ESCAP Repository (United Nations ESCAP)
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Agenda. Training for SPECA Policymakers on Supporting Innovative High-growth Enterprises in the SPECA Sub-region
No full textUNECE has extensively worked with the transition economies of Central Asia to support governments in the successful use of innovation policy for increased economic competitiveness, sustainable development, as well as to contribute to the digital and circular economy transition. The socio-economic challenges, opportunities, and institutional legacy among these transition economies share distinct features of innovation policy governance, innovative entrepreneurship support, investment in innovation, industrial policy, as well as demand and supply side tools of innovation policy more broadly. The innovation policy in this sub-region therefore calls for a different approach that is more adapted to the transition context and takes into consideration the above distinct features
Report. Webinar on New Approaches to Innovation Policy in the Transition Economies of the SPECA Sub-region
No full textUNECE has extensively worked with the transition economies of Central Asia to support governments in the successful use of innovation policy for increased economic competitiveness and sustainable development, as well as to contribute to the digital and circular economy transition. The socio-economic challenges, opportunities, and institutional legacy among these transition economies share distinct features of innovation policy governance, innovative entrepreneurship support, investment in innovation, industrial policy, as well as demand and supply side tools of innovation policy more broadly. The innovation policy in this sub-region therefore calls for a different approach that is more adapted to the transition context and takes into consideration the above distinct features
Inequality of opportunity on Asia and the Pacific : financial inclusion 2022 update
Get PDFThe ESCAP Inequality of Opportunity papers place men and women at the heart of sustainable and inclusive development. They do so by identifying areas where inequality jeopardizes a person’s prospects, namely: education; women’s access to sexual and reproductive health care; children’s nutrition; decent work; basic water and sanitation; access to clean energy; and financial inclusion. Each of these opportunities is covered by specific commitments outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and addressed in separate thematic reports covering 27 countries throughout Asia and the Pacific.
ESCAP first discussed inequality of opportunity in its 2015 report Time for Equality, establishing the distinction between inequality of outcome and inequality of opportunity. While the former depicts the consequences of unequally distributed income and wealth, the latter is concerned with access to key services necessary to fulfil one’s basic rights.The Inequality of Opportunity papers apply a novel approach to analysing household surveys with the aim of identifying the groups of individuals with the lowest access to the above-referenced opportunities. These groups are defined by common circumstances over which the individual has no direct control, such as their wealth, place of residence and education level, amongst others.
In addition to identifying the furthest behind, the Inequality of Opportunity papers also explore the gaps between groups in accessing these key opportunities, as well as the extent to which these have narrowed or widened over time. They also review overall inequality trends in these opportunities.
Ultimately, these findings are of direct use for generating discussion on transformations needed to reach the “furthest behind first” as pledged in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.<br
Handbook on the use of mobile phone data for official statistics
Get PDFMobile phone data has surfaced in recent years as one of the big data sources with great promise for its use in official statistics. There is an expectation that mobile phone data could fill data gaps especially for developing countries given their high penetration rates.
The Task Team on Mobile Phone Data has been reviewing the development in the use of mobile phone data for official statistics and drafted this guide to give elaborations for countries which are in the process of designing a project for using mobile phone data for their official statistics or are in the implementation process.
The guide comprises four chapters (Applications, Data sources, Access to mobile phone data and partnership models, Methods), followed up by two country case studies.</p
Asia and the Pacific SDG progress report 2022 : widening disparities amid COVID-19
Get PDFThis report analyses progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Asia and the Pacific and its five subregions. It also examines inequalities and vulnerabilities among different population groups. It assesses gaps which must be closed to achieve the goals by 2030 and leave no one behind. This assessment is designed to ensure the region’s actions remain on target and shortcomings are addressed as they arise. It 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
COVID-19 and older persons in the Asia-Pacific region : the health, social and economic impacts of a global pandemic
Get PDFThe policy paper assesses the latest evidence on climate change and population ageing in the Asia-Pacific region. It outlines implications climate change will have on meeting the objectives of MIPAA and the 2030 Agenda. The paper calls for a coherent policy approach that is inclusive and forward-looking. One that protects older persons from climate impacts, reduces their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and harnesses their potential in climate action. It outlines several recommendations to support Asia-Pacific countries in considering the intersection between climate change and population ageing in the 2022 Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on the Fourth Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. Importantly, it recognizes that older persons must have a voice in climate action
Strengthening port-hinterland sustainable transport connectivity for LLDCs of ESCAP region
No full textDistinctive features of ESCAP LLDCs are reflected as differences related to transport connectivity however, if analyzed as a group and compared with their coastal neighbors, the ESCAP LLDCs are clearly in disadvantageous position.
Although many LLDCs in the region have managed to achieve significant progress over the years in improving their transport connectivity, the challenges to enhance the efficiency of transport linkages within and beyond the region remain. In this background the present study elucidates on the outstanding challenges to port hinterland connectivity for LLDCs and proposes recommendations.
Presently Central Asia sub-region is better integrated, with wider participation in international conventions/agreements related to transit transport. Southeast Asia and South Asia sub-regions have sporadic participation in such international arrangements, and transit transport is mainly regulated on bilateral level.
The large number of conventions / international agreements, sub-regional, multilateral / bilateral arrangements create very complex legal environment that is difficult to implement, which proves the need of further harmonization and simplification.
Despite the progress achieved in recent years, the implementation of the legal arrangements (conventions / agreements) relevant to transit transport in the region remains to be challenging due to several reasons that include lack of sufficient harmonization; lack of simplified procedures; and inefficient cooperation mechanisms among control authorities.
Outstanding challenges to seamless transport linkages of ESCAP LLDCs include: challenges related to infrastructure and physical barriers (e.g. quality of infrastructure, border crossing infrastructure shortages, financing gaps); challenges at getaway ports in transit countries (e.g. port inefficiency, lack of coordination); transit transport challenges (e.g. high costs, low cargo volumes, unreliable demand, inefficient Customs transit procedures); challenges at border crossings (e.g. congestions, delays, cumbersome Customs controls, inefficient transloading of cargo); corridor management issues.
International transit transport supported by efficient Customs transit systems is one of the key elements for improved transport connectivity of LLDCs. Analysis of existing transit transport regimes in ESCAP region, with a focus on embedded Customs transit systems (TIR System, AFAFGIT ACTS; GMS CBTA; EAEU Customs Transit; European Convention on Common Transit and NCTS) shows that that each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. In general, efficient Customs transit systems are characterized by harmonized Customs transit procedures and use of international Customs transit systems; use of electronic paperless Customs transit systems; use of simplified Customs procedures beneficial for transport and trade communities.
Railway transport has proven most resilient in the time of pandemic with high reliability and advantages of being less exposed to the risks of restrictions. Key areas of opportunities for railways to enhance their competitiveness in post pandemic period include harmonization and digitalization of railway operations and railway documents; establishing efficient electronic information exchange between neighboring railways; better integration of railways with other modes of transport and collaboration between railways other relevant transport and logistics stakeholders.
ESCAP member countries are encouraged to consider (or continue negotiations) for introduction of new paperless Customs transit systems with electronic transport tracking based on characteristics identified for development of efficient Customs systems and specific recommendations provided with this Study.
Main policy recommendations to improve port-hinterland transport connectivity for LLDCs identified with this study are to: increase port efficiency at getaway ports in transit countries; develop and implement favorable transit transport arrangements; improve physical transport infrastructure and enhance its efficiency; support establishing dry-ports and improve intermodal facilities; develop and implement efficient customs transit regimes; harmonize and facilitate border crossing operations; establish efficient corridor management mechanisms; expand investment and financing options.</p
Has the WTO trade facilitation agreement helped reduce trade costs? : an ex-post analysis
Get PDFFive years after the entry into force of the WTO TFA, we set out to find macro-level quantitative evidence of the impact of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) on trade costs. Using the updated ESCAP-World Bank Trade Cost dataset, we estimate the impact of TFA participation on trade costs. Using a variety of models, we find robust and statistically significant evidence that implementation of the WTO TFA reduces trade costs by 1 to 4 percent on average. The TFA impact in reducing trade costs is strongest between OECD and non-OECD economies, with trade costs reduction across models ranging between 3 to 5 percent. South-South trade costs reductions from TFA participation are less than 2 percent, and those between advanced economies are not significant. Participation in regional trade agreements, in turn, reduce trade costs by 2 to 10 percent on average, highlighting the complementarity between regional and global trade facilitation initiatives. Overall, the trade cost savings associated with WTO TFA found in this post-accession analysis suggest that WTO members still have much to do to implement the WTO TFA in full, both in letter and in spirit. Greater trade cost savings can be achieved through a full and digital TFA+ implementation approach focused on accelerating digitalization of trade procedures, as already enabled in Asia-Pacific by the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-Border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific.</p
Guidelines for estimating completeness of civil registration of vital events : a guide for practitioners
Get PDFThese Guidelines have been prepared to support national statistical offices, ministries of health, and other relevant government and non-government agencies to better estimate the completeness of civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems, in particular, the completeness of birth and death registration.</p