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Cross-sectoral infrastructure sharing for broadband
Get PDFThe Briefing Note Series aims to provide at-a-glance information of key ICTD issues for policymakers and to facilitate their understanding of the potential of ICT when formulating national development policies and programmes. This Briefing Note focuses on policy considerations drawn from the Academy module on "Cross-Sectoral Infrastructure Sharing for Broadband".</p
Low-hanging-fruit options for energy efficiency in freight transport
Get PDFThis working paper provides transport policy makers with a quick overview of policy instruments that could be implemented in a short term to increase energy efficiency in the freight transport sector. It proposes 22 energy-efficiency measures, classified into four types of interventions (Infrastructure, Logistics, Regulatory, and Financial) and three aspects of A-S-I approach (Avoid, Shift, Improve). Cost, Implementation time, and CO2-reduction impact of each proposed measure is estimated, based on which a quadrant analysis is undertaken. Low-hanging fruits are the measures that need low efforts to implement but have significant CO2-reduction impact
Regional cooperation and integration in support of a sustainable development oriented multilateral trading system
Get PDFInternational trade and foreign investment have been key engines of growth and development in Asia and the Pacific, and the role of trade in contributing to sustainable development is well recognized in the 2030 Agenda. However, the multilateral trading system has faced significant challenges over the years and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and progress has been slow in reforming and updating it to meet present and future demands. Meanwhile, regional cooperation, such as in trade and investment agreements, have increasingly stepped up to address sustainable development issues of concern to countries, including in the social and environmental domains.
This paper examines such regional cooperation and integration in Asia-Pacific and how it can support the shaping or building up of a sustainable development-oriented multilateral trading system. It recognizes the importance of regional initiatives as building blocks of a revitalized and more networked multilateral trading system, and discusses policy considerations in a number of priority areas for furthering inclusivity and sustainability in regional trade and investment integration.</p
Ocean accounts Thailand : a study on sustainable tourism, the environment and the ocean
No full textThis brief summarizes activities and results of an ocean accounting pilot in Thailand. The study investigated linkages between tourism and the environment with the aim of identifying
locations at risk of environmental degradation, priority sites for conservation and potential new
locations for tourism. The geographical area studied was the Andaman Cluster – Phuket, Krabi, Phang Na, Trang, Saturn
Provinces – with 2016 as the reference year. Data was organized in accounts following the international statistical standards for national accounting, for tourism satellite accounts and
environmental-economic accounting.Click here to read
additional ocean accounting pilots were conducted in Viet Nam, Straits of Malacca, Beihai, Guangxi, China, and Samoa
Intellectual property management and technology licensing : guide for policymakers and managers of research and development institutes
No full textRecognizing the needs of stakeholders in the member States, the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT) has developed this guidebook to support them in managing and utilizing intellectual property in more efficient and profitable ways. It is designed to support policymakers and managers of R&D institutes, and focuses on intellectual property management and technology licensing tools and practices including examples and case studies. Through this publication, APCTT aims to promote an enabling environment for the development and transfer of technologies in the Asia-Pacific region for inclusive and sustainable development.This publication is partially financed through the 10 th Tranche of the United Nations Development Account project of ESCAP entitled, “South-South Cooperation for Science, Technology and Innovation Policies in the Asia-Pacific Region
Strengthening capacity for operationalizing sustainable transport connectivity along the China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor to achieve the 2030 Agenda : study report 2022
Get PDFIn line with ESCAP’s objective to strengthen the intra- and inter-regional transport connectivity, the secretariat has undertaken the study project on “Strengthening capacity for operationalizing sustainable transport connectivity along the China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic (CCWA) Corridor”.
Within the scope of the project, four challenges which impede seamless connectivity along the Corridor were identified: complex overland transport agreements; lack people-to-people exchanges among stakeholders; low level of digitalization and lack of information on transport assets and status of transport infrastructure of countries along the Corridor.
To mitigate the challenges within the context above, this project aimed to address the identified challenges through gathering data and information of relevance to develop an evidence base for policy change; creating strategies and policy recommendations which could further enhance seamless and sustainable international transport connectivity along the CCWA Corridor. The assessments were made focusing on three aspects: legal (i), infrastructure and operational (ii) and technology (iii).</p
National study on central bank digital currency and stablecoin in the Maldives
Get PDFFrontier technologies carry a promise to fast track the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through supporting innovative, forwarding-looking policies and solutions. There are, however, numerous risks and complexities of digital technologies that come along with those opportunities, as well as policy and regulatory challenges.
In recent years, relatively new approaches of policy experimentation and regulatory sandboxes have emerged among countries and have proven to be effective in creating a more conducive and contained space where governments, in partnerships with relevant stakeholders, can experiment and trial with digital technologies and innovations at the edge or even outside of the existing policy space and regulatory framework.
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only brought about unprecedented challenges to sustainable development but have also accelerated the adoption of digital connectivity and transformation. At the same time, the pandemic has exposed harsh fragilities and digital divides especially for countries in special situations. In response, the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) of United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), and the Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division (IDD) of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, and the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) are collaborating on enhancing institutional capacity to implement regulatory sandbox on frontier technologies in the Maldives. In this context, the Maldives has identified ‘Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)’ and ‘Stable Coin Digital Currency’ as its two priority areas of focus in the context of payment systems.
The objective of this report is to assess the opportunities, risks, and challenges for the implementation of CBDC and Stablecoin(s) in the Maldives. The paper explores the potential implications and risks of digital currencies, examines technical considerations and compares the socioeconomic conditions and likely objectives in the Maldives with other countries. It goes on to identify any current regulatory gaps and the monetary policy issues raised by digital currencies, the use of the sandbox concept to promote CBDC/Stablecoin products via experimentation and proof of concept projects, and how the various stakeholders, notably the government and the MMA as well as the private sector, might become involved. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations on practical ways of mounting a live CBDC/Stablecoin experiment in the current environment for the consideration of the Maldivian Government.</p
Asia-Pacific sustainable development journal. Vol. 29, No. 1, May 2022
No full textEditorial
Survey: the state of sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific
ESCAP secretariat
Special theme: Macroeconomic policies for inclusive sustainable development
A framework for inclusive and sustainable growth in Asia and the Pacific
Valerie Cerra
Impact of taxes and transfers on inequality in the Asia-Pacific region
Sally Torbert
Central banks and financial inclusion
Peter J. Morgan
Learning by doing: central bank digital currency in Thailand
Thammarak Moenjak
Invited paper
Impact of climate change and variability on food security in the Asia-Pacific region
A. Mukherjee, S. Saha, S.C. Lellyett, and A.K.S. Huda
Early career researchers
Factors affecting consumer behaviour in mobile financial services in Bangladesh
Afnaan Ahmed, S.M. Raihan Uddin, and S.M. Rifat Hassan
Policymakers' corner
Challenges of monetary policy in a developing country
Salehuddin Ahmed
Mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals in Indonesia: an experience from the Ministry of Development Planning 2016-2019
Bambang Brodjonegoro
Book reviews
How to Achieve Inclusive Growth
Prakash Loungani
Fiscal and Monetary Policies in Developing Countries: State, Citizenship and Transformation
Bhim Bhurtel</p
Accelerating the recovery from COVID-19 and the full implementation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development at all levels
Get PDFThe Sixth South and South-West Asia Forum on the SDGs was held in hybrid mode, from 5-7 December 2022 in Islamabad Pakistan, as a subregional preparatory meeting for the Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) 2023, which in turn will contribute towards the annual High-Level Policy Forum (HLPF) to be held at the global level in July 2023. The Forum was jointly organized by the Government of Pakistan, the Sustainable Development Policy Institute’s (SDPI) and the South and South-West Asia Office of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP SSWA), in collaboration with the UN system, SAARC Secretariat, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and member organisations of the South Asia Network on the SDGs (SANS).
The Forum was attended by about 1900 participants representing governments, academia, think tanks, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders from South Asian countries. The Forum deliberated on the progress made in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in light of the “triple C” crisis of COVID, conflict and climate change which adversely impacted development gains in the subregion. Countries presented their experiences in carrying out their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and perspectives on the impact of the triple C crisis on prospects for meeting the 2030 Agenda. Thematic discussions were held on progress and challenges in Goals 6 (Clean water and sanitation), 7 (Affordable and clean energy), 9 (Industry, innovation, and infrastructure), 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) and 17 (Partnerships for the goals) which will be reviewed at the HLPF in 2023. The deliberations emphasized that the transboundary nature of many issues facing the subregion called for regional cooperation to collectively address challenges to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The Sixth South and South-West Asia Forum on the SDGs was held in hybrid mode, from 5-7 December 2022 in Islamabad Pakistan, as a subregional preparatory meeting for the Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) 2023, which in turn will contribute towards the annual High-Level Policy Forum (HLPF) to be held at the global level in July 2023. The Forum was jointly organized by the Government of Pakistan, the Sustainable Development Policy Institute’s (SDPI) and the South and South-West Asia Office of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP SSWA), in collaboration with the UN system, SAARC Secretariat, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and member organisations of the South Asia Network on the SDGs (SANS).
The Forum was attended by about 1900 participants representing governments, academia, think tanks, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders from South Asian countries. The Forum deliberated on the progress made in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in light of the “triple C” crisis of COVID, conflict and climate change which adversely impacted development gains in the subregion. Countries presented their experiences in carrying out their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and perspectives on the impact of the triple C crisis on prospects for meeting the 2030 Agenda. Thematic discussions were held on progress and challenges in Goals 6 (Clean water and sanitation), 7 (Affordable and clean energy), 9 (Industry, innovation, and infrastructure), 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) and 17 (Partnerships for the goals) which will be reviewed at the HLPF in 2023. The deliberations emphasized that the transboundary nature of many issues facing the subregion called for regional cooperation to collectively address challenges to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. </p