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Nepal : large cardamom
No full textThe ESCAP Subregional Office for South and South-West Asia, in collaboration with the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, has developed a joint publication series titled Market Intelligence Series. This series aims to provide an overview of global and regional trade trends for One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) commodities. It highlights their current market performance and identifies potential entry points and opportunities for integrating these products into international value chains.
Highlights:
- Large cardamom (black) is a high-value cash crop that tops Nepal’s agricultural exports in terms of net foreign exchange earnings.
- Nepal holds the fifth position in the global production of cardamom and fourth among cardamom exporters in 2023.
- Nepal has not exported directly to major international cardamom markets in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as 99 percent of its exports are destined for India.
- Nepal needs to improve its post-harvest, certification and export infrastructure, to address challenges faced by exporter
2025 review of climate ambition in Asia and the Pacific : readiness for NDC implementation
No full textThe 2025 Review of climate ambition in Asia and the Pacific : readiness for implementation of climate commitments report is the fifth in a series of annual reports on regional climate action, developed by ESCAP and UNEP as co-chairs, and UN Women as a member of the Issue-based Coalition on Raising Ambition for Climate Action.
The Asia-Pacific region is at a critical juncture as the world edges into a new economic era shaped by climate urgency. With 4.6 per cent expansion of economic activity across the region in 2024, it remains the fastest-growing region globally, however, at the price of growing imbalances and deepening climate vulnerabilities, increases disasters and associated financial, livelihoods and nature losses. The Asia-Pacific region is well positioned to benefit from the global transition to net zero by creating enabling environments for growth in renewables, technological advancements in all sectors and investments in clean energy Guided by the first global stocktake to mitigate climate change impacts, countries are taking steps to reduce emissions and align with the 1.5°C trajectory pathway.
This report offers a clear and comprehensive overview of the readiness of countries in Asia and the Pacific to effectively plan, implement and set the goals of future NDCs, and how far the current NDCs 3.0 are aligned with the Paris Agreement goals. It highlights progress in creating enabling environment for uptake of renewable energy and coal abatement, just transition, carbon markets, collaborative governance, strengthening institutional and legal frameworks, including for climate finance. Moreover, it assesses how countries are adopting a whole-of-society approach to resilience-building and integration of gender, youth and indigenous communities engagement approaches, underscoring the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. the report also underscores the opportunities that arise through international and regional cooperation in the region, particularly regarding finance and technology transfer.
For 2024 Review of climate ambition in Asia and the Pacific : from ambitions to results sectoral solutions and integrated action report, click here
Level of application of measures under the SPECA strategy on trade facilitation. Twentieth Session of the SPECA Working Group on Trade
No full textHow important is human capital for services exports? Evidence from South Asia
No full textOver the last three decades, South Asian economies have shown a continued upsurge in services exports, contributing to their external sector stability and economic growth. In this context, we examine the role of human capital in boosting services exports and revisit the other determinants of services exports by employing data from India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka from 1980 to 2022. The findings reveal that human capital is a significant determinant of service exports. In addition, endowment factors such as financial and institutional development, telecom networks, broadband connections, and the quality of physical capital, along with other macroeconomic factors, are significant contributors to services exports. Our study distinctively establishes the role of human capital in augmenting services exports from the South Asian region. Removing supply-side bottlenecks in education, quality infrastructure, institutional governance, and broadband tele density, among others, to increase the competitiveness of the region’s service exports.Table of Contents
Abstract 1
1. Introduction 3
2. Trends, Share, Composition, and Comparative Advantages of Services Exports 5
3. Literature Review: Determinants of Services Exports 9
4. Data, Methodology, and Model Specification 12
5. Analysis of Results 17
6. Sensitivity Analysis (excluding India) 25
7. Conclusion and Policy Implications 27
References: 3
Strengthening the institutional capacity of national statistical offices in Asia and the Pacific to use innovative, new and big data sources for official statistics in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
No full textThis evaluation examines the Project ‘Strengthening the institutional capacity of national statistical
offices in Asia and the Pacific to use innovative, new and big data sources for official statistics in
support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, implemented by ESCAP from April 2023 to
June 2025. The project had a budget of USD 900,000, provided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development Sub-Fund. The project’s central aim was to empower National Statistical Offices (NSOs)
to adopt innovative and big data methods, such as Earth Observation (EO), mobile positioning,
webscraping, and electronic point-of-sale (EPOS) data, to modernize statistical production and deliver
more timely, granular, and policy-relevant statistics. Direct assistance was provided to four target
countries (Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu) while 16 additional beneficiary countries
benefited from thematic workshops, regional peer learning, and technical knowledge products. The
evaluation, conducted between June and September 2025, assessed the project’s impact, relevance,
effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and cross-cutting issues, in line with ESCAP’s Evaluation Policy,
the 2030 Agenda Sub-Fund Evaluation Framework, and UNEG norms and standards. It drew on case
studies of the four target countries, surveys and interviews with beneficiaries, and a review of
extensive documentationTable of contents
Table of contents..................................................................................................................................... i
Acknowledgments................................................................................................................................... ii
List of acronyms..................................................................................................................................... iii
Executive summary................................................................................................................................ iv
1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................1
2. Description of the Project...............................................................................................................2
2.1 Background ...............................................................................................................................2
2.2 Project theory of change ..........................................................................................................3
2.3 Project strategies......................................................................................................................4
2.4 Innovative elements .................................................................................................................6
2.5 Beneficiaries, target countries and key partners......................................................................7
2.6 Resources..................................................................................................................................7
3. Evaluation Scope and Methodology ...............................................................................................9
3.1 Evaluation scope.......................................................................................................................9
3.2 Evaluation approach ...............................................................................................................10
3.3 Data collection and analysis....................................................................................................11
3.4 Stakeholder analysis...............................................................................................................11
3.5 Sampling .................................................................................................................................11
3.6 Risks and limitations...............................................................................................................12
4. Evaluation Findings.......................................................................................................................13
4.1 Impact.....................................................................................................................................15
4.2 Effectiveness...........................................................................................................................17
4.3 Relevance................................................................................................................................20
4.4 Efficiency.................................................................................................................................21
4.5 Sustainability...........................................................................................................................22
4.6 Cross-cutting Issues ................................................................................................................23
5. Conclusions...................................................................................................................................24
6. Recommendations........................................................................................................................26
ANNEXES ...............................................................................................................................................28
Annex 1: Evaluation TORs................................................................................................... 28
Annex 2: Project theory of change ...................................................................................... 36
Annex 3: Project logframe .................................................................................................. 37
Annex 4: Evaluation matrix................................................................................................. 40
Annex 5: Data collection instruments.................................................................................. 42
Annex 6: List of individuals consulted.................................................................................. 44
Annex 7: List of materials reviewed..................................................................................... 45
Annex 8: Findings logical overview...................................................................................... 4
Study on transition to electric mobility in public transport in Mongolia
No full textThe Study on Transition to Electric Mobility in Public Transport in Mongolia outlines a Strategic Framework for Adoption of Electric Mobility in Mongolia, addressing environmental, economic and social challenges. Mongolia’s energy supply is heavily reliant on coal and the vehicle fleet is aging. The country is in early stage of electric vehicle (EV) transition, and challenges remain in charging infrastructure, cold weather performance and battery management. This study evaluates the transition to electric mobility which aims to improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance energy security. This shift aligns with Mongolia’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key areas covered in this report include environmental benefits, energy independence, economic growth, EV policy and standards, charging and grid infrastructure, and public transport.
The report emphasises the need for clear, long-term policies and the adoption of international standards, consistent policies, fiscal incentives and infrastructure investments for transition to electric mobility and explores policies and initiatives from other countries and regions. The report outlines a strategic framework for EV adoption with short-, medium-, and long-term measures including setting emission targets, community engagement, public awareness and sustainable end-of-life management of EVs and batteries. While the transition to electric mobility in Mongolia faces challenges, there are also significant opportunities. By addressing the barriers and adopting the strategic recommendations, Mongolia can achieve a sustainable, efficient and resilient EV ecosystem.1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 1
1.1. Background ....................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2. Objectives and Scope ...................................................................................................................... 2
1.3. Importance of Introducing EVs in Mongolia ............................................................................... 3
1.4. Structure of the Study ..................................................................................................................... 4
2. The EV Adoption in Mongolia ..................................................................... 5
2.1. Existing Policies and Plans to Accelerate EV Adoption in Mongolia ...................................... 5
2.2. EV Adoption in Mongolia ............................................................................................................. 12
2.3. EV Adoption in Public Transport ................................................................................................ 18
2.4. Charging Infrastructure in Mongolia ......................................................................................... 24
2.5. The Barriers Around EV Adoption in Mongolia ........................................................................ 32
3. Formulating a Targeted Policy for Mongolia and Institutional Roles .......... 33
3.1. SWOT Analysis for Electric Mobility Adoption in Mongolia ................................................... 33
3.2. Policy Goals and Strategic Framework for Mongolia ............................................................. 35
4. Implementing Electric Mobility in Mongolia .............................................. 46
4.1. EV Based Public Transport Ecosystem .................................................................................... 46
4.2. Process for E-Bus Adoption in public transport ...................................................................... 49
4.3. Assessment of Service Levels of Public Transport ................................................................ 51
4.4. Technology Selection – Bus Design Elements ........................................................................ 52
4.5. Procurement and Financing Models ......................................................................................... 54
4.6. Workforce Training and Development ....................................................................................... 58
4.7. End-of-Life Management for EVs and Batteries ...................................................................... 59
5. Conclusion and Recommendations .......................................................... 61
5.1. Conclusion...................................................................................................................................... 61
5.2. Recommendations ....................................................................................................................... 62
References………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6
Voluntary national review brief : Federated States of Micronesia 2025
No full textLeave no one behind (LNOB) is the central, transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Prior to 2015, inequality of opportunity was high in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) with large gaps evident among 12 SDG indicators analyzed, especially in access to electricity and the internet, secondary education completion and mobile phone ownership. Gaps were relatively low in access to basic drinking water and employment
Integration of migrants from Central Asia to the Russian Federation
No full textThis policy brief is based on an unpublished working paper on “Integration of migrants from Central Asia in the Russian Federation”, commissioned by ESCAP. The working paper utilized survey data from five studies conducted by the author (2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2023), each with similar but not identical methodologies and different research focuses. The objective of this policy brief is to highlight the status of migrant worker integration in the Russian Federation and provide summary conclusions. The focus is on migrant workers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan