ESCAP Repository (United Nations ESCAP)
Not a member yet
8868 research outputs found
Sort by
Shifting towards the era of smart mobility in Asia and the Pacific
No full textThis technical report examines the growing role of smart mobility in addressing transport challenges in Asia and the Pacific, including rapid urbanization, rising mobility demand, congestion, environmental pressures and unequal access to transport services. Smart mobility is defined in the report as “integrated, user-focused transport systems that leverage digital technologies to make travel safer, smarter and greener.” Drawing on regional analysis, policy review and selected country examples, the report assesses the current status of smart mobility and explores how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data are reshaping urban mobility across the region.
The report finds that smart mobility initiatives are expanding throughout Asia and the Pacific, but their maturity and scale remain uneven. Overall, the region presents strong momentum for smart mobility, supported by rapid urbanization, expanding digital connectivity and growing markets for smart transport systems. At the same time, progress has varied across countries, reflecting wide differences in digital readiness, institutional capacity, data governance and infrastructure quality. Some examples of smart mobility solutions gaining traction include AI-enabled traffic management, integrated data platforms, shared mobility services and the digitalization of public transport operations, including e-ticketing, GPS-based fleet management and real-time passenger information.
The report also highlights the multidimensional benefits of smart mobility. Environmental gains include reduced emissions, improved energy efficiency and cleaner urban air. Economic benefits arise from travel-time savings, improved reliability and enhanced accessibility, and spillover effects that support digital innovation. Smart mobility also contributes to social inclusion by improving safety, affordability and access for women, older persons, persons with disabilities and communities with limited transport options, while strengthening resilience to climate and disaster risks through real-time data and adaptive management. Governance capacities are further enhanced through data-driven planning, improved coordination and greater transparency.
The report concludes that while policy frameworks increasingly recognize the importance of digital approaches to transport, smart mobility is not yet consistently integrated as a strategic priority across the region. To accelerate progress, countries are encouraged to assess smart mobility readiness, develop national strategies, strengthen data governance and institutional capacity, leverage public-private partnerships and enhance regional cooperation and knowledge sharing. With appropriate policy support, investment and collaboration, smart mobility can play a critical role in advancing more sustainable, inclusive and resilient transport systems in Asia and the Pacific.Table of Contents
Acknowledgements....................................................................................................... 2
Table of Contents .......................................................................................................... 3
Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... 6
I. Introduction................................................................................................................. 8
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Smart Mobility....................................9
Purpose of the study ............................................................................................................10
Scope of the report...............................................................................................................11
II. Status of smart mobility technologies in Asia-Pacific countries............................ 12
East and North-East Asia .....................................................................................................15
South and South-West Asia..................................................................................................18
South-East Asia ....................................................................................................................19
North and Central Asia.........................................................................................................23
III. Potential economic, environmental, and social benefits offered by smart mobility
..................................................................................................................................... 29
Environmental Benefits ........................................................................................................29
Economic and Productivity Benefits ....................................................................................32
Social Inclusion and Accessibility Benefits .........................................................................36
Resiliency Benefits ...............................................................................................................38
Governance and Institutional Benefits.................................................................................39
Summary ..............................................................................................................................40
IV. Policy Review: Frameworks and Strategies Shaping Smart Mobility in the AsiaPacific .......................................................................................................................... 41
Regional and Subregional Policy Context ............................................................................41
V. Key findings............................................................................................................. 45
VI. Policy recommendations ....................................................................................... 47
National level recommendations .........................................................................................47
The Regional Road Map as a framework for smart mobility implementation.....................48Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... 2
Table of Contents .......................................................................................................... 3
Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... 6
I. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 8
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Smart Mobility .................................... 9
Purpose of the study ............................................................................................................ 10
Scope of the report ............................................................................................................... 11
II. Status of smart mobility technologies in Asia-Pacific countries............................ 12
East and North-East Asia ..................................................................................................... 15
South and South-West Asia.................................................................................................. 18
South-East Asia .................................................................................................................... 19
North and Central Asia ......................................................................................................... 23
III. Potential economic, environmental, and social benefits offered by smart mobility .................................................................................................................................... 29
Environmental Benefits ........................................................................................................ 29
Economic and Productivity Benefits .................................................................................... 32
Social Inclusion and Accessibility Benefits ......................................................................... 36
Resiliency Benefits ............................................................................................................... 38
Governance and Institutional Benefits ................................................................................. 39
Summary .............................................................................................................................. 40
IV. Policy Review: Frameworks and Strategies Shaping Smart Mobility in the Asia-Pacific .......................................................................................................................... 41
Regional and Subregional Policy Context ............................................................................ 41
V. Key findings ............................................................................................................. 45
VI. Policy recommendations ....................................................................................... 47
National level recommendations ......................................................................................... 47
The Regional Road Map as a framework for smart mobility implementation ..................... 48
Annex 1. Countries and country groups in the Asia-Pacific region ............................ 5
Work in progress : report of International Workshop on Feminist Ideology and Structures in the First Half of the Decade for Women
No full textThis publication is both a historical record and a strategic blueprint for feminist action, emerging from the International Workshop on Feminist Ideology and Structures held in Bangkok in June 1979. Developed midway through the United Nations Decade for Women, it captures the political and social dynamics of the late 1970s, when global feminist movements were grappling with questions of ideology, strategy, and structure in the pursuit of gender equality. The report situates women’s oppression within intersecting systems of patriarchy, poverty, class exploitation, and imperialism, emphasizing that gender equality cannot be achieved in isolation from broader struggles for social and economic justice.
Thematically, it underscores the necessity of grassroots mobilization, independent women’s organizations, and cross-sectoral alliances—linking feminist aims with labor movements, political parties, and other social justice actors. It offers a critical examination of government-led “integration of women in development” policies, noting their frequent limitations when disconnected from the lived realities of women, particularly those in marginalized and working-class communities.
The publication is notable for its early articulation of ideas that remain central to contemporary feminist discourse: valuing unpaid care work, addressing media bias, challenging token representation, and recognizing the need for strategies that are both reformist and revolutionary. By bridging regional perspectives from Asia and the Pacific with global feminist currents, the report provides an important reference point for understanding the evolution of feminist thought within international development frameworks, and its continuing relevance to the Sustainable Development Goals—particularly SDG 5 on Gender Equality and SDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities.
The consensus opinion at the end of the Workshop was that women were not very much better off now than they were in 1975 and that the betterment could not take place unless women themselves move to improve their situation by identifying their needs and reaching for solutions; and begin to have a voice in society and shape public opinion.This report, produced by the Asian and Pacific Centre for Women and Development following the 1979 International Workshop on Feminist Ideology and Structures, assesses progress midway through the United Nations Decade for Women and outlines strategies for advancing feminist goals globally. It identifies two overarching aims of the women’s movement: freedom from oppression through dignity, autonomy, and control over one’s body and life, and the elimination of all forms of inequity via the creation of a just social and economic order. The document critiques welfare-oriented and fragmented government programs, highlighting their failure to address structural causes of gender inequality. It examines how patriarchal norms, undervaluation of unpaid reproductive labor, and systemic biases in education, legislation, employment, and media sustain women’s marginalization. The report differentiates between reformist strategies, which seek incremental change within existing systems, and revolutionary strategies, which aim for structural transformation, advocating for the integration of feminist perspectives into broader struggles for social and economic justice. Central to its recommendations is the establishment and strengthening of independent, grassroots women’s organizations to mobilize, raise consciousness, and exert sustained pressure on institutions. By linking feminist objectives to anti-poverty, anti-racist, and anti-imperialist struggles, the report positions gender equality as inseparable from systemic social change, offering a framework for policy and activism that remains relevant to contemporary development and equality agendas.Foreword
- Context and purpose of the workshop
- Critique of existing programs and need for grassroots mobilization
- Scope and structure of the report
Section I – Goals of the Women’s Movement
- Defining feminist goals
- Power as effectiveness, not domination
- Intersection of gender, poverty, race, and class oppression
- Removing structural inequities nationally and internationally
- Misconceptions and resistance to feminism
- Relationship between women’s movements and broader liberation struggles
- Need for independent, grassroots-based movements
Section II – Redirecting Social Processes
- Role of socialization in perpetuating gender inequality
- Economic processes: production and reproduction
- Valuation of labor and the marginalization of women’s work
- Institutions as instruments for change:
- Legislation
- Voting rights
- Education
- Employment
- Family structures
- Media
- Reformist vs. revolutionary strategies
- Linking socialism and feminism
- Long- and short-term strategies for systemic transformation
Section III – Structures and Institutions
- Governmental machinery for integrating women in development
- Types of structures: executive units and advisory bodies
- Limitations of bureaucratic approaches
- Importance of grassroots contact and understanding diverse women’s realities
- Role of intermediary institutions:
- Trade unions
- Political parties
- Educational and research institutions
- Need for cross-sectoral linkages to advance feminist goals
Section IV – The Role of Women’s Movements and Organizations
- Mobilization for pressure and influence
- Grassroots as the foundation of change
- Relationship with government structures
- Conscientization and mobilization:
- Reflection
- Analysis
- Strategy development
- Role of research in feminist movements
- Mobilizing and training women:
- Change agents
- Resource persons
- Training content and methods
Appendix I – Organizational Linkages for Change
- Diagram of governmental and intermediary linkages
- Flow from conscientization to societal transformatio
Evaluation Questions. Fifth session of the SPECA Working Group on Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development
No full textTentative Programme. Subregional Workshop on Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development with a focus on Digital Public Services for SMEs in North and Central Asia, and Fifth session of the SPECA Working Group on Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development
No full textIn cooperation with the State Agency of Intellectual Property and Innovation under the Cabinet of Ministers (Kyrgyzpatent), the Ministry of Digital Development and the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republi
Progress Report on the activities of the SPECA Working Group on Trade. Twentieth Session of the SPECA Working Group on Trade
No full text
Presentation. Creation of an 'information center' for simplifying trade procedures. 2021 SPECA Economic Forum
No full textPresentation. Strengthening the policy and regulatory framework in the field of digital public services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of Kyrgyzstan in support of the Action Plan for the Establishment of the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (APIS) for 2022-2026. Subregional Workshop on Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development with a focus on Digital Public Services for SMEs in North and Central Asia
No full textEnhancing social inclusion and innovations in urban transport systems in Asia-Pacific cities
No full textInclusive transport and mobility are often overlooked aspects of transport development in most Asia-Pacific countries and there is a growing need for a more concerted effort to prioritize and implement inclusive policies in the realm of transport planning and development to capture the economic and social gains it can provide, while reducing poverty and inequality. These can be achieved by transport as it plays a critical role in providing access to the essential functions of life and services, such as education, healthcare and employment opportunities, which determine economic development and the well-being of society at large. Inclusive public transport planning also has to be implemented to address the needs of all social groups, including women, persons with disabilities, older persons, and low-income households.
The accessibility, safety and quality of urban transport services can be further enhanced by using emerging technology and innovations to support universal design in new mobility options. For example, smart mobility can help address first and last mile transport demand for different social groups with user-customized and on-demand mobility services. Inclusive urban transport design integrated with innovative technologies will be an important means of increasing the well-being of all transport users.
To address the need for inclusive transport policies while integrating transport innovations, ESCAP’s project on “Enhancing Social Inclusion and Innovations in Urban Transport Systems in Asia-Pacific Cities” aims to improve universal accessibility and social inclusion in the transport sector. Its main objective is to increase the capacity of transport policymakers and planners to design more accessible, socially inclusive and innovative urban transport systems for all social groups and transport users, including persons with disabilities, older persons, women, and low-income households.
This report presents key project findings, including a set of regional guidelines on social inclusion and innovations in urban transport systems. The guidelines were developed based on the principles that transport policies should be inclusive and promote sustainable development and derived from the project findings, each with specific supporting strategies. The five main guidelines are, 1) conduct timely data collection and analysis; 2) mainstream social inclusion in urban transport; 3) integrate transport innovation for social inclusion; 4) enhance capacity building and raise awareness; and 5) promote inclusive consultation and collaboration. These guidelines were developed in consultation with ESCAP member States at a virtual expert group meeting in 2023 and at a subsequent regional meeting in 2024.Inclusive transport and mobility are often overlooked aspects of transport development in most Asia-Pacific countries and there is a growing need for a more concerted effort to prioritize and implement inclusive policies in the realm of transport planning and development to capture the economic and social gains it can provide, while reducing poverty and inequality. These can be achieved by transport as it plays a critical role in providing access to the essential functions of life and services, such as education, healthcare and employment opportunities, which determine economic development and the well-being of society at large. Inclusive public transport planning also has to be implemented to address the needs of all social groups, including women, persons with disabilities, older persons, and low-income households.
The accessibility, safety and quality of urban transport services can be further enhanced by using emerging technology and innovations to support universal design in new mobility options. For example, smart mobility can help address first and last mile transport demand for different social groups with user-customized and on-demand mobility services. Inclusive urban transport design integrated with innovative technologies will be an important means of increasing the well-being of all transport users.
To address the need for inclusive transport policies while integrating transport innovations, ESCAP’s project on “Enhancing Social Inclusion and Innovations in Urban Transport Systems in Asia-Pacific Cities” aims to improve universal accessibility and social inclusion in the transport sector. Its main objective is to increase the capacity of transport policymakers and planners to design more accessible, socially inclusive and innovative urban transport systems for all social groups and transport users, including persons with disabilities, older persons, women, and low-income households.
This report presents key project findings, including a set of regional guidelines on social inclusion and innovations in urban transport systems. The guidelines were developed based on the principles that transport policies should be inclusive and promote sustainable development and derived from the project findings, each with specific supporting strategies. The five main guidelines are, 1) conduct timely data collection and analysis; 2) mainstream social inclusion in urban transport; 3) integrate transport innovation for social inclusion; 4) enhance capacity building and raise awareness; and 5) promote inclusive consultation and collaboration. These guidelines were developed in consultation with ESCAP member States at a virtual expert group meeting in 2023 and at a subsequent regional meeting in 2024.Chapter 1. Introduction 1
1.1. The Sustainable Development Goals and Transport 3
1.2. Sustainable Urban Transport Index Analysis 5
1.3. Inclusive Transport, Economic Development and Social Benefits 7
1.4. Development of Regional Guidelines 7
Chapter 2. Inclusive Urban Public Transport Systems 9
2.1. Introduction 9
2.2. Inclusive Transport Systems: Background and status of knowledge 10
2.3. Travel Behaviour of Different User Groups 14
2.4. Observations from Target Cities 16
2.5. Selected Case Studies and Best Practices 25
2.6. Lessons Learned to Develop the Guidelines 31
Chapter 3. Digital Technologies in Inclusive Transport Systems 32
3.1. Types of Applications 32
3.2. Best Practices in ESCAP Member States 39
3.3. Lessons Learned to Develop the Guidelines 53
Chapter 4. Guidelines on Enhancing Social Inclusion and 59
Innovations in Urban Transport Systems
4.1. Introduction 59
4.2. Methodology 60
4.3. Regional Guidelines 60
4.4. Conclusions 72
REFERENCES 74</p