| Curated news on Who's Doing Good in Asia
The need to revive Sri Lanka's social sector is urgent. CAPS' Doing Good Index found that only a quarter of surveyed social sector organizations feel optimistic about the sector's future, less than half the Asian average of 56%. While the factors inhibiting the delivery of social services are embedded within the larger context of the country's economic and social challenges, there are still steps that can be taken to make improvements. Join us on November 30 for an online presentation of key findings, in partnership with the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka.
Addressing climate change and environmental challenges in Pakistan and Indonesia. In flood-afflicted Pakistan, the social sector is stepping up to provide assistance to communities. Climate activists are working to build resilience and local networks, noting that the South Asian region is particularly exposed to extreme climatic conditions. In Indonesia, a global non-profit alliance has pledged US$36 million to help battle the country's ongoing plastic pollution problem. The CEO of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste says that mobilizing philanthropy is a "crucial initial step in developing, deploying and de-risking sustainable solutions that may be scaled and repeated for greater effect."
"Hong Kong is ideally placed to be a regional hub for family offices", writes South China Morning Post. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu aims to attract 200 top international family offices to expand their operations in the city. Hong Kong's supportive pillars as a global financial hub are expected to benefit the wider community, provide employment opportunities and boost innovation and technology, explains Asia Business Council. The recent collaboration between financing platform Choco Up and social enterprise network Dream Impact is a great example of innovation at play. The partnership aims to deploy US$5 million as booster capital to support social enterprises and ventures to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
The evolution of payment technologies has shifted Taiwanese's preference towards online donations. A recent survey conducted by the Taiwan NPO Self-Regulation Alliance highlighted local's preference for web donation platforms and use of digital wallets. Use of LINE Pay, a digital wallet, is more popular among 20- to 29-year-olds. The Chinese-language report provides further insights into the various opportunities and challenges presented by digitalization in the social sector (English article on the report here).
Funding roundup: Retired Singaporean businessman Loh Kiong Poot has donated S$3 million (approximately US$2.18 million) to six different charitable organizations across the city, including to support healthcare and low-income families. "If you have excess money, why would you keep holding on to it? If you can donate and help people, just donate. That's my principle." In Korea, vaccine manufacturer SK Bioscience has given ₩3 billion (approximately US$2.26 million) to the International Vaccine Institute to support research and development. The company hopes that the Covid-19 pandemic can motivate greater public- and private-sector cooperation for health. And Prince Foundation has donated US$200,000 to Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation (CKF) to support the provision of free healthcare for children.
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