Asia.

Webinar: What is the Price of Peace? Voices of Afghan Women

As peace negotiations with the Taliban begin, the stakes are high for Afghan women. The wrong deal could unravel years of progress and leave women without a voice in their society.

Dr. Susanne Jalbert on the Price of Peace for Afghan Women

As peace negotiations continue with the Taliban in Afghanistan, the stakes could not be higher for Afghan women. The wrong deal could unravel years of progress and leave women without a voice in their own society.

How do you design an app for COVID-19 financial relief?

Chemonics’ Vice Catudio explains how the USAID E-PESO activity collaborated with the Philippine government, private sector, and communities to develop an app for quick, contactless financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Young Women in Afghanistan Train to Become Tomorrow’s Leaders

Through the USAID PROMOTE: Women in Government program, young women in Afghanistan are getting the opportunity to participate in internship programs that train them to be the next generation of leaders.

Dismantling Barriers to Business in Vietnam

In just one year, Vietnam rose 14 places in the World Bank Doing Business Report by improving ease of doing business in the country. Diep Nguyen of the USAID Vietnam Governance for Inclusive Growth Program explains how.

01 05

Projects
Impact Stories
News and Blog

Building Climate Finance Capacity in Nepal

Strengthening Nepali local governments’ ability to manage green funds can spur investment in and accelerate climate action.

A Fruitful Future for Bangladesh

Healthy market systems in Bangladesh can help agribusinesses flourish while sowing the seeds for food security.

Spurring Inclusive Growth in the Philippines

Government efficiencies and private sector reform are key for maximizing inclusive growth in the Philippines.

Transforming Economic Governance in Vietnam

Local institutions in Vietnam must be equipped with the resources needed to maximize growth.

Introducing the Rule of Law in Myanmar

Building a transparent and inclusive justice sector is a critical step to improving legal rights for Myanmar’s people in the wake of recent political transition.

Promoting Tourism in Timor-Leste

As Timor-Leste invests in an inclusive and sustainable national tourism strategy, the country is emerging as an “off-the-beaten-path” destination for adventure travelers and eco-tourists.

Ensuring Quality Education in Afghanistan

To fulfill the goals in Afghanistan’s National Education Strategic Plan, the Ministry of Education is improving its services, procedures, and systems.

Improving Health and Human Capital in Bangladesh

A sustainable, gender-sensitive, pro-poor social enterprise is helping Bangladesh get closer to achieving universal health coverage.

Connecting Space to Village

Science, satellites, and information technology are transforming how countries manage critical development challenges such as climate resilience and environmental management.

Cutting-edge Technologies in Global Health Supply Chains

To improve access to high-quality health products worldwide, the USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management project employs cutting-edge technologies and industry best practices to make global health supply chains more efficient and reach more people.

Modernizing the Sri Lankan Judicial System

As Sri Lanka transitions to a more inclusive and democratic society, its government is reinforcing principles of judicial independence, accountability, and efficiency.

A Stronger Private Sector in Pakistan

Socioeconomic stabilization of vulnerable areas in Pakistan is of strategic interest and an urgent priority of the U.S. government.

Accelerating Agricultural Growth in Pakistan

In the most populated region in Pakistan, new policy and investment is giving a boost to agribusinesses and creating economic growth.

Reforming the Justice System in Indonesia

Reforms to the Indonesian justice system are bringing positive changes to the Supreme Court and Attorney General’s Office.

Elevating Pakistan’s Enterprises

With structured financial and business support, small- and medium-sized enterprises in Pakistan are reaching their full potential.

Promoting Sustainable Agriculture in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is working to strengthen the agriculture sector in western provinces, where a significant portion of the population relies on farming and agribusinesses.

Helping Indonesian Coastal Communities Adapt to Climate Change

In Indonesia, coastal communities must adapt to climate change and remediate destructive fishing practices to protect millions of jobs and the country’s economy.

Helping the Maldives Face Climate Change

The Republic of the Maldives is determined to improve how its government and citizens prepare to deal with disasters related to climate change, such as rising sea levels and dangerous storms.

Investing in Afghanistan’s Future

Supporting and training micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises in Afghanistan, which comprise 80 percent of the labor force, has strengthened the country’s financial sector.

Supporting Water Sector Programs Around the World

USAID missions and country partners often require quick-response technical assistance to plan, design, and implement water sector programs.

View All Projects

Relief Is Just an App Away in the Philippines

How does a country with a cash-based economy quickly provide subsidies during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic slowdown? In the Philippines, the government and the USAID E-PESO activity have collaborated with the private sector to create an app that provides fast financial relief to millions of people.

Tipping the Scales for Workplace Gender Equity in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, women have faced systemic barriers to working outside the home. A USAID project focused on gender equity in the workplace reshaped its own human resources practices to promote gender equity for its staff and achieved surprising results.

Love & Sustainability in the Philippines: A Journey to Self-Reliance

In the Philippines, a couple is putting 10 years of lessons learned from participating in USAID projects with Chemonics into practice. Marie Rose and Jacinto embody how development works by sustainably improving maternal and childcare in their community for generations to come.

Unlocking Innovation in Pakistan’s Private Sector

In Pakistan, promising small and medium-sized enterprises are turning their innovative ideas into reality — and improving livelihoods — with a boost from a special grant fund.

Recent reforms have helped Kosovo make it easier for entrepreneurs to register and grow businesses.

A Roadmap to Reform

In Kosovo and Vietnam, the World Bank’s Doing Business Report is providing a framework that helps governments reshape the private sector’s role in advocating for and promoting economic growth.

A New Trade Horizon for Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization is the culmination of more than a decade of legislative and business reforms to better position the country on the global trade stage.

The Journey to Inclusive Finance in Afghanistan

With geographically far-reaching activities targeting rural citizens and women, the FAIDA program drastically improved Afghanistan’s financial landscape.

Trailblazers for Wildfire Preparedness in the Philippines

After a series of wildfires broke out in the Philippines, the B+WISER program is helping revamp the country’s approach to fire management.

Historic Policy Changes in Vietnam Extend Rights

As the Vietnamese economy continues to grow at a rapid pace, transgender groups are leveraging historic policy changes to break down barriers to opportunity.

A New Spin on an Old Crop

Farmers in Sri Lanka are using new techniques to revive chili production and promote economic and financial stability in the Anuradhapura District.

Technology to Empower Women in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, mobile banking technology is increasing women’s access to financial services, helping them conduct secure business transactions and grow their businesses.

The Cost of Not Adapting

A recent assessment of the economic impact of climate change in Indonesia highlighted the major environmental, economic, and health challenges that the country will face from now to 2050.

Protecting Farmers Through Safe Pesticide Use in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan farmers commonly use pesticides incorrectly, which puts them at risk. New posters are teaching farmers important messages about pesticide safety.

Harnessing Technology to Protect Forests and Biodiversity in the Philippines

Conservation efforts in the Philippines mobilize user-friendly technology and government, community, and private sector partnerships in the fight against deforestation.

Introducing Innovative Agricultural Methods in Sri Lanka

New technologies and training are helping farmers in northern and eastern Sri Lanka apply innovative agricultural methods to increase their productivity and market competitiveness.

View All Impact Stories

Combatting Human Trafficking During COVID-19

Human traffickers prey on people in crisis, and the global economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health restrictions have left many people desperate for necessities and vulnerable to deceptive and unscrupulous economic exploitation. At least in Myanmar, people are becoming increasingly desperate for employment and are willing to overlook known risks of…

News: Chemonics Does Digital Health

Digital health presents new opportunities to contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 3, to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages. We are proud to promote technological development and engage the workforce necessary to harness and leverage the power and possibility behind digital health. Next week, Chemonics will join more than 1,000 digital health practitioners…

News: USAID Awards “Digis” to Two Projects Implemented by Chemonics

The USAID Awards for Digital Development (“the Digis”) recognize projects and activities that apply digital technologies and data-driven approaches to meet development objectives. In 2020, projects implemented by Chemonics earned two of the five Digis USAID awarded from a pool of 140 applications. Among this year’s winners, the Pakistan Small and Medium Enterprise Activity (SMEA)…

For the Women of Afghanistan, Peace with the Taliban May Not End the War

This post originally appeared on Devex. On August 14, while traveling back to Kabul from a meeting in Afghanistan’s northern Parwan province, Fawzia Koofi was the target of an assassination attempt. Though she was not seriously wounded and though the Taliban denied responsibility, the attack demonstrated what is at stake for Afghanistan’s women as peace…

A man approaches a store owner and his acquaintance at a small store in Afghanistan

Lasting Peace in Afghanistan Powered by Broad-based Economic Growth

This post originally appeared on Devex. As negotiations between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban raise hopes for peace, it remains as important to stay focused on what comes next. It is time to start thinking about, and working toward, prosperity and the conditions that will ensure the entire country can realize the dividends from…

Talk of Peace Sparks Hope and Fear in Afghanistan

The history of conflict in Afghanistan is as old as I am. I was born in Nangarhar, Afghanistan in 1978. As a young man, I lived under the Taliban regime. Now, with renewed peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban underway, I am trying to imagine life without war in my home country.…

Building a Financial Services Market Where There Wasn’t One

Emerging economies such as Colombia, Philippines, and South Africa offer sophisticated financial sectors that historically failed to reach marginalized groups. In Colombia specifically, this left rural areas largely unbanked and excluded from the broader economy, after decades of war. In four years, USAID/Colombia’s Rural Finance Initiative (RFI) — implemented by Chemonics — has linked more…

Woman talking to a community health worker in Indonesia

Recommendations for a Diverse, Sustained Health Workforce

There are simply not enough health workers to meet the basic health needs of all people worldwide. This prevents development practitioners from contributing to higher-performing health systems, as we struggle to make the most with the health professionals we have available, who are often concentrated in urban areas, working in professional silos, and failing to…

Our Shared Responsibility: Combatting Sexual Violence through Prevention and Response

A recent study conducted in the United States found that 81 percent of women and 41 percent of men have experienced some form of sexual harassment or abuse in their lifetime. While limited data makes it difficult to quantify the global scale of sexual violence, stories of street and workplace harassment across the world are…

Despite Challenges, Urban Microgrids Increase Resilience

Urban microgrids are high on the global development agenda. They are attractive for many reasons, most recently for their relevance to climate change adaptation and mitigation. They have proven resilient to extreme weather events, and, because they create commercial opportunities for low-carbon generation technology, they can reduce greenhouse gases from the urban sector in the…

Coding ‘Thinking and Working Politically’ into a Project’s DNA

For decades, the international development community has struggled to prove its effectiveness by ensuring that programs deliver politically viable solutions that respond to locally led processes. Guaranteeing these principles is a shared responsibility between donors and implementers. While donors need to shed the straitjackets of untested theories of change, pre-established project activities, and onerous reporting…

News: Innovation, Technology, and Advancing the SDGs at ICT4D 2019

Digital technology has had a profound impact on global development across sectors and in many parts of the world. From April 30 to May 3, public, private, and civil society organizations from more than 80 countries will convene for the 2019 Information and Communications Technology for Development (ICT4D) Conference in Kampala, Uganda. Now in its…

The Power of a Picture: Elevating Women’s Voices through Art

The global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign calls for the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence (GBV). It takes place every year between November 25 and December 10, culminating on Human Rights Day. Human Rights Day celebrates universal rights — including the rights to life, liberty, and security — that are…

The Politics of Biodiversity: Two Experiences with Thinking and Working Politically

What do forest and species loss have to do with politics? A great deal, in fact. Conserving and protecting natural resources involves a complex set of power dynamics, interests, and economies — licit and illicit — that affect how a program can operate within an existing local system. Biodiversity programming must embrace a Thinking and…

Afghan women participate in the USAID’s Promote: Women in Government (WIG) project's one-year training program.

Empowering Women and Cultivating Equitable Governance in Afghanistan

Afghanistan ranks near the bottom of virtually every index measuring gender equality and empowerment. Women continue to struggle for basic rights, including gender parity in health care, education, economic opportunities, social inclusion, and political participation. Amidst a deteriorating security situation, political instability surrounding upcoming national elections, and economic volatility that is a product of both,…

News: USAID and Chemonics Selected as Government Innovation Awards Winners

Chemonics updated this story on September 9, 2019. The transformative power of information technology (IT) infiltrates the day-to-day lives of people around the world — from the once-remote communities who now embrace social media to the youth who were excluded from finance but are now using mobile money. Across geographical borders and technical sectors, IT…

Learning from the Past: 3 Lessons for Future Water Partnerships

Safe and reliable access to water is a fundamental prerequisite for development. Despite gains made in improving water management and increasing access to water around the world, service providers continue to confront technical and financial resource deficits. International donors are increasingly highlighting the investment gap for infrastructure and services as a key impediment to achieving…

Equipping for Expected and…Unexpected Outcomes: The Convergence of Economic Growth and Governance

Sustainable development requires attention to the multiple dimensions of economic, political, and social complexities, all of which interconnect. We know from our own experience that economic growth leads to changes in society and, thereby, corresponding changes in the relationships among government, private sector, social structures, and institutions. For example, increased international trade is likely to…

From the Philippines to Colombia: Three Insights to Bridge the Usage Gap in Financial Services

What are the barriers to usage of digital financial services? What are the most effective ways to drive uptake? Modern financial solutions, spurred by internet and mobile access, present an important opportunity to make transactions more efficient. These digital innovations can save time and transportation costs for bank and client alike while building credit history…

Filling a Critical Gap in Afghanistan

In the context of Afghanistan, political instability, physical insecurity, and slow economic growth often limit the potential for private investment and partnership. As such, it’s not so much about whether or not the government and donors are engaging with the private sector, but rather if they are using the right mechanisms at the right time…

View All News and Blog