Our DECODED series unpacks, explains, and crystallizes issues critical for social investment in Asia. It draws upon our expertise in research and access to an extensive network of sector experts and philanthropists in 18 Asian economies, enabling us to identify emerging trends in the region. Through DECODED, we translate these concepts into digestible insights.
This edition of DECODED looks at the unique landscape of collaborative giving in Asia. In recent years, the global call for more collaboration to tackle significant societal challenges has grown louder. There is strong recognition that collaboration is critical in driving meaningful change at scale, and private sources of wealth have become an increasingly important source of capital that can be mobilized swiftly. However, the discourse around collaborative giving has been dominated by models and approaches emanating from the West, often neglecting the contributions of similar efforts in Asia. This oversight ignores the characteristics and nuances that distinguish Asian philanthropy. In Asia, we find that while interest in collaboration is high, actual attempts to create these mechanisms are more limited. Despite this, given the enormity of our shared challenges, we need to find ways to carry out more collaborative efforts.