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Empowering end users in AI-driven geospatial applications for disaster risk reduction : a series of SatGPT case studies
No full textThis working paper evaluates the potential of SatGPT, an AI-powered flood mapping tool that integrates natural language processing, cloud computing, and Earth observation data to support disaster risk management in the Asia-Pacific region. Through capacity development activities in Indonesia and Thailand from 2024 to 2025, participants developed 11 case studies applying SatGPT to real-world scenarios, including mapping exposures, vulnerabilities, and long-term risks, assessing damage and loss, and validating flood data. The results demonstrated the capabilities of SatGPT in automating historical flood analysis, lowering technical barriers, and enabling rapid preliminary risk assessments across different scales. The case studies show that SatGPT can map areas of recurring inundation, highlight potential exposure of key assets and identify vulnerable populations, and provide an initial basis for understanding flood-related impacts. Overall, SatGPT shows strong potential to enhance evidence-based decision-making and support the integration of digital innovations in disaster risk management. It can also generate high-quality, accessible, and standardized risk data for informing investment decisions, guiding priority actions, and making risk more visible to governments, communities, and other stakeholders.Table of Contents
Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 6
1. Evaluating the Potential of SatGPT for Actionable Intelligence ................................. 7
1.1 Mapping Exposures, Vulnerabilities, and Long-term Risks ................................... 9
1.2. Assessing Damage and Loss ............................................................................... 19
1.3. Validating SatGPT Data ......................................................................................... 22
2. Challenges and Limitations ......................................................................................... 24
3. Summary and Way Forward: Transforming Data into Decisions, Innovation to Impact................................................................................................................................ 25
References ........................................................................................................................ 2
Climate change risks and impact on Mongolia’s financial sector
No full textThis report analyzes the multifaceted climate risks confronting Mongolia’s financial sector and outlines strategies for the Bank of Mongolia (BoM) to enhance resilience. Mongolia ranks 19th in the Global Climate Risk Index, reflecting its high vulnerability to both physical risks—such as floods, droughts, and dzuds—and transition risks arising from global decarbonization efforts. These risks threaten key sectors including agriculture, mining, and energy, translating into significant financial challenges such as increased default rates, market volatility, and operational disruptions. The report recommends strengthening climate risk assessment and stress-testing frameworks, promoting green financial products, and fostering international and domestic collaboration for capacity building. A comprehensive approach that integrates climate risk management into financial strategies, balances adaptation with mitigation, and considers Mongolia’s unique context is essential. Proactive measures will safeguard financial stability, support sustainable economic growth, and advance Mongolia’s development objectives.NDC PartnershipDisclaimer i
About this report ii
List of boxes, figures and tables iv
Explanatory notes vii
Acknowledgments viii
Acronyms ix
Executive summary xi
Introduction xii
Chapter 1 Climate Change Impacts in Mongolia 1
Context 2
Scenarios, data and limitations 4
Climate risks in Mongolia 7
Physical risks 8
Floods 11
Droughts 17
Dzuds 23
Transition risks 31
Agriculture 34
Mining 37
Power/energy 44
Conclusion 52
Chapter 2 Climate change-related risks to Mongolia’s financial sector 53
Transmission channels 54
Credit risk 58
Market risk 67
Liquidity risks 70
Legal and reputational risks 71
Operational risk 73
Chapter 3 Mongolia Financial Sector Readiness and Opportunities 74
Climate opportunities 76
Recommendations for the Bank of Mongolia 78
Peer learning and capacity-building 80
Frameworks and green market development 81
Annex 1: Summary of financial risks 82
Annex 2: Summary of climate scenario in selected jurisdictions 85
Annex 3: Overview of financial products 8
Climate finance for low carbon transport : developing effective transport financing mechanisms for Asia and the Pacific
Get PDFThe policy brief Climate Finance for Low Carbon Transport: Developing Effective Transport Financing Mechanisms for Asia and the Pacific was developed following the Regional Cooperation Mechanism on Low Carbon Transport: Identification and Development of Climate Financing Mechanisms regional meeting (www.unescap.org/events/2024/regional-cooperation-mechanism-low-carbon-transport-identification-and-development). Transitioning to low carbon transport requires substantial funding, with estimates reaching more than USD 8 trillion in the Asia-Pacific region alone through 2030. The disparity in infrastructure needs across subregions underscores the diverse economic impacts and necessitates tailored strategies. To address these challenges, a diversified funding strategy combining public and private sources is crucial. This policy brief identifies existing and emerging financial mechanisms to promote the adoption of low carbon transport, emphasizing the fundamental role of government subsidies and incentives in promoting their uptake and the necessity of innovative financing. It also outlines policy and planning strategies to scale up the adoption of low carbon transport through financial and policy financing mechanisms. Finally, this policy brief highlights crucial steps toward successful low carbon transport financing mechanisms.Summary .................................................................................................................................... 5
Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................. 6
I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 8
II. Low Carbon Transport Financing Barriers and Challenges ................................................. 11
A. FINANCIAL BARRIERS ................................................................................................ 11
B. POLICY BARRIERS...................................................................................................... 11
C. MARKET BARRIERS.................................................................................................... 12
III. Financing Low Carbon Transport........................................................................................ 13
A. SUBSIDIES AND INCENTIVES .................................................................................... 14
B. CARBON PRICING ...................................................................................................... 16
C. GREEN BONDS ........................................................................................................... 17
D. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ............................................................................ 17
E. INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE FINANCE......................................................................... 19
IV. Regional Cooperation Mechanism on Low Carbon Transport: Identification and
Development of Climate Financing Mechanisms..................................................................... 20
V. Way Forward: Policy Recommendations......................................................................... 22
A. ENSURE AND STRENGTHEN POLICY ALIGNMENT.................................................. 22
B. FOSTER CAPACITY BUILDING................................................................................... 22
C. DEVELOP INVESTOR MATCHING PLATFORMS........................................................ 23
D. MODIFY FUNDING APPROACHES ............................................................................. 23
References ............................................................................................................................... 2
Paperless trade facilitation in India : new initiatives and challenges
Get PDFTrade facilitation is a key enabler for a country’s effective participation in international supply chains and economic development. With technological advancement, trade facilitation has become an important tool to enhance trade, particularly in the post-COVID-19 phase. India has introduced simplification and automation of trade procedures and processes through a series of reforms and capital investment. Participation in the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement has helped India for digitalizing Customs and trade procedures. At the regional level, the UN CPTA has progressed well covering over a dozen countries. However, paperless trade measures implementation is yet to pick up the desired momentum due to various challenges. This article provides a review of the current status of paperless trade in India and identifies major challenges that have been hindering paperless trade across borders. The analysis of this article shows that India has made considerable progress in establishing the national Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade (SWIFT) and taken some important steps towards implementing the exchange of trade-related information across borders through several e-governance programmes. India’s full implementation of the WTO TFA offers many lessons to other developing countries. Table of Contents Abstract.................................................................................................................... iv
List of Figures............................................................................................................ vi List of Tables............................................................................................................ vii List of Boxes........................................................................................................... vii Abbreviation .......................................................................................................... viii 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 2. Performance Overview of India’s Trade Facilitation Implementation.............. 3 2.1 India’s WTO TFA Commitments ....................................................................... 3 2.2 Analysing the Performance............................................................................... 5 2.2.1 Ease of Doing Business and Trading Across Borders ................................ 5 2.2.2 Logistics Performance Index....................................................................... 8 2.2.3 Global Competitiveness Index .................................................................... 9 2.2.4 OECD Trade Facilitation Indicators (TFIs).................................................. 9 2.2.5 United Nations Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Development .. 10 3. Review of Paperless Trade Initiatives in India................................................. 13 3.1 Current Status of Paperless Trade and Single Window in India...................... 13 3.2 Other New Paperless Trade Facilitation Initiatives Under Implementation...... 24 3.3 Paperless Trade Initiatives during COVID-19 Breakout .................................. 25 4. Challenges in Implementing Paperless Trade in India.................................... 27 5. Opportunities for Enhancing Cooperation and Harmonization of Trade Procedures through Cross-Border Paperless Trade .......................................... 28 6. Concluding Remarks ......................................................................................... 31 References.............................................................................................................. 32 Appendix................................................................................................................. 34 Annexure A.............................................................................................................
44 Annexure B............................................................................................................. 46 </p
Assessing inequality in the registration of births in Samoa
Get PDFThe report of inequalities in birth registration in Samoa highlights several key findings:
- Children under one year have the lowest registration rates.
- Geographical disparities: Children in remote districts and on the island of Savai’i are less likely to be registered.
- Socioeconomic factors: Lower registration rates are associated with mothers having lower educational attainment and families in the lowest wealth quintile.
- Other factors: No significant impact was found for the child’s sex, religion, household head’s sex or education, child’s disability status, or whether parents live with the child.
This report suggests several interventions to improve birth registration rates, such as economic incentives, better coordination with birthing centers, partnerships with community organizations, mobile registration services, and improving the registration system’s infrastructure.
This kind of assessment is vital for identifying and addressing disparities in civil registration systems, ensuring that all individuals are included and can access their rights and benefits.Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health InitiativeEXECUTIVE SUMMARY..................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................... vi 1 BACKGROUND..........................................................................................................................................................1 2 THE SAMOA CIVIL REGISTRATION AND VITAL STATISTICS SYSTEM .............3 Management of notification of births ...........................................................................................................4 Community births and deaths ..........................................................................................................................7 The Life Data System ...........................................................................................................................................7 3 METHODOLOGY................................................................................................................................................... 10 Using census data to estimate births ........................................................................................................ 10 Variables assessed for birth registration completeness and their limitations........................ 13 Death registration completeness................................................................................................................. 14 4 RESULTS..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Factors associated with inequalities in birth registration................................................................. 16 Child’s age ................................................................................................................................................... 16 Region and district of residence........................................................................................................ 17 Wealth quintile ........................................................................................................................................... 20 Mother’s education .................................................................................................................................. 21 Factors with lesser impacts on birth registration completeness .................................................. 22 Sex of the child.......................................................................................................................................... 22 Mother’s age............................................................................................................................................... 23 Religion......................................................................................................................................................... 35 Sex and education level of head of household ............................................................................. 35 Child’s disability status........................................................................................................................... 37 Parents residing in the household ..................................................................................................... 38 5 POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING BIRTH REGISTRATION..39 6 NEXT STEPS FOR INVESTIGATING INEQUALITIES IN BIRTH AND DEATH REGISTRATION.............................................................................................................................. 41 7 CONCLUSION......................................................................................................................................................43 8 ANNEX 1: SAMOA CRVS STAKEHOLDERS ............................................................................4
Harnessing a new generation of programmes of action for sustainable development ambitions
No full textThe least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), and small island developing States (SIDS) of Asia and the Pacific face persistent development challenges stemming from geographic isolation, limited resources, and heightened vulnerability to climate change and external shocks. These countries, which represent over half of the region’s membership, require sustained international cooperation to address structural economic constraints and build resilience. The newly adopted Doha Programme of Action for LDCs (2022–2031), the Programme of Action for LLDCs (2024–2034), and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (2024–2034) provide comprehensive frameworks to accelerate progress toward sustainable development. This report assesses the status, challenges, and opportunities facing these countries in implementing their respective programmes. It outlines strategic priorities such as investing in human capital and social protection, enhancing connectivity and trade facilitation, promoting digital transformation, and securing climate finance. Robust international support—including technical assistance, digital trade facilitation, and statistical capacity-building—plays a critical role in translating these frameworks into action. The report also highlights the importance of coordinated partnerships, strengthened monitoring, and global financing commitments to ensure that LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS are not left behind in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.Contents
Foreword iii
Executive summary iv
Acknowledgements vii
Explanatory notes x
Acronyms xi
Introduction 1
Chapter 1 From vulnerability to resilience and prosperity - The Doha Programme
of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2022-2031 2
1.1 Introduction 3
1.2 Evaluation of and lessons learned from the Istanbul Programme of Action (2011− 2020) 3
1.3 Key features of the Doha Programme of Action (2022−2031) 8
1.4 Implementation challenges and strategies for Asia-Pacific least developed countries 9
Chapter 2 Unlocking landlocked potential – The New Programme of Action
for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2024−2034 13
2.1 Introduction 14
2.2 Evaluation of and lessons learned from the Vienna Programme of Action (2014−2024) 14
2.3 Key features of the new Programme of Action (2024−2034) 17
2.4 Implementing challenges and strategies for Asian landlocked developing countries 18
Chapter 3 Towards resilient prosperity − The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda
for Small Island Developing States for the Decade 2024−2034 22
3.1 Introduction 23
3.2 Evaluation of and lessons learned from the SAMOA Pathway (2014−2023) 24
3.3 Key features of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda (2024−2034) 26
3.4 Implementation challenges and strategies for Asia-Pacific small island developing States 27
Chapter 4 Common challenges, means of implementation and the role
of the international community 33
4.1 Common challenges 35
4.2 Means of implementation 36
4.3 Additional roles of the international community 37
4.4 The Way Forward 39
Conclusion 4
