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Valuing and investing in unpaid care and domestic work - country case study : Lao People’s Democratic Republic
No full textThis case study on Lao PDR enhances ESCAP’s technical and advisory assistance to its member States, in particular aligning with the ASEAN region’s efforts to bring care to the centre of public policy. The case study illustrates the complex issues surrounding women’s unpaid care and domestic work in Lao PDR, analysing the institutional arrangements and policy barriers that influence the care agenda. It begins with a macro socioeconomic and political overview, setting the context for understanding the care economy in the country. This is followed by legislative frameworks and both formal and informal mechanisms that shape gender equality, as well as social norms that affect the gendered division of work. The report further addresses women’s unpaid care work across various policy categories and concludes key challenges to furthering gender equality and recommendations for action planning and policy programming.Contents
Acknowledgements ii
Explanatory notes ii
Abbreviations iv
Section 1: Introduction 1
Section 2: Macro socioeconomic-political context 3
Section 3: Institutional context for gender equality 4
3.1 Legislative frameworks 5
3.2 Women’s machineries 6
3.3 Social and cultural norms 8
Section 4: Addressing unpaid care work 9
4.1 Care infrastructure 11
4.2 Care-related social protection 11
4.3 Care services 14
4.4 Employment-related care policies 16
Section 5: Challenges to furthering the care agenda 18
Section 6: Recommendations for action planning 20
6.1 Recommendations for recognizing and redistributing women’s unpaid care work 21
6.2 Recommendations for care policies 22
Section 7: Conclusion 24
References 2
WTO Status of ESCAP members and associated members 2025
No full textWTO Status of ESCAP members and associated member
Gender and energy : advancing gender equality in support of a sustainable energy future
No full textESCAP-Clean Energy Ministerial Working Paper - Gender and EnergyThe concept for this paper was developed by ESCAP and the Clean Energy Ministerial
Secretariat. This working paper has been prepared in support of deliberations at the 16th Clean Energy Ministerial held in Busan Korea in August of 2025.The working paper explores the critical intersection of gender equality and the energy transition in the Asia-Pacific region. It argues that a just and inclusive energy transition cannot be achieved without the full participation of women—as users, workers, leaders, and decision-makers in the energy sector.
The paper identifies the following key messages:
• Persistent gender gaps continue in the energy sector
• Energy access gaps exacerbate gender inequality
• Gender data gaps inhibit program design and review
The paper sets out the recommendations for governments and energy transition stakeholders.
1. Inclusive Policy and Leadership
2. Workforce Development
3. Gender-Responsive Energy Access
4. Data and MonitoringExecutive summary ....................................................................................................... i
Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................ 1
Chapter 2: Literature review on the gender-energy nexus ............................................. 3
Chapter 3: Women's role in the energy sector .............................................................. 7
Chapter 4: Gender and energy policy ...........................................................................15
Chapter 5: Gender disparities in energy access and use .............................................20
Chapter 6: Solutions to gender inequalities in the energy transition ...........................23
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................27
Works cited..................................................................................................................2
Futures triangle and causal layered analysis of the digital public services for small and medium-sized enterprises in Uzbekistan
No full textThis paper captures key insights from the National Foresight Workshop on Digital Public Services for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Uzbekistan, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 3 March 2025, as a hybrid event. This workshop is part of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) project framework, funded by the Russian Federation in 2024–2026 and implemented in three pilot countries.
The paper was prepared under the overall guidance of Tiziana Bonapace, Director of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Disaster Risk Reduction Division (IDD) of ESCAP, with direct supervision from Tae Hyung Kim, Chief of the ICT and Development Section (IDS) of IDD, ESCAP.
The paper was developed by Temur Makhkamov, ESCAP Consultant on ICT and Development, who documented the workshop discussions, and Aida Karazhanova, Economic Affairs Officer, IDS, IDD, ESCAP, who moderated the workshop, structured the paper and finalized it.
ESCAP extends its gratitude to the Government of Uzbekistan for co-hosting the workshop and facilitating discussions that shaped this paper. ESCAP acknowledges the valuable contributions of Farkhod Djumaev, Acting Director General and Bunyod Rakhmatullaev, Deputy Director General of the National Office for Innovation Implementation and Technology Transfer, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovations of Uzbekistan. ESCAP is also grateful to the representatives of the Ministry of Digital Technologies, Ministry of Justice, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, and the Digital Government Projects Management Center for their leadership and active participation in the workshop.</p
The role of regulators for power system connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region
No full textFrom March 2021 to February 2024, in partnership with the Florence School of Regulation, ESCAP implemented the project “Capacity building for regulators in Asia to support increased and sustainable power system connectivity”, which aimed to foster a common understanding and approach toward connectivity efforts across the Asia-Pacific region. The project aims to improve the ability of regulators and other stakeholders to support cross-border and regional power system integration. Over the course of the project, three Regional Regulatory Forums were organized, and three training programs at the sub-regional level were developed. After successful completion of the project, a second phase has been initiative to focus on capacity building for regulators in South-East Asia.
This policy brief provides an overview of the first phase of the project, including key takeaways, lessons learned, and policy recommendations for the way forward. It emphasizes the critical role of power sector regulators in navigating the complexities of the energy transition and emphasizes the need for continuous efforts to ensure a harmonized and sustainable energy future in the Asia-Pacific region.SUMMARY...................................................................................................................... 4
ABBREVIATION.............................................................................................................. 5
I: INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 6
II: ASIA-PACIFIC REGULATORY FORUM ON POWER SYSTEM CONNECTIVITY ........8
A. FIRST ASIA-PACIFIC REGULATORY FORUM ON POWER SYSTEM CONNECTIVITY ............................................ 8
B. SECOND ASIA-PACIFIC REGULATORY FORUM ON POWER SYSTEM CONNECTIVITY..............................10
C. THIRD ASIA-PACIFIC REGULATORY FORUM ON POWER SYSTEM CONNECTIVITY .......... 12
III: CAPACITY BUILDING: North-East Asia, South Asia, and Central Asia.............. 14
A. NORTH-EAST ASIA REGULATORY TRAINING PROGRAMME .......................14
B. SOUTH ASIA REGULATORY TRAINING PROGRAMME...........................................................................................15
C. CENTRAL ASIA REGULATORY TRAINING PROGRAMME ................................15
D. KEY OUTCOMES AND LESSONS LEARNED....................................................16
IV: WAY FORWARD: POLICY RESPONSES AND RECOMMENDATIONS..................................................... 17
V: CONCLUSION............................................................................................................... 18
REFERENCES ......................................................................................................... 1
E-resilience dashboard source file
No full textThe following dashboard consists of a data table, tooltips, interactive maps, and a colour code legend, representing the e-resilience readiness per country and for each of the Asia Pacific economic groups. Filters and indicators enable users to compare data in various ways. The tooltip contains the definition for each indicator, the data source, the year, and the scoring legend for the colour code
Digital and sustainable trade facilitation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2025
No full textThis report was Jointly prepared by ESCAP and the ASEAN Secretariat.
The report unveils the findings of the 2025 United Nations Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation, focusing on the progress made in trade facilitation across the 10 ASEAN countries.
Based on an initial set of 31 general trade facilitation measures, the survey uncovers that ASEAN achieved an impressive subregional implementation rate of 83% (compared with 79% in 2023), which significantly surpassed the Asia-Pacific region’s average implementation rate of 70%. The report highlights that significant trade cost reductions could be achieved through the implementation of paperless and cross-border paperless trade measures, surpassing the impact of conventional trade facilitation measures. Full implementation of binding and non-binding measures outlined in the WTO TFA could lead to a reduction in trade costs of almost 3%. On the other hand, the adoption of digital trade facilitation measures, facilitating seamless electronic exchange of trade data and documents across borders, has the potential to significantly reduce trade costs of nearly 7.5% for ASEAN in a full implementation scenario. Building upon existing initiatives and fostering collaboration among ASEAN Member States, the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-Border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific offers further opportunities for ASEAN countries to promote their own initiatives and solutions as well as support the further advancement of the ASEAN Single Window and ensuring interoperability with other paperless trade systems.
For other reports and the results of the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation 2025, please visit http://wwww.untfsurvey.or