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Designing policymaker training to address the care economy : a facilitator’s manual
Get PDFThis publication serves as the third publication in ‘A Policymaker’s Toolkit for Valuing Unpaid Care and Domestic Work and Investing the Care Economy. The manual serves as a comprehensive guide for facilitators responsible for implementing and training relevant staff within their ministry or department. It is designed to assist facilitators in developing a training program that empowers policymakers and government officials to understand and incorporate the care economy into national policy frameworks. Building on the theoretical frameworks outlined in the first publication and utilizing the MFA discussed in the second, this manual offers a clear, step-by-step approach to conducting effective training and consultation sessions. It includes a comprehensive set of tools and templates that aid in the preparation and execution of sessions designed to foster critical thinking and stimulate the formulation of evidence-based, gender-transformative policies.
Related working papers: How to Invest in the Care Economy: A Primer;Model Framework for Policy Action on the Care Economy Concept Paper; Valuing Unpaid Care and Domestic Work and Investing in the Care Economy: A Policymaker’s Guide.</p
Applying the growth identification and facilitation framework to the Small Island Developing States : the case of Timor-Leste
No full textSmall Island Developing States (SIDs) face unique obstacles in economic growth due to geographic isolation, limited domestic market demand and insufficient infrastructure. By applying the Growth Identification and Facilitation Framework (GIFF) to the case of Timor-Leste, this paper aims to identify untapped growth potentials and provide policy recommendations for structural economic transformation. Building on literature review and comparative analysis with existing data, this paper pinpoints the latent comparative advantages and indicates the key constraints to industrialization. Based on a factor endowment analysis, the paper suggests that Timor-Leste should focus on light manufacturing sector with the support of increased revenue from natural resources projects such as hydropower plants. The authors argue that Timor-Leste should seek industrial transfer opportunities from China in light manufactured goods. To address the detected limitations, the paper recommends a shift in public expenditure to building industrial parks and transportation infrastructure, as well as making use of external funding to kickstart industrialization and facilitate structural transformation.</p
Valuing unpaid care and domestic work and investing in the care economy : a policymaker’s guide
No full textThe final publication in the toolkit, Valuing Unpaid Care and Domestic Work and Investing in the Care Economy: A Policymaker’s Guide, serves as an inter-ministerial guide for implementing the MFA. This guide is strategically crafted to directly support policymakers, especially those within ministries of women's affairs and related governmental departments, in effectively organizing and conducting national consultations on the care economy, fostering alliances with other line ministries. Tailored to support a comprehensive three-day consultation process, the guide is structured into phases: conceptual introduction, targeted consultations, and strategic planning. Each phase is designed to help ministries identify policy entry points, establish shared principles, and develop cohesive action plans tailored to their specific contexts.
Related working papers: How to Invest in the Care Economy: A Primer ; Model Framework for Policy Action on the Care Economy Concept Paper; ‘Designing Policymaker Training to Address the Care Economy: A Facilitator’s Manual’.</p
DPR Korea Project Phase III : lessons from Viet Nam : end-to-end early warning processes in Viet Nam
No full textIn the past few years, DPR Korea has made some progress on informing the at-risk communities on the likely disasters from natural hazards. However, follow-up actions after the occurrence of natural hazards remain largely temporary and good governance with respect to the early warning system is key to sound disaster risk management. In 2023, the Vietnamese government adopted enhancing quality of forecast and warning as one of the key tasks of the government, according to the National Disaster Prevention and Control Strategy and Plan 2030 Vision to 2050. Against this backdrop, ESCAP worked with a national consultant to document Viet Nam’s existing end-to-end early warning system to support operationalization of a similar system in the DPR Korea. This is in a spirit of continued cooperation building dating from the meeting in 2015 where an exchange was held between the DPR Korea and Viet Nam to share information, knowledge, and best practices on developing and implementing disaster management laws.
Taking the national needs of the DPR Korea rising from the natural hazard riskscape as well as institutional similarity and complementarity between the two countries, the report aims to document the end-to-end process of early warning system in Viet Nam at all government level for addressing natural hazard events. Furthermore, focusing on where the DPR Korea may especially be susceptible to risk from natural hazards, the report illustrates a set of sector-specific processes in more detail for: 1) agriculture; 2) energy; and 3) health.Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Introduction
Common End-toend Early Warning Process
Early Warning Process in the Agricultural Sector
Early Warning Process in the Energy Sector
arly Warning Process in the Health Sector
Conclusion
References</p
Cross-border e-commerce for SME exports : opportunities, challenges and policy recommendations
No full textThe challenges facing SME exports have long been recognized, notably by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which has outlined a framework of 47 key internal and external barriers. While cross-border e-commerce has the potential to alleviate some of these barriers, it cannot entirely eliminate them. Moreover, it introduces new challenges, such as the dominance of large e-commerce platforms over small sellers and the initial cost burden for small sellers entering the e-commerce space. This report offers a systematic analysis of how e-commerce has transformed the landscape of barriers for SME exports. It contends that addressing individual barriers in isolation is unlikely to be effective, as persistent barriers may hinder SMEs' engagement in cross-border e-commerce. Instead, governments should adopt a holistic approach to support selected SMEs in navigating the entire export process—from product quality assurance and logistics to import procedures, payment mechanisms, and reaching end consumers. Such support should align with national export strategies or yield broad societal benefits, such as serving as demonstration projects
Regional Digital Trade Integration Index (RDTII) 2.0 economy profile 2024 : Viet Nam
Get PDFThis brief provides a concise summary of Viet Nam’s digital trade policy profile, benchmarked against the regional average based on data from 21 Asia-Pacific economies included in the ESCAP-ECA-ECLAC Regional Digital Trade Integration Index, version 2 (RDTII 2.0).
It highlights that Viet Nam is generally among the economies with high regulatory compliance costs for cross-border digital trade. Compared to the group average, based on data up to 2023, Viet Nam’s digital trade policies related to non-technical non-tariff measures (NTMs), standards and procedures, internet intermediary liability, and foreign direct investment in sectors relevant to digital trade are relatively enabling. However, compliance costs are relatively high concerning policies on tariffs and trade defence on ICT goods, intellectual property rights, and public procurement on ICT goods and services. Additionally, it highlights new policy measures, proposals related to digital trade, and Viet Nam’s participation in trade negotiations involving digital trade.
For more information, please visit Initiative on Digital Trade Regulatory Integration
Net neutrality exceptionality : a look into the Pacific Alliance countries during the COVID-19 pandemic and lessons for Asia Pacific economics
Get PDFThe growing relevance that the Internet has taken on the development of people, businesses, and the digital economy, as well as its influence in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, has motivated States to generate different regulatory frameworks to ensure the proper functioning of the network. One of the most outstanding elements of these frameworks is ensuring access and use without discrimination for those on the net through the principle of net neutrality. This principle has been embodied in domestic and international regulations, including preferential and free trade agreements. Nevertheless, in the context of the COVID-19 crisis, some governments needed to deviate from this principle due to the increased Internet usage for education, health, and teleworking-related purposes. In that context, this paper analyses how the Pacific Alliance economies (Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Mexico) have regulated and managed the net neutrality principle in the COVID-19 context and draws some lessons for Asia Pacific economies. It features case studies, focusing on how the Pacific Alliance instruments and its members have addressed and incorporated the net neutrality principle. It also briefly addresses the state of progress in selected Asia Pacific economies, APEC and ASEAN. Comparative matrices of how the Member States of the Pacific Alliance have used their existing policy space or modified their regulations concerning the application of the net neutrality principle during the COVID-19 crisis are developed. The findings exposed the critical role of the Internet and net neutrality in development, prompting efforts to ensure equal access and combat technical discriminatory practices. In the Asia-Pacific region, discussions exist, but concrete regulations are scarce. The Pacific Alliance’s binding agreements and work instruments on NN and Regional Digital Market offer valuable best practices for the region to overcome this challenge and promote equitable digital development.</p