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 late 2010 The Asia Foundation in Sri Lanka commissioned a public perceptions survey that aimed to capture the post-war mood of the nation. The survey sought to gauge public opinion about the overall direction of the country, the economy,...

In late 2010 The Asia Foundation in Sri Lanka commissioned a public perceptions survey that aimed to capture the post-war mood of the nation. The survey sought to gauge public opinion about the overall direction of the country, the economy, public institutions, the central government, and local conditions.

Occasional Paper No. 5, March 2011

A review of the basic theoretical and programmatic rationale for the series of Economic Governance Indices (EGIs) conducted by The Asia Foundation in countries throughout South and Southeast Asia,...

Occasional Paper No. 5, March 2011

A review of the basic theoretical and programmatic rationale for the series of Economic Governance Indices (EGIs) conducted by The Asia Foundation in countries throughout South and Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia.

Aid to Subnational Conflict and Post-Conflict Areas: Balancing Development, Governance, and Security

Subnational conflict is a widespread problem in Asia, affecting nearly two-thirds of the countries in South and Southeast Asia. While...

Aid to Subnational Conflict and Post-Conflict Areas: Balancing Development, Governance, and Security

Subnational conflict is a widespread problem in Asia, affecting nearly two-thirds of the countries in South and Southeast Asia. While most of Asia is rapidly developing, subnational conflict areas typically lag behind in key development indicators. Many of these regions have been afflicted by conflict for decades, leading to protracted cycles of under-development, poor governance and instability. These conditions create an environment that stifles local economic growth, prevents integration into the national and regional economies, and leads to deteriorating social services. The project team will focus on four cases of subnational conflicts and post-conflict in Asia: Mindanao and Sulu (Philippines), Southern Thailand, Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka, and Aceh (Indonesia).

This resource book is designed to help citizens groups to establish cooperative relationships with local authorities and lay the groundwork for better governance and social accountability at the local level. The book contains information about...

This resource book is designed to help citizens groups to establish cooperative relationships with local authorities and lay the groundwork for better governance and social accountability at the local level. The book contains information about participatory approaches to building public confidence in local authorities and changing attitudes of local government toward citizens and citizen groups. The module guides trainers in affecting knowledge, attitudes and perceptions and describes the steps required to build partnerships between local authorities and civil society.

Religious leaders of all faiths are highly regarded in Sri Lankan society, and an accurate picture of the current reality for this island nation is incomplete without considering Muslims. Sometimes referred to as Sri Lankan Moors, they...

Religious leaders of all faiths are highly regarded in Sri Lankan society, and an accurate picture of the current reality for this island nation is incomplete without considering Muslims. Sometimes referred to as Sri Lankan Moors, they comprise 7 percent of the country's population. Their mother-tongue is Tamil but they are a distinct ethnic group with their own customs. Muslims are found all over the island but the largest concentration is in the Eastern Province.

The Asia Foundation has been working with the Ministry of Justice in Sri Lanka since the 1960s on a variety of programs designed to improve the administration of justice. The first Community Mediation Boards of Sri Lanka were established in...

The Asia Foundation has been working with the Ministry of Justice in Sri Lanka since the 1960s on a variety of programs designed to improve the administration of justice. The first Community Mediation Boards of Sri Lanka were established in 1990 as an alternative form of dispute resolution, providing accessible, timely, and affordable justice by settling disputes between individuals, families, and small groups. Since then, the Foundation has supported the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) with the objective of facilitating the voluntary settlement of minor disputes using interest-based mediation. The Community Mediation Boards project is the Foundation’s longest-running program of assistance in Sri Lanka.

Advancing Entrepreneurship and Economic Opportunities for Small and Medium Businesses

The Asia Foundation has a decades-long history of supporting broad-based economic growth across Asia through both public and private...

Advancing Entrepreneurship and Economic Opportunities for Small and Medium Businesses

The Asia Foundation has a decades-long history of supporting broad-based economic growth across Asia through both public and private channels. Through its Economic Development programs, the Foundation has assisted micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in accessing the legal information, financing, business services, and skills they need to enhance their competitiveness and profitability, thereby helping to create jobs and reduce poverty.

Ethnic conflict in the Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province continues to threaten the stability and development both of that region and the entire country. As a result, the Asia Foundation, the Foundation for Co-existence, and others are...

Ethnic conflict in the Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province continues to threaten the stability and development both of that region and the entire country. As a result, the Asia Foundation, the Foundation for Co-existence, and others are involved in efforts to develop a framework for early a warning and response to potential conflicts in the east. A necessary step in this process is research that offers an accurate assessment of public attitudes concerning this situation, a better understanding of the initial signs of conflict, and ways that conflict can be prevented. The purpose of this survey, based on individual interviews, was to systematically gauge ordinary citizens’ perceptions of conflict in the East, and to move beyond reliance on the “usual (key informant) suspects.” A secondary aim was to identify pressing issues that could be explored through a follow-up quantitative survey designed to measure changes in public perceptions of, and attitudes towards, the level of human security in the East.

Financial Management Training Modules: This series of four training modules is designed to provide the teaching and learning materials for training modules for LA officials in Financial Management. Each module kit contains...

Financial Management Training Modules: This series of four training modules is designed to provide the teaching and learning materials for training modules for LA officials in Financial Management. Each module kit contains printed resource material for trainers and participants, visual-aid material for trainers (such as power-point presentations on CD), learning exercises and simulations for trainers to use in workshops, and relevant computer software applications (such as Excel spreadsheets, on CD), to support a two-day workshop. Each module is available separately in Sinhala and Tamil from The Asia Foundation and the Sri Lanka Institute of Local Governance (SLILG).

• Module 1 – Financial Reporting and Cash Management
• Module 2 – Revenue Enhancement
• Module 3 – Grant Management and Donor Relations
• Module 4 – Office Management

Financial Management Training Modules: This series of four training modules is designed to provide the teaching and learning materials for training modules for LA officials in Financial Management. Each module kit contains...

Financial Management Training Modules: This series of four training modules is designed to provide the teaching and learning materials for training modules for LA officials in Financial Management. Each module kit contains printed resource material for trainers and participants, visual-aid material for trainers (such as power-point presentations on CD), learning exercises and simulations for trainers to use in workshops, and relevant computer software applications (such as Excel spreadsheets, on CD), to support a two-day workshop. Each module is available separately in Sinhala and Tamil from The Asia Foundation and the Sri Lanka Institute of Local Governance (SLILG).

• Module 1 – Financial Reporting and Cash Management
• Module 2 – Revenue Enhancement
• Module 3 – Grant Management and Donor Relations
• Module 4 – Office Management

This guidebook is designed to help local authority personnel write a successful project proposal for submission to a funding agency or similar organization. It sets out the basic steps in project identification and describes each section of a...

This guidebook is designed to help local authority personnel write a successful project proposal for submission to a funding agency or similar organization. It sets out the basic steps in project identification and describes each section of a well written proposal. The booklet provides writing tips and samples and examples of proposal components and provides information on how proposals are likely to be evaluated. Local authorities may use the “Directory of Funding and Resource Agencies for LAs in Sri Lanka” to identify places to submit proposals. Trainers may also use the guide to support workshops or “write shops” (facilitated proposal writing sessions) on proposal preparation. The guide is available in English, Sinhala and Tamil from The Asia Foundation and the Sri Lanka Institute of Local Governance (SLILG).

Since the 1990s, The Asia Foundation has supported programs aimed at accelerating the adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) by civil society, government, and the private sector. Certain advances in ICT – such as the...

Since the 1990s, The Asia Foundation has supported programs aimed at accelerating the adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) by civil society, government, and the private sector. Certain advances in ICT – such as the pervasive adoption of mobile telephones and the rapid spread of internet connectivity – have dramatically increased the speed of information processing, as well as the ease, frequency, and quality of communications in the developing world.

This new book from The Asia Foundation summarizes the Foundation's experience designing and implementing programs aimed at strengthening economic governance in Asia. Authored by Asia Foundation staff experts V. Bruce. J. Tolentino, Nina...

This new book from The Asia Foundation summarizes the Foundation's experience designing and implementing programs aimed at strengthening economic governance in Asia. Authored by Asia Foundation staff experts V. Bruce. J. Tolentino, Nina Merchant-Vega, Veronique Salze Lozac'h, Maria Belen Bonoan, Jaime Faustino, Hari Kusdaryanto, Frida Rustiani, and Arumaithurai Subakaran.

On January 30, 2006, five sponsoring agencies — The World Bank, The Asia Foundation, and the Governments of the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom — launched a study in Colombo, Sri Lanka, titled, The Strategic Conflict...

On January 30, 2006, five sponsoring agencies — The World Bank, The Asia Foundation, and the Governments of the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom — launched a study in Colombo, Sri Lanka, titled, The Strategic Conflict Assessment – Aid, Conflict, and Peacebuilding in Sri Lanka, to guide the international community to better support the Sri Lankan people’s bid for peace after more than 22 years of conflict.

Application form for LankaCorps Fellows program. Applications should be submitted to: James Grant, Program Assistant, Asian American Exchange, The Asia Foundation, Tel: (415) 743-3303; E-mail:

Application form for LankaCorps Fellows program. Applications should be submitted to: James Grant, Program Assistant, Asian American Exchange, The Asia Foundation, Tel: (415) 743-3303; E-mail: jgrant@asiafound.org.

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 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.