The Asia Foundation

Occasional Paper No. 15, July 2012

The Growing Challenge of Corruption in Afghanistan is one of a series of analytical papers on The Asia Foundation’s recently released public-opinion survey, Afghanistan in 2011: A...

Occasional Paper No. 16, August 2012

Justice and State-Building in Afghanistan: State vs. Society vs. Taliban is one of a series of analytical papers on The Asia Foundation’s recently released public-opinion survey,...

Occasional Paper No. 16, August 2012

Justice and State-Building in Afghanistan: State vs. Society vs. Taliban is one of a series of analytical papers on The Asia Foundation’s recently released public-opinion survey, Afghanistan in 2011: A Survey of the Afghan People. The series of essays provide detailed analysis of the survey data on the opinions and perceptions of Afghans toward government, public policy, democracy, and political and social change as interpreted by specialists who have in-depth knowledge of the region. The contributors comment on trends, patterns, and variations owing to Afghan geography, ethnicity, and other factors, and offer policy advice with a long-term view on the future of Afghanistan.

For more than two decades, The Asia Foundation has backed local initiatives to ensure the sustainability of natural resources across Asia. Working with civil society organizations, government and the private sector, the Foundation understands...

For more than two decades, The Asia Foundation has backed local initiatives to ensure the sustainability of natural resources across Asia. Working with civil society organizations, government and the private sector, the Foundation understands the complex interplay between environmental protection, economic development, local and regional government relations, private sector incentives and the rights of local communities. Improved governance is a vital component of any response to deforestation, land degradation and climate change and a key factor in achieving successful, sustainable development.

A comparative research project that provides an overview of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Vietnam. The research was carried out in Vietnam's two major metropolitan areas, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which are the bases for the majority...

A comparative research project that provides an overview of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Vietnam. The research was carried out in Vietnam's two major metropolitan areas, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which are the bases for the majority of Vietnamese CSOs. The research team selected fifty representative CSOs from each city, interviewing leaders of those organizations on multiple aspects of civil society operation and development. The findings focus on civil society governance, programmatic focus, operational approaches, forms of engagement with other sectors such as businesses and government, networking, and funding.

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.

This research examines communitiesʼ experiences of two different decentralized development programs in Timor-Leste: the Programa Dezenvolvimentu Lokal (PDL), and the Pakote Dezenvolvimentu Desentrilizadu (PDD). Using...

This research examines communitiesʼ experiences of two different decentralized development programs in Timor-Leste: the Programa Dezenvolvimentu Lokal (PDL), and the Pakote Dezenvolvimentu Desentrilizadu (PDD). Using these two programs as a lens for comparative analysis, the overall aim of this research is to identify and examine broader issues surrounding the implementation of decentralised development in Timorese communities, and to draw lessons for sustainable, community-level development in the future. This research also aims to make a substantive contribution to planning for the Planu Nasional Dezenvolvimentu Suku (PNDS), which will be introduced throughout Timorese communities from 2013.

Youth constitutes a large segment, 43 percent, of the total population in Malaysia. The diverse and numerous roles that they play in the country's political, social and economic landscapes underline the fact that they are a critical...

Youth constitutes a large segment, 43 percent, of the total population in Malaysia. The diverse and numerous roles that they play in the country's political, social and economic landscapes underline the fact that they are a critical demographic group to engage. In April 2012, The Asia Foundation conducted its fourth nationwide survey of Malaysian youth opinion as part of the Foundation's continuing efforts to enhance public engagement and innovative research in support of improving governance, civil society, economic progress, and sustainable development in Malaysia. Over 2,100 youth across all states and federal territories in Malaysia were engaged in the comprehensive survey. The survey provides a window into the attitudes, concerns and practices of young Malaysians on a range of contemporary political, social and economic issues.

This report explores the impacts of Nepal's Local Self-Governance Act 1999 and the evolution of local governance in Nepal and its effect on the health and education sectors. It includes recommendantions for practical and policy interventions....

This report explores the impacts of Nepal's Local Self-Governance Act 1999 and the evolution of local governance in Nepal and its effect on the health and education sectors. It includes recommendantions for practical and policy interventions. It was prepared by The Asia Foundation Nepal for AusAID.

For more than a decade, The Asia Foundation's Local and Economic Governance programs have supported broad-based economic development and reform in Indonesia, working with local business, government, and civil society to enhance their roles and...

For more than a decade, The Asia Foundation's Local and Economic Governance programs have supported broad-based economic development and reform in Indonesia, working with local business, government, and civil society to enhance their roles and effectiveness in policy reform and to promote business-friendly policies. Partnering with an extensive network of nongovernmental organizations, business associations, academics, community groups, and government agencies, the Foundation supports initiatives to improve the business environment through policy and institutional reform and develop pro-poor and gender-sensitive local policies and budgets.