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Asia-Pacific trade and investment trends brief 2022/2023 : Australia
No full textThis brief covers recent trends and developments in trade and investment. It has been produced as an accompaniment to the Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Trends 2022/2023
Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) 2023
Get PDFBased on the United Nations Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade FacilitationThis report is part of a global survey effort on the implementation of trade facilitation and paperless trade measures, undertaken jointly by the five United Nations Regional Commissions for Africa (ECA), Europe (ECE), Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and West Asia (ESCWA) as well as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
This report unveils the findings of the 2023 United Nations Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation, focusing on the progress made in trade facilitation across the 7 United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) countries.
The report highlights that significant trade cost reductions could be achieved through the implementation of paperless and cross-border paperless trade measures, surpassing the impact of conventional trade facilitation measures. The Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific offers further opportunities for SPECA countries to promote their own initiatives and solutions as well as support the further advancement of their national Single Windows and ensure interoperability across borders.
For other reports and the results of the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation 2023, please visit http://wwww.untfsurvey.org</p
Asia and the Pacific SDG progress report 2023 : championing sustainability despite adversities
Get PDFThis report analyses progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific as well as the availability of data. It shines a spotlight on countries that have demonstrated a commitment to achieve sustainable development. Their progress has highlighted the necessity of improving on collecting high quality data and working collectively to achieve common goals. This report is a resource for all stakeholders involved in prioritization, planning, implementation and follow-up of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific.</p
APCTT Newsletter. January to June 2023 : Enhancing cooperation for technology transfer
Get PDFThis Newsletter is an attempt to apprise you about APCTT's initiatives, projects, and activities in the area of regional technology cooperation and transfer
Reducing the need to burn : how applying sustainable agricultural mechanization in South and Southeast Asia can improve air quality
Get PDFBurning of straw residue leads to air pollution and other adverse consequences, and is a serious concern in many countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This brief highlights the overall results and recommendations from a project on agricultural machinery-based solutions to address burning of straw residue in three countries in South and Southeast Asia, namely Cambodia, Indonesia and Nepal. The project was jointly implemented during 2021-2023 by ESCAP’s Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM) and Environment and Development Division (EDD) with financial support from the China-ESCAP Cooperation Programme. The brief is part of a series of four briefs. Populations in South and Southeast Asia experience some of the highest air pollutant concentrations in the world, that are around 2 to 15 times the WHO Air Quality Guideline level. The sources of these air pollutants vary from country to country, province to province, and city to city. However, a constant underlying source, particularly in agrarian communities during the dry/post-harvest season, is the burning of agricultural straw residue in the field. While quick and efficient, burning can negatively impact climate, human health, soil health, and economies while further stratifying societies. Furthermore, these fires can easily spread to become uncontrollable wildfires, which can cause further ecological and environmental damage. The practice of burning post-harvest straw residue is a major problem in South and Southeast Asia. Despite its negative consequences, it continues due to a lack of awareness and/or the resources to make changes towards more sustainable practices. Through the CSAM regional initiative, lessons have been learned via close engagement with farming communities and other key stakeholders on the drivers of agricultural burning and on local farming needs and conditions. Knowledge was shared and gained on sustainable mechanization-based straw management solutions, appropriate for local contexts, that can effectively incentivise using straw residue as a resource and reduce burning. If countries in South and Southeast Asia can find ways to avoid agricultural residue burning and reduce the amount of air pollutants and GHGs emitted from such burning, they can save lives, protect the environment, benefit farmers, and improve the overall productivity of their agriculture sectors. Financial support from the China-ESCAP Cooperation ProgrammeI. INTRODUCTION 3
II. PROJECT BACKGROUND 4
A. THE CSAM REGIONAL INITIATIVE ON INTEGRATED STRAW MANAGEMENT 4
B. IDENTIFYING KEY AREAS FOR INTERVENTIONS 5
III. PILOT PROJECTS ON INTEGRATED STRAW MANAGEMENT 6
A. PILOT SITES 6
B. KEY ACTIVITIES OF PILOT PROJECTS 6
1. WORKSHOP AND VIRTUAL DEMONSTRATION ON MECHANIZATION SOLUTIONS FOR STRAW 7
MANAGEMENT
2. STUDY TOUR ON MECHANISATION SOLUTIONS FOR INTEGRATED STRAW MANAGEMENT IN 7
THAILAND
IV. OVERALL RESULTS FROM THE PILOT PROJECTS 8
V. KEY LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PILOT PROJECTS 9
A. MAIN DRIVERS FOR AGRICULTURAL BURNING 9
B. MECHANIZATION SOLUTIONS TO SUIT LOCAL NEEDS AND CONTEXTS 9
C. ENGAGING KEY STAKEHOLDERS 9
D. TESTING AND DEMONSTRATION OF MACHINERY IN THE FIELD 10
VI. OVERARCHING POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS 10
A. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 10
B. MONITORING AIR QUALITY AND AGRICULTURAL BURNING HOTSPOTS 10
C. PREVENTION OF AGRICULTURAL STRAW RESIDUE BURNING 10
D. MECHANIZATION SOLUTIONS FOR INTEGRATED STRAW MANAGEMENT 11
E. ENGAGEMENT AND TRAINING OF KEY STAKEHOLDERS 11
F. ALIGNING POLICIES WITH THE SDGS 11
VII. SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS 11
VIII. REFERENCES 1
Inequality of opportunity in Asia and the Pacific : assessing birth registration in Fiji
Get PDFThis paper explores inequality in birth registration in Fiji by using Classification and Regression Tree methodology using data from Fiji’s recent Multiple Indicator and Cluster Survey (2021). The findings suggest that while on average 87 per cent of children have their birth registered in Fiji, birth registration can be as low as 59 per cent among furthest behind children. Children under 1 year of age and living in poorer households are less likely to have their birth’s registered with evidence for the i-Taukei community being disadvantaged. Extended models show that mother’s age and education interact with household wealth and child age in creating differences in birth registration. Finally, the paper also provides preliminary evidence for the positive impact of the Parenthood Assistance Payment Programme especially for poorer households.</p
2023 : Leaving no one behind : Nepal country brief
No full textMany people are left behind in access to opportunities.
Among poorer individuals over 35 years of age with lower education, 18% use the internet while 82% do not. Furthest behind group represents 11% of adult population.
Among children from poorer rural households with at least one sibling aged under 5, 42% are stunted. Furthest behind group represents 10% of all children under 5 years of age.
Among poorer urban households with lower education, 54% have access to basic sanitation while 46% do not. Furthest behind group represents 14% of all households.
Discover how social protection advances the commitment of leaving no one behind in Asia and the pacific. Explore more about social protection at spot.unescap.org.</p
