AVPN Asia

Asia-Pacific’s continued progress depends on the full inclusion of its 2.3 billion women and girls across economies, in classrooms, in health systems, and in the decisions that shape their communities. Yet women and girls across the region continue to face compounding barriers, such as limited access to finance and economic opportunity, persistent gaps in education and healthcare, and climate shocks. At the current pace of progress, full gender parity remains 123 years away.

Season Two of The Gender Agenda podcast continues with a conversation on one of the most fundamental building blocks of women’s empowerment: financial inclusion. Hosted by Kelly Latimer, the episode features Halima Iqbal, Founder and CEO of Oraan, and Veronica Colondam, Founder and CEO of YCAB Foundation.

Season Two of The Gender Agenda podcast continues with a conversation on one of the most urgent and interconnected challenges facing women and girls across Asia: gender-based violence and modern slavery. Hosted by Kelly Latimer, Episode Four features Katharine Bryant, Director of Walk Free and co-author of the Global Slavery Index, alongside Sohini Bhattacharya, Senior Advisor to the Accelerator for Shifting Gender Norms through Education and AVPN Gender Equality Ambassador.

When 14-year-old Si Sros in Cambodia struggled to see the lessons and classwork on her computer screen, she began to consider dropping out of school. The barrier between her and her education was not a lack of motivation or ability. It was her vision. A simple pair of glasses changed that. With clear sight, Si Sros could return to learning, participate more fully in class and continue building her future. Her story is personal, but not unusual.

Education is one of the most impactful investments a country can make. It supports economic growth, better health, gender equity, climate resilience and future skills. When education improves, other outcomes improve too. Yet the investments with the greatest potential impact are often expected to deliver results most quickly. Education systems do not work that way. They change over time, shaped by policy, teaching practice and local context. This creates a clear challenge.

This report is designed as a practical tool for philanthropic foundations, corporate and family offices, public-sector entities, and international partners seeking to understand, navigate, and collaborate within Saudi Arabia’s impact ecosystem. It provides a structured analysis of how the ecosystem is evolving in alignment with Vision 2030, mapping key actors, institutions, and capital flows that shape impact outcomes in the Kingdom.

This piece unpacks the lived reality of heat stress in India’s dyeing industry, drawing from fieldwork in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. It shows how rising temperatures affect factory conditions and negatively impact the wellbeing of workers. Through on-ground accounts, it highlights the systemic gaps that leave small units vulnerable. Each summer, India breaks new temperature records, and talks of heatwaves and climate change gain urgency.

Nonprofits across Southeast Asia are doing more to meet the region’s rising social and environmental needs. Yet, the support they get from funders and intermediary organisations falls far short of providing what they need to invest in operational capabilities such as leadership development, governance and strategy. In a three-country survey, almost three-quarters cite limited access to multiyear funding as a major constraint.

Asia, home to over half the world’s population, stands on the frontlines of a rapidly changing planet. From intensifying floods and heatwaves to worsening food and water insecurity, climate-driven shocks are disrupting lives, livelihoods, and futures across the region. To navigate these complexities, the region requires an additional USD 1.1 trillion annually to strengthen infrastructure and safeguard vital public health, food, water, and energy systems.

The Climate-Health Challenge Climate change is no longer a distant environmental threat in Asia-Pacific—it is a growing health emergency. Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and the spread of diseases are placing increasing pressure on vulnerable communities and health systems.