The Asia Foundation

A Case Study of Bangladesh

Occasional Paper No. 1, July 2010

In the midst of the recent financial and economic crisis, factory owners in Bangladesh showed remarkable confidence in the future of their industry in Bangladesh....

A Case Study of Bangladesh

Occasional Paper No. 1, July 2010

In the midst of the recent financial and economic crisis, factory owners in Bangladesh showed remarkable confidence in the future of their industry in Bangladesh. But, if the country wants to expand and remain competitive, this paper finds, it will need to make investments in human capital and technology, rather than just reduce input costs. The paper offers policy recommendations to improve efficiency at the factory level and suggests reforms to the business environment that could provide an overall boost to the economy as a whole. Research for this paper included extensive interviews with factory workers and government officials, and seven focus-group discussions with 33 factory workers.

Dr. Sanchita Banerjee Saxena, Associate Director, Center for South Asia Studies, University of California, Berkeley, Véronique Salze-Lozac'h, Regional Director for Economic Programs, The Asia Foundation

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

Occasional Paper No. 3, September 2010

This paper sketches out the operational features of emerging political economy-based approaches to sectoral economic policy reform. Section 1 traces some of the literature on the political...

Occasional Paper No. 3, September 2010

This paper sketches out the operational features of emerging political economy-based approaches to sectoral economic policy reform. Section 1 traces some of the literature on the political economy analysis of reforms. Section 2 outlines the international development community’s increasing recognition of the political economy aspects of economic governance, and their efforts to undertake sharper political economy analysis of reform challenges. Finally, in Section 3 the paper identifies elements of operational reform approaches that move beyond disengaged political economy analysis towards on-the-ground implementation of political strategies in policy reform processes.

V. Bruce J. Tolentino, Director, Economic Reform and Development, The Asia Foundation

Occasional Paper No. 4, October 2010

To examine the critical issues surrounding the global challenge of food security, The Asia Foundation joined with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),...

Occasional Paper No. 4, October 2010

To examine the critical issues surrounding the global challenge of food security, The Asia Foundation joined with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for a major conference, "Food for All: Investment Forum for Food Security in Asia and the Pacific," at the ADB headquarters in Manila from July 7-9, 2010. Douglas Bereuter, president of The Asia Foundation, moderated a key plenary session on "Fostering Food Security Through Regional Cooperation and Integration." Eminent food security economist Peter Timmer laid out the challenges, opportunities, and likely action points for achieving shared food security. We are pleased to reproduce his remarks in this, the fourth in our continuing series of Occasional Papers.

Occasional Paper No. 5, March 2011

A review of the basic theoretical and programmatic rationale for the series of Economic Governance Indices (EGIs) conducted by The Asia Foundation in countries throughout South and Southeast Asia,...

Occasional Paper No. 5, March 2011

A review of the basic theoretical and programmatic rationale for the series of Economic Governance Indices (EGIs) conducted by The Asia Foundation in countries throughout South and Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia.

Occasional Paper No. 6, June 2011

A brief paper examining how civil society organizations take advantage of the increased opportunities created by decentralization to influence local policy outcomes in urban areas of Indonesia,...

Occasional Paper No. 6, June 2011

A brief paper examining how civil society organizations take advantage of the increased opportunities created by decentralization to influence local policy outcomes in urban areas of Indonesia, focusing on the cities of Semarang and Pekalongan. 

Occasional Paper No. 8, November 2011

A brief paper that examines the institutional and programmatic challenges involved in implementing rigorous impact evaluation through the experience of The Asia Foundation.

This paper was...

Occasional Paper No. 8, November 2011

A brief paper that examines the institutional and programmatic challenges involved in implementing rigorous impact evaluation through the experience of The Asia Foundation.

This paper was also included in the International Conference on U.S.-Korea Dialogue on Strategies for Effective Development Cooperation held on October 17-18, 2011 in Seoul, Korea.

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.

Occasional Paper No. 13, April 2012

This paper begins with descriptions of some of the critical challenges to democratization in Bangladesh. While electoral challenges are included, the paper seeks to look beyond elections and describe...

Occasional Paper No. 13, April 2012

This paper begins with descriptions of some of the critical challenges to democratization in Bangladesh. While electoral challenges are included, the paper seeks to look beyond elections and describe other factors that can have a profound impact on the quality and quantity of democracy experienced by the average person. The second section examines potential approaches to addressing these challenges.

Occasional Paper No. 11, April 2012

Formal and Informal Governance 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...

Occasional Paper No. 12, May 2012

This paper introduces development entrepreneurship, a model to assist development agencies and practitioners introduce transformative institutional change that significantly improves the lives of...

Occasional Paper No. 12, May 2012

This paper introduces development entrepreneurship, a model to assist development agencies and practitioners introduce transformative institutional change that significantly improves the lives of millions of people. Development entrepreneurship combines the technical and political dimensions of reform to uncover the principles to finding "technically sound, politically possible" reforms.

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.

Occasional Paper No. 17, October 2012

China is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the world and faces both domestic and international pressure to curb its emissions and contribution to climate change. Recognizing its role...

Occasional Paper No. 17, October 2012

China is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the world and faces both domestic and international pressure to curb its emissions and contribution to climate change. Recognizing its role and potential for being a leader in addressing climate change, China has developed various policies and measures to address the issue. This paper presents a case study from The Asia Foundation-CEEPR project in an attempt to answer the following questions: What are the challenges to engage SMEs in the low carbon transition process in China, and what hurdles exist？ What are the opportunities in the low carbon transition, and what incentives might be put in place to promote the transition?

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.

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.