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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

Hanoi, November 2011

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) has been working with The Asia Foundation to develop a set of National Minimum Standards on Victim Support as well as a Manual for Social Workers and...

Hanoi, November 2011

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) has been working with The Asia Foundation to develop a set of National Minimum Standards on Victim Support as well as a Manual for Social Workers and Staff Providing Services for Victims of Human Trafficking. This documents has been developed with the following objectives:

i) To provide the best services and support for returnees to reintegrate into the community,

ii) to ensure that minimum standards of service provision are met;

iii) to provide information, knowledge, and basic skills for social workers and staff who support victims.

Occasional Paper No. 18, October 2012

Thailand's southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and the four Malay-speaking districts in Songkhla province have a combined population of about 2 million people, of whom more than...

Occasional Paper No. 18, October 2012

Thailand's southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and the four Malay-speaking districts in Songkhla province have a combined population of about 2 million people, of whom more than 1.5 million are Malay Muslims. This distinctive ethnic-religious group has a history and identity that predates the imposition of centralized rule of the Thais in the early 20th century and was once part of the independent Sultanate of Patani. Thailand's nation-state constructs, along with its historical narrative and the centralized structure of the Thai state agencies, have at various times been both unable and unwilling to accommodate their unique Malay identity and historical narrative. Adding to their sense of alienation is the fact that the restive region, commonly referred to as the Deep South, is one of the most neglected regions in the country. This paper investigates the role of civil societies in Thailand's Deep South.

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.

Findings from The Asia Foundation's eighth survey in Afghanistan - the broadest public opinion poll in the country of 6,290 Afghan citizens across all 34 provinces.

View an e-reader version of the

Findings from The Asia Foundation's eighth survey in Afghanistan - the broadest public opinion poll in the country of 6,290 Afghan citizens across all 34 provinces.

View an e-reader version of the Survey here.

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.

February 2013

Over the past decade, community-­based development (CBD) programs have become among the most common and widely-­accepted methods for providing assistance to conflict-­affected regions. These trends partly...

February 2013

Over the past decade, community-­based development (CBD) programs have become among the most common and widely-­accepted methods for providing assistance to conflict-­affected regions. These trends partly reflect an increased sensitivity to conflict dynamics and a commitment to extend the benefits of development to conflict-­affected communities in order to help them rebuild infrastructure and improve livelihoods. In the Philippines, the government has adopted CBD as a core component of its strategy to address internal armed conflict, and nearly all of the major international development partners are implementing some form of CBD programming to support conflict-­affected communities. Community-­based development refers to a broad spectrum of development program approaches that channel the benefits of aid directly to the community level and often (though not all cases) prioritize participation and ownership by community members in program implementation. This study was undertaken to provide some clarity and guidance on CBD in conflict-­affected areas.