The Asia Foundation

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.

A brief description of the comparative review study, a one year grant from the World Bank’s State and Peace-building Fund. The study will examine the possible impact of community based development projects in conflict affected areas in...

A brief description of the comparative review study, a one year grant from the World Bank’s State and Peace-building Fund. The study will examine the possible impact of community based development projects in conflict affected areas in the Philippines, particularly on peace-building and 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tetum version

Fundasaun Ázia nia programa jestaun no prevensaun ba konflitu buka atu hamenus efeitu violénsia nian ba dezenvolvimentu no ajuda prevene konflitu violentu iha futuru. Eventu sira iha tinan 2006 hatudu katak...

Tetum version

Fundasaun Ázia nia programa jestaun no prevensaun ba konflitu buka atu hamenus efeitu violénsia nian ba dezenvolvimentu no ajuda prevene konflitu violentu iha futuru. Eventu sira iha tinan 2006 hatudu katak akontesimentu violénsia nian bele dezestabiliza dezenvolvimentu ekonómiku no demokrátiku no atraza progresu. Hodi hatan ba eventu sira ne’e, Fundasaun Ázia lida ho krize ne’e liuhosi identifika ligasaun entre vulnerabilidade krítika governasaun nian sira diretamente ho kauza fundamentál no faktór sira ne’ebé mak hamosu violénsia. Fundasaun fasilita daudaun konsulta ho líder Timór nian sira hodi formula rekomendasaun prátika kona-ba reforma governasaun nian ba polítika-nain sira ne’ebé sei ajuda hamenus potensiál ba konflitu violentu iha kurtu no médiu-prazu.

The Asia Foundation’s conflict management and prevention program aims to reduce the effects of violence on development and to help prevent future violent conflict. Events of 2006 show that outbreaks of violence can destabilize economic...

The Asia Foundation’s conflict management and prevention program aims to reduce the effects of violence on development and to help prevent future violent conflict. Events of 2006 show that outbreaks of violence can destabilize economic and democratic development and slow progress. In response to these events, The Asia Foundation is addressing the crisis by linking critical governance vulnerabilities directly to the underlying causes and enabling factors of the violence. The Foundation is facilitating consultations with Timorese leaders to formulate practical recommendations for governance reform for policymakers that will help reduce the potential for violent conflict in the near- to mid-term.

The Asia Foundation supports initiatives to strengthen institutional and human resource capacity, public-private partnerships, and policy reform in the fields of governance and law. Through a combination of grants and technical assistance, the...

The Asia Foundation supports initiatives to strengthen institutional and human resource capacity, public-private partnerships, and policy reform in the fields of governance and law. Through a combination of grants and technical assistance, the Foundation assists organizations throughout Asia on a range of critical issues, including national and local governance, legislative development, elections, access to justice, and conflict resolution.

The Philippines suffers from endemic conflicts on many levels, some arising out of traditional cleav - ages and others from the complex responses of a society undergoing rapid change. Political insta - bility, intra-community conflicts over...

The Philippines suffers from endemic conflicts on many levels, some arising out of traditional cleav - ages and others from the complex responses of a society undergoing rapid change. Political insta - bility, intra-community conflicts over natural resources, and the conflicts in Mindanao in par- ticular, continue to undermine efforts to improve the country's economy and governance. The Asia Foundation aims to address conflicts through enhanced conflict resolution mechanisms; improved communication channels within affected commu- nities and between government and com munity groups; and policy-oriented substantive discussions with inputs from key stakeholders.

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, 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.

This Strategic Conflict Assessment (SCA) follows and builds upon a previous assessment conducted for the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) in 2000 (Goodhand, 2001). Like the previous study, it aims to do three things: First,...

This Strategic Conflict Assessment (SCA) follows and builds upon a previous assessment conducted for the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) in 2000 (Goodhand, 2001). Like the previous study, it aims to do three things: First, to provide an analysis of the structures and dynamics of conflict and peace in Sri Lanka since 2000. Second, to examine how international engagement has interacted with conflict and peace dynamics, with a particular focus on aid donors during this time period. Third, to identify how the strategies and approaches of international donors can best engage with and help strengthen domestic peacebuilding efforts.