ESCAP Repository (United Nations ESCAP)
Not a member yet
8868 research outputs found
Sort by
Childbearing and unmet need for family planning among married female adolescents : evidence-based policy recommendations using Bangladesh SVRS 2022
No full textThis policy brief was developed as part of an ESCAP-led project on ‘Using CRVS-related evidence to inform gender-sensitive policies’ (https://www.unescap.org/projects/crvs-E2A-for-gender-policy) or Evidence-to-Action (E2A) and is the outcome of a series of in-country consultations and a national workshop held in Bangladesh in February 2024 involving national stakeholders and development partners.
Data from the Sample Vital Registration System (SVRS) 2022 was used for the present policy brief. The SVRS is a regular surveillance system undertaken by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), with the aim to determine the annual population change at the national and sub-national levels.
Key recommendations related to family planning are outlined in detail in the policy brief document
SDG 5 : Gender equality (2025 update)
No full textSince 2015, countries in the Asia-Pacific region have made some progress in establishing legal frameworks for gender equality, increasing women’s parliamentary representation and improving women’s and girls’ education. However, progress on Goal 5 remains insufficient, especially in addressing gender-based violence (GBV), reducing women and girls’ disproportionate share of unpaid care and domestic work, and tackling gender disparities in evolving labour markets. Significant gender data gaps limit evidence-based programming, financing and effective tracking of progress in all Goal 5 indicators, particularly for those related to GBV and harmful practices against women and girls, their agency in terms of sexual and reproductive health and rights, agricultural land ownership and public budgetary allocation for gender equality. Intersectional discrimination and exclusion based on age, race, ethnicity, disability, indigenous identity, socioeconomic status and sexual orientation or gender identity further exclude women, girls and persons with diverse sexual orientations or gender identities. Proposed future priorities aim to accelerate the closing of gender data gaps; boost gender-smart financing; integrate youth perspectives and leadership into action, and promote women’s economic rights, justice and empowerment by tailoring opportunities for girls’ skill-building and learning, leveraging opportunities in the growing green, digital and care economies. Additional priorities are enhancing women’s representation and leadership, eliminating GBV and improving access to justice for women and girls in all their diversity. Countries are strongly urged to implement strategies that address the sociocultural norms responsible for perpetuating and reinforcing gender inequalities, employing an inclusive and transformative approach and fostering broader-based partnerships with public, private and civil society stakeholders, including the youth, to achieve these priority actions
Achieving low carbon freight transport through green corridor development in Asia and the Pacific
Get PDFThe policy brief Achieving Low Carbon Freight Transport through Green Corridor Development in Asia and the Pacific was developed following the Regional Cooperation Mechanism on Low Carbon Transport: Creation of Green Transport Corridors in Asia and the Pacific regional meeting (https://www.unescap.org/events/2024/regional-cooperation-mechanism-low-carbon-transport-creation-green-transport-corridors). The development and implementation of green freight transport policies have been identified as an important strategy for decarbonizing the transport sector. However, this is a difficult challenge for the region due to the lack of regulations and fragmentation of stakeholders in many countries. Transport corridors that are green, integrated, and efficient will also need to take into account the multimodal nature of supply chains, including land and maritime transport. Decarbonizing freight transport will require a multi-faceted approach, including developing green multimodal corridors, adopting cleaner technologies, and promoting green freight practices. This policy brief aims to contribute to this effort by exploring the strategic pathways for establishing green multimodal corridors in the Asia-Pacific. It will examine the region's current state of freight transport, identify opportunities for decarbonization, and propose concrete strategies for achieving a sustainable and resilient freight transport system.Table of Contents
Summary.....................................................................................................................................................6
Abbreviations.............................................................................................................................................7
I. Introduction............................................................................................................................................8
II. Asia's Freight Transport: Key Trends & Developments....................................................................10
III. Freight Decarbonization Policies and Green Transport Corridors.................................................13
IV. Case Studies and Green Transport Corridor Initiatives...................................................................18
A. Trans-European Transport Network.........................................................................................18
B. Northern Corridor Green Freight Strategy...............................................................................18
C. National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy..................................................................19
D. ZEVWISE Global Green Corridors Initiative...........................................................................19
E. Getting to Zero Coalition...........................................................................................................20
V. Regional Cooperation Mechanism on Low Carbon Transport: Creation of Green Transport
Corridors in Asia and the Pacific ............................................................................................................21
A. Infrastructure Deficiencies........................................................................................................22
B. Modal Imbalance........................................................................................................................22
C. Environmental and Climate Change Impacts...........................................................................22
D. Fragmented Industry Structure .................................................................................................22
E. Urban Freight Challenges..........................................................................................................22
F. Additional Barriers.....................................................................................................................22
VI. Policy Insights and Recommendations.............................................................................................24
A. Policy and Regulatory Frameworks..........................................................................................24
B. Modal Shift and Efficiency ........................................................................................................24
C. Technology and Innovation ......................................................................................................24
D. Infrastructure and Resilience ....................................................................................................25
E. Collaboration and Capacity Building ........................................................................................25
VII. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................26
References ................................................................................................................................................27
Annex .......................................................................................................................................................2
SDG 17 : Partnerships for the goals (2025 update)
No full textSustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17, “Partnership for the Goals,” is crucial for the success of the entire Sustainable Development Agenda. By strengthening effective partnerships at global, regional, national and local levels, SDG 17 establishes the collaborative frameworks that are essential for implementing all other SDGs. Positioned as a unique enabler, SDG 17 underscores that achieving meaningful progress across diverse goals requires concerted, inclusive and well-supported efforts across sectors, geographies and institutions.
While achieving SDG 17 is critical for progress towards all the goals, only one of its 21 indicators, Internet Users, is on track to achieve its target by 2030. Moreover, for five indicators—Domestic Budget Funded by Domestic Taxes, Debt Services, Use of Country-Owned Frameworks and Planning in Development Cooperation, Progress in Developing Effectiveness in Support of the SDGs, and Financial Resources to Strengthen Statistical Capacity in Developing Countries—progress towards their respective targets has regressed since 2015. Among the remaining 15 indicators, there has been very little progress in Government Revenue, Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC), Funding for Environmentally-Sound Technologies and Birth and Death Registration, which can be improved through digitalization.
In sum, while digital connectivity has seen significant progress, financial constraints, limited private-sector investment and high debt burdens continue to limit development efforts. Strengthening and leveraging multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustainable development is crucial for bridging these gaps, fostering inclusive digital development and ensuring that no one is left behind in the region’s digital transformation.
Achieving SDG 17 also requires aligning financing for development outcomes with human rights and gender equality principles, commitments and obligations by ensuring that sufficient resources are available to achieve objectives. These include reducing poverty and inequalities, addressing climate change and eliminating all forms of discrimination. Likewise, establishing regulations and accountability mechanisms for all development and economic actors is critical to achieving SDG 17.</p
AI governance for policymakers and civil servants
No full textThis comprehensive course on AI Governance and Ethics is designed for policymakers and civil servants to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Participants will learn about AI governance frameworks that ensure ethical and responsible AI deployment, balancing innovation with societal values. The course emphasizes transparency, safety, accountability, and ethical alignment while addressing the technical, legal, and ethical challenges associated with AI systems
Readiness to implement the action plan to strengthen regional cooperation on social protection : Nepal
No full textThis report, jointly developed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific (ESCAP) and the Government of Nepal examines Nepal’s preparedness to implement the Action
Plan to Strengthen Regional Cooperation on Social Protection in Asia and the Pacific. The report
reviews the current social protection landscape, identifies challenges and opportunities, and proposes
strategies to enhance social protection systems, especially in the context of climate resilience
Childbearing and unmet need for family planning among married female adolescents : evidence-based policy recommendations using Bangladesh SVRS 2022
No full textThis policy brief was developed as part of an ESCAP-led project on ‘Using CRVS-related evidence to inform gender-sensitive policies’ or Evidence-to-Action
(E2A) and is the outcome of a series of in-country consultations and a national workshop held in Bangladesh in February 2024 involving national stakeholders
and development partners.This policy brief was developed as part of an ESCAP-led project on ‘Using CRVS-related evidence to inform gender-sensitive policies’ or Evidence-to-Action (E2A) and is the outcome of a series of in-country consultations and a national workshop held in Bangladesh in February 2024 involving national stakeholders and development partners.
Data from the Sample Vital Registration System (SVRS) 2022 was used for the present policy brief. The SVRS is a regular surveillance system undertaken by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), with the aim to determine the annual population change at the national and sub-national levels.
Key recommendations related to family planning are outlined in detail in the policy brief document.Background.....................................................................................................................1
Methodology...................................................................................................................2
Results.............................................................................................................................2
Unmet need for family planning among adolescents.........................................3
Conclusions..............................................................................................................4
Key recommendations................................................................................................
Asia-Pacific trade and investment report : unleashing digital trade and investment for sustainable development : highlights and recommendations 2025 updates
No full textA call to action : developing sustainable capital markets, financing energy transitions and building project pipelines
No full textPart one of this report discusses selected areas of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, a global policy framework to realign financial flows with sustainable development goals agreed in 2015, in Asia and Pacific. The selected areas include strengthening domestic public resources, Domestic and international private business and finance, debt and debt sustainability, and addressing systemic issues.
Part two, co-authored with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Asian Development Bank, Climate Bonds Initiative and International Renewable Energy Agency, puts forward a coherent set of policy actions that are needed to be undertaken by policymakers and regulators to strengthen sustainable capital markets, finance the energy transition, and to strengthen project pipelines for the economic transitions required for climate action
Charting the path to a register-based census : Indonesia’s experience
No full textPopulation and Housing Censuses have long been the cornerstone of national statistical systems, producing comprehensive data essential for planning and policymaking. However, traditional full field enumeration is increasingly constrained by rising costs, operational complexity, declining response rates, and growing demand for timely data. In response, countries are increasingly exploring the use of administrative data to modernize census-taking, a shift that offers clear benefits but requires a strong institutional and technical capacity.
To support this transition, ESCAP developed the Self-Assessment Tool on Readiness to Use Administrative Data for Census (SATRAC) which helps countries to evaluate their institutional and technical capacity and guide strategic planning. Indonesia is among the first in Asia and the Pacific to conduct an assessment using the SATRAC. This Stats Brief presents Indonesia’s experience, highlighting key insights from its assessment and identifying strategic priorities for developing a national roadmap. The findings offer valuable.TableofContents...................................................... 3
Introduction............................................. 4
Readiness matters for a shift that counts....................................... 6
Indonesia’s census journey ..................................... 7
Spotlight on Readiness: SATRAC Findings....... 9
Institutional and technical strengths ..10
Key gaps and challenges......................................11
Advancing Readiness: Developing a Strategic Roadmap and Proposed Actions ..............1