The second Asia Philanthropy Congress in Tokyo explored the current state of diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) in Asia, the benefits of advancing DEI, and the role of the philanthropic sector in this process. The 2023 congress was also an opportunity to connect with other philanthropic organisations from across Asia, to learn from each other about best practices, and to explore collaboration for future social innovation.

Conference report

Time to ‘Talk the Walk’ on DEI in Asia

Fan Li, East Asia Regional Representative for Alliance

The Asia Philanthropy Congress 2023, held in Tokyo and Kyoto this month, marked its second year as a platform dedicated to fostering cross-sectoral collaboration to address social issues in the region. Organized by the Nippon Foundation, the largest foundation in Japan, the event brought together influential figures from foundations, philanthropy, NGOs, and other sectors across Asia, with a primary focus on the theme of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Like many global trends from impact investing to ESG, DEI is another concept that has been adopted from ‘the West’ by an increasing number of players across sectors in the region. What does DEI actually mean for different stakeholders in Asian society? Is DEI in Asia lagging behind, as indicated by global benchmarks such as the Gender Gap Index, or is it just different? What is the expected role of philanthropy? These questions were discussed extensively during the event. Read more…

Session snapshots

Asian Philanthropy Congress sounds a call for sports and art for all

Charlotte Kilpatrick, Alliance magazine

The second annual Asia Philanthropy Congress kicked off on December first at the beautiful Hotel Gajoen in Tokyo. The conference brought together speakers and attendees from multiple foundations, NGOs, and activist circles to discuss the future and sustainability of Asian philanthropy. The main focus of this year’s conference was diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in the philanthropy sector, with a special emphasis on disability rights.

‘We all have a commitment to catalyzing a social change ecosystem that is characterized and underscored by the spirit and philosophy of collaboration. Collaboration is at the core of everything AVPN does,’ said Naina Subberwal Batra, CEO of AVPN.

‘Our role and yours is to build the bridges that connect philanthropic leaders and foster an environment where the power of collective action can really be harnessed. All of us here today are not merely architects of change, but cultivators of a platform that promotes social transformation through dialogue and collaboration across Asia.’ Read more…

Coming soon!

• Alliance interview with Yohei Sasakawa, Chairperson of the Nippon Foundation
• An in-depth report into the 2023 congress in the March 2024 print issue of Alliance magazine