA is committed to strengthening the Ministry’s skills in leadership, communication, outreach, and networking among staff at the national level as well at the provincial level through the 34 local offices.

The Government of Timor-Leste faces many challenges in providing access to justice for its citizens. Individuals’ attempts to exercise fundamental rights through traditional dispute resolution mechanisms or through the nascent formal...

The Government of Timor-Leste faces many challenges in providing access to justice for its citizens. Individuals’ attempts to exercise fundamental rights through traditional dispute resolution mechanisms or through the nascent formal justice sector often fail due to limited financial resources, low awareness of options, and geographic isolation. Through the USAID funded Access to Justice Program, The Asia Foundation aims to bridge those gaps for vulnerable groups by funding pro bono legal aid services; supporting enhanced mediation services; increasing expertise to meet the particular justice needs of women; and increasing awareness of laws and legal procedures vital to securing livelihoods for vulnerable groups.

A key threat to Mongolia’s economic growth and democratic governance is corruption. As mineral wealth accrues and the government works to regulate the industry, the potential for corruption increases. Corruption is pervasive in...

A key threat to Mongolia’s economic growth and democratic governance is corruption. As mineral wealth accrues and the government works to regulate the industry, the potential for corruption increases. Corruption is pervasive in Mongolia. A rapid transition to democracy and a market economy created huge demands on a bureaucracy that lacks the resources and checks,and balances to prevent corruption.

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 Books for Asia program provides U.S-published English-language educational and reference materials, such as books, software, and other educational supplements on a wide variety of subjects. These educational materials are provided to...

The Books for Asia program provides U.S-published English-language educational and reference materials, such as books, software, and other educational supplements on a wide variety of subjects. These educational materials are provided to schools, libraries, and non-profit research centers in Mongolia. The program encourages the free exchange of ideas by supplying materials in all fields of knowledge, thereby strengthening institutional resources for education and research.

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.

The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia program overview. Books for Asia puts one million new books and resources into the hands of students, educators, and community leaders each year through the generous contributions of publishers and...

The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia program overview. Books for Asia puts one million new books and resources into the hands of students, educators, and community leaders each year through the generous contributions of publishers and private donors. Books for Asia donations support educational programs in 18 countries and help those who do not have access to quality reading material overcome obstacles and better their lives.

The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia program is the only regular book donation program in Bangladesh, and has provided more than 2 million books since the country’s independence in 1971.

Through his Subornogram Foundation,...

The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia program is the only regular book donation program in Bangladesh, and has provided more than 2 million books since the country’s independence in 1971.

Through his Subornogram Foundation, Shahed started several schools to serve these disadvantaged groups – providing river children with basic math and literacy skills, as well as basic English classes. Books for Asia has already donated several hundred books and educational materials to the Subornogram Schools.

The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia program provides quality English-language educational and reference materials on a wide variety of subjects to schools, libraries, and non-profit research centers throughout Mongolia.  ...

The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia program provides quality English-language educational and reference materials on a wide variety of subjects to schools, libraries, and non-profit research centers throughout Mongolia.  Khishig-Undur School is located in Bulgan Aimag (Province), Khishig-Undur Soum (Village) 318 kilometers northwest of Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. Khishig-Undur School has received books from Books for Asia in 1997, 1999 and in 2007. Since 1998, the school has received the top awards for its students studying English language for Bulgan Aimag.

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.

Religious courts in Indonesia preside over family law cases such as inheritance, marriage, divorce, child support, and child custody. Gender bias has been a significant challenge to the principles of fairness and justice that religious courts...

Religious courts in Indonesia preside over family law cases such as inheritance, marriage, divorce, child support, and child custody. Gender bias has been a significant challenge to the principles of fairness and justice that religious courts in Indonesia are meant to uphold. In recent years, there has been a growing movement led by religious court judges intent on improving gender equality. The Asia Foundation is responding to this demand through partnerships with state and civil society actors to provide religious judges with the knowledge and resources they need to ensure gender equality in their court decisions.