Asia Centre Podcast

S1E3 | Competence, Culture, and Competition: The Operational Code of Asia Centre

Asia Centre's Big Ideas: Competence, Culture, and Competition: The Operational Code of Asia CentreWhat does it take to build a "bubble of competence in a sea of incompetence"? For Dr James Gomez, founder and Regional Director of Asia Centre, the answer led to expanding across four countries and multiple hubs — while holding the line against shrinking civic space, aid collapse, and an information ecosystem increasingly flooded by AI-generated disinformation. He returns to the show to unpack the operational reality of running a multinational CSO in Asia: the talent challenges, the cross-border fault lines, and the high-stakes question of whether AI can be trusted to support — rather than distort — civil society research. Hosted by Kelvin Param.

S1E2 | Freedom from Academia: How Unencumbered Research Empowers Civic Action

Asia Centre's Big Ideas: Freedom from Academia ─ How Unencumbered Research Empowers Civic Action What happens when academic conventions get in the way of speaking truth to power? Dr James Gomez walked away from the ivory tower to build something more agile — founding Asia Centre on the principle of "freedom from academia." By replacing the strictures of academic institutions with collective expertise and real stakeholder input, he's created a model that's faster, sharper, and that can be harnessed for advocacy and capacity-building bringing the research closer to the ground — and one that's actively equipping civil society leaders in Asia to challenge power on their own terms. Hosted by Kelvin Param.

S1E1 | The Donut Model: A Self-Funding Architecture for Civil Society in the Trump 2.0 Era

Asia Centre's Big Ideas: The Donut Model ─ A Self-Funding Architecture for Civil Society in the Trump 2.0 Era The return of the Trump administration in 2025 triggered a $60 billion reduction in U.S. foreign aid, dismantling the USAID structure and leaving a 'seismic disruption' in its wake. So when the grants stop, how does the work continue? As legacy INGOs retreat, local organisations are stepping up with a new, adaptive financial model. Dr James Gomez, founder of the Asia Centre, explains how his organisation bypassed the donor mentality through self-funding infrastructure and diversifying into a range of revenue-generating activities to overcome the funding crunch. Hosted by Kelvin Param

The U.S. Foreign Aid and The State of Democracy in Asia

What happens to democracy when the funding stops? In this session, we explore the crucial role U.S. foreign aid has played in promoting democratic values and human rights across Asia, and what’s happened since that aid was suspended. Discover which local organisations once received U.S. support, the challenges they now face, and how they’re adapting. We’ll also assess the shifting landscape of democracy in the region, and what this means for the future of democracy in Asia.

Young Voters in Sri Lanka: and the Role of Youth in South Asia’s Politics

In this episode of the Asia Centre Podcast, recorded on 2 October 2024, host Fatin Arwaeputeh explores the critical role of youth in shaping democratic developments across South Asia, with a special focus on Sri Lanka’s 2024 Presidential Election. Joined by guest speaker Saritha Irugalbandara, they discuss how young voters are emerging as a driving force in the region’s political landscape, with their participation playing a crucial role in influencing electoral outcomes and shaping governance. This episode examines the challenges young people face in engaging with the electoral process—from low voter registration in India to Sri Lanka’s relatively high youth turnout. We explore the barriers limiting youth participation, the impact of their involvement in elections, and strategies to strengthen their role in democratic processes. Join us as we analyse youth engagement trends, discuss policy solutions, and highlight the power of young voices in shaping South Asia’s evolving democracy.