The Asia Foundation

This report explores the impacts of Nepal's Local Self-Governance Act 1999 and the evolution of local governance in Nepal and its effect on the health and education sectors. It includes recommendantions for practical and policy interventions....

This report explores the impacts of Nepal's Local Self-Governance Act 1999 and the evolution of local governance in Nepal and its effect on the health and education sectors. It includes recommendantions for practical and policy interventions. It was prepared by The Asia Foundation Nepal for AusAID.

Occasional Paper No. 2, July 2010

The processes of development are fundamentally shaped by powerful political, economic, and security actors in aid-recipient countries. These actors use their influence to shape formal governance...

Occasional Paper No. 2, July 2010

The processes of development are fundamentally shaped by powerful political, economic, and security actors in aid-recipient countries. These actors use their influence to shape formal governance institutions, policies, and the distribution of development assistance to advance their interests. The political settlements framework is an important new approach that may help international development organizations to better understand and respond to this reality and the challenges to developmental progress that is often affected by political dynamics in developing countries. This paper seeks to translate the concepts underlying political settlements into principles, strategies, and guidelines for practical action by donors and other development assistance organizations.

Thomas Parks, Regional Director for Governance and Conflict, The Asia Foundation
William Cole, Senior Director, Governance, Law, and Civil Society Programs & Program Strategy and Development, The Asia Foundation

This study is a collaborative effort between The Asia Foundation (Kathmandu) and the Horizons Project of the Population Council (New Delhi). The objectives and related research questions of the study are: To assess the policy context that...

This study is a collaborative effort between The Asia Foundation (Kathmandu) and the Horizons Project of the Population Council (New Delhi). The objectives and related research questions of the study are: To assess the policy context that underpins intervention activities for the prevention of trafficking and the care and support of trafficked persons; To document and analyze current intervention models for the  prevention of trafficking, and the care and support of trafficked persons; To assess the features and determinants of vulnerability of girls and women to trafficking, as part of the larger problems of gender-based violence, migration for economic reasons and labor exploitation; To conceptualize the links between trafficking and HIV/AIDS; To recommend approaches to strengthen interventions to prevent trafficking and provide care and support to trafficked persons, and propose supporting rese arch and evaluation activities.

While much of Asia is developing rapidly, some countries and subnational regions remain caught in protracted cycles of conflict and fragility, leading to under-development, poor governance and instability. State-society relations in these...

While much of Asia is developing rapidly, some countries and subnational regions remain caught in protracted cycles of conflict and fragility, leading to under-development, poor governance and instability. State-society relations in these environments are often troubled, and have frequently become the primary cause of prolonged conflict and fragility. Many citizens in conflict-affected and fragile regions have come to see their government as distant, unresponsive, inaccessible, or absent altogether. When citizens perceive states as illegitimate, many will simply avoid contact with their governments, and in some cases support violent challenges to state authority.

While much of Asia is developing rapidly, several countries and subnational regions remain caught in protracted cycles of conflict and fragility, leading to under-development, poor governance and instability. State-society relations in these...

While much of Asia is developing rapidly, several countries and subnational regions remain caught in protracted cycles of conflict and fragility, leading to under-development, poor governance and instability. State-society relations in these environments are often troubled, and have frequently become the primary cause of prolonged conflict and fragility. Many citizens in conflict-affected and fragile regions have come to see their government as distant, unresponsive, inaccessible, or absent altogether. When citizens perceive states as illegitimate, many will simply avoid contact with their governments, and in some cases support violent challenges to state authority.

Occasional Paper No. 10, January 2012

This paper explores the use of participatory action research as a method to deepen the practice of mediation at the village level in rural Nepal. Mediation, initially introduced with a strong...

Occasional Paper No. 10, January 2012

This paper explores the use of participatory action research as a method to deepen the practice of mediation at the village level in rural Nepal. Mediation, initially introduced with a strong Western orientation, has evolved through practice and the response to daily conflict during and after the civil war. At its inception, the program was framed as an "access to justice" initiative. Conducted with district and village-level mediators and trainers, the research yielded important insights into how and why mediation practices were effective, and led to significant changes in training materials and approach.

In this issue: "Books for Asia Hosts Vartan Gregorian in NYC, Launches Tech Start-up Fund," "Skoll Global Threats Fund to Help Address Water Sharing in Asia," "Citi's Ida Liu to Chair Lotus Awards 2012," "Asia Foundation Announces Five New...

In this issue: "Books for Asia Hosts Vartan Gregorian in NYC, Launches Tech Start-up Fund," "Skoll Global Threats Fund to Help Address Water Sharing in Asia," "Citi's Ida Liu to Chair Lotus Awards 2012," "Asia Foundation Announces Five New Trustees," "Amb. Verveer Meets Experts from Asia Foundation Panel on Women's Changing Roles in Asia," "Briefly Noted," "Multimedia," "Ashraf Ghani Briefs on Afghan Transition 2014," "Henry Luce Foundation Renews China Young Diplomats Program."

The role of heterogeneity in affecting the likelihood of collective action is strongly debated in the theoretical literature. We present evidence from a study of 18 forest user groups in Nepal. Heterogeneity is not a strong predictor of the...

The role of heterogeneity in affecting the likelihood of collective action is strongly debated in the theoretical literature. We present evidence from a study of 18 forest user groups in Nepal. Heterogeneity is not a strong predictor of the level of collective activity. Rather, heterogeneity is a challenge that can be overcome by good insititutional design when the interest of those controlling collective-choice mechanisms are benefited by investing time and effor to craft better rules.

In January, 2005, the United States, Canada, and Europe completed the phase-out of quotas governing imports of textiles and apparel in accordance with the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC). The Asia Foundation works toward policy reform...

In January, 2005, the United States, Canada, and Europe completed the phase-out of quotas governing imports of textiles and apparel in accordance with the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC). The Asia Foundation works toward policy reform in the post-ATC environment.

Success Story: Maya

Maya is only 12 years old. Like thousands of young girls living in rural Nepal, she was lured to the city by a trafficker with promises of a better life. Through the efforts of The Asia Foundation-supported Center...

Success Story: Maya

Maya is only 12 years old. Like thousands of young girls living in rural Nepal, she was lured to the city by a trafficker with promises of a better life. Through the efforts of The Asia Foundation-supported Center for Legal Research and Resources Development (CeLRRd), she was rescued and is back with her parents, and receiving literacy training. Her counselor at CeLRRd tells her story.

Thousands of Nepali women and girls are trafficked within and outside of Nepal
every year. Sabina was one of them. Now she is at a center run by ABC/Nepal, an
Asia Foundation supported-NGO, providing shelter and counseling services...

Thousands of Nepali women and girls are trafficked within and outside of Nepal
every year. Sabina was one of them. Now she is at a center run by ABC/Nepal, an
Asia Foundation supported-NGO, providing shelter and counseling services to
trafficking survivors. She has renewed hope for a better life. This is her story.

The objective of this report is to “document and analyze current intervention models for the prevention of trafficking and the care and support of trafficked persons in Nepal. This research aims to understand current perceptions of...

The objective of this report is to “document and analyze current intervention models for the prevention of trafficking and the care and support of trafficked persons in Nepal. This research aims to understand current perceptions of trafficking and identify the assumptions that explicitly or implicitly inform intervention approaches. A comparative analysis of different intervention approaches (including their content and process) was made using a human rights framework. Issues of feasibility, coverage, effectiveness and sustainability were considered. Finally, lessons learned are highlighted.

This study assesses Nepal’s policies and laws that address the trafficking of women and children in terms of effectiveness, human rights, international obligations, and the relationship between trafficking and HIV. Through both formal...

This study assesses Nepal’s policies and laws that address the trafficking of women and children in terms of effectiveness, human rights, international obligations, and the relationship between trafficking and HIV. Through both formal and informal methods utilizing primary and secondary data, the study reviewed policies and laws related to trafficking, HIV/AIDS, labor and foreign employment, foreign travel and migration, gender, and children’s issues. The study evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the Nepal’s policies and laws and offers recommendations for improving them.

For more than 20 years, The Asia Foundation has worked to empower Nepali women. Nepal is one of the least-developed countries in the world and experiences high rates of poverty, exacerbating the cultural disadvantages faced by Nepali...

For more than 20 years, The Asia Foundation has worked to empower Nepali women. Nepal is one of the least-developed countries in the world and experiences high rates of poverty, exacerbating the cultural disadvantages faced by Nepali women. To increase women’s opportunities and improve their status, the Foundation has protected women’s legal rights and reformed discriminatory laws and policies; provided educational scholarships to disadvantaged girls; supported vocational training and job placement for young women at-risk of trafficking and trafficking survivors; and trained women to run for elected office to ensure their needs are reflected in public decisionmaking.