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Landscape study of inclusive business in Malaysia
Get PDFMalaysia is in the process of developing its new 5-year national development plan, the 12th Malaysia Plan 2021-2025 (RMKe-12), which seeks to promote shared prosperity. The Government, through the National Entrepreneurship Policy 2030 (Dasar Keusahawanan Nasional, DKN 2030) has also outlined support measures for SMEs to become more innovative and resilient. In addition, the government is also seeking to use public spending efficiently. Inclusive Business (IB) can support these strategic objectives by creating better shared prosperity and an entrepreneurship culture that is more financially sustainable, innovative and dynamic, as well as more inclusive for the bottom 40 per cent income groups (B40).
Inclusive business (IB) are innovative business models that provide solutions to the needs of the B40 at scale. IBs have four key common features: (1) they are commercially viable, bankable and for-profit business models; (2) provide systemic solutions for the relevant problems of the poor and low-income people; (3) have scale in business operation, growth and social impact; and (4) are innovative. Inclusive businesses are different from social enterprises and corporate social responsibility (CSR), which are also other forms for the private sector to support social outcomes. Existing mainstream business, social enterprises and CSR initiatives can be transformed to develop into inclusive business models.
Since 2017, when ASEAN leaders called for greater emphasis on creating an enabling environment for inclusive businesses, various governments in the region (including Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Viet Nam) have embarked on promoting IB, and an increasing number of companies – supported by impact investors – have established IB models.
In this context, the government of Malaysia has requested the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Inclusive Business Action Network (iBAN) to conduct this study to explore the relevance of inclusive business for Malaysia, analyse the status of inclusive businesses in Malaysia and assess the environment in which they operate, in order to provide recommendations, where relevant, for promoting inclusive businesses.
The landscape study notes that even if Malaysia is a high middle-income country and its government actively supports the B40 through a wide range of programmes, there are still unmet needs, market opportunities, and companies who want to serve the B40 market.</p
2022 : Leaving no one behind : Kyrgyzstan country brief
No full textLeaving No One Behind (LNOB) tool helps discover how different circumstances interact to create unequal access to basic opportunities in Asia and the Pacific. The LNOB country brief for Kyrgyzstan provides insights into which groups are further ahead and further behind in various SDG indicators and where the biggest gaps are found in terms of access to opportunities or prevalence of barriers between the furthest behind and the furthest ahead groups in Kyrgyzstan. </p
Asia-Pacific regional review of implementation of the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration (10—12 March 2021) : an analysis of its main findings and recommendations
No full textThis report provides an overview of migration levels and trends in Asia and the Pacific, and analyses the different inputs to and outputs from the 2021 Asia-Pacific Regional Review, with a view to identifying emergent opportunities for evidence-based regional and national implementation of the Global Compact for Migration in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The analytical part of the report is written with a focus on empiricism, that is, the critical importance of evidence-based initiatives to achieve the specific objectives of the Global Compact for Migration. The theme of capacity-building, informed by analysis, is threaded throughout both the discussion and interpretation of the results, as well as the recommendations that follow. The official report of the Asia-Pacific Regional Review, including its Chair's Summary, are reproduced at the end.
This publication is the product of collaboration among ESCAP staff members and academics, building on the Asia-Pacific Migration Report 2020
Readiness assessment for cross-border paperless trade : Turkmenistan
Get PDFThis report provides an assessment of the readiness of Turkmenistan for cross-border paperless trade, in other words, the current capabilities and future plans of Turkmenistan for usage of electronic data and/or documents in international trade transactions. The findings from the technical and legal readiness assessments for cross-border paperless trade will follow. Recommendations on the technical and legal aspects of cross-border paperless trade are then provided, followed by an initial action plan for Turkmenistan to move forward in this area.The financial support received from Republic of Korea to conduct the studies and disseminate the report is gratefully acknowledged
Energy transition pathways for the 2030 agenda : SDG7 roadmap for Fiji
No full textTransitioning the energy sector to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the objectives of the Paris Agreement presents a complex and difficult task for policymakers. It needs to ensure sustained economic growth as well as respond to increasing energy demand, reduce emissions, and consider and capitalize on the interlinkages between Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) and other SDGs. In this connection, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has developed the National Expert SDG Tool for Energy Planning (NEXSTEP). This tool enables policymakers to make informed policy decisions to support the achievement of the SDG7 targets as well as emission reduction targets, i.e., nationally determined contributions (NDCs). The initiative has been undertaken in response to the Ministerial Declaration of the Second Asian and Pacific Energy Forum (April 2018, Bangkok) and Commission Resolution 74/9, which endorsed its outcome. NEXSTEP also gained the support of the Committee on Energy in its second session, with recommendations to expand the number of countries being supported by this tool.
The key objective of this SDG7 roadmap is to assist the Government of Fiji to develop enabling policy measures to achieve the SDG7 targets. This roadmap contains a matrix of technological options and enabling policy measures for the Government to consider. Using national data, existing energy policies and strategies as well as other development plans, the NEXSTEP tool (methodology is presented in chapter 2) has developed seven scenarios for Fiji. These are the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, current policy scenario, SDG scenario and four ambitious scenarios that look beyond achieving SDG7.</p
Energy transition pathways for the 2030 ESCAP agenda : SDG 7 roadmap for Bhutan
No full textThis Road Map for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 7 targets presents a detailed assessment of the energy system of Bhutan. It offers a least-cost pathway to providing universal access to clean cooking fuels and technologies, growing the share of renewable energy across all sectors, and doubling the historic rate of energy efficiency improvement. Taking a holistic approach to the energy system by using the National Expert SDG Tool for Energy Planning (NEXSTEP), the Road Map was developed in close consultation with national policymakers and experts having a deep understanding of the country’s resources and future direction to plan an energy transition that reflects national development strategies and is aligned with global goals and targets.
The Road Map presents a range of opportunities to achieve the Goal 7 targets while improving energy security, maintaining or deepening Bhutan’s carbon-negative status, and improving the health of its citizens through reduced indoor air pollution. It sets out five key policy recommendations to increase access to clean cooking technology, improve indoor space heating technologies, electrify the transport sector, implement mandatory green building codes and energy-efficient cooking regulations, and decarbonize the industry.</p
Sci-tech empowering rural transformation report 2022 : digital technology empowers agricultural value chain development
No full textThe Report illustrates that digital agriculture and smart agricultural mechanization technologies can remarkably improve operations in agricultural production. It can help achieve more precise farm operations in seeding, fertilization and pesticides-spraying, reducing food loss, facilitating harvesting and sowing in a timely fashion, conserving energy and reducing carbon emissions, as well as tackling the problem of shortage of the agricultural workforce. Digital agriculture and smart mechanization can substantially enhance agricultural productivity, improve output, and optimize the utilization of natural resources.
The Report also highlights the important role of digital technology that can not only bring about significant transformative changes in agricultural production, but also catalyze agricultural value chain development through adoption of digitally-enabled business models and patterns such as e-commerce which have been a new engine for the rural economy. Moreover, the Report notes the rapid expansion and momentum of digitalized financial services including digital financing, digital insurance and credit for the benefit of the rural population, particularly, for smallholder farmers.
‘The Sci-Tech Empowering Rural Transformation Report 2022: Digital Technology Empowers Agricultural Value Chain Development Report’ is the first publication of the series ‘Thematic Study and Knowledge Sharing in the Subject of Sci-Tech Empowering Rural Transformation’ which is jointly initiated by ESCAP-CSAM, FAO Representation in China, IFAD China Office, WFP China, and CIIC. The Report is compiled through joint efforts of CIIC, FAO Representation in China, IFAD China Office, WFP China Centre of Excellence, ESCAP-CSAM, and other partners in China including AliResearch and the Chinese Academy of Financial Inclusion. </p
Evaluation of the project on “Evidence-based innovation policy for effective implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Asia-Pacific region”
Get PDFCommissioned by Trade, Investment & Innovation, ESCAPThe evaluation aims to promote organizational learning and accountability, support results-based management, assess project performance against selected Development Assistance Criteria (DAC), formulate lessons learned, and provide concrete recommendations. The key target audience of the report is ESCAP, the wider UN system, and organizations working on developing and implementing technology and innovation policies.Acknowledgments.................................................................................................................................. iii
List of acronyms..................................................................................................................................... iv
Executive summary................................................................................................................................. v
Introduction ....................................................................................................................................1
Description of the Project...............................................................................................................1
2.1 Background ...............................................................................................................................1
2.2 Project objectives and expected accomplishments/results.....................................................1
2.3 Project strategies and critical activities....................................................................................4
2.4 Beneficiaries and target countries............................................................................................5
2.5 Key partners and other key stakeholders.................................................................................5
2.6 Resources..................................................................................................................................5
2.7 Link to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) .................................................................6
2.8 Innovative elements .................................................................................................................6
Evaluation objectives, scope, and questions..................................................................................6
3.1 Purpose and objectives.............................................................................................................6
3.2 Evaluation scope, criteria, and questions.................................................................................7
Methodology...................................................................................................................................7
4.1 Evaluation Matrix......................................................................................................................7
4.2 Data Collection and Analysis.....................................................................................................8
4.3 Limitations ................................................................................................................................9
Evaluation findings........................................................................................................................10
5.1 Effectiveness...........................................................................................................................10
5.2 Relevance................................................................................................................................14
5.3 Efficiency and Innovation .......................................................................................................15
5.4. Sustainability..........................................................................................................................17
5.5 Gender Cross-Cutting Issues...................................................................................................20
Conclusions...................................................................................................................................21
6.2 Ranking across DAC criteria ....................................................................................................21
6.3 Specific Conclusions................................................................................................................21
Good practices..............................................................................................................................23
Recommendations........................................................................................................................24
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