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Current state of land statistics and its relevant challenges in leveraging statistical and geospatial data in Central Asia : analytical report
No full textThe UN Expert Group on the Integration of Statistical and Geospatial Information (UN EG-ISGI) was established by the UNSC and UN-GGIM with a mandate to develop an international statistical geospatial framework. The Global Forum on the Integration of Statistical and Geospatial Information, convened in New York in August 2014, identified that “there is an urgent need for a mechanism, such as a global statistical-spatial framework, to facilitate consistent production and integration approaches for geo-statistical information. In July 2018, the UN EG-ISGI team of experts published the standard “Global Statistical Geospatial Framework: Linking Statistics and Place”. The document describes the effects of integration, provides detailed recommendations for all countries and describes key approaches and practices that can be applied at the national level. Integration of data allows providing the ability to monitor the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs); ensure data availability at the regional, subregional and global decision-making levels; provide the ability to exchange data in a unified form; apply data in new projects and solve research problems; increase potential for investment, etc. Location (spatial reference) is the link between the processes taking place in society, the economy and the environment.
All Central Asian countries have a different level of preparedness for the implementation of the standard, a different level of development of competencies and regulation. The study contains a comprehensive analysis and assessment of the level of preparedness of the countries of Central Asia (Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Uzbekistan) for the integration of geospatial information, statistics and land accounting data, information on practices and recommendations.
This publication aims to review the regulatory policy of each country, to identify current level of practice, formulate recommendations in the national, regional and global contexts about government policy, law, technology, human capital perspective.
Текущее состояние и актуальные вызовы в сфере статистики о земельных ресурсах, использовании для этих целей статистических и геопространственных данных в странах Центральной Азии
Группа экспертов ООН по интеграции статистической и геопространственной информации (UN EG-ISGI) была создана Советом Безопасности ООН и UN-GGIM с для разработки международной статистической геопространственной структуры. Глобальный форум по интеграции статистической и геопространственной информации, созванный в Нью-Йорке в августе 2014 года, определил, что существует острая необходимость в механизме, таком как глобальная статистико-пространственная структура, для облегчения согласованных подходов к интеграции статистической и геопространственной информации. В июле 2018 года группа экспертов UN EG-ISGI опубликовала стандарт «Глобальная статистическая геопространственная структура: связь статистики и местоположения». В документе описываются эффекты интеграции, даются подробные рекомендации для всех стран и описываются ключевые подходы и практики, которые могут применяться на национальном уровне. Интеграция данных позволяет обеспечить возможность мониторинга достижения целей устойчивого развития (ЦУР); обеспечивать доступность данных на региональном, субрегиональном и глобальном уровнях принятия решений; предотавлять возможность обмена данными в унифицированном формате; применять данные в новых проектах и решать исследовательские задачи; увеличивать потенциал для инвестиций, и т. д. Местоположение (пространственная привязка) - это связь между процессами, происходящими в обществе, экономике и окружающей среде.
Все страны Центральной Азии имеют разный уровень готовности к внедрению стандарта Системы природно-экономического учёта (СПЭУ), разный уровень развития компетенций и регулирования. Исследование содержит комплексный анализ и оценку уровня готовности стран Центральной Азии (Кыргызская Республика, Республика Таджикистан, Республика Узбекистан) к интеграции геопространственной информации, статистических данных и данных учета земель, информацию о практиках и рекомендациях.
Эта публикация направлена на обзор регуляторной деятельности каждой страны, определение текущего уровня практики, формулирование рекомендаций в национальном, региональном и глобальном контексте в отношении государственной политики, законодательства, технологий и человеческого капитала
Asia-Pacific tech monitor. Vol. 37, No. 4, Oct - Dec 2020
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According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global average temperature has already surpassed the mark of one degree Celsius rise compared to pre-industrial levels since 18801. This highlights the urgency to strengthen and expedite the actions towards low carbon growth. Responding to this urgency, countries are starting to commit to net zero emissions in the next few decades. Towards this objective, it is imperative for countries to transit from fossil fuels to clean and renewable energy. With technological advancements, renewable power now costs less than keeping many existing coal plants in operation. For example, replacing the costliest 500 gigawatts of coal capacity with solar and wind can potentially reduce annual system costs by up to USD 23 billion per year2. Additionally, it can curb the growth in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to reduce the impacts of climate change.Introductory Note ... 2
Technology Market Scan ... 3
Technology Scan: Sustainable energy technologies ... 8
Special Theme: Sustainable Energy Development –
Innovative business models and best practices
Sustainable energy development
Technology trend, innovative business models and best practices
Mohammad Golam Sarware Kainat ... 13
The need for sustainable energy development and
the path to creating sustainable business models
Pamli Deka and Tirthankar Mandal ... 20
Generating Energy from Waste
Public private partnership approach in Nepal
Narayan Prasad Adhikari, Sushim Man Amatya, Anusuya Joshi ... 25
Tech Events ... 31
Tech Ventures & Opportunities ... 32
Business Coach
Start-up Venture Creation ... 33
Technology Transfer ... 35
Venture Financing ... 39
Managing Innovation ... 41
Green Productivity ... 43
Tech Opportunities
Technology Offers ... 4
Digital trade integration in preferential trade agreements
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The growth of digital trade is dependant upon greater interconnectivity across borders. Several countries strive to achieve such interconnectivity and integration in digital trade through international trade agreements. Digital trade integration is a complex, multidimensional process that integrates regulatory structures/policy designs, digital technologies and business processes along the entire global/regional digital value chain. This paper sets out five foundational elements of digital trade integration: reducing digital trade barriers; digital trade facilitation; digital trade regulatory frameworks and digital trust policies; digital development and inclusion; and institutional coordination. It then examines the extent to which Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) can or do contribute to digital integration.
Some recent PTAs contain ambitious provisions to reduce regulatory barriers in digital trade and facilitate cross-border data flows. However, most PTAs fail to holistically support the five pillars of digital trade integration, and are particularly deficient in supporting digital development and inclusion, incorporating adequate digital trade facilitation measures, and facilitating meaningful international regulatory cooperation. This paper provides various policy recommendations to address such deficiencies. This paper also contains a case study of digital trade integration in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It argues that the ASEAN framework currently functions as a weak form of digital trade integration, focusing mainly on political goodwill and high-level cooperation. Although the ASEAN Members are committed to enhancing regulatory cooperation and strengthening their institutions on electronic commerce, the development asymmetry coupled with the conflicting policy preferences of ASEAN Members remains a key obstacle
Understanding e-resilience for pandemic recovery in Asia and the Pacific
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation and underscored its importance for mitigating the economic slowdown, sustaining wellbeing, and speeding up recovery. Governments, smart policymaking, as well as regional cooperation play an essential role in helping to both enable digital transformation to occur and in facilitating access to technology. In this regard, the Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, presented on June 11, 2020, comes at a critical inflection point for digital issues by outlining key areas for action to advance a safer, more equitable digital world.
The adoption of digital tools contributes substantially to the achievement of the SDGs. The development of the digital infrastructure to reduce the digital divide would first advance SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). By providing access to more health-related information, ICT drives progress on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Digital tools can also democratize education and facilitate remote working, thereby promoting SDG 4 (Quality Education) and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Further, ICT can lead to progress on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) among other SDGs. Finally, SDG17 identifies technology in general, and ICT specifically, as an essential Means of Implementation for the SDGs and as a tool for supporting international partnership towards the SDGS.
Recognizing the importance of digital connectivity and e-resilience for development, as well as for overcoming major challenges such as COVID-19, IDD and TIID of ESCAP presented a number of analytical papers to the Third Session of the Committee on ICT and Science Technology and Innovation (CICTSTI) on August 19-20, 2020. The Committee recommended that the ESCAP secretariat support the expansion of regional collaboration to scale up broadband Internet capacities for technological innovation. In addition, it recognized the importance of collaborative actions to harness technology to address disasters and welcomed collaborative multi-stakeholder efforts to forge technology alliances. The Committee also emphasized the importance of science, technology, and innovation for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific.
This paper is aimed to provide a basic overview of the policy responses in support of ICT for development, with a focus on the use of technology in the region under the framework of e-resilience and inclusive broadband, two key pillars of the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (AP-IS).
This paper is geared towards government officials across Asia and the Pacific that are involved in the formulation and implementation of national policies and programmes affecting ICT, transport, energy infrastructure development, emergency situations, and SDGs in their respective countries. It is also intended for the Working Group on Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development (ITSD), a subsidiary body under the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) comprising senior policymakers, researchers, and decision-makers in the areas of digital connectivity, innovation, and technology.</p
Combating COVID-19 in Asia and the Pacific : measures, lessons and the way forward
Get PDFGovernments in the Asia-Pacific region are taking administrative and policy actions to cope with COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse impacts. Most countries and territories have adopted travel restrictions and social distancing policies to slow the spread of the disease. While many countries have rolled out fiscal and monetary stimulus packages, their scale and policy focus differ depending on their national circumstances, implementation capacities and how severely they have been affected by COVID-19 disease. In going forward, the region needs to invest in health and social protection systems and embed long-term sustainability into stimulus packages and recovery policies in order to strengthen resilience to future shocks. Policy coordination across countries is critical to ensure that no one is left behind
Summary assessment of the Committee on Transport, Sixth session, 12-13 October 2020
No full textThe sixth session of the Committee on Transport took place on 12 and 13 October 2020 as a hybrid meeting due to on-going COVID-19 related travel restrictions in many countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Committee session discussed matters of strategic importance to regional transport development, regional cooperation and the formulation of regional policies to advance sustainable transport and connectivity in line with existing regional and global mandates such as the Regional Actional Programme for Sustainable Transport Connectivity in Asia and the Pacific, Phase I (2017-2021), related ESCAP resolutions and the Decade of Action for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, among others. The Committee also deliberated on the key objectives and directions of the new Regional Action Programme for 2022-2026 and provided guidance on the preparations for the Ministerial Conference on Transport, to be held in 2021. The Committee also provided member States and associate members of ESCAP with a forum to exchange views and discuss policies to meet the objectives of economic, environmental and social sustainability for the transport sector.</p
Policies and strategies to promote grassroots innovation : workbook
No full textGrassroots innovation is a modality of inclusive innovation that enables extremely affordable, niche-adapted solutions to local problems, often unaided by public sector or outsiders.
In a context of rising income disparity among the have and have-nots, every effort should be made to convert the ideas and innovations of knowledge-rich but economically poor individuals and communities into viable means of raising income, addressing social needs, and conserving the environment. While grassroots innovation are typically bottom-up initiatives, public policies can also support the emergence, recognition and diffusion of grassroots innovations. The journey of developing a grassroots idea or invention into a viable product or service for commercial or social diffusion requires support from many actors at different stages and levels.
The Honey Bee Network has been leading the grassroots innovation movement in India. In the past three decades, it has strengthened the inclusive innovation ecosystem of the country and has become a global benchmark of frugal, friendly and flexible solutions for men and women farmers, pastoral and artisan households, mechanics, forest dwellers, fishermen etc. This workbook draws on the experience of the Honey Bee Network and discusses experiences, issues and strategies that could also be relevant for other countries
Geospatial information and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development
No full textThe 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted a comprehensive global monitoring framework comprising 2311 unique indicators across 169 targets and 17 Goals. The framework calls for data which is 'high quality, accessible, timely, reliable and disaggregated by income, sex, age, race, ethnicity, migration status, disability and geographic location and other characteristics relevant in the national contexts' (A/RES/70/1). To support implementation at all levels, the 2030 Agenda included the need to exploit the contribution to be made by a wide range of data, including Earth observations and geospatial information. The purpose of this paper is to share country examples of SDG indicators compiled using Earth observations and geospatial data. By focussing on country examples, the paper provides transparency on the uptake of Earth observation and geospatial information by the signatories of the country-led 2030 Agenda. Cooperation opportunities can also be identified, particularly between countries, as well as areas for further exploitation of Earth observations and geospatial information