BY JASMINE KHIN, ASSOCIATE Today’s complex issues require not only strategic and collaborative philanthropy, but also a strong, supportive ecosystem to unlock its full potential. In September 2023, APC hosted a sharing session with EMpower, an organisation dedicated to enabling youths, particularly girls, to exercise agency and have a greater say in decisions that shape their lives. This gathering brought together APC members from Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam to learn more about what they do. Over the past two decades, EMpower has forged partnerships with 125 organisations across 15 emerging markets to centre youth protagonism—that is, putting youth at…
The 3Cs of venn2023: Community, Capital, and Collaboration
BY ANUSHIA KANDASAMY, APC MALAYSIA REPRESENTATIVE Today’s complex issues require not only strategic and collaborative philanthropy, but also a strong, supportive ecosystem to unlock its full potential. This year’s venn—APC’s annual member gathering—brought three themes to the forefront: community, capital, and collaboration in philanthropy amidst an ever-changing, complex, and volatile world. In a content-packed two days bringing together more than 100 members and guests, venn2023 presented the unique opportunity for participants to engage with a cross-section of organisations both in Singapore and the region, exchange ideas and experiences with one another, and learn from inspiring leaders with two stellar keynote…
Building Asia’s Philanthropy Ecosystem
BY SUE TOOMEY, HEAD OF COMMUNITY AND ENGAGEMENT Today’s complex issues require not only strategic and collaborative philanthropy, but also a strong, supportive ecosystem to unlock its full potential. At APC, we often discuss the power of philanthropy to bring about significant social impact, and to address some of Asia’s most pressing challenges. However, today’s complex issues require not only strategic and collaborative philanthropy, but also a strong, supportive ecosystem to unlock its full potential. Yet, philanthropy ecosystems in Asia remain fragmented and under-resourced, with limited regional or local investment in strengthening and sustaining them. In September, APC hosted a…
In Conversation with Landesa: Pathways to Progress in Asia
BY SARAH TAM, CLIMATE LEAD How does securing land rights accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals? Land rights are a foundation for better lives—they provide shelter, economic empowerment, upward mobility, and food security. When people and communities hold secure rights to land, efforts to tackle climate change are more successful. This is all the more important in a region like Southeast Asia, home to an estimated 100 million smallholder farmers. Yet for many — particularly women and Indigenous Peoples — secure land rights are rarely accessible. So, how are communities securing rights to their land in Asia?…
The Road Ahead: What next after COP28?
BY SARAH TAM, CLIMATE LEAD Following the UAE Consensus at the end of COP28, what are the key takeaways for the Global South, and what next for APC’s work in climate? This year, COP28 brought together a record-breaking 97,000 delegates: negotiators, politicians, business leaders, philanthropists, and civil society organisations—all converging in Dubai to deliver a new era of climate action. After two weeks of negotiations, COP28 delivered the UAE Consensus, which lays out a response to the Global Stocktake and puts forward a plan to close gaps to 2030 targets laid out in The Paris Agreement: transition away from fossil fuels…
Creating Pathways of Hope for Rohingya Refugees
BY KOON PENG OOI, PROJECTS MANAGER AND IRIS TAYAG, UNHCR APC members, Kathleen Chew and Stanley Tan, and ACF donor, Janet Lim, recently supported a second cohort of Rohingya refugee students in Malaysia to pursue higher education in the Philippines through the UNHCR’s Complementary Pathways (CPath) programme. The CPath programme provides refugees with access to protection services and a safe, regulated entry and residence in the country. It also aims to enhance their skills and self-reliance, guiding them towards the cessation of their refugee status. What distinguishes this initiative from other scholarship programmes is its unique offering for refugee students…
Music is the space between the notes
BY CAROL TANDEPUTY CEO, ASIA PHILANTHROPY CIRCLE Amidst the fever-pitch excitement and breakneck schedules at COP28, I found myself reflecting on the emerging—and much needed—voice of Asia on the green development challenge before us. Across Asia, learning loss from the pandemic is stark reality. As is the hopelessness that refugees and migrants often face, or the calamitous effects of climate change that frontline communities face. Against the backdrop of on-going wars in Ukraine and Gaza, it is also clear that social and environmental well-being are necessary ingredients for peace and vice-versa. But I also find myself asking: what is Asia’s…
Which way to a flourishing future?
BY LAURENCE LIENCO-FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN, ASIA PHILANTHROPY CIRCLE APC is evolving to contribute much more to the development of the philanthropy ecosystem, with our members as anchor and base. When we started APC eight years ago, our focus was on growing our membership, convening them so that we can learn from and inspire one another, and catalysing collaborative action. Our excellent team at APC has achieved a strong foundation for this. Part of our intent was also to contribute to thought leadership and ecosystem-building. This has taken a while longer to grow, and I think we are seeing a bumper…
Asia Community Foundation ready to (soft) launch!
BY ABBIE JUNG, ASIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION After more than a year of incubation at APC, we are excited to announce the soft launch of Asia Community Foundation (ACF), the region’s first Asia-focused community foundation! Based in Singapore, ACF is designed to help individuals, families, foundations, and family offices with their philanthropy and advisory needs. With its expertise and resources, ACF aims to make it easier for donors to create a positive impact in Asia. Asia has a long history of charitable giving. However, giving across borders remains limited for many reasons; key challenges facing donors include a lack of understanding…
High-impact climate giving in Vietnam
BY SARAH TAM, PROGRAMME LEAD (APC CLIMATE COLLECTIVE), ASIA PHILANTHROPY CIRCLE Strap in for an adventure! After a year of virtual meetings, APC Climate Collective members and friends from Singapore, Hong Kong, and Vietnam were thrilled to finally gather in Ho Chi Minh City for two days of learning and exchange. The trip was packed with all sorts of exciting highlights! One of the most unforgettable experiences was discovering the amazing climate work that Climate Collective members are supporting in Vietnam, which brought us from stunning rice fields to a bustling university in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City….