The Asia Foundation delivered PI Training to a pilot batch of North Korean entrepreneurs

May 27, 2021 – With the support of Community Chest and Startup Forum, The Asia Foundation Korea successfully delivered ‘Personal Initiative (PI) Training’ to the pilot batch of 10 current and aspiring entrepreneurs, who are mostly North Korean refugees. The 6-week online program aimed to enable the trainees to become more self-starting and future-thinking. Through a combination of lectures, facilitated discussions, and personal projects, the program also aimed to empower the trainees to overcome barriers throughout their business activities. The completion of the pilot program also marked the end of the ‘Training of Trainer (ToT)’ program, designed to equip five North Korean entrepreneurs with the capacity to deliver PI training for potential beneficiaries. Based on the lessons learned through the pilot training, The Asia Foundation plans to deliver PI Training to another batch of North Korean refugee entrepreneurs this summer. PI training is an alternat..

[Impact for Breakfast] The Asia Foundation launches a Policy Working Group on ESG and Impact Investment in Seoul

May 26, 2021 – The inaugural meeting for Impact for Breakfast (IFB) Seoul Policy Working Group was held in Seoul to develop policy recommendations to the Korean government on ESG and impact investment. The group is chaired by Congressman Junghun Cho and President Jinho Chung from The Wells Investment, a purpose-driven Venture Capital firm based in Seoul. Eighteen industry leaders from diverse sectors joined the discussion facilitated by The Asia Foundation and Merry Year Social Company (MYSC), who are serving as the Secretariat of the working group. Other participants include leaders in Korea’s ESG practitioners, pension funds, academia, lawyers, family offices, NGOs, as well as CEOs and Representative Directors of leading investment firms. This Policy Working Group was launched after the IFB February meeting, titled “Can Public Policy Unlock Korea’s Growth Potential in Sustainable Finance?” The IFB Policy Working Group aims to i..

Northeast Asian Perspectives on Sustainable Infrastructure Cooperation in the Era of COVID-19

In December 2020, The Korea Development Institute School of Public Policy and Management (KDI School) and The Asia Foundation organized a policy dialogue forum: “Northeast Asian Perspectives on Sustainable Infrastructure Cooperation in the Era of COVID-19” (the Forum). The Forum convened key experts and opinion leaders from China, Japan, Mongolia, and the ROK to exchange ideas on the latest trends, opportunities, and challenges related to sustainable infrastructure in Northeast Asia. The Forum’s ultimately goal was to build trust among participating countries and engender greater regional cooperation. Forum discussions centered on four major topics: 1) Reaching Consensus and Managing Trade-offs; 2) COVID-19, Technology, and Building for the Future; 3) Promoting Bankable Projects; and 4) Regional Dynamics and Cooperation. These topics encompassed various important and not insignificant obstacles that impede regional sustainable infrastructure cooperation. For each topic, this report analyzes cur..