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Green and sustainable logistics network : micro mobility in the first - last mile
No full textThe Policy Brief is prepared to improve technical knowledge of the transport and logistics sector and to support human resource capacity-building notably among developing countries in the ESCAP region. The Brief defines what is first- and last-mile delivery within the logistics network. The Brief also describes recent trends in the last-mile logistics, notably in connection to the e-commerce development from impact on warehousing network to how the last-mile delivery options are shaped by consumer demands and highlights the explosive changes caused the COVID-19 pandemic period. Finally, the Brief also contain examples of best practices and measures to mitigate the adverse effects of the way last-mile logistics currently operates.
For further information, please kindly contact Mr. Edouard Chong (email: [email protected]) </p
Early intervention and quality education of children with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific
No full textIn line with Goal 5 of the Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, this policy paper aims to take stock of trends, good practices, lessons learned, and challenges in promoting early identification and intervention and quality education of children with disabilities in the region. It also provides recommendations for governments, civil society organizations, and academia to advance early identification and intervention as well as inclusive education.</p
Rethinking MSME finance in Asia and the Pacific : post COVID-19 crisis : a policy agenda
Get PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic is a global catastrophe, with no region spared including Asia and the Pacific. The cost has been considerable, whether measured in terms of public health or economic fallout. In a bid to constrain the spread of the coronavirus, national and local governments were obliged to lock down public spaces, forbade business transactions in person, restricted travel, and otherwise interdicted the flow of people, goods, and services globally. The consequences for business have been acute (ESCAP, 2021).
Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) naturally suffered more than large firms, given their limited human and financial resources, and heavier reliance on cash flows. The exogenous shock of the sudden, dramatic curtailment of business was a blow that ended an unknown number of MSMEs across the region. Access to finance, already a major constraint to MSME development prior to the pandemic, has worsened considerably, even in cases where governments have had sufficient resources to enact emergency policies aimed at keeping their MSME sectors afloat (ESCAP, 2021). The environment remains difficult.
Despite these challenges, the pandemic represents an opportunity for MSME finance in the region. Policymakers can build back better to enable MSME finance to be more sustainable, efficient, and resilient. This will require dramatic changes in how policymakers and all stakeholders, including members of the international development community such as ESCAP, view MSME finance: its provision and related services. In this policy brief, we propose a holistic framework to capture this new thinking. </p
Regional integration in Bay of Bengal region in post-COVID-19 period
Get PDFBay of Bengal countries have been affected heavily by the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. This article argues that the regional cooperation could help in reducing the costs of pandemic-driven barriers. The responses to the Corona pandemic also suggest a greater scope of regional cooperation among the countries in the Bay of Bengal region. Regional integration may help the Bay of Bengal countries overcome divisions that impede the flow of trade in goods and services, people and ideas, particularly when all members have been facing a common challenge to beat the Coronavirus pandemic. This paper briefly discusses the major challenges being faced by the Bay of Bengal countries, and the way forward in the post-COVID-19 period. It presents the trends in economic growth in the region, which has been the key to regional economic integration, and analyses the likely economic loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The article discusses the magnitude of the Coronavirus pandemic in the Bay of Bengal region, followed by a discussion on the progress and achievements in regional cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region with particular reference to the pandemic period. It also presents the opportunities and the regional response to deal with the ongoing pandemic
ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness : 2020 annual report
Get PDFSince its establishment in 2005, the ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness has contributed significantly to the progress made in building regional and national warning systems for coastal hazards. In 2011, a key milestone was reached with the operationalization of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS), which was established through the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC-UNESCO).
The Fund was one of the many contributors to the IOTWMS, through support for the adaptation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for tsunami warning and emergency response, combined with training and other capacity building at regional, national and local levels. The Fund also supported the establishment of the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES), which is closely linked to the IOTWMS.
ESCAP is entrusted with managing and administering the Fund and draws on its mandate as the commission for Asia and the Pacific to promote regional cooperation and integration for effective disaster risk reduction.
In accordance with the Fund’s Terms and Conditions, this Annual Report provides an overview of the results of the Fund in 2020. It also describes the financial status of the Fund and the activities carried out by the secretariat