Oxfam GB in East Asia
There are 18 countries in the East Asia region with a combined population of about 2.1 billion
Rapid economic growth since the 1960s has brought hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. However, despite this impressive success, there is a parallel story of rising economic inequality, continued discrimination and social exclusion of women and ethnic minorities, and high levels of vulnerability to economic shocks, natural and conflict-related disasters.
Oxfam aims to tackle the root causes of poverty and suffering in East Asia by supporting women’s economic leadership, helping develop accountable and effective governments, and building resilience to climate change, disasters, and conflicts.
We have more than 300 staff and work with more than 530 partner organisations in Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. We also support projects in China.
Today, more than 210 million people in East Asia or nearly half of the combined population of Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam are still living on less than $2 a day.
Rapid economic reforms have led to market conditions where small producers are simply not equipped to compete. Lack of government support for agriculture often leaves small-scale farmers and fisher folk trapped in cycle of debts, making them more vulnerable to economic shocks.
While a great number of poor people rely on natural resources for income and food security, access is limited. There is real concern that land rights risk being traded off for rapid development. In Cambodia, for example, land grabs have pushed poor people deeper in poverty, while many laws and policies tend to favour the elite rather than protecting the rights of the poor.
Natural disasters such as cyclones and typhoons are common in East Asia where climate change has also exacerbated their impact. Communities in Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, and Vietnam are all particularly vulnerable, but lack the resources to adapt and mitigate the effects of disasters. High rates of population growth, expanding human settlements, and increasing land privatisation intensify resource problems and increase the severity of natural disasters.
Women and ethnic minorities are often excluded from leadership roles and participation in the decision-making processes that affect them. They also lack economic opportunities and access to quality education.
Ongoing political conflicts in the Mindanao region of the Philippines and southern Thailand threaten the security and livelihoods of women and men living in conflict areas, and keep them from reaching their full economic development potential.
In East Asia, Oxfam focuses on three main themes:
- Supporting women’s economic leadership
- Building accountable and effective governments
- Helping governments and communities build their resilience to climate change, disasters and conflict
Building the leadership capacity and economic opportunities for women
Oxfam empowers women in marginalised communities to realise their rights, and encourages women to participate in decision-making processes. We also support civil society organisations in addressing inequality.
We work with small-scale women farmers and partners in Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to gain access to markets, and set up community-based enterprises that help them earn the best possible price for their products.
Building accountable and effective governments
Oxfam works with communities in Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand to lobby governments on better access to land and natural resources, and increased investment in agriculture and climate change adaptation. This is crucial for sustainable livelihoods and food security of poor women and men in the agricultural sector.
We work with ethnic minority communities in Vietnam and Philippines to help prevent children from dropping out from school by improving the quality of education. We continue to influence policy and practice at provincial and national levels by working with governments to replicate best practice for the benefit of all children.
In Thailand and Philippines, Oxfam calls on governments to enable access to affordable medicines, HIV and AIDS diagnosis and treatments. We continue to campaign globally for a change to world trade rules on drug patents, which often put essential medicines beyond the reach of poor people.
Improving community and government resilience to climate change, disasters and conflict
East Asia is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world. Oxfam focuses on helping communities to be prepared for natural disasters through disaster risk reduction while continuing to deliver rapid humanitarian assistance.
We support local partners and governments in Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam to build their capacity to be prepared for, and cope with natural disasters. We also lobby local and national authorities to do more to support those affected by natural disasters.
In 2004 we launched a large-scale response to the Tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia, and we responded quickly to support those affected by Cyclone Nargis when it hit Myanmar in 2008. In Mindanao, Philippines, we work with partners to provide humanitarian assistance and call for the protection of civilians in times of conflict.
We recognise the impact of climate change on poor women and men in agriculture. Oxfam works with partners and governments in Thailand and Viet Nam to help small-scale farmers adapt to climate change and secure their means of making a living.
East Asia Regional Centre
(and Thailand)
Regional Director: Sarah Ireland
Regional Programme Manager: David Macdonald
Country Director: Yowalak Thiarachow
Postal address:
Oxfam GB, East Asia Regional Management Centre
Floor 11A, Q.House Convent Bldg,
38 Convent Rd., Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok,
Thailand 10500
Phone: +66 (0) 2 632 0033
Fax: +66 (0) 2 632 0038
Media contact: Uamdao (Ben) Noikorn unoikorn@oxfam.org.uk
General information: eastasia@oxfam.org.uk
Cambodia
Country Director: Francis Perez
Postal address:
Oxfam GB in Cambodia
#13, St 475, Sangkat Tumnub Tuk
Khan Chamcar Morn
Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Phone: +855 23 212 353-5
Fax: +855 23 211 873
E-mail: phnompenh@oxfam.org.uk
Indonesia
Country Director : Antonia Potter
Postal address:
Oxfam GB – Indonesia country office
Jl. Taman Margasatwa no. 26
Ragunan - Jakarta Selatan 12550
Indonesia
Phone : (021) 7811827
Fax : (021) 7812321
Media contact: Dian Kartikasari dkartikasari@oxfam.org.uk
General information: jakarta@oxfam.org.uk
Philippines
Country Director: Lilian Mercado Carreon
Postal address:
Oxfam GB in Philippines
4th Floor
150 Corporate Centre
150 Panay Ave.
Quezon City
1100 Philippines
Phone: +63 (2) 929 4470
Fax: +63 (2) 927 0499
Media contact: Glenn Maboloc gmaboloc@oxfam.org.uk
General information: manila@oxfam.org.uk
Vietnam
Country Director: Steve Price-Thomas
Postal address:
Oxfam GB in Vietnam
22 Le Dai Hanh street
Hai Ba Trung district
Ha Noi
Vietnam
Phone: +84 4 39454362
Fax: +84 4 39454365
Media contact: Nguyen Thi Hoang Yen nthyen@oxfam.org.uk
General information: ogb-vietnam@oxfam.org.uk
