The Asia Foundation

The Foundation's Forda program is designed to help small and medium-sized businesses tackle the problems that really matter to them. In collaboration with the National Network for Small and Medium Enterprises (JNP-UKM), the Foundation has...

The Foundation's Forda program is designed to help small and medium-sized businesses tackle the problems that really matter to them. In collaboration with the National Network for Small and Medium Enterprises (JNP-UKM), the Foundation has helped to establish 39 Forda in Indonesia, 25 of those based in Sulawesi.

In 2000, KPPOD (Regional Autonomy Watch) was established by leading businessmen, researchers and journalists to monitor the economic impact of decentralization. With support from The Asia Foundation, KPPOD conducted an annual survey between...

In 2000, KPPOD (Regional Autonomy Watch) was established by leading businessmen, researchers and journalists to monitor the economic impact of decentralization. With support from The Asia Foundation, KPPOD conducted an annual survey between 2001 and 2005, using local business leaders' perceptions and hard data to rate key investment climate factors ranging from institutions to infrastructure.

DUKUNGAN ASOSIASI USAHA KECIL DAN MENENGAH - Transisi demokrasi Indonesia telah memberi kesempatan kepada publik untuk mempengaruhi pembuatan kebijakan. Mengingat kelompok usaha kecil dan menengah mencakup 99 persen dari seluruh usaha di...

DUKUNGAN ASOSIASI USAHA KECIL DAN MENENGAH - Transisi demokrasi Indonesia telah memberi kesempatan kepada publik untuk mempengaruhi pembuatan kebijakan. Mengingat kelompok usaha kecil dan menengah mencakup 99 persen dari seluruh usaha di Indonesia, maka keputusan-keputusan mengenai kebijakan yang mempengaruhi iklim usaha memiliki konsekuensi yang luas secara nasional. Meskipun demikian, kelompok usaha kecil dan menengah harus mengembangkan saluran-saluran yang tepat untuk menyuarakan pandangan-pandangan mereka.

IKLIM USAHA DAERAH DI INDONESIA - Bagaimana cara menciptakan kondisi iklim usaha yang menarik? Kebijakan dan program seperti apa yang dapat mendorong penciptaan dan pengembangan usaha? Sejak pelaksanaan otonomi daerah pada tahun 2001,...

IKLIM USAHA DAERAH DI INDONESIA - Bagaimana cara menciptakan kondisi iklim usaha yang menarik? Kebijakan dan program seperti apa yang dapat mendorong penciptaan dan pengembangan usaha? Sejak pelaksanaan otonomi daerah pada tahun 2001, pemerintah-pemerintah daerah di Indonesia semakin memusatkan perhatian mereka pada pertanyaan-pertanyaan ini.

ANALISIS DAMPAK REGULASI (RIA) - Proses desentralisasi di Indonesia telah mengalihkan sebagian besar kewenangan pemerintah nasional ke lebih dari 460 pemerintah kabupaten/kota. Transisi dramatis ini, meskipun positif dari sudut pandang...

ANALISIS DAMPAK REGULASI (RIA) - Proses desentralisasi di Indonesia telah mengalihkan sebagian besar kewenangan pemerintah nasional ke lebih dari 460 pemerintah kabupaten/kota. Transisi dramatis ini, meskipun positif dari sudut pandang demokrasi, telah diwarnai dengan persoalan-persoalan administratif dan insentif kebijakan yang tidak pada tempatnya. Proses pembuatan regulasi di daerah ditandai dengan lemahnya analisis, belum adanya mekanisme review yang efektif, dan terbatasnya partisipasi publik. Akibatnya, muncul peraturan-peraturan daerah bermasalah, khususnya yang membebani dunia usaha.

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 provided a grant to the Mongolian Women Farmers’ Association (MWFA) which now trains 500 poor households every year to raise vegetables and poultry, and thereby generate income. This effort is intended to reduce...

The Asia Foundation provided a grant to the Mongolian Women Farmers’ Association (MWFA) which now trains 500 poor households every year to raise vegetables and poultry, and thereby generate income. This effort is intended to reduce poverty, inspire micro-entrepreneurship, build stronger communities and neighbourhoods, and discourage social ills such as alcoholism, and domestic violence against women and children.

Mongolian version

The Asia Foundation provided a grant to the Mongolian Women Farmers’ Association (MWFA) which now trains 500 poor households every year to raise vegetables and poultry, and thereby generate income. This effort...

Mongolian version

The Asia Foundation provided a grant to the Mongolian Women Farmers’ Association (MWFA) which now trains 500 poor households every year to raise vegetables and poultry, and thereby generate income. This effort is intended to reduce poverty, inspire micro-entrepreneurship, build stronger communities and neighbourhoods, and discourage social ills such as alcoholism, and domestic violence against women and children.

The Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) was developed by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and USAIDfunded Vietnam Competitiveness Initiative (VNCI) in 2005, to assess and rank 42 provincial governments by their...

The Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) was developed by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and USAIDfunded Vietnam Competitiveness Initiative (VNCI) in 2005, to assess and rank 42 provincial governments by their regulatory environments for private sector development, while controlling for differences in their initial endowments. The index attracted considerable attention from various stakeholders, including the business community, media, donor community, and the provinces themselves. Most impressive has been the positive actions undertaken by a number of provincial authorities to use the PCI to better identify and understand the problems confronting the private sector, and to improve their treatment of such businesses.

In 2005 the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) was developed by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the USAID-fund- ed Vietnam Competitiveness Initiative (VNCI) to assess and rank 42 provincial governments by their...

In 2005 the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) was developed by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the USAID-fund- ed Vietnam Competitiveness Initiative (VNCI) to assess and rank 42 provincial governments by their regulatory environments for private sector develop- ment, controlling for differences in initial endow- ments. The index attracted considerable attention from various stakeholders including the business community, the media, the donor community and of course the provinces themselves. Most impressive has been the positive actions undertaken by a num- ber of provincial authorities to use the PCI to under- stand the problems confronting the private sector and to improve their treatment of business.

The Asia Foundation, the Mongolia Women’s Farmer Association (MWFA), local officials and citizens of the Bayanzurkh District inaugurated a poultry and vegetable farming training center on August 3rd. The center seeks to increase...

The Asia Foundation, the Mongolia Women’s Farmer Association (MWFA), local officials and citizens of the Bayanzurkh District inaugurated a poultry and vegetable farming training center on August 3rd. The center seeks to increase household incomes in this Ulaanbaatar district, and in surrounding communities.

Providing citizens access to economic information, which is relevant to decisionmaking that affects their lives, will yield better and more representative policy, and will underscore other government goals associated with transparency and good...

Providing citizens access to economic information, which is relevant to decisionmaking that affects their lives, will yield better and more representative policy, and will underscore other government goals associated with transparency and good governance. Through the USAID Economic Policy Reform and Competitiveness Project, The Asia Foundation is assisting the Government of Mongolia to communicate new economic policies to targeted groups and the public, in order to build a broad constituency that will fuel economic growth and job creation.

Mongolian version

Providing citizens access to economic information, which is relevant to decisionmaking that affects their lives, will yield better and more representative policy, and will underscore other government goals associated...

Mongolian version

Providing citizens access to economic information, which is relevant to decisionmaking that affects their lives, will yield better and more representative policy, and will underscore other government goals associated with transparency and good governance. Through the USAID Economic Policy Reform and Competitiveness Project, The Asia Foundation is assisting the Government of Mongolia to communicate new economic policies to targeted groups and the public, in order to build a broad constituency that will fuel economic growth and job creation.

In late 2004, with support from Give2Asia, a U.S. non-profit organization established by The Asia Foundation, Byatshandaa and the MWFA constructed a poultry-training center to complement and strengthen MWFA’s vegetable training center....

In late 2004, with support from Give2Asia, a U.S. non-profit organization established by The Asia Foundation, Byatshandaa and the MWFA constructed a poultry-training center to complement and strengthen MWFA’s vegetable training center. Over the last year and a half, MWFA has trained more than 500 families in sustainable vegetable farming and poultry rearing. As a result, many families, like Doljin’s, have started their own small-scale chicken farming businesses, which can generate over $100-$180 dollars a year in extra income with as few as 10 chickens.

In late 2004, with support from Give2Asia, a U.S. non-profit organization established by The Asia Foundation, Byatshandaa and the MWFA constructed a poultry-training center to complement and strengthen MWFA’s vegetable training center....

In late 2004, with support from Give2Asia, a U.S. non-profit organization established by The Asia Foundation, Byatshandaa and the MWFA constructed a poultry-training center to complement and strengthen MWFA’s vegetable training center. Over the last year and a half, MWFA has trained more than 500 families in sustainable vegetable farming and poultry rearing. As a result, many families, like Doljin’s, have started their own small-scale chicken farming businesses, which can generate over $100-$180 dollars a year in extra income with as few as 10 chickens.

The Asia Foundation recently won an Asian Development Bank (ADB) grant of $333,000 for Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Marshall Islands to design and implement pilot projects to promote increased public participation in local budget planning...

The Asia Foundation recently won an Asian Development Bank (ADB) grant of $333,000 for Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Marshall Islands to design and implement pilot projects to promote increased public participation in local budget planning through the establishment of citizens’ budget fora. The eight month project seeks to broaden understanding and debate of local budgets so that citizens are more engaged in formulation and oversight of budgets. Lessons learned in the different country contexts will be shared through a final conference and publication.

With the advent of the policy of renovation (doi moi) in 1986, Vietnam has been able to achieve a consistently high level of GDP growth in the past decade (8.4 percent in 2005) and effectively address the problem of poverty. Much of this...

With the advent of the policy of renovation (doi moi) in 1986, Vietnam has been able to achieve a consistently high level of GDP growth in the past decade (8.4 percent in 2005) and effectively address the problem of poverty. Much of this explosive economic growth is a direct result of the government’s practical economic reforms to encourage private sector growth. Since the implementation of the Enterprise Law in 2000, Vietnam has registered more than 120,000 formal private companies, six times the number registered in the nine years before the law’s enactment. Yet, the benefits of Vietnam’s rapid economic growth have not been spread evenly across the country.

This guide has been developed to help civil society groups understand and analyze government budgets as a first step towards engaging in such dialogue. The guide can be used to facilitate budget literacy trainings and to help civil society...

This guide has been developed to help civil society groups understand and analyze government budgets as a first step towards engaging in such dialogue. The guide can be used to facilitate budget literacy trainings and to help civil society organizations engage in budget analysis on their own following training. It may also be useful to new parliamentarians, who often are not given formal budget training, despite their responsibility to enact the budget in most countries. While basic information on budgets is covered, this guide has been specifically modified for consideration of the tehsil level budget in Pakistan. This manual does not cover analysis of other local government budgets (such as union or district), nor does it include analysis of provincial and national budgets.

For more than 50 years, The Asia Foundation has been a constant partner and advocate for economic reform and development in Indonesia. Over the decades the Foundation has worked closely with small cooperatives and businesses to broaden their...

For more than 50 years, The Asia Foundation has been a constant partner and advocate for economic reform and development in Indonesia. Over the decades the Foundation has worked closely with small cooperatives and businesses to broaden their opportunities and growth potential. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) employ nearly 79% of the workforce and contribute 56% of the GDP. After the Asian financial crisis, the Foundation further strengthened its economic assistance to this vital sector, initiating projects for faster business permitting, analytical tools to improve government regulation, private sector forums and surveys to measure local investment climates. Through a variety of such advocacy programs the Foundation has helped to create more efficient local economies and eliminate local regulations that stifle business.

In Bahasa-For more than 50 years, The Asia Foundation has been a constant partner and advocate for economic reform and development in Indonesia. Over the decades the Foundation has worked closely with small cooperatives and businesses to...

In Bahasa-For more than 50 years, The Asia Foundation has been a constant partner and advocate for economic reform and development in Indonesia. Over the decades the Foundation has worked closely with small cooperatives and businesses to broaden their opportunities and growth potential. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) employ nearly 79% of the workforce and contribute 56% of the GDP. After the Asian financial crisis, the Foundation further strengthened its economic assistance to this vital sector, initiating projects for faster business permitting, analytical tools to improve government regulation, private sector forums and surveys to measure local investment climates. Through a variety of such advocacy programs the Foundation has helped to create more efficient local economies and eliminate local regulations that stifle business.

Market-led economic growth is a proven, effective means of reducing poverty. In Cambodia, the best way to achieve economic growth is to encourage the expansion of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which dominate the economic...

Market-led economic growth is a proven, effective means of reducing poverty. In Cambodia, the best way to achieve economic growth is to encourage the expansion of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which dominate the economic landscape. The large majority of MSMEs are located in the provinces. At present, little is being done to improve the business environment for rural MSMEs. MSME owners are among the worst affected by opaque regulations, lack of information, and costs associated with corruption and over-regulation. The Asia Foundation’s economic reform program in Cambodia focuses on supporting the policymaking process of reform, empowerment of the private sector, particularly provincial MSMEs, and developing a more business-friendly environment.

Improving the responsiveness, accountability, and transparency of governance is now accepted as vital to the achievement of improved standards of living and opportunities in developing countries. The heightened attention in recent years to...

Improving the responsiveness, accountability, and transparency of governance is now accepted as vital to the achievement of improved standards of living and opportunities in developing countries. The heightened attention in recent years to good governance has logically led to a greater focus on the way in which budgets are formulated, implemented, and monitored. This publication is intended as a reference for local governments, civil society groups, and nongovernment organizations seeking to apply consultative budgeting methods.

The first report of a 16-month assessment designed to accelerate and guide the revitalization of Post-Tsunami Aceh, Indonesia. Phase 1: Health and Education Services, Housing, Distribution of Survival Allowances, Restoration of Ownership...

The first report of a 16-month assessment designed to accelerate and guide the revitalization of Post-Tsunami Aceh, Indonesia. Phase 1: Health and Education Services, Housing, Distribution of Survival Allowances, Restoration of Ownership Documents, and Economic Recovery.