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Inclusive business accreditation system : a manual
Get PDFA guide for establishing an inclusive business accreditation systemThis Manual for an Inclusive Business Accreditation System provides a comprehensive guide for any government seeking to establish an accreditation system for inclusive businesses. It gives detailed information about:
The concept of inclusive business and the rationale for the accreditation of inclusive businesses
Accreditation criteria and benchmarks
The process and governance system to manage and oversee the accreditation
The tools to conduct the accreditation
The manual also puts forward the process and governance system to manage the accreditation system. The accreditation process involves nine steps:
0. Preparatory stage: establishing the IB Accreditation System and launching the process1. IB readiness self-assessment by companies2. Validation of the self-assessment and initial rating of companies as accredited inclusivebusiness, and potential inclusive business, by IB support organizations3. Nomination of accredited and potential inclusive businesses by IB support organizations4. Validation by the IB accreditation agency5. Approval of IB-accredited companies by the IB steering committee6. Promotion of IB-accredited companies and support for potential inclusive businesses7. Review of the IB accreditation process by the IB accreditation agency8. Annual update of accredited inclusive businesses and their profiles</p
Asia and the Pacific SDG progress report 2024 : showcasing transformative actions
Get PDFThe Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2024 is one of the annual flagship publications of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). It provides an overview of SDG Progress in the region which serves as a foundation for many other activities conducted by ESCAP and our partners.
This year, the report shines the spotlight on success stories and trends, and the unique challenges faced in the different parts of the region. It draws out the priorities for enhancing data availability on SDG indicators, especially for the most vulnerable population groups, which could help shape more equitable and inclusive development strategies.Download full report: English | Japanese
Foreword
Executive Summary
Acknowledgments
Explanatory Notes: Countries and country groups in the Asia-Pacific region
Abbreviations and acronyms
Table of contents
List of figures, tables and box
Chapter 1 Regional progress
1.1 SDG progress since 2015
1.2 Progress: off-target
1.3 SDG Status by Goal
1.4 Progress of countries in special situations
1.5: Leaving no one behind
Chapter 2 National Trends and Insights
2.1: Country performance
2.2: Good practice examples from the Asia-Pacific region
Chapter 3: SDG Data Availability
3.1 Unveiling progress: Trends in SDG Data Availability Across the Asia-Pacific Region
3.2 National commitments to use SDG indicators
Annex 1: Technical notes - methodology to measure progress
Annex 2: Indicators used for progress assessment
Annex 3: Subregional graphs
East and North-East Asia
North and Central Asia
South-East Asia
South and South-West Asia
The Pacific
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Does Internet expansion matter for export concentration?
Get PDFWhy do export sales increasingly concentrate among a few “superstars”? This paper is the first to argue that the expansion of the Internet matters for this phenomenon. Using firm-level customs transaction data from 11 developing countries, we show that the spread of the internet steepens the slope of the rank-sales relationship among exporters. This shift implies a more skewed distribution of sales toward the top exporters. Furthermore, incumbent superstar exporters are more likely to retain their status owing to a better Internet. Doubling internet adoption is expected to boost the chance for the incumbent top exporter to retain its top position by 11.7%. This boost suggests an “entrenchment” effect where the internet reduces churning at the top. For both findings, we find some evidence that the effects are stronger for exports of differentiated goods than for exports of homogenous goods, suggesting the role of information friction in explaining the results. These findings suggest that the expansion of the Internet, and the broader digitalisation process, is a contributing factor to the increasing concentration of exports among a few “superstars”. As digitalisation continues, macroeconomic policymakers will need to step up their monitoring of idyosyncractic shocks related to these “superstars”. Policymakers also need to adapt their trade and development strategy in light of the shifting competitiveness landscape created by digitalisation. As the competition structure in the internet era favours superstars, the focus of export-promotion strategies may need to shift from supporting export entrepreneurship to enhancing the linkages between export superstars and domestic suppliers.</p
Beginner’s handbook : operationalizing Impact-Based Forecasting and Warning Services (IBFWS) for the Maldives
No full textUnited Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are collaboratively implementing a two-year Joint SDG fund project, "Strengthening National and Subnational Capacity for Sustainable Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Maldives." This program aims to anchor Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) at the heart of national and subnational development planning to ensure better achievement of SDGs and Agenda 2030 in the Maldives.
To ensure sustainability, an essential aspect of this project is to enhance local capacities so that a data driven DRR approach can be maintained in the future. To achieve this, ESCAP has developed a set of manuals that will assist local experts in creating and updating relevant DRR data. Early warning for all is imperative to build disaster risk resilience. Impact-based forecasting is a significant step forward for early warning systems. This manual provides a step-by-step methodology that is catered to beginner-level operators looking to implement Impact-based Forecasting using cyclone, wave, and seasonal outlook data. The manual is solely dependent on open-source data and software and also showcases a handful of early warning systems case studies.This manual was developed under the SDG-funded joint project on “Strengthening National and Subnational Capacity for Sustainable Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Maldives”, to support the capacity of the Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS) to provide impact-based forecasting and early warning services. The objective is to introduce impact-based forecasting and the substantive steps for producing an impact-based forecast, with a focus on the local context of Maldives.</p
The landscape of B2C e-commerce marketplaces in Mongolia
Get PDFThis country brief is part of an eleven-part series exploring the landscape of B2C e-commerce marketplaces in various East Asian economies. This series offers in-depth insights into the traffic trends for active e-commerce websites, national established and emerging key players, main characteristics of the marketplaces, ease of online selling, the degree of specialization in terms of products as well as the products characteristics. For more project information visit https://www.unescap.org/projects/b2c Mongolia shows a significant internet penetration rate (98%) and a moderate proportion of its population purchases goods online (42%). In addition, the density of B2C marketplaces is relatively high with 66 B2C marketplaces for a population of 3.4 million (capturing 0.17% of the total traffic in the region studied).
Over the period 2019-2022, traffic on the 66 B2C marketplaces fell significantly from 54 to 37.8 million visits. Among them, online shopping malls account for the largest proportion of marketplaces (66.7%) but classified sites capture most of the traffic (66.2%).
The e-commerce market is dominated by international companies (72.5%), including first and foremost the United States (47%). Of the total 66 B2C marketplaces, a commendable proportion are held by domestic companies (27.5%) and China is third holding 9% of the operating companies.
The e-commerce market is highly concentrated with the Top 10 online marketplaces capturing 91.3% of total traffic. This Top 10 is largely dominated by online shopping malls, 7 in total, though the leader (Unegui.mn) is a classified site held by a domestic company. Mongolian companies account for half of the Top 10, followed by the United States (3).
Regarding the ease of selling on these B2C marketplaces, 71% of them allow foreign sellers to operate and 65% offer open registration to online sellers. A significant proportion of these marketplaces are fully transactional (61%) but, as a corollary, 59% require trading fees to be able to sell online.
Mongolia has a balanced proportion of generic (56%) and specialized B2C marketplaces (44%). Among the 29 specialized marketplaces, 31% specialize in fashion, accessories, and shoes (capturing only 26% of the traffic). However, the traffic dynamics also show that consumers’ preferences lean towards buying automotive parts (capturing 54% of the traffic).</p
Taxing for tomorrow : aligning fiscal policies with the sustainable development goals
Get PDFTaxation plays a vital role in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as it generates revenues for funding new and essential policies and programmes and can direct consumption and production towards socially and environmentally sustainable activities.
Economic growth and tax revenue generation are intricately linked and affected by tax avoidance and evasion, policy responsiveness, and informal sector shifts. More effort should be put into promoting effective and efficient taxation through international tax co-operation to drive economic, social, and environmental growth, particularly in developing countries.
This policy brief underscores the pivotal role of taxation in the context of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda. It assesses current mechanisms, contextualizes the conversation within the present national and global challenges and presents tangible recommendations. It explores how countries can harness tax policies to mobilize resources for SDG investments and the supportive mechanisms and framework for aligning taxation with the SDGs
Evaluation of the project on improvement of driver licensing system in Lao People's Democratic Republic
No full textIn August 2020, ESCAP launched a new project entitled, Improvement of Driver Licensing System in the
Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). The project aimed to assist Lao PDR in improving road safety
through increased awareness and an online driver licensing system. Piloted in the Savannakhet province,
the project developed a new driver licensing curriculum, regulations, and online application and testing
systems, alongside training and workshops. To implement the project, ESCAP partnered with the Lao’s
Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT), which acted as the primary implementing agency. ESCAP
supported the project design and implementation by sharing its expertise and fulfilling communication,
overseeing, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation functions. The project's overall budget was
USD570,000, which was fully funded by the UN Road Safety Fund (RSF). Of this total amount, ESCAP
allocated USD500,000 to the MPWT to implement project interventions. The project ended in June 2024,
following three no-cost extensions from its initial end date of January 2022. The main purpose of this evaluation was to assess the project activities and achievements against planned outcomes, examining relevance, efficiency, impact, sustainability, and cross-cutting issues (gender equality, human rights, and disability inclusion). The evaluation included all phases of the project's lifecycle, including planning, design, and implementation. It covered the entire project duration from its inception in August 2020 to its end in June 2024.</p
Dushanbe Declaration. 2024 SPECA Economic Forum, “Green Development in the SPECA Region”, and Nineteenth Session of the SPECA Governing Council
No full textThe Governing Council of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) will hold its 19th session on 8 November 2024 as hybrid session with in-person and online participation. Under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan, seven SPECA participating countries, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will discuss the outcomes of 2022 SPECA Economic Forum and adopt its conclusions and recommendations
State of blue carbon ecosystems for climate action in Asia and the Pacific
Get PDFThis publication assesses the coverage of key coastal ecosystems (mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass) and their conservation and restoration potential in the Asia-Pacific region, with particular reference to Bangladesh, Indonesia, Maldives and Samoa. The assessment and the notional targets for mangrove restoration presented therein are intended to support national dialogue among stakeholders and underline the need for country-driven assessments, where they do not exist. This work also underscores the importance of further research, enhanced policy and technical guidance, capacity-building, and improved coordination among relevant actors.</p