Government restrictions on cross-border funding of domestic non-profit organizations (NGOs) are designed to control and limit the resources available to NGOs for use in their charitable activities and operations. This report presents the findings of an empirical study examining the extent and consequences of legal, regulatory and informal measures to restrict foreign funding of NGOs in nine countries in the Indo-Pacific region: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. In examining the consequences of foreign funding restrictions in these countries, the report focuses on how these barriers have impacted the fundraising capacity, activities and operations of NGOs, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when additional restrictions were introduced in some countries.
This report was authored by Dr. Natalie Silver, Senior Lecturer at The University of Sydney Law School and Dr. Natasha Balendra, independent research consultant.