The Asia Foundation

The Asia Foundation commissioned a study in August 2010 to examine the dynamics of gender and conflict in Mindanao. Leslie Dwyer and Rufa Guiam conducted field-based research and a literature review to identify challenges and opportunities for...

The Asia Foundation commissioned a study in August 2010 to examine the dynamics of gender and conflict in Mindanao. Leslie Dwyer and Rufa Guiam conducted field-based research and a literature review to identify challenges and opportunities for women and men in community and national peacebuilding. Their report argues that programming is more effective when comprehensive gender analysis is utilized, and that such an approach can be transformative in societies trying to emerge from conflict.

This is the third study in a series on impunity in Nepal supported by The Asia Foundation after two previous attempts in 1999 and 2005. The report examines incidents of violence during Nepal's decade-long conflict that have become 'emblems' of...

This is the third study in a series on impunity in Nepal supported by The Asia Foundation after two previous attempts in 1999 and 2005. The report examines incidents of violence during Nepal's decade-long conflict that have become 'emblems' of the country's poor human rights record. It also reports on some of the post-conflict excesses and what little has been done to establish guilt and punish the culprits.

This is the third study in a series on impunity in Nepal supported by The Asia Foundation after two previous attempts in 1999 and 2005. The report examines incidents of violence during Nepal's decade-long conflict that have become 'emblems' of...

This is the third study in a series on impunity in Nepal supported by The Asia Foundation after two previous attempts in 1999 and 2005. The report examines incidents of violence during Nepal's decade-long conflict that have become 'emblems' of the country's poor human rights record. It also reports on some of the post-conflict excesses and what little has been done to establish guilt and punish the culprits.

The Asia Foundation assists a network of community radio presenters in the conflict-torn south to create an interactive radio script that provides listeners with the knowledge and skills they need to actively participate in democratic...

The Asia Foundation assists a network of community radio presenters in the conflict-torn south to create an interactive radio script that provides listeners with the knowledge and skills they need to actively participate in democratic processes.

Occasional Paper No. 9, December 2011

A brief paper that examines the development of the Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL) over the last decade, which has been a core focus of the international community as well as...

Occasional Paper No. 9, December 2011

A brief paper that examines the development of the Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL) over the last decade, which has been a core focus of the international community as well as successive national governments. As capacity has been developed at both the individual and organizational levels, the need for the PNTL to develop into a community oriented police service has been stated regularly. Despite this prominence in international and national rhetoric on police development, demonstrable progress toward making community policing a cornerstone of policing in Timor-Leste has been very limited. The political leadership of Timor-Leste is very focused on the issues around the police and the need for police reform. As a vague ambition rather than an immediate priority, community policing is chronically under-resourced, with the most recent FY12 budget leaving out its funds for training completely.

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.

Mindanao, in the southern Philippines, is home to the country's largest concentration of Muslims. The region suffers from poor infrastructure, poverty, and violence that has claimed more than 120,000 lives in the last four decades. The...

Mindanao, in the southern Philippines, is home to the country's largest concentration of Muslims. The region suffers from poor infrastructure, poverty, and violence that has claimed more than 120,000 lives in the last four decades. The violence and rebellion derive from internal Christian migrations to the region, sectarian clashes, war against Muslim/Islam separatist insurgents, clan feuds, and unfulfilled hopes of peace and economic prosperity.

Hanoi, November 2011

A brief report on the standards in provision of services to victims of human trafficking. These draft Minimum Standards are part of the Preventing Human Trafficking and Protecting Victims in The Mekong...

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

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.

Maldives 2012

Gang violence in the Maldives is becoming increasingly commonplace and the nature of violence more brutal as new types of drugs and weapons are used. There are reportedly between 20 and 30 different gangs operating in...

Maldives 2012

Gang violence in the Maldives is becoming increasingly commonplace and the nature of violence more brutal as new types of drugs and weapons are used. There are reportedly between 20 and 30 different gangs operating in Male' with 50 to 400 members in each group. Gang violence impacts almost all citizens of the capital in one way or another. Businesses and neighbourhoods frequently have property damaged during gang violence; youth congregate in public areas, often using drugs and starting fights; and during political rallies gangs are seen on the streets causing chaos.