BY RINA LOPEZ Rina Lopez is the President and Executive Director of the Knowledge Channel Foundation, a powerhouse providing quality educational materials for pre-school and K-12 levels for the most disadvantaged sector of the Philippine economy—school children enrolled in the public education system. She has been a member of Asia Philanthropy Circle (APC) since 2019, and recently joined the Board in July 2022. She was recently named as one of Forbes Asia’s “2021 Heroes of Philanthropy” for her tireless work to ensure continuing access to quality education for children, especially during COVID-19. We invited her to share some of her…
What We’re Reading: Re-envisioning Early Childhood Policy and Practice
The Harvard Center’ on the Developing Child‘s most recent report introduces “ECD 2.0″, which adds three new concepts to the present understanding of Early Childhood Development. BY VANESSA GOEH Many APC members are supporting Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiatives to improve outcomes in the region—such as the APC Regional ECD Research, which looks at different ECD policies and programmes across Indonesia, Philippines, and China, or the 1000 Days Fund, which looks at addressing stunting in Indonesia. Thus, it is necessary to keep abreast with the most recent developments in the ECD field. We recently came across the Harvard Center on the Developing’s…
Creating Impact Beyond Philanthropy
Members came together for a session focusing on impact investing and ESG, and how to utilise all the assets at their disposal beyond capital to drive positive social change. BY RUNCHEN HUANG Since 2020, APC has been hosting Calls for Collaboration to enable members extend the impact of their philanthropy—through opportunities to share projects they are supporting with fellow members in order to find common interests and new ways to collaborate with each other. In our first Call for Collaboration in 2022, members came together for a session focusing on impact investing and ESG, ending with a showcase of impact funds…
Philanthropy and Countering Future Pandemics
Where can philanthropy contribute in pandemic preparedness to prevent the devastating effects of another global pandemic? BY THERESA CUA APC had the interesting opportunity to invite “The Batman”, as well as two “Supermen” at a recent roundtable dialogue with APC members—that is to say, eminent guests Professor Wang Linfa (Duke-NUS School of Medicine), renowned for his research into bat-borne diseases; Professor Sir Peter Horby (Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford), credited for leading the biggest global clinical trials for the COVID-19 treatments we benefit from today; and Professor Gavin Screaton, who heads the School of Medicine at the University of…
Carbon Markets: Challenges & Opportunities for Asia
As companies and companies turn to carbon offsets in order to achieve net-zero emissions, what role can philanthropy play in the carbon credit ecosystem? BY SARAH TAM As companies and governments build out their net-zero roadmaps, many have turned to the promise of carbon offsets—measurable, verifiable emission reductions from certified climate action projects—to offset their emissions, while driving an economic model for conservation. If executed well, these projects can deliver benefits beyond reducing emissions, such as improving health, women’s empowerment, and conservation. Yet, while carbon markets appear to be a win-win for protecting public land and achieving net-zero. Critics argue that carbon…
Building a Stronger Philanthropic Ecosystem in Asia
How does the role of philanthropy in society need to evolve in these troubled times? BY JIA XIAN SEOW The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) recently announced its intention to spend US$9 billion annually by 2026—a 50% increase over pre-pandemic spending levels. With an endowment now totaling an estimated US$70 billion, one would not be faulted in wondering whether the world’s second largest philanthropic foundation may presume to be the global authority on effective giving for the world’s greatest needs. Instead, speaking to APC members a Fireside Chat in June 2022, BMGF CEO and Board Member Mark Suzman’s tone…
Unlocking Cross-Border Philanthropy in Asia
What are the motivations, challenges, and barriers donors face in giving across the region? BY THERESA CUA Asia is home to an estimated 36% of billionaires globally, and two-thirds of the world’s poor—presenting immense opportunities for regional giving. Philanthropy continues to hold enormous potential for addressing major challenges in the region as wealth continues to rise; harnessing even just 2% of GDP in Asia towards philanthropic giving would unleash some US$701 Billion—or 28% of the cost for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. However, philanthropists in Asia face significant barriers to giving. Complex taxation laws, regulatory policies, the limited…