"Social enterprise networks Driven by ICTs and social networking tools, more networks are emerging among social enterprises, investors and government departments. Social Enterprise Network Asia (SENA) is a good example, with SE members from various Asian countries. SENA was conceived as a way to foster further collaboration in the region, and emerged after the British Council facilitated a trip to the UK for SE professionals in the region to learn from the UK’s own experiences.

"Given the increasing complexity of social and environmental issues nowadays, governments in Southeast Asia are starting to recognize the significance of social enterprises as a potentially potent mechanism to address some of these problems. In Thailand, the government developed a Social Enterprise Master Plan 2010-2014 in the hope that it will contribute towards sustainable development. The Master Plan will be implemented through more supportive regulations when the National Social Enterprise Act, which is now in process, comes into force.

"In Malaysia a survey distributed to 6,488 young Facebook users showed that 75 per cent of youths considered themselves as social entrepreneurs aiming for both profits and social objectives (people and environment).

"In the Philippines, one of most well-recognized social enterprises in the country - Rags2Riches (R2R) - was set up by a group of students and young professionals....

Implications from Noviscape:

"The Philippines government launched the Philippines-Australia Community Assistance Program (PACAP), aiming to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development partly through social entrepreneurship. The program was set up as a grant and mentoring program to help community entrepreneurs develop their community development projects. PACAP has worked with over 500 NGOs and grass-roots organizations to support over a thousand community-based projects, benefiting 250,000 poor people. During its last phase (2005 - 2010) PACAP funded almost 500 more projects.

"The term ‘social enterprise’, though often heard, is used rather loosely, and its definition continues to be debated even in societies such as the UK or USA, where the so-called ‘Third Sector’ has enjoyed a long and active history. In general, the term is typically used to describe a business set up with the goal of addressing specific challenges in a community, society or on a larger scale.

"Digital Divide Data (DDD) was founded in 2001 in Cambodia by a group dominated by Western business consultants and technopreneurs. During their travels around Indochina, they encounter poverty, and yet perceive the region as an untouched human reservoir."

Growing religious fundamentalism in Southeast Asia is pushing women further into traditional roles. According to Noviscape, "among Muslim communities in Southeast Asia, there has been a rise in conservative Islamic forces, delimiting women’s freedom by reinscribing a strict dress code, prohibiting conversion, and placing restrictions around marriage across religious groups."

"In Indonesia and Malaysia, limits have been placed on movement of women through legislation. The influence of religion on government policy, particularly on sexual rights, has also been strong."

Governments in some countries in Asia are turning to immigrant labor to meet the needs of their aging populations. According to Noviscape, traditionally, migrant labor in the region was predominantly male, "the supply has increased due to farm mechanization and the lack of available jobs in their home countries. As a result, large numbers of young rural women have been forced out of their home villages to take unskilled or low-skilled work in cities in their own countries, or overseas."

Growing trade between China and individual Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) member countries are a "weak force" that is "pulling apart ASEAN integration."

Key issues in relationship between China and Southeast Asia:

[Issues id'ed by Noviscape, explanation by IFTF]

"The Spratly dispute" A territorial dispute over the Spratly Islands, some of which are claimed by China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei. The islands are a valuable fishing, shipping and oil and natural gas resource.

According to Noviscape, ASEAN member countries will soon have to make the food they export traceable "from farm to fork" to meet market demands. This will require coordination between ASEAN countries, which is challenging in itself, but could pay off in the long run with increased revenue. However, the region's poor may not see benefit and, instead, suffer.