ESCAP Repository (United Nations ESCAP)
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Assessing subnational enabling framework conditions for urban climate finance : a tool and guide by CCFLA and Urban-Act
Get PDFEnabling framework conditions (EFCs) are essential for scaling urban climate finance because they provide regulatory clarity, strengthen institutional capacity, mitigate investment risks, promote stakeholder engagement, and improve access to finance to support long-term sustainability. By creating a conducive environment for climate finance, EFCs help unlock the potential of national and subnational entities to drive climate action and achieve global climate goals. The CCFLA/Urban-Act Subnational Assessment Tool aims to enhance urban governments’ access to climate finance by assessing subnational EFCs. Its primary target user group is subnational government officials, but it may also be useful to other stakeholders, including local implementers (e.g., project preparation facilities), city networks, NGOs, and national officials. Despite often facing budgetary and legal limitations, subnational governments play an essential role in urban climate action as providers of infrastructure and services, consumers of goods and services, facilitators, conveners, and climate advocates. An assessment of subnational EFCs can help improve their ability to mobilize climate finance. The Subnational Assessment Tool should be used in combination with the CCFLA/Urban-Act National Assessment Tool,7 which provides an assessment of national EFCs in the given country. Together, these tools help to comprehensively assess EFCs and identify areas for improvement
Evaluation of ESCAP energy subprogramme (2018-2022)
Get PDFCommissioned by Energy DivisionThis evaluation is the first assessment of the Energy subprogramme since its creation. Its purpose was to provide ESCAP management with forward-looking actionable recommendations to improve the results orientation and performance of the
subprogramme. Additionally, the evaluation was intended to contribute to the deliberations at the 3rd Asian and Pacific Energy Forum (APEF) at the ministerial level, held on 18‐20 October 2023
Doha Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries : key features and its alignment with the sustainable development goals
Get PDFThis policy brief examines the Doha Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2022-2031 (DPoA), particularly its alignment and synergies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Adopted in 2022, the DPoA addresses persistent challenges faced by least developed countries (LDCs) and provides tailored actions to meet their unique needs, with key focus areas including investing in people, supporting structural transformation, and mobilizing partnerships for sustainable graduation. As the DPoA aims to support the sustainable development of LDCs, its implementation should also be seen as instrumental in achieving the SDGs. To understand how the DPoA and the 2030 Agenda are complementary, this policy brief maps the 116 DPoA targets onto the SDG targets and reveals that the DPoA aligns with 14 SDGs, with approximately two-thirds of its targets closely matching or resembling SDG targets. This highlights significant potential for joint implementation. The brief also discusses how leveraging the SDG review process, particularly the voluntary national review (VNR) process, in DPoA’s review mechanisms can streamline efforts, reduce costs, enhance horizontal policy coherence, and ultimately support the sustainable development of LDCs. </p
Preferential trade agreements trends and developments in Asia and the Pacific 2024/2025
No full text - The Asia-Pacific region continues to be the largest contributor to the worldwide build-up of preferential trade agreements (PTAs), accounting for nearly 60% of PTAs in force worldwide. PTAs have become bigger, deeper, and increasingly covering issues related to digital trade and sustainable development.
- The Asia-Pacific region's "noodle bowl" of trade agreements now includes 374 PTAs with at least one party in the Asia-Pacific. Of these, 229 are in force, 27 have been signed but are awaiting ratification, 100 are under negotiation, and 18 have been suspended or terminated.
- Between January and December 2024, eight new PTAs were signed, while eleven were under negotiation. Most of these new PTAs are bilateral agreements with economies outside the region. The bilateral approach reflects a growing preference for tailored and flexible trade and investment terms, adding complexity to the existing noodle bowl of agreements. The choice of new partners highlights a strategic shift toward diversifying trade relationships aligned with the drive to seek more resilient supply chains.
- Trade among PTA partners accounts for about half of all trade by Asia and the Pacific economies – approximately 50 per cent of exports and 53 per cent of the total imports. Notably, this trend is significantly driven by economies in East and North-East Asia, and South-East Asia, which are actively engaged in negotiating trade agreements.
- Aside from tariff preferences, the most commonly included provisions in Asia-Pacific PTAs are ‘trade facilitation and customs cooperation’, followed by ‘competition policy’, and ‘intellectual property’. These provisions are present in more than 50 per cent of the signed and enforced PTAs. Since 2003, the inclusion of provisions surrounding sustainable development and digital trade in Asia-Pacific PTAs has also accelerated.
- The 2030 Agenda emphasizes the integration of economic, social, and environmental dimensions in achieving sustainable development. Sustainable development provisions in trade agreements are aligned with these goals, addressing issues such as labor rights, gender equality, and poverty reduction alongside environmental concerns. As of December 2024, of the 256 signed and in force PTAs, there are 150 PTAs that have sustainable development-related provisions (including provisions related to labour protection, human rights, gender, health, education, environment and SMEs). A new type of trade agreements is emerging, integrating elements of trade, investment and environmental sustainability. This includes the ‘Green Economy Agreement’ (GEA)” and ‘Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability’ (ACCTS), signed in 2022 and in 2024, respectively.
- Meanwhile, 120 PTAs have digital trade (e-commerce) provisions. Increasingly, these agreements incorporate provisions addressing emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoTs). The number of stand-alone ‘digital trade agreements’ (DTA) or ‘digital economy agreements’ (DEA) in the Asia-Pacific region also increased to eight in 2024. Memberships in the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), established by Chile, New Zealand and Singapore, is expanding, potentially reducing the risk of creating a new “digital noodle bowl.” Additionally, ASEAN member states are negotiating the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), aiming to establish the first comprehensive digital economy agreement within the ASEAN region.
- As of December 2024, the WTO Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on Electronic Commerce finalized a "stabilized text" for the Agreement on Electronic Commerce, marking significant progress after five years of negotiations. This could provide a useful common basis for future DTAs and DEAs. However, key JSI participants, including the United States, Brazil, Indonesia, and Türkiye, have raised concerns on this text. Integrating the agreement into the WTO's legal framework also poses challenges, as it requires consensus from all WTO members, including non-participants in the JSI.
- Meanwhile, alternative approaches to trade and economic cooperation have also grown significantly. Specifically, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) has made progress, while BRICS membership continues to expand. These and other regional trade initiatives are likely to play an increasingly important role as the multilateral trading system continues to face headwinds. </p
Asia-Pacific Quarterly Economic Update. November 2024
Get PDFHighlights:
• Average projected output growth in developing Asia-Pacific economies in 2024 is revised upwards to 4.7 per cent, while
the outlook for 2025 is maintained at 4.4 per cent.
• Inflation continued to decline in most economies, creating more room for policy interest rate reductions.
• Despite stable overall employment conditions, youth employment and women’s participation in job markets remain low in
some Asia-Pacific subregions.
• Special topic: Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies can help free up fiscal resources for sustainable development amid
tighter fiscal positions in the region
Assessment, analysis and redesign of civil registration and vital statistics processes (CRVS) - Nauru : report on the implementation of the CRVS systems improvement framework - stage 1: assessment, analysis, and redesign
No full textAs part of its ongoing cooperation with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Nauru CRVS authorities are exploring mechanisms that could be leveraged to address existing challenges, while taking advantage of regional and global good practices. With this goal in mind, Nauru authorities accepted the invitation of ESCAP to apply the CRVS Systems Improvement Framework as a novel approach to analyzing, redesigning and improving vital events registration processes.
This work was supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative.</p
How does digital trade impact women traders?
No full textThis paper explores the potential opportunities and challenges digital trade poses for women traders globally and in Asia-Pacific. This paper highlights policy areas using a gendered approach to digital trade. Given the varied and interrelated issues, a public-private-societal effort is needed to help women traders. A mixed methods research approach to conduct situation analysis is used in this paper. It predominantly reviews existing literature, supported by descriptive statistics. A feminist economics lens and intersectional analysis are primarily used to examine how women’s ability to leverage digital technologies for trade varies and how to improve it through policy changes.
At the sociocultural level, education and technology exposure are critical to increase women’s digital readiness and community acceptance of digital trade. These programs must target women and the broader community to destigmatise technology. Financial barriers, such as the cost of ICTs can be addressed through decreasing loan requirements and bolstering community safety net funds.
The new complex problems associated with scaling a business to participate in international trade highlight the need for networking and community building. This can help overcome new professional challenges for women traders after engaging in digital trade. These communities, by women, and for women, can provide professional and sociocultural solutions to potentially help create a better digital trade environment for their members.
To ensure equitable and helpful changes the government must create a better digital trade environment for women. Governments should focus on including more women in the process of policymaking and on formalising platform work to better reflect women’s economic participation and ensure a more accurate representation of women traders’ needs. It should also aid private and community action to support breaking down barriers to women’s involvement in digital trade.
Opportunities do exist for women in digital trade, but to ensure gender equity, public-private-societal efforts are needed to overcome barriers to female entrepreneurs. The issues women face in digital trade must be acknowledged and addressed to implement inclusive and holistic social and economic considerations focused on women’s unique business obstacles. </p
Coaching inclusive businesses : a toolkit for business support organizations
Get PDFInclusive business coaching is a new business opportunity in itself. To date, the landscape is scarce and dominated by international players. For organizations that are already providing business coaching, expanding the coaching portfolio to inclusive business can offer an exciting new opportunity that is still rare in the market.
This toolkit has been designed for organizations that aim to offer inclusive business coaching services. It provides a comprehensive step-by-step guide to establishing an inclusive business coaching strategy and developing a portfolio of services. Organizations may come from a variety of backgrounds, including, universities, incubation and accelerator hubs, private sector associations, development organizations, think-tanks and existing consulting and business support companies. Funded by Global Affairs Canad
People and planet : addressing the interlinked challenges of climate change, poverty and hunger in Asia and the Pacific
Get PDFGlobal collective climate action is not progressing fast enough to reduce carbon emissions or build necessary adaptive capacity to the impacts of changing weather patterns. In the Asia-Pacific region, climate change threatens to worsen hunger and poverty and is undoing gains in sustainable development achieved by the region over recent decades.
This edition of the Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Partnership Report — People and Planet: Addressing Climate Change, Poverty and Hunger in Asia and the Pacific — focuses on how the varying impacts of climate change across the region are interacting with poverty and hunger against a backdrop of continuing cost-of-living pressures, global conflict, and increasing climate shocks, at a time when many countries are still recovering from the fiscal strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, over-extended borrowing, and the high cost of debt.
Transformative solutions require us all to row in the same direction, with respect to enablers like education, institutional capacity building, innovative financing, and partnerships. Numerous examples of innovations, good practices, and responses from across the region are highlighted to provide inspiration for action.</p
