The Value of AfA

6 days ago
2 min read

As the proud founder of the Asia for Animals (AfA) coalition and the current Chair of the AfA board, I believe the coalition plays a fundamental role in shaping animal protection in the region.

Initially established to act as a bridge to connect advocates between the all-important Asia for Animals Conferences, the coalition has grown into a mission-driven organisation led by a team of skilled advocates.

As individual animal protection organisations, we are experts in specific fields of animal protection relevant to the geographic areas and causes we work within. The coalition operates to harness the collective power of this experience to benefit more animals across the region.

The coalition has, in a short space of time, developed clear goals to support the collective aims of the movement. Facilitating cross-collaboration in fields of farmed, companion, and captive wild animal welfare, harnessing the expertise and previous experience of others at a global scale to guide actions to be taken at a local level, as similar issues arise.

As a founder member of the board, I have seen firsthand how the coalition team expertly coordinates these activities to drive forward animal protection causes in all corners of the region.

Amplifying the voices of grassroots animal protection organisations to policymakers, media platforms, and industries by delivering a collective voice, supported by 400+ member organisations, and offering solution-led recommendations for change.

Delivering training opportunities, resources, and campaign support to strengthen capacity and effectiveness, and bringing the movement together at the biennial conference and regional workshops to connect individuals, share best practices, and help to reset our agendas to support our individual and collective advocacy.

From its early days as the bridge to keep us all connected, the Asia for Animals Coalition has developed into a key organisation delivering strategic impact for animal protectionists in the region, strengthening collaboration, boosting advocacy, enhancing capacity, shaping policy influence, and uniting our voices for systemic change.