The Asia Foundation

Training Needs Assessment Report: Public Library Institutions and Communal Cultural Post Offices in Thai Nguyen, Nghe An, and Tra Vinh Provinces. Building Capacity for Public Library Institutions in Support of Public Access to the Internet in...

Training Needs Assessment Report: Public Library Institutions and Communal Cultural Post Offices in Thai Nguyen, Nghe An, and Tra Vinh Provinces. Building Capacity for Public Library Institutions in Support of Public Access to the Internet in Vietnam Project. (Vietnamese language version)

Rule of law in Timor-Leste (East Timor) remains in a state of transition. Since Timor-Leste’s official declaration of independence and promulgation of the Constitution in 2002, there have been a range of notable achievements in the...

Rule of law in Timor-Leste (East Timor) remains in a state of transition. Since Timor-Leste’s official declaration of independence and promulgation of the Constitution in 2002, there have been a range of notable achievements in the formal justice sector: the penal and civil codes were drafted and adopted; court actors were trained and appointed to positions as judges, prosecutors, and public defenders; and a court of appeals and four district courts were established and operationalized.

To take stock of the citizenry’s perceptions of their justice system in light of developments over the last four years, The Asia Foundation conducted the second nationwide survey of Law and Justice in Timor-Leste: a Survey of Citizen Awareness and Attitudes Regarding Law and Justice in December 2008. This survey was made possible by the generous support of the Australian Agency for International Development/Justice Facility and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). A democracy assessment survey.

English version. This document provides a summary of key findings of a research project aimed at a better understanding of the nature of administrative complaints in Vietnam, the existing structure resolving those complaints, and how...

English version. This document provides a summary of key findings of a research project aimed at a better understanding of the nature of administrative complaints in Vietnam, the existing structure resolving those complaints, and how such a mechanism can be improved.

Vietnamese version. This document provides a summary of key findings of a research project aimed at a better understanding of the nature of administrative complaints in Vietnam, the existing structure resolving those complaints, and...

Vietnamese version. This document provides a summary of key findings of a research project aimed at a better understanding of the nature of administrative complaints in Vietnam, the existing structure resolving those complaints, and how such a mechanism can be improved.

Thai version. Press release announcing the release of "Constitutional Reform and Democracy in Thailand - A National Survey of the Thai People," a nationwide opinion poll in 26 provinces gauging the national mood toward election...

Thai version. Press release announcing the release of "Constitutional Reform and Democracy in Thailand - A National Survey of the Thai People," a nationwide opinion poll in 26 provinces gauging the national mood toward election reform, participation in politics, amending the constitution, and more. A democracy assessment survey.

The Government of Timor-Leste faces many challenges in providing access to justice for its citizens. Individuals’ attempts to exercise fundamental rights through traditional dispute resolution mechanisms or through the nascent formal...

The Government of Timor-Leste faces many challenges in providing access to justice for its citizens. Individuals’ attempts to exercise fundamental rights through traditional dispute resolution mechanisms or through the nascent formal justice sector often fail due to limited financial resources, low awareness of options, and geographic isolation. Through the USAID funded Access to Justice Program, The Asia Foundation aims to bridge those gaps for vulnerable groups by funding pro bono legal aid services; supporting enhanced mediation services; increasing expertise to meet the particular justice needs of women; and increasing awareness of laws and legal procedures vital to securing livelihoods for vulnerable groups.

A key threat to Mongolia’s economic growth and democratic governance is corruption. As mineral wealth accrues and the government works to regulate the industry, the potential for corruption increases. Corruption is pervasive in...

A key threat to Mongolia’s economic growth and democratic governance is corruption. As mineral wealth accrues and the government works to regulate the industry, the potential for corruption increases. Corruption is pervasive in Mongolia. A rapid transition to democracy and a market economy created huge demands on a bureaucracy that lacks the resources and checks,and balances to prevent corruption.

The Transparent Accountable Governance (TAG) Project of The Asia Foundation was a well- respected and extremely effective endeavor supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project was based on the twin...

The Transparent Accountable Governance (TAG) Project of The Asia Foundation was a well- respected and extremely effective endeavor supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project was based on the twin goals of 1) promoting good governance and 2) strengthening the foundation for sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction in the Philippines.

TAG Tools is a guide primarily for local governments planning to embark on a program of reform in their selected area or areas of concern.

The Transparent Accountable Governance (TAG) program of The Asia Foundation addresses some
of the local governance problems in the Philippines through customized technical assistance, supporting civic engagement, and by working with the...

The Transparent Accountable Governance (TAG) program of The Asia Foundation addresses some
of the local governance problems in the Philippines through customized technical assistance, supporting civic engagement, and by working with the leagues of local governments.

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

The Rapid Field Appraisal (RFA) was developed as a monitoring tool by the USAID-funded Local Development Assistance Program (LDAP), and produced a wealth of information that was intended "to give decision-makers in the Philippines a ground...

The Rapid Field Appraisal (RFA) was developed as a monitoring tool by the USAID-funded Local Development Assistance Program (LDAP), and produced a wealth of information that was intended "to give decision-makers in the Philippines a ground level feel of what was happening throughout the country in the process of Code implementation." This RFA focuses on the progress of decentralization on the ground, i.e., what the local governments have done in exercising the powers that were devolved to them as provided by the 1991 Local Government Code (LGC), as well as the benefits to the people that followed from them.

The Survey on Good Local Governance is a 38-item survey that aims to obtain a broader data to help set the agenda for local government reforms. It covers the following: citizen perception on the quality of local government services, trust...

The Survey on Good Local Governance is a 38-item survey that aims to obtain a broader data to help set the agenda for local government reforms. It covers the following: citizen perception on the quality of local government services, trust rating of local officials and institutions, citizen satisfaction on local government services, public-private partnership and citizen participation, and citizen perception of corruption in local governments.

A Report by the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (July 2010)

The Report is an output of CCHR's Human Trafficking Trial Monitoring Sub-Project, supported by The Asia Foundation, and part of the wider CCHR Trial Monitoring Project. The...

A Report by the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (July 2010)

The Report is an output of CCHR's Human Trafficking Trial Monitoring Sub-Project, supported by The Asia Foundation, and part of the wider CCHR Trial Monitoring Project. The purpose of the sub-project is to monitor human trafficking trials in Cambodia in order to assess their fairness, for both the victims and the accused, against fair trial standards; and to assess the impact of recent legal developments aimed at combating human trafficking, including the Law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation 2008 (the "LHTSE"). CCHR aims to use the findings of the Report as a basis for dialogue with the judiciary and other relevant stakeholders, and hopes that the Report will serve as a useful tool for research and study related to human trafficking and fair trial rights in Cambodia.