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Poverty in Asia and the Pacific : taking stock of ESCAP's work on poverty
No full textThis working paper presents a brief overview of the latest status of monetary and non-monetary poverty in Asia and the Pacific and takes stock of ESCAP’s work in this area by synthesizing inputs received from ESCAP's substantive divisions and the SROs. Building on these sections, the working paper discusses the role of ESCAP for regional collaboration in poverty reduction. The insights will help identify the cross-divisional collaboration on poverty-related work across ESCAP including upcoming flagship publications.Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................... 4
I: Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 5
II: Trends on poverty in Asia and the Pacific ........................................................................................ 6
III: Overview of ESCAP work on poverty .............................................................................................. 9
IV: ESCAP role for regional collaboration in poverty reduction ................................................................ 12
V: Way forward ............................................................................................................................... 1
Report. Fifth session of the SPECA Working Group on Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development
No full textCountry chair: Kyrgyzstan, 27 June 2024The fifth session of the SPECA Working Group on Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development (WG on ITSD) was jointly organised by the ESCAP and UNECE secretariats in a hybrid format (in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and online through Zoom) and chaired by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic on 27 June 2024. Delegations from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan (online), Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan along with representatives of the ESCAP and UNECE secretariats participated in the session. Representatives and experts from international and regional organizations, as well as the business sector and academia from over 10 countries in North and Central Asia, also participated in the SPECA WG on ITSD. The list of participants is attached as Annex IV
Meeting evaluation. Subregional Workshop on Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development with a focus on Digital Public Services for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in North and Central Asia, and Fifth session of the SPECA Working Group on Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development
No full textThe evaluation survey of the NCA subregional workshop and the 5th SPECA WG on ITSD is aimed at collecting views of the meeting participants for each session, to learn from this new experience, lessons learnt and solicit additional recommendations for the way forward. The evaluation was comprised of four parts with questions offering multiple-choice answers, descriptive answers by the respondent
Leveraging digital technologies and data for climate action : part II good practices
No full textAsia and the Pacific are significantly off track in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to the latest SDG Progress Report published by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Of particular concern is the alarming regression in climate action, given the region's vulnerability to disasters and ongoing greenhouse gas emissions. Concerted effort is urgently needed to fast-track climate action. At the same time, evidence shows that digital technologies and data can drive transformative changes to avert a climate catastrophe.2 The strategic and innovative use of digital technologies and data at scale can help deliver the climate outcomes the region urgently requires. This working paper contributes to the growing evidence base by presenting 45 case studies and good practices that demonstrate the real-world application of digital technologies and data in climate change mitigation and
adaptation initiatives. As Part 2 of a two-part series, it complements Part 1, which examines the digital–climate nexus and outlines the policy frameworks that enable digital transformation for climate action. The case studies and good practices are structured around the following eight policy leverage points through which digital technologies and data can accelerate climate outcomes.
1. Diversify financing to advance digital innovation for climate outcomes
2. Enhance system efficiency and productivity across sectors
3. Promote sustainable consumption and circular economy practices
4. Build smart infrastructure systems to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy uptake
5. Improve transparency, trust and governance with digital systems
6. Strengthen resilience through data-driven monitoring, prediction and response
7. Accelerate low-carbon transition
8. Integrate advanced digital technologies for climate innovation
To set the context for these case studies and good practices, various frameworks are used to describe the countries' readiness to leverage digital technologies and data for climate action, such as the Digital Transformation Index, e-
Resilience Readiness Framework and Network Readiness Index. These frameworks are briefly described in the Annex. Through the case studies and good practices spanning Asia-Pacific and beyond, the working paper highlights how
innovative digital solutions are transforming climate action. It also identifies challenges, including data gaps, policy misalignment and digital inequality, which must be addressed to leverage digital technologies and data for climate action fully. These insights provide policymakers, businesses and researchers with a strong knowledge base to accelerate the integration of digital development and innovation into climate strategies and ensure a just, resilient and low-carbon future
Strengthening health systems for long-term care in Asia and the Pacific : a policy analysis
No full textRapid population ageing in the Asia-Pacific region has made long-term care (LTC) a critical healthcare priority, yet in-depth regional analysis of LTC challenges and opportunities remains limited. This paper focuses on LTC system strengthening, examining seven target countries from an ESCAP project the paper relates to (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Maldives, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand) and draws lessons from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. It identifies LTC policies and practices, offering evidence-based recommendations through desk research, literature reviews, policy analyses and data from ESCAP, ILO, WHO and World Bank surveys and databases.
Key findings reveal that LTC demand in the Asia-Pacific region will surge in the coming decades due to demographic changes. While target countries vary in population ageing levels, speed and scale—from demographically advanced Thailand to more “youthful” countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia and the Philippines—all face growing LTC needs for older persons. Most, however, are inadequately prepared: older persons largely rely on female family caregivers, while home- and community-based care (backed by quality assurance and sustainable financing) should serve as the cornerstone of LTC systems across the region. Notably, several countries have advanced, context-adapted LTC practices: Japan’s universal LTC insurance (LTCI) focuses on home/community care and prevention; the Republic of Korea’s LTCI integrates community care and expands home centres; China’s LTCI pilots use a phased, evidence-driven approach.
Nevertheless, critical gaps persist across target countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Maldives, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand lack standalone LTC strategies, relying instead on broader welfare policies for older persons that largely fail to address specialized care needs; LTC governance remains fragmented in Sri Lanka (no central coordinating body) and Thailand (no overarching LTC oversight) due to weak cross-sector coordination; financing systems are unsustainable in Sri Lanka (heavy out-of-pocket reliance) and Bangladesh (no specialized LTC financing); services are limited or unimplemented (for instance, Bangladesh has no formal LTC services, while Maldives’ planned institutional care remains to be rolled out); LTC effectiveness is undermined by workforce shortages—such as the Philippines’ small LTC workforce concentrated in urban areas and Maldives’ pending training rollout; informal caregivers receive little support; and LTC data is scarce or of low quality. All these vulnerabilities were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, exemplified by, among others, disrupted care access in Maldives and inadequate LTC-specific responses in Cambodia.
To strengthen LTC across the region, dedicated national LTC policies, integrated cross-sector governance, diversified sustainable financing, targeted workforce investment and robust data systems are essential. Efforts should involve emulating successful models (for instance, Japan’s LTCI framework, the Republic of Korea’s community care integration and China’s phased pilot approach), while addressing context-specific gaps—such as rural access for Bangladesh’s rural older persons and Sri Lanka’s estate communities, and enhanced support for informal caregivers. These steps are critical to building resilient, equitable LTC systems that can meet the growing needs of ageing populations in Asia and the Pacific and advance regional sustainable development goals.Table of Contents
Figures and tables ............................................................................................................ 4
Acronyms .......................................................................................................................... 5
Summary ........................................................................................................................... 6
I. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 7
II. Aim and objectives ..................................................................................................... 21
III. Methods ..................................................................................................................... 22
IV. Review findings ......................................................................................................... 23
V. Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 60
References ...................................................................................................................... 67
Appendix ......................................................................................................................... 7
ESCAP population data sheet 2025
No full textThe Population Data Sheet, published annually by ESCAP, features a range of key indicators on population and development. The focus is on population size, structure and growth rates, as well as fertility, mortality and migration, at country, subregional and regional levels. The Data Sheet is a useful reference tool for researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders. The 2025 Population Data Sheet focuses on overall population and development indicators, providing updated insights for the year.
Click here to see the 2025 ESCAP Population Data Insights
Urban planning for active and electric mobility
No full textSustainable transport is key for livable cities, where individuals have reliable and affordable access to essential services and opportunities within that urban environment. As the urban population grows, so does the demand for urban transport, and consequently, transport- related emissions. One effective sustainable transport solution is active mobility, which refers to non-motorized forms of transport, such as walking or cycling. Active mobility improves public health, reduces car dependency, and thereby, alleviates congestion and pollution across the transport network. Promoting active mobility in cities requires not only safe but also climate-resilient infrastructure that makes walking and cycling comfortable even in rising urban temperatures. Urban planning plays a critical role in making active mobility more attractive and practical.
The Urban Planning for Active and Electric Mobility working paper was developed to guide and complement discussions for an Expert Group Meeting on Urban Planning for Active and E-Mobility on 1 December 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand and onlineTable of Contents
I. Introduction................................................................................................................. 4
II. Promoting Active Mobility in Urban Planning for Low-Carbon Transport ................ 7
III. E-Mobility and Active Mobility ................................................................................ 17
IV. Climate Shelters to Support Active Mobility .......................................................... 21
V. Scaling Up Policy, Finance, and Implementation Solutions ................................... 24
References................................................................................................................... 2
A Working Paper on Methodological Refinement of Illicit
No full textThis paper examines illicit financial flows (IFFs) motivated by offshore tax evasion by individuals. The authors test the methodology proposed by the European Commission in 2019 (EC, 2019), complemented by the insights from UNCTAD’s methodological guidelines on measuring IFFs (UNCTAD, 2020). Adjustments are introduced to streamline the implementation of the method proposed by the European Commission based on publicly available data.
The measurement of IFFs in the paper is based on identifying the total global value of offshore financial wealth, breaking it down into countries of ownership, and subsequently transforming stock values into flow values to arrive at IFFs. A specific innovation in this paper is an improved process for identifying wealth-collecting and wealth-channelling international financial centres (IFCs) and for introducing adjustments to country wealth based on the values of indirect wealth held in the IFCs and rechannelled to other destinations. The authors estimate country- and regional-level values of IFFs from offshore wealth for 2001 to 2022 and discuss the implications of these flows.
Currency values used in the paper are nominal in USD.Abstract
Introduction
Measuring IFFs from offshore wealth: methodology
Step 1. Estimation of Global Offshore Financial Wealth (GOFW)
Step 2. Breakdown of GOFW by country or origin and by IFC
Step 3. Estimation of illicit financial flows (IFFs) from GOFW
Results
Step 1. Estimation of GOFW
1.1 Estimation of Portfolio Assets (PA)
1.2 Estimation of Portfolio Liabilities (PL)
1.3 Derivation of Global Offshore Financial Wealth (GOFW)
Step 2. Breakdown of offshore wealth by country or area
2.1 General landscape of offshore wealth by countries and areas
2.2 Breakdown of households’ offshore holdings by country of ownership
Step 3. Computation of IFFs from offshore wealth
3.1 Step-by-step guide to IFF calculation
3.2 Calculate the weight of households and NPISHs’ holdings in external deposits each year
3.3 True dollar value holdings by households and NPISHs by country
3.4 Compute each country’s true weight in the total global holdings by households and NPISHs in each year.
3.5 Calculation of the flows of offshore wealth.
3.6 Computation of outward IFFs for each country/region each year
Conclusion
References
Glossar