Press Releases

Thursday, September 14, 2017 - 6:30am

BANGKOK — Under the Feed the Future initiative in Asia, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is building a diverse regional agricultural innovation community to test, adapt and share the latest practices and technologies with smallholder farmers in South and Southeast Asia’s emerging markets, with a focus on Bangladesh, Cambodia and Nepal.

On September 13 and14, 2017, this community came together in Bangkok at the Tech4Farmers Asia Challenge 2.0 event to explore issues that impact agricultural innovations reaching smallholder famers. This event focused on exploring ways to increase access to markets, identifying opportunities for finance and investment and highlighting efforts aimed at improving the enabling environment.

USAID's Steve Rynecki (left) presents the "Social Impact of the Year Award" to Rob Nazal of BPI Globe BanKO (center) in a ceremo
Monday, November 17, 2014 - 2:15am

At the recent Mondato Summit Asia in Singapore, three “Social Impact of the Year Award” finalists showcased their efforts to make a social impact on emerging Asia with their mobile financial services (MFS) products. The winner was selected from the three finalists by a panel of judges based on their presentations during the Summit. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) commended the three finalists and awarded BPI Globe BanKO with the prize.

Being LGBT in Asia: Mongolia Country Report
Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 2:45am

Mongolia’s first report assessing the challenges for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities reveals they still face discrimination despite significant government policy changes that protect their rights. There is still societal homophobia and transphobia and LGBT people encounter social stigma and even violence in various settings such as families, employment, health care and public areas.

Friday, October 17, 2014 - 11:00pm

Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a $1.3 million grant to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for a new behavior change campaign to fight human trafficking and exploitation in the Asia Pacific region.

Urban Resilience Competition Recognition Award winners (center) pose with USAID and UN officials.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - 6:00am

Three Urban Resilience Competition winners today showcased their ideas on building resilient cities that can withstand the negative effects of climate change and rapid urbanization. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Habitat and United Nations Global Pulse commended these projects at a two-day Asia Urban Futures Workshop. “All three competition winners offer solutions that have the potential to transform an increasingly urban Asia,” said Manpreet Anand, Deputy Assistant Administrator of USAID’s Asia Bureau. “They demonstrate innovative and sustainable ways to build resilience that engage the whole community.”

NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement satellite enhances understanding of the earth’s water and energy cycles.
Monday, October 6, 2014 - 9:15pm

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) today announced a five-year project that will promote the use of satellite imagery to help Asia’s Lower Mekong region better predict and cope with floods and other natural disasters and increase resilience to the negative effects of climate change. 

USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia Director Michael Yates examines app to help address wildlife trafficking.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - 4:00am

BANGKOK, September 17, 2014 – Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Freeland today launched WildScan, a new endangered species identification and response mobile application for law enforcement to use in combatting the multi-billion dollar illegal wildlife trade. 

Being LGBT in Asia: Thailand Report
Tuesday, September 16, 2014 - 3:00am
BANGKOK, September 16, 2014 – Thailand’s first report assessing the challenges of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities in the country concludes that LGBT people report they face widespread social stigma and are afforded few job opportunities. Released today, the “Being LGBT in Asia” Thailand Country Report – a joint analysis by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – highlights a contradiction between Thailand’s public face of tolerance toward LGBT communities and the reality of discrimination toward them. The report found that while the tourism authority actively promotes Thailand as a gay tourist destination, acceptance of non-traditional sexualities in Thai society is still perceived to be low.
Participants discuss climate change financing opportunities at the USAID Adapt Asia-Pacific Third Annual Forum in Siem Reap, Cam
Monday, September 15, 2014 - 12:30am

More than 100 government officials from 20 nations in Asia and the Pacific, including some of the region’s least developed countries, are meeting with donor institution representatives in Siem Reap this week to learn how to strengthen their public financial management systems to better access and handle financing for climate change adaptation projects. Organized by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the two-day USAID Adapt Asia-Pacific Third Annual Forum is a platform for participants to share experiences and identify solutions to climate financing challenges.

Monday, September 8, 2014 - 11:00pm

JAKARTA – More than 120 representatives of Asian civil society organizations (CSOs) gathered for the September 8, 2014 opening of a three-day conference in support of the role of regional CSOs. The conference is co-hosted by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Government of Indonesia, U.N. Development Programme, The Asia Foundation and Kemitraan.

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