November 30, 2023 — The New York Times highlighted The Asia Foundation’s local partner in Indonesia, HAkA, for their efforts to protect, conserve, and restore the Leuser Ecosystem using a women-led forest defender initiative. Through our environmental governance unit, the Foundation supports HAkA to empower women traditionally excluded from forest protection. This support equips them with essential tools to engage in conservation, restoration, and the community governance efforts necessary to uphold the initiative. Even though, most often, women are the ones who feel the direct impact from env ..read more

November 20, 2023 — To address the urgent need for collaboration and a path towards a more sustainable future between the U.S. and China, the world’s two largest greenhouse gas emitters, The Asia Foundation is introducing the first cohort of 2030 Climate Champions Fellowship. Comprising a cohort of ten young environmental leaders from the U.S. and China, the fellowship aims to promote greater cross-cultural dialogue between youth in both countries through a partnership with the U.S. Mission to China and the China Association for NGO Cooperation (CANGO). The 2030 Climate Champions Fellowship wi ..read more

November 28, 2023 — On November 10, Indonesia National Heroes Day, in the City of Heroes, Surabaya, The Asia Foundation and Agna Komunika launched the book Perempuan Penjaga Hutan (Women Forest Defenders). The book is a product of our environmental governance unit’s work in the SETAPAK program, with contributions from women leaders in villages that receive support for forest defense efforts. It documents the experiences of women forest defenders in three provinces: Aceh, Bengkulu, and Central Sulawesi. The stories in the book exemplify the resilience and determination of women forest defenders ..read more

From November 7-10, 2023, The Asia Foundation’s environmental governance program in Indonesia collaborated with partners PUPUK Surabaya and Gender Focal Point to host the first “Women and Youth Forest Defenders National Conferences and Congress; Nurturing Forests, Empowering Equality, and Safeguarding Livelihood Resilience,” in Surabaya. The forum was joined by 14 Civil Society Organizations from Aceh to Merauke, Papua, and aimed to strengthen the capacity and collaboration of women and youth forest defenders. Since 2015, our environmental governance unit in Indonesia has implemented a gender ..read more

Ulaanbaatar, November 22, 2023 — The Asia Foundation Mongolia Country Representative Mark Koenig received the highest civilian honor awarded to foreign citizens by the Mongolian government, the Order of the Polar Star, during a recent recognition event. H.E. Zandanshatar Gombojav, the speaker of the State Great Khural (Parliament) of Mongolia, presented  Koenig with the award at the Government Palace in Ulaanbaatar on November 15.  Mongolia‘s President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh issued a presidential decree to recognize Mark Koenig with the Polar Star for his valuable contributions to Mon ..read more

November 20, 2023 — To address the urgent need for collaboration and a path towards a more sustainable future between the U.S. and China, the world’s two largest greenhouse gas emitters, The Asia Foundation is introducing the first cohort of 2030 Climate Champions Fellowship. Comprising a cohort of ten young environmental leaders from the U.S. and China, the fellowship aims to promote greater cross-cultural dialogue between youth in both countries through a partnership with the U.S. Mission to China and the China Association for NGO Cooperation (CANGO). The 2030 Climate Champions Fellowship wi ..read more

November 17, 2023 — The Asia Foundation, in partnership with the Development Policy Centre at Australian National University (ANU), will host the 2023 Australasian Aid Conference December 5-7 at ANU’s Crawford School of Public Policy. This year’s themes include locally-led development, gender equality and social inclusion, climate resilience, and aid effectiveness. Now in its ninth year, the Australasian Aid Conference (AAC) unites researchers from Australia, the Pacific, and beyond who specialize in aid and international development policy to facilitate knowledge sharing, foster collaborative ..read more

November 17, 2023 — On November 15, The Australian Embassy and The Asia Foundation announced the second phase of the Ponlok Chomnes: Data and Dialogue for Development in Cambodia program to strengthen Cambodia’s knowledge sector and inclusive policy processes. In addition to keynote remarks from H.E. Ros Seilava, Secretary of State, Ministry of Economy and Finance, representatives from the government, development partners, think tanks, universities, civil society organizations, and media attended, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the development program. The event also marked the avail ..read more

At the half-way point for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, where we are, how we can move forward, and a shout-out to Adam Smith. The post Markets, Motives, and Micro-Finance: A View of the SDGs appeared first on The Asia Foundation ..read more

In Bangladesh, a collaboration with UNESCO will bring young and old together in two ethnic communities to share and document traditional narratives. The post In Bangladesh, Preserving Indigenous Culture through Storytelling appeared first on The Asia Foundation ..read more