future of work — LIRNEasia


LIRNEasia’s Senior Research Manager, Gayani Hurulle, was invited to conduct a session on Leveraging Digitalization for Inclusive Growth at a regional workshop on Best Practices for Accelerated Pro-Poor and Inclusive Growth Initiatives, held from 24 to 26 June 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. The event was jointly organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the BIMSTEC Secretariat, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The workshop brought together government officials and experts from BIMSTEC Member States: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, along with representatives from ASEAN countries, think tanks, and development organizations. The goal was to share knowledge and experiences on strategies that have successfully addressed poverty and supported inclusive economic growth. In her session, Gayani shared insights from LIRNEasia’s nationally representative surveys conducted in 2017/2018 (After Access) and 2021, to highlight gaps in access and usage, and insights from two case studies on social protection and labour.
The EQUALS Global Partnership launched its 2025 Research Report, titled “Evidence to Impact: Advancing Gender Empowerment in the Digital Age,” at the WSIS Forum 2025. The report focuses on providing fresh global insights into gender and digital transformation, and emphasizes the urgent need for gender-inclusive digital development. The report is the result of a collective effort to advance the global conversation on digital gender equality, featuring exploratory research, case studies, and evidence-based initiatives from EQUALS partners worldwide. The EQUALS Research Report 2025 is organized into four thematic sections: Digital Skills, Digital Inclusion and Education, Digital Economy, and AI and Cybersecurity. This report serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners seeking the most up-to-date evidence and tools for closing the gender digital divide across multiple levels.
LIRNEasia, with the support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), is pleased to announce the second Call for Proposals under the FutureWORKS Asia initiative. We are inviting proposals for gender-responsive, solution-oriented, and policy-relevant applied research projects that will help shape a sustainable and inclusive future of work in Asia. As the Asia-Pacific region navigates the complex impacts of technological change, demographic shifts, and climate change, it is more critical than ever to ensure that evidence-based policy solutions guide our responses. The first round of research projects supported under FutureWORKS Asia focused on diagnosing key challenges facing workers and economies across the region. With this second call, the focus shifts toward generating actionable solutions.
We are pleased to announce that the selection round of the Cycle 1 of FutureWORKS Asia has officially concluded. After a thorough review process, we have selected five grantees who proposed innovative and impactful projects that address critical challenges and opportunities in the future of work to make it more inclusive and sustainable in the Global South. These projects will not only contribute to shaping policies and practices in their respective contexts but also serve as the foundation for building an Asian network focused on this vital area of research. Here are the selected projects and their organizations for this first round of funding: Opportunity and Resilience in the Philippine Platform Labor Economy: Policy Imperatives for Skills Development and Social Protection Amid Climate and Technological Change by De La Salle University – Social Development Research Center (Philippines) Digital Disruption and Climate Stress: Assessing Impacts on Nursing Work and Charting a Resilient, Equitable, and Gender-Responsive Work Landscape by Women in Global Health – Philippines (WGH-Ph) The Care Economy Roadmap for Sri Lanka – Charting the Way Forward by Centre for Poverty Analysis (Sri Lanka) Gender Implications of Future of Work in South Asia: Insights from the Garment Manufacturing in Bangladesh and India by […]
LIRNEasia is excited to introduce the newly formed project Advisory Board for FutureWORKS Asia. As LIRNEasia continues to lay the groundwork to build and nurture an Asian research network that addresses the key policy challenges of inclusive and sustainable work outcomes for the region, esteemed colleagues, Payal Arora,  Julie Yujie Chen,  Amar Gokale, and Anja Kovacs join us as our inaugural Advisory Board. Through their combined expertise and experiences,  they will help LIRNEasia to shape the FutureWORKS Asia research network by providing strategic input and advice on research priorities and projects, ensuring that the research remains relevant, inclusive, and insightful. FutureWORKS Asia ,  LIRNEasia, focuses on pivotal issues such as digital technological advancements (especially AI), climate change and its transitions, demographic shifts, and the impacts of globalization. These megatrends are significantly altering job markets, disrupting traditional employment models, and amplifying inequalities.
The FutureWORKS Asia project is an initiative aimed at fostering high-quality, policy-relevant research on the evolving world of work in Asia, with a particular focus on gender, equity, and inclusion. The project seeks to address critical issues such as advancements in digital technology (particularly AI), climate change, the climate transition, demographic shifts, and globalization. These megatrends are reshaping job markets, disrupting traditional employment patterns, and exacerbating inequalities. Through comprehensive and diverse research approaches, FutureWORKS Asia aims to provide solutions to these pressing challenges. On 07th of June 2024, the Call for Proposals (CFP) was published, inviting researchers to submit their proposals for this significant opportunity.
LIRNEasia is inviting proposals for gender-responsive, policy-relevant applied research projects that contribute to a sustainable and inclusive future of work. This call is supported with funding from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) The complete Call for Proposals can be found here. The deadline for proposal submissions is 1800hrs Indian Standard Time, 19th July 2024. An information session will be organised on the 24th of June week to assist potential applicants in understanding the CFP and the project as a whole.  Register here to receive details about the upcoming information session.