As more Asian economies enter super-aged status, there is heightened interest in the role of private capital and resources to support the region through this transition.

The Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society’s latest report, “Building Age-Friendly Societies in Asia,” examines how philanthropy and other forms of private social investment are complementing public systems and accelerating the rollout of much-needed solutions in the diverse economies of Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand.

Drawing on insights from over 100 leaders, experts, and practitioners, it examines how government efforts, philanthropy, corporate initiatives, and impact capital are already advancing solutions — from enabling older adults to age safely in their homes and communities, to strengthening caregiver capacity, catalysing inclusive silver markets, and deploying technology that enhances autonomy and connection.

The report identifies strategic priorities and lessons for philanthropists and private social investors seeking insights on how to approach this timely issue.

This report, commissioned by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Malaysia (ASEAN-BAC Malaysia) and conducted by the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS), offers the first comprehensive look at Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) across Southeast Asia. It highlights the private sector’s crucial role in addressing major regional challenges like improving livelihoods, access to education and healthcare, and tackling climate change.

With international financial aid to Southeast Asia decreasing and governments facing budget limits, this study was initiated to understand and boost private sector contributions to societal needs. While businesses in the region have a long history of supporting communities, and their investment is vital for development, CSR’s full potential is hampered by unclear definitions, limited regulations, and underused support systems.

To improve the impact of CSR, the report calls for coordinated action from ASEAN as an organisation, national governments, individual companies, and business groups.

Key recommendations include:

• Standardising CSR definitions and reporting across ASEAN.
• Introducing stronger policies and incentives, such as broadening tax benefits for corporate giving and promoting government-endorsed CSR awards.
• Increasing and strategically deploying CSR funds, moving beyond just education and healthcare to address critical issues like environmental protection.
• Encouraging more cross-border giving and regional collaboration.
• Clarifying how CSR fits within sustainability (ESG) frameworks for listed companies, ensuring community investment is explicitly included.

Ultimately, by improving and expanding CSR, ASEAN can not only deepen its commitment to community development but also become a leader for other Global South nations, enhancing its social and economic resilience.

In a study conducted by the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society to better understand the early childhood education landscape in Thailand, we found that in Thailand 85% of children aged 3-6 attend some sort of educational programme with a range of approaches designed to meet the diverse needs of its young learners. These programmes are primarily grassroots efforts and community-led solutions which allow even the most marginalised children, from urban slums to construction sites in the north, to receive enriching early educational experiences. Many of these holistic educational programmes incorporate reading, special education and environmental learning, showcasing a successful melding of diverse educational components.

Read the full article here.

Despite the rapid digitisation of the Asian social sector, social delivery organisations (SDOs) are struggling to keep up with technological changes because of inadequate access to digital infrastructure, lack of capacity and insufficient donor support, according to the Doing Good Index 2024. As technology continues to advance, a new type of digital divide is emerging that hampers the ability of the social sector to deliver products and services to the most vulnerable communities, said the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS), which created the index.

Read the full article here.

The Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society(CAPS),a uniquely Asia, independent, action-oriented research and advisory organization, released the 2024 edition of its flagship study, the Doing Good Index. The study finds that despite the rapid digitalization of the Asian social sector, social delivery organizations (SDOs) are struggling to keep up with technological changes due to inadequate access to digital infrastructure, lack of capacity, and insufficient donor support. As technology continues to advance, a new type of digital divide is being created that hampers the ability of the social sector to deliver products and services to the most vulnerable communities.

Read the full article here.

The Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS), a uniquely Asia, independent, action-oriented research and advisory organization, released the 2024 edition of its flagship study, the Doing Good Index. The study finds that despite the rapid digitalization of the Asian social sector, social delivery organizations (SDOs) are struggling to keep up with technological changes due to inadequate access to digital infrastructure, lack of capacity, and insufficient donor support. As technology continues to advance, a new type of digital divide is being created that hampers the ability of the social sector to deliver products and services to the most vulnerable communities.

Read the full article here.

CAPS’ biannual Doing Good Index identifies the factors that drive or hinder the giving and receiving of private social investment to address social needs.

Now in its fourth iteration, the Doing Good Index 2024 looks at how the four components of the Index—regulations, tax and fiscal policy, ecosystem and procurement—have changed in the last two years. The findings are evidence-based, derived from original data from surveying 2,183 nonprofits and social enterprises and interviewing 140 experts across 17 Asian economies. This iteration of the report also includes a special thematic section on the impact of digital technology on Asia’s social sector.

Against the backdrop of the tumultuous Covid-19 years, the 2024 Index shows a continuation of the status quo with few major changes. However, the lack of change is not necessarily bad, as stability lays the groundwork for the social sector to thrive. The report also finds that Asia’s social sector is insufficiently prepared for the technological future, held back by inadequate access to digital infrastructure, capacity constraints and insufficient donor support.

The Index offers a blueprint of the policies and practices that can unleash private social capital and how the public, private and social sectors can work together to build a stronger and more equitable Asia.

Doing Good Index microsite

Our interactive microsite lets you explore and compare our Index data using visual and digestible graphics. The economy profile pages present a deep dive into each economy and provide a longitudinal overview of select data points. The data dashboard allows you to compare economies with each other, the Asian average and over time.

The Doing Good Index is published every two years. Read the inaugural edition from 2018, our 2020 edition, and our 2022 edition.

Government procurement of goods and services from the social sector is mutually beneficial. It helps the government leverage the social sector’s subject expertise and community links to deliver more efficient and cost-effective social services while also providing legitimacy and a sustainable source of income to social delivery organizations. However, the potential benefits are contingent on the ease and accessibility of government procurement and broader factors contributing to an SDO’s capacity to fulfill needs.

This policy brief provides an assessment of the policy landscape of government procurement from the social sector in Asia and highlights four key findings:

1. Preferential government procurement policies in the social sector favor social enterprises over nonprofits.
2. Nonprofits are contracted mostly as knowledge partners and welfare service providers, whereas social enterprises are more likely to be suppliers.
3. Capacity issues are the biggest inhibitor of SDO participation in government procurement; these constraints range from production reliability to staffing to financial viability.
4. Large and older SDOs with existing government relationships crowd out smaller and newer SDOs.

Based on these findings, the policy brief identifies bottlenecks that limit the potential benefits of government procurement from the social sector and introduces recommendations for governments and SDOs to address specific issues.

Early childhood education (ECE) is foundational for lifelong learning and development, presenting unique challenges and opportunities for growth in Thailand. Amid the dynamic interplay of advancing educational goals within emerging Asian economies, the need for targeted, effective ECE interventions is increasingly evident. In Thailand, where 85% of children aged 2 to 5 already benefit from some form of ECE despite compulsory education beginning at age 6, the focus extends beyond enrolment figures.

The report delves into the ECE landscape in Thailand, providing a comprehensive analysis based on extensive research and insights from various stakeholders. Through the examination of a selection of 12 ECE initiatives by local NGOs, community organizations, and government-backed programs, the report uncovers the diverse mechanisms through which Thailand is addressing the needs of its youngest learners.

The study offers valuable insights into the innovative practices and challenges in delivering quality early education in Thailand. It underscores the important role of private investment—from corporations to individual philanthropists—in propelling the ECE agenda forward and offers recommendations to boost the sector’s effectiveness and sustainability.

Climate change and environmental degradation are increasingly impacting our society and have highlighted the necessity for collective action by individuals, governments, and the private sector. However, in a region where most economies are still emerging, striking a balance between ambitious environmental efforts and development goals adds a layer of complexity.

This report examines the ways in which Asian private capital—from corporations, investors and philanthropists—is being brought to bear on environmental challenges. Drawing insights from interviews with 163 individuals and experts from companies, foundations, and nonprofits across 10 Asian economies (Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand) we look at what actions local companies and organizations are taking to adapt to and mitigate environmental challenges. It provides unique Asian perspectives on climate action and offers recommendations for public and private sectors.

The report identifies four characteristics of the ways in which funders push resources towards environmental challenges, identifies the challenges companies and organizations face when doing so and presents recommendations and next steps for funders in this space.