Global Best Practices for CSO, NGO, and Other Nonprofit Boards

CHAPTER 3Asia

OVERVIEW

Usha Menon

The 21st century will be the Asian century. This also means that Asia will be expected to provide greater leadership to solve global challenges.

Kishore Mahbubani, Dean at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, n.d.¹

Asia as a region is characterized by diversity in culture and in socioeconomic and political systems, which results in each nation taking different measures to build and enhance accountability, transparency, and organizational effectiveness of nonprofits. Across Asia NGOs are engaged in a range of services, from social services, health, education, the arts, and national development to more complex areas, such as environmental protection, saving and credit, advocacy, and human and land rights. Governments and the market have started to recognize and accept the role of NGOs as policy and community partners, and in improving the governance of societies and nations. With this increased prominence, greater influence, and greater interaction with the state and the market, comes the heightened need for higher standards of accountability from stakeholders, such as government, regulators, donors, civil society networks and partners, beneficiaries, and the community. That being said, there are still some governments that are attempting to shut down NGO activities related to areas deemed sensitive and that are using state-controlled media to tarnish the public image of rights and advocacy NGOs.

The NGO sector across Asia has transformed over ...