The Asia Foundation

Mongolian version

The Asia Foundation provided a grant to the Mongolian Women Farmers’ Association (MWFA) which now trains 500 poor households every year to raise vegetables and poultry, and thereby generate income. This effort...

Mongolian version

The Asia Foundation provided a grant to the Mongolian Women Farmers’ Association (MWFA) which now trains 500 poor households every year to raise vegetables and poultry, and thereby generate income. This effort is intended to reduce poverty, inspire micro-entrepreneurship, build stronger communities and neighbourhoods, and discourage social ills such as alcoholism, and domestic violence against women and children.

Occasional Paper No. 14, June 2012

The Prospects of Economic Development in Afghanistan 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...

Occasional Paper No. 14, June 2012

The Prospects of Economic Development in Afghanistan 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. This paper provides detailed analysis of the survey data on economic development and the role of government in Afghanistan.

In order to understand how provinces are contributing to or preventing business growth, International Finance Corporation and The Asia Foundation have collaborated in developing the Provincial Business Environment Scorecard (PBES). PBES 2009...

In order to understand how provinces are contributing to or preventing business growth, International Finance Corporation and The Asia Foundation have collaborated in developing the Provincial Business Environment Scorecard (PBES). PBES 2009 ranks all 24 provinces on the quality of their economic governance. The PBES, which was first conducted in 2006 in 10 Cambodian provinces, and in 2009 covers all 24 provinces, relies largely on the perceptions of business leaders to generate a scorecard that ranks provinces on measures of business environment quality.

In order to understand how provinces are contributing to or preventing business growth, International Finance Corporation and The Asia Foundation have collaborated in developing the Provincial Business Environment Scorecard (PBES). PBES 2009...

In order to understand how provinces are contributing to or preventing business growth, International Finance Corporation and The Asia Foundation have collaborated in developing the Provincial Business Environment Scorecard (PBES). PBES 2009 ranks all 24 provinces on the quality of their economic governance. The PBES, which was first conducted in 2006 in 10 Cambodian provinces, and in 2009 covers all 24 provinces, relies largely on the perceptions of business leaders to generate a scorecard that ranks provinces on measures of business environment quality.

The Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) was developed by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and USAIDfunded Vietnam Competitiveness Initiative (VNCI) in 2005, to assess and rank 42 provincial governments by their...

The Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) was developed by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and USAIDfunded Vietnam Competitiveness Initiative (VNCI) in 2005, to assess and rank 42 provincial governments by their regulatory environments for private sector development, while controlling for differences in their initial endowments. The index attracted considerable attention from various stakeholders, including the business community, media, donor community, and the provinces themselves. Most impressive has been the positive actions undertaken by a number of provincial authorities to use the PCI to better identify and understand the problems confronting the private sector, and to improve their treatment of such businesses.

In 2005 the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) was developed by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the USAID-fund- ed Vietnam Competitiveness Initiative (VNCI) to assess and rank 42 provincial governments by their...

In 2005 the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) was developed by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the USAID-fund- ed Vietnam Competitiveness Initiative (VNCI) to assess and rank 42 provincial governments by their regulatory environments for private sector develop- ment, controlling for differences in initial endow- ments. The index attracted considerable attention from various stakeholders including the business community, the media, the donor community and of course the provinces themselves. Most impressive has been the positive actions undertaken by a num- ber of provincial authorities to use the PCI to under- stand the problems confronting the private sector and to improve their treatment of business.

The 2007 PCI survey - the third annual edition - is the largest and most comprehensive assessment and ranking of the performance of provincial governments based on the views expressed by over 6,700 entrepreneurs and managers of small and...

The 2007 PCI survey - the third annual edition - is the largest and most comprehensive assessment and ranking of the performance of provincial governments based on the views expressed by over 6,700 entrepreneurs and managers of small and medium (SME) enterprises across Vietnam's 64 provinces.

Summary of The Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index 2008: Measuring Economic Governance for Private Sector Development. The 2008 PCI survey is the largest and most comprehensive assessment and ranking of the performance of...

Summary of The Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index 2008: Measuring Economic Governance for Private Sector Development. The 2008 PCI survey is the largest and most comprehensive assessment and ranking of the performance of provincial governments based on the views expressed by over 7,820 domestic entrepreneurs and managers from firms across Vietnam’s 64 provinces. Every year, this highly anticipated survey gauges the impact of economic and administrative reforms at both the provincial and national levels and guides the decisions of Vietnam’s policymakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs.

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.

The performance of Indonesia's logistics sector is still below that of neighboring countries in Asia. This study aims to identify problems in the logistics sector in the Province of East Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Timur, NTT). This study...

The performance of Indonesia's logistics sector is still below that of neighboring countries in Asia. This study aims to identify problems in the logistics sector in the Province of East Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Timur, NTT). This study covers land and maritime transportation (harbors and ferries) as well as regulatory aspects, for trade both within NTT (inter-island) and between NTT and other regions (inter-province).

The performance of Indonesia's logistics sector is still below that of neighboring countries in Asia. This study aims to identify problems in the logistics sector in the Province of East Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Timur, NTT). This study...

The performance of Indonesia's logistics sector is still below that of neighboring countries in Asia. This study aims to identify problems in the logistics sector in the Province of East Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Timur, NTT). This study covers land and maritime transportation (harbors and ferries) as well as regulatory aspects, for trade both within NTT (inter-island) and between NTT and other regions (inter-province).

In Indonesia, the Foundation has been responding to the real and pressing needs of small businesses since 1996. The Partnership for Enterprise Policy Reform program, funded by USAID, works to improve the business environment by broadening...

In Indonesia, the Foundation has been responding to the real and pressing needs of small businesses since 1996. The Partnership for Enterprise Policy Reform program, funded by USAID, works to improve the business environment by broadening private sector participation in government decisions on small business policy. The program is also enabling greater access to credit at the local level through a better functioning financial system. Lastly, the Foundation works to increase the availability of relevant technology and information to and among small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

With the advent of the policy of renovation (doi moi) in 1986, Vietnam has been able to achieve a consistently high level of GDP growth in the past decade (8.4 percent in 2005) and effectively address the problem of poverty. Much of this...

With the advent of the policy of renovation (doi moi) in 1986, Vietnam has been able to achieve a consistently high level of GDP growth in the past decade (8.4 percent in 2005) and effectively address the problem of poverty. Much of this explosive economic growth is a direct result of the government’s practical economic reforms to encourage private sector growth. Since the implementation of the Enterprise Law in 2000, Vietnam has registered more than 120,000 formal private companies, six times the number registered in the nine years before the law’s enactment. Yet, the benefits of Vietnam’s rapid economic growth have not been spread evenly across the country.

The global economic crisis has severely affected the export-dependent economies of Thailand and Vietnam, and threatens to undermine their development progress. The Asia Foundation (Foundation) is partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation to...

The global economic crisis has severely affected the export-dependent economies of Thailand and Vietnam, and threatens to undermine their development progress. The Asia Foundation (Foundation) is partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation to alleviate the impact of the recession in both of these countries, by supporting civil society organizations to provide legal aid and crucial social services to the most vulnerable populations, and working with local communities to develop new income-generation prospects that can link local traditions and institutions to market opportunities.

The global economic crisis has severely affected the export-dependent economies of Thailand and Vietnam, and threatens to undermine their development progress. The Asia Foundation (Foundation) is partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation to...

The global economic crisis has severely affected the export-dependent economies of Thailand and Vietnam, and threatens to undermine their development progress. The Asia Foundation (Foundation) is partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation to alleviate the impact of the recession in both of these countries, by supporting civil society organizations to provide legal aid and crucial social services to the most vulnerable populations, and working with local communities to develop new income-generation prospects that can link local traditions and institutions to market opportunities.

In late 2004, with support from Give2Asia, a U.S. non-profit organization established by The Asia Foundation, Byatshandaa and the MWFA constructed a poultry-training center to complement and strengthen MWFA’s vegetable training center....

In late 2004, with support from Give2Asia, a U.S. non-profit organization established by The Asia Foundation, Byatshandaa and the MWFA constructed a poultry-training center to complement and strengthen MWFA’s vegetable training center. Over the last year and a half, MWFA has trained more than 500 families in sustainable vegetable farming and poultry rearing. As a result, many families, like Doljin’s, have started their own small-scale chicken farming businesses, which can generate over $100-$180 dollars a year in extra income with as few as 10 chickens.

In late 2004, with support from Give2Asia, a U.S. non-profit organization established by The Asia Foundation, Byatshandaa and the MWFA constructed a poultry-training center to complement and strengthen MWFA’s vegetable training center....

In late 2004, with support from Give2Asia, a U.S. non-profit organization established by The Asia Foundation, Byatshandaa and the MWFA constructed a poultry-training center to complement and strengthen MWFA’s vegetable training center. Over the last year and a half, MWFA has trained more than 500 families in sustainable vegetable farming and poultry rearing. As a result, many families, like Doljin’s, have started their own small-scale chicken farming businesses, which can generate over $100-$180 dollars a year in extra income with as few as 10 chickens.

The Asia Foundation’s Women’s Empowerment Program is committed to improving the lives and livelihood of women throughout Pakistan. With over 54 years of experience on-the-ground in Pakistan, our programs include initiatives to...

The Asia Foundation’s Women’s Empowerment Program is committed to improving the lives and livelihood of women throughout Pakistan. With over 54 years of experience on-the-ground in Pakistan, our programs include initiatives to encourage women to vote, raise women’s awareness of their rights, and give women the skills to earn an income. The Asia Foundation has just completed a very successful 18-month long program to empower impoverished women in eight provinces in Pakistan. The goal of the project was to train women to use new technologies and understand markets so that they could become successful as entrepreneurs.