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User guide and explanatory note for the ESCAP trade analytics portal
No full textThis guide is meant to assist in using ESCAP Trade Analytics Portal: Gravity Model available at https://trade.unescap.org/analytics The purpose of this explanatory note is to narrate how to use the ESCAP Trade Analytics Portal and corresponding datasets by researchers and practitioners. While this note mainly discusses the datasets, its sources of data, how to use the database properly, and how to interpret results for policy analyses, kindly refer to Shepherd (2016), “The Gravity Model of International Trade: A User Guide (An updated version)” for a detailed theoretical explanation and other technical detail and application of the gravity model of trade (https://www.unescap.org/resources/gravity-model-international-trade-user-guide-updated-version).</p
Towards financial inclusion in South Asia : a youth and gender perspective
No full textThe youthful population of South Asia, having almost one-third of the population below the age of 15 years old, seems also to have a great share in the future alongside the risk of being NEET with a persisting gender gap. This makes important for South Asian countries to put a gender-responsive policy framework for the youth empowerment at the heart of their efforts towards the 2030 Agenda. Increasing youth’s financial inclusion at the individual level would also provide development benefits especially for developing and least developed countries. This paper, after constructing a multidimensional financial inclusion index, shows evidence on how to increase the formal financial inclusion among the South Asian youth considering also gendered effects and it provides policy recommendations accordingly
Applying subseasonal-to-seasonal predictions to improve disaster risk reduction in South-East Asia : 10 key takeaways for disaster management authorities
No full textStrategies for managing disaster risk currently rely on weather forecasts (daily to 10 days) and seasonal predictions (three to six months). Until recently, the subseasonal scale (defined as timescale from two weeks to two months) has been considered a "predictability desert" because it has not been possible to provide accurate predictions for this timescale. As a result, many preparedness activities are held off until short-range weather forecasts indicate that a hazard is imminent and the exact location is known, so that resources are not wasted in the case of a false alarm. By then, it is often too late to prepare once a rapid-onset disaster materializes, or a slow-onset disaster intensifies.
However recent scientific research shows that it might now be possible to produce subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) predictions of heavy rainfall events that could result in flooding, the development of tropical cyclones, heatwaves and coldwaves, as well as the sudden intensification or reprieve of slow-onset drought, and the waxing and waning of monsoon precipitation. This could bridge the gap between weather forecasts and seasonal predictions, by combining a higher precision than seasonal predictions with a longer lead time than weather forecasts.
This has transformative potential for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). S2S predictions can help shift from reactive to pro-active disaster risk management, by providing more time for preparedness activities, such as activating institutional processes, raising public awareness, preparing evacuation routes, or moving people out of harm’s way. S2S predictions can also support key innovative approaches to DRR that are currently being pioneered, such as forecast based financing and adaptive social protection.
While S2S products are still largely experimental at this stage, South-East Asia is one of the regions that is most likely to benefit from these advances in the generation of S2S predictions. It has some of the highest skill at the subseasonal timescale, due to sources of predictability such as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO).
The United Nations, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Specialized Meteorological Centre (ASMC), and the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES) are joining forces to ensure that South-East Asian countries can capitalize on the potential applications of S2S products in conjunction with forecasts for the more established weather and seasonal timescales.
This primer has been informed by such collaboration. It outlines the types of S2S products that are available for South-East Asia, and their potential applications across a range of preparedness activities. Recent case studies in South-East Asian countries are used to demonstrate how S2S predictions could have been applied to reduce the impacts of the disasters. The primer then offers ways forward for leveraging the opportunities presented by S2S predictions. End users working in National Disaster Management Organisations (NDMOs) are advised to collaborate with National Hydrometeorological Services (NHMSs) to ensure that their information needs are met based on the best available science, and to combine S2S predictions with existing seasonal predictions and weather forecasts within a comprehensive decision-making framework. This will allow S2S predictions to support innovative approaches to disaster risk reduction such as forecast-based financing and adaptive social protection, thereby facilitating coherence between development and disaster risk reduction. Finally, the primer outlines the ongoing efforts that are underway to prepare sectors to use S2S predictions to improve risk management
Asia and the Pacific SDG progress report 2019
No full textThis report analyses Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) trends as well as data availability for monitoring progress in Asia and the Pacific and its five subregions. It assesses progress towards the SDGs and the gaps which must be closed for these to be achieved by 2030. This assessment is designed to ensure the region’s actions remain on target, shortcomings are addressed as they arise, and all interested parties remain engaged. It is an invaluable resource for all stakeholders involved in prioritisation, planning, implementation and follow-up of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific.
Related links: [SDG GATEWAY], [NATIONAL SDG TRACKER], [DATA EXPLORER] and [EPIC TOOL]Contents
Front cover page
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Executive summary
Part I: Asia-Pacific SDG progress
Part II: Subregional insights
Part III: SDG data sources and gaps
Annex 1 - Figures on SDG progress across Asia-Pacific by subregion
Annex 2 - Technical notes
Annex 3 - Table of indicators selected for SDG progress assessment
Annex 4 - List of countries in ESCAP Asia-Pacific region and subregions
Back cover pageContents
Front cover page
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Executive summary
Part I: Asia-Pacific SDG progress
Part II: Subregional insights
Part III: SDG data sources and gaps
Annex 1 - Figures on SDG progress across Asia-Pacific by subregion
Annex 2 - Technical notes
Annex 3 - Table of indicators selected for SDG progress assessment
Annex 4 - List of countries in ESCAP Asia-Pacific region and subregions
Back cover page</a
Readiness assessment for cross-border paperless trade : Uzbekistan
Get PDFThis report provides an assessment of Uzbekistan’s readiness for cross-border paperless trade, i.e., the conduct of international trade transactions on the basis of electronic data and documents – as opposed to paper-based data and documents. The assessment has been conducted by a team of international experts following the readiness checklist developed by the ESCAP Interim Intergovernmental Steering Group on Cross-Border Paperless Trade Facilitation, of which Uzbekistan is a member. The team visited Uzbekistan in November 2018 to conduct interviews with relevant government agencies and private sector stakeholders. A national consultation on facilitating cross-border paperless trade was co-organized by the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade, Uzbekistan and ESCAP on 13 May 2019, where preliminary findings from the visits were further reviewed, consolidated and validated. Final findings and recommendations incorporating input and suggestions received during and following the consultation are presented in this report. Based on these findings and recommendations, an initial action plan for moving towards cross-border paperless trade for Uzbekistan has been prepared and is also presented in this report.
The complete set of Cross-Border Paperless Trade Readiness Assessment reports can be accessed : Readiness Assessments for Cross-Border Paperless Trade
Ocean cities : regional policy guide : delivering resilient solutions in Pacific Island settlements
Get PDFThe Ocean Cities concept is an integrated policy approach for ocean-focused and climate-responsive urban development strategies, with a focus on urban areas in Pacific island developing States. Ocean Cities are where urban landscapes and seascapes meet, where built and natural environments near coastlines interface and where human behaviour and urban development have profound impacts on both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Ocean Cities are at the forefront of the climate change consequences, the urbanization challenges and other development pressures. Within the context of ongoing urbanization processes in Pacific island developing States, the guide recognizes the important links between the impacts of urban growth and development, climate change impacts, ocean health and coastal systems, and the effect these factors have on the development and resilience of Ocean Cities.
Cities face many challenges - demographic, climatic, economic - but they also generate many positive opportunities for future action. The Ocean Cities concept is about making that future a bright one by harnessing those activities and supporting a Pacific Way for cities that is culturally and environmentally affirming. Addressing the interlinked issues that are characteristic of Ocean Cities in an integrated, ocean-focused and climate-responsive manner is vital for sustainable development within island systems.
A key component of the Ocean Cities concept are nature-based solutions, which relate to the goals of increasing human well-being and resilience by working with, conserving or restoring nature and understanding ecological systems across interconnected social-ecological systems. Employing an integrated, participatory nature-based solutions approach to addressing societal challenges is an important way to take into account complex ecological and socio-cultural issues while taking a long-term view to improving human resilience and well-being.
An enabling environment for the implementation of solutions requires a wide range of resources, partnerships and meaningful engagement from countries and stakeholders at the regional, national and local levels; this document details five key policy action areas for implementation of Ocean Cities solutions