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2024 : Leaving no one behind : Vanuatu country brief
No full textLeaving No One Behind (LNOB) tool helps discover how different circumstances interact to create unequal access to basic opportunities in Asia and the Pacific. The LNOB country brief for Vanuatu provides insights into which groups are further ahead and further behind in various SDG indicators and where the biggest gaps are found in terms of access to opportunities or prevalence of barriers between the furthest behind and the furthest ahead groups in Vanuatu
Towards a thematic bond market in Tajikistan
Get PDFThis analytical document is the result of a collaboration between the United Nations Economic
Commission for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Resident Coordinator Office in Tajikistan, and the Agency for Securities Market Development and Specialized Registration of the Ministry of Finance of Tajikistan in the context of the ESCAP project “Supporting the Development of a Green Bond Market in Tajikistan.” Preliminary findings of the report were presented at the ESCAP training on "Sustainable Finance Instruments: Thematic Bond," which took place on September 2-3, 2024, in Dushanbe, TajikistanThe publication explores the development of a thematic bond market in Tajikistan, focusing on green bonds. The report highlights the country's efforts to promote sustainable finance and attract investments for green projects. It discusses the challenges and opportunities in establishing a local currency bond market and provides recommendations for regulatory reforms and capacity building to support thematic issuances
Leveraging digital technologies and data for climate action. Part 1 : decoding digital and climate nexus
No full textPrepared by ICT and Development SectionThe ICT and Development Section of IDD ESCAP prepared this working paper to support the APDT report 2024, consisting of two parts. The working paper Part 1 on Decoding Digital and Climate Nexus proposes eight policy leverage points to support climate actions. It provides specific visual insights that aim to facilitate the application of digital technologies and data management to increase productivity further and promote ICT connectivity for all. In addition, the paper provides an overview of policies in both the digital and climate sectors to trigger the development of ambitious foresight scenarios for transforming digital society and the economy for sustainable development under climate challenges. The working paper Part 2 proposes good practices.</p
Harnessing digital trade to advance the sustainable development goals : an empirical study
No full textTrade’s profound digital transformation has spurred a new era of digital trade. However, little is known about the impact of digital trade and related policies on sustainable development. To investigate this, our exploratory study employs Fixed-Effects (FE) regressions, linking digital trade variables with all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through SDG targets organized into 4 main areas of development: economic, social, environmental, and governance and global partnerships. Our findings point to a statistically significant and positive relationship between the advancement of SDG targets and the growth of digital trade, particularly in the social and environmental areas. The results related to economic development and governance and global partnerships present a more varied picture. Integrating digital trade policies into regional agreements could significantly enhance the prospects of achieving the SDGs but it remains critical to bridge the digital divide to leverage the full benefits of digital trade.</p
Digital and sustainable trade facilitation in Asia and the Pacific 2023
No full textBased on the United Nations Global Survey on Digital
and Sustainable Trade FacilitationThe Asia-Pacific report is part of a global Survey effort on the implementation of trade facilitation and paperless trade measures, undertaken jointly by the five United Nations Regional Commissions – ECA, ESCAP, ECLAC and ESCWA as well as UNCTAD.
Based on the 2023 United Nations Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation, this report examines the progress of trade facilitation reforms across 47 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The report offers a comprehensive analysis based on 60 trade facilitation measures, which are categorized into four groups – “General Trade Facilitation,” “Digital Trade Facilitation,” “Sustainable Trade Facilitation” and “Other Trade Facilitation.” These measures encompass both binding and non-binding measures of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA) as well as measures extending beyond the scope of the TFA. The Survey shows continued progress in streamlining and digitalizing trade processes in Asia and the Pacific, with the regional average implementation rate for 31 “General” and “Digital” trade facilitation measures stood at 67% in 2023.
The report, based on the latest available data, reaffirms the substantial benefits that digital trade facilitation measures can bring to countries in the region. Empirical evidence shows that full digital trade facilitation implementation beyond the WTO TFA commitments could reduce average trade costs in the region by approximately 11%, almost 6 percentage points more than the expected reduction from compliance with both binding and non-binding requirements of the WTO TFA.
For other reports and the results of the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation 2023, please visit http://www.untfsurvey.org</p
Availability, affordability and accessibility of universal health-care services in Asia and the Pacific : a policy analysis
Get PDFUniversal health coverage (UHC) is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and leaving no one behind. It is one of the targets of SDG 3. Moreover, it underscores the need for equity, health-care accessibility and a full continuum of health services to progress toward UHC. The assessment of SDG 3.8 reveals several challenges and opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region. This paper focuses on the three key health indicators: service coverage, financial protection and health workforce availability, as well as their implications for the availability, accessibility, acceptability and affordability of comprehensive health-care services, including for vulnerable population groups in seven countries — Bangladesh, Cambodia, Malaysia, Maldives, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
The analysis in this paper highlights the dual burden of disease and different stages of the epidemiological transition affecting the selected seven countries of this paper. The analysis evaluates progress towards UHC, noting improvements in most countries over time from 2015 to 2023. Disparities in the availability of essential medicines, infection control and trained health-care workers in rural areas demonstrate the ongoing challenges in ensuring comprehensive health-care services in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Malaysia, Maldives, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Health-care workforce availability remains an issue even in Thailand, where UHC was achieved in 2002, with persistent challenges regarding geographic distribution of physicians across the country.
Service coverage and financial protection challenges are highlighted through urban-rural variations in maternal health services and patient travel time, with over half of women not receiving recommended visits in Bangladesh and Cambodia. Regional differences regarding gender and in childhood vaccination coverage and diarrheal disease treatment point to accessibility challenges in Maldives and the Philippines.
Private sector service providers play a crucial role in availability in Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, but the resulting out-of-pocket expenditure for the care received from private providers suggests potential financial protection issues due to affordability constraints among certain demographic groups. Again, using child vaccination coverage as an example, Malaysia and Thailand were in a better position on service coverage and financial protection compared to the other five countries, as minimal differences exist in coverage between rural and urban areas. These two countries have achieved significant milestones in UHC, covering a vast majority of their populations.
Recommendations for improving health-care services in Bangladesh, Cambodia and the Philippines include targeted interventions to enhance progress towards UHC through increasing government financial commitments to improve primary care systems, addressing shortages in the health-care workforce, sustaining vaccination coverage and bridging urban-rural health-care disparities. Continuous improvements in UHC could be realized in Maldives, the Philippines and Sri Lanka through strategic investment in the health sector, addressing physician shortages and enhancing transportation infrastructure. In Maldives, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, despite commendable health spending levels over the last 10 years, maintaining a balanced health-care workforce across rural and urban areas is recommended. Gender-responsive intervention strategies are recommended to address the current gendered variations in access to essential health services observed in all countries. </p
Asia-Pacific sustainable development journal. Vol. 31, No. 1, May 2024
No full textThe Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Journal, Vol. 31, No. 1, May 2024 focuses on the theme “Sustainable development in Pacific small island developing States: The role of regional cooperation”. This issue includes:
- Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty Reduction, and Financing for Development: Examines strategies to enhance economic resilience and reduce poverty.
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Disaster Risk Reduction: Discusses the role of ICT in mitigating disaster risks and enhancing preparedness.
- Climate Change: Addresses the impacts of climate change on small island states and explores adaptation and mitigation strategiesEditorial viii
Sudip Ranjan Basu Pacific Preview: Current trends and Trajectories
Special theme: Sustainable development
challenges in the Pacific small island
developing States: The role of regional
cooperation
1
Guest Editor: Rukmani Gounder
Manoranjan Mohanty Urbanization, Climate Change and Sustainable
Development in the Pacific Small Island States:
The Role of Regional Cooperation and Integration
23
Lalit Kumar Dashora, Senaka
Basnayake, Chinthaka Ganepola
and Susantha Jayasinghe
Readiness Stocktaking of Multi-Hazard Early Warning
Systems in Pacific Small Island Developing States
47
Rupantri Raju A Review of the Impact of Climate Change on Cocoa
Production in the Pacific Islands
77
Keshmeer Makun, Janesh Sami,
and Ronal Chand
Renewable Energy Consumption, Financial
Development, and Environmental Sustainability in
Pacific Island Economies
95
Shamal Chand, Nitika Nand and
Baljeet Singh
Natural Resource Extraction and Sustainable
Development: A Case of Pacific Island Countries
117
Fabrice Nguegang A Delicate Balancing Act for Aid Effectiveness in
SIDS: Performance-based Selectivity or Vulnerability based Allocation?
143
Henali Kumar, Anjani Mala,
Tagimoucia Yavalanavanua,
Pretika Chand, Rup Singh and
Kamal Chand
Post COVID-19 Socio-Economic Recovery in Fiji: A
Narrative with Lessons for the Future
173
Pauline Khoo, Rajesh
Ramachandran and Kaveendra
Vasuthevan
Education, Child Health, and Mining: Evidence
from Papua New Guinea
187
Mya Thandar, Hlaing Hlaing Moe
and Aung Kyaw Htoon
Role of Environmental Factors in the Maternal
Health Problems Among Slums: Evidence from
Hlaong Thar Yar Township of Myanmar
209
Linda Tjia Yin-nor and Guanie Lim Upgrading Mongolia’s Camel Wool Industry:
Opportunities and Challenge
Energy transition pathways for the 2030 Agenda : SDG 7 road map for Thailand
Get PDFThe SDG 7 Road Map2 is aimed to support the Government of Thailand in assessing whether the existing policies and strategies are well-aligned to achieving the SDG 7 and NDCs targets by 2030.
This Road Map presents three core scenarios (BAU, CPS and SDG scenarios) that have been developed using national data, which consider existing energy policies and strategies and reflect on other development plans. The Government also wanted to develop long-term scenarios in line with its commitment to Carbon Neutrality by 2050 and Net Zero GHG Emissions by 2065. These scenarios offer policymakers a strategic viewpoint on how Thailand could plan for a low-carbon energy pathway in alignment with the global race to net zero carbon
Digital innovation for ageing : case studies from Republic of Korea
Get PDFTable of Contents
Technical Materials Package – Case Studies of Digital Innovations from Republic of Korea .......... 4
Case 1: CLOVA AI CareCall ........................................................................................................... 4
Case 2: SKT AI Speaker Cognitive Training ....................................................... 6
Case 3: Ever Young Korea ............................................................................................................. 8
Case 4: Emergency Alarm and Safety Service ............................................................................. 11
Case 5: National Information Society Agency (NIA) Digital Learning Centers ............................... 14
Case 6: Seoul 50 Plus Foundation................................................................................................ 1