In September 2013, the Working Group on Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace and the Global Fund for Community Foundations convened a small group of grassroots indigenous foundations in Shillong in the North East of India. The convening was hosted by the Foundation for Social Transformation – Enabling North East India and included foundations from India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia.

The convening aimed to provide a platform to these foundations to learn from one another to strengthen their organisational capacities, and to work as a group to develop community philanthropy for progressive social change in Asia.

The attached report summarizes the key characteristics of these foundations as emerging from group work during the convening. Its purpose is to set out the emerging themes form the conversation in Shillong and explore ways in which the practice of philanthropy for social justice and peace in the region can be deepened and broadened.

Amelia Fauzia, Vice Director of the newly formed Social Trust Fund, talks about the social justice issues and the philanthropic potential in Indonesia that necessitated the formation of the Social Trust Fund and the vision of the Fund for creating a model for social justice philanthropy in the country.

Click on the attachment below to read the full interview with Amelia.

Earlier this month (on September 10 and 11, 2013) the Working Group on Philanthropy for Social justice and Peace and the Global Fund for Community Foundations convened a small group of grassroots indigenous foundations in Shillong in the North East of India. The convening was hosted by the Foundation for Social Transformation – Enabling North East India and included foundations from India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia.

The convening aimed to provide a platform to these foundations to learn from one another to strengthen their organisational capacities and to work as a group to develop community philanthropy for progressive social change in Asia.

The foundations that participated in the convening are diverse in many ways – they describe themselves as women’s funds, community foundations, peace funds, social justice funds and each of them operates in its shifting and specific country context.

Subnational Conflict and International Development Assistance

Thomas Parks, Nat Colletta, Ben Oppenheim

Subnational conflict is the most widespread, enduring, and deadly form of conflict in Asia. Over the past 20 years (1992-2012), there have been 26 subnational conflicts in South and Southeast Asia, affecting half of the countries in this region. Concerned about foreign interference, national governments limit external access to conflict areas by journalists, diplomats, and personnel from international development agencies and non-governmental organizations. As a result, many subnational conflict areas are poorly understood by outsiders and easily overshadowed by larger geopolitical issues, bilateral relations, and national development challenges. The interactions between conflict, politics, and aid in subnational conflict areas are a critical blind spot for aid programs. This study was conducted to help improve how development agencies address subnational conflicts.

For more information visit http://asiafoundation.org/publications/pdf/1226

Sumitra Mishra, Country Director of iPartner India talks about the unique and important role of "intermediary" organisations and their "value added" in the process of philanthropic giving.

Click on the attachment to read the interview.