Action Pathway
Engagement with Asia and Pacific
Economies in Asia and the Pacific are dynamic engines of global innovation and growth—but realizing their full potential to deliver prosperity for people will require inclusive and future-ready systems.
TAF collaborates with partners to shape forward-looking economic policies, foster innovation, enhance resilience, and build critical skills, ensuring that everyone benefits from opportunities and progress. We pay special attention to ensuring women, youth, and historically marginalized groups can prosper.
We help countries navigate demographic shifts, embrace emerging technologies, undertake energy transitions, and bolster environmental resilience. This work includes expanding digital and technological competencies, supporting sustainable infrastructure, and improving policies for the care economy. Through targeted partnerships and bold ideas, we help shape competitive, inclusive, and resilient economies.
Featured Program
Go Digital ASEAN
Through a network of local partners, the program equips micro-entrepreneurs with critical skills and tools to flourish in the digital economy.
Impact
The Asia Foundation’s economic empowerment efforts tackle structural barriers and equip vulnerable populations with knowledge, networks, and tools to build sustainable livelihoods.
Laos
The digital ToolaKit app supports 8,000 entrepreneurs—equally men and women—boosting their e-commerce capabilities and awareness of regulatory frameworks.
Mongolia
The Women’s Business Center — the country’s first women-only incubator — has reached over 14,800 women in more than a thousand sessions, supported 8,700 active members, and graduated 116 entrepreneurs from accelerator programs.
Philippines
Through the ACCELERATE program, former combatants and marginalized women participate in branding, marketing, digital skills training, mentoring, and coaching, along with small grants. They showcase artisanal products nationally—opening new markets and rebuilding livelihoods in a post-conflict context that historically saw only ~50% of women employed.
Bangladesh
As featured under “Increasing Women’s Economic Opportunities,” small businesses are supported through pitch competitions, capacity-building, and integration into broader entrepreneurial ecosystems—highlighted by the “Charting the Course” program supporting female-led MSMEs.
Opportunities
The Asia Foundation adopts an inclusive approach to economic empowerment, equipping underserved communities, women, youth, and small and growing businesses with the skills, mentorship, networks, and support needed to access and thrive in the digital economy and in green jobs. Together with local partners, governments, and with support from multinational and regional companies, we deliver scalable and inclusive digital and financial skills programs aligned with national and regional priorities.
TAF’s initiatives have trained over 1M individuals and MSMEs through financial literacy, cybersecurity, and green skills programs across 13 countries
Digital adoption and cyber resilience drive competitiveness and job creation; financial literacy and access to capital unlocks investment
Policy engagement, localized curricula, and university clinics create scalable models
related programs
Let’s Read
Creating supportive reading environments where children can access free, relevant books and engaging learning opportunities.
Advancing Women’s Leadership in STEM
The growth of Pakistan’s tech economy depends on bringing more women into the sector. We help young women build STEM skills, launch startups, and provide practical solutions to community problems.
Building a Cybersecurity Ecosystem
To support Pakistan’s growing digital economy, we help small businesses and nonprofits strengthen cyber safety while training students for cybersecurity jobs.
2025 funders
