ESCAP Repository (United Nations ESCAP)
Not a member yet
8868 research outputs found
Sort by
Assessing multidimensional food system risks in Asia and the Pacific : INsights on Food SystEm Risks – INFER
Get PDFThis working paper introduces INFER (INsights on Food SystEm Risks), a risk assessment framework that provides insights into multidimensional risks to three food system outcomes: human health and nutrition; ecosystem health and sustainability; and shared prosperity. It spans six dimensions of food security. Building on publicly available data, INFER enables tracking of risk over time and comparison across countries. It therefore strengthens the tools available for food systems monitoring and for ensuring that food systems resilience-building strategies are risk-informed. The results of applying INFER for Asia and the Pacific are presented, including profiles for Bangladesh, Fiji, Kazakhstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan, which have been prepared using international, rather than national, data sources.</p
Potential of trade opportunities between Bangladesh and North-Eastern Region (NER) of India, and Benefits for Bhutan and Nepal
Get PDFThis paper is prepared as a follow-up to an ESCAP-led multi-agency mission to Bangladesh-India border areas in July 2023 to identify bottlenecks at borders and technical assistance requirements to enable seamless flow of goods and services across borders.
The paper examines existing trade patterns of the Sylhet and Brahmanbaria divisions of Bangladesh with Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura States in the North-East Region (NER) of
India. The paper looks at trade patterns and evaluates the trade potential on various products. It also looks at the non-tariff measures that are applied on these products. The paper also examines trade of Bangladesh with Bhutan and Nepal to examine if some of the products can go via NER India to Bangladesh and outside the region. Finally, the study recommends several practical solutions to the challenges that are being faced at the border by local traders. Many of the identified recommendations are relatively easily implementable as there exist high level of political commitment in Bangladesh and India for undertaking them. </p
Social outlook for Asia and the Pacific : protecting our future today - social protection in Asia and the Pacific
No full textThe Social Outlook is a flagship ESCAP publication produced every two years with a dedicated focus on social development issues in Asia and the Pacific. In 2024, the Social Outlook focuses on protecting our future today in Asia and the Pacific in the presence of three global megatrends, namely climate change, demographic shifts including population ageing and the emergence of digital technologies.
The analysis contained in the report aims to strengthen the evidence base and build capacity of policymakers on how to foster and finance social protection systems that are ready for the future. The report is structured around 5 chapters. Chapter 1 reviews latest trends in monetary and non-monetary poverty and the widening gaps in inequality of outcomes and opportunity. Chapter 2 outlines emerging megatrends and the need for stronger and more agile social protection systems to foster a more inclusive, sustainable and equitable future for all. Chapter 3 explores the status of social protection systems in the region and the extent to which countries are ready to accommodate or respond to potential risks posed by megatrends. Chapter 4 adopts a forward-looking methodology and describes four scenarios for social protection systems in 2040. Using backcasting it provides policy recommendations to meet changing conditions and contribute to a just and equitable transition for people and the planet. Chapter 5 reviews the cost of requisite action along with implications of inaction and elaborates on sources of financing for long-term investment in social protection systems. The report concludes with broader policy recommendations.The Social Outlook is a flagship ESCAP publication produced every two years with a dedicated focus on social development issues in Asia and the Pacific. In 2024, the Social Outlook focuses on protecting our future today in Asia and the Pacific in the presence of three global megatrends, namely climate change, demographic shifts including population ageing and the emergence of digital technologies.
The analysis contained in the report aims to strengthen the evidence base and build capacity of policymakers on how to foster and finance social protection systems that are ready for the future. The report is structured around 5 chapters. Chapter 1 reviews latest trends in monetary and non-monetary poverty and the widening gaps in inequality of outcomes and opportunity. Chapter 2 outlines emerging megatrends and the need for stronger and more agile social protection systems to foster a more inclusive, sustainable and equitable future for all. Chapter 3 explores the status of social protection systems in the region and the extent to which countries are ready to accommodate or respond to potential risks posed by megatrends. Chapter 4 adopts a forward-looking methodology and describes four scenarios for social protection systems in 2040. Using backcasting it provides policy recommendations to meet changing conditions and contribute to a just and equitable transition for people and the planet. Chapter 5 reviews the cost of requisite action along with implications of inaction and elaborates on sources of financing for long-term investment in social protection systems. The report concludes with broader policy recommendations
</p
Evaluation of ESCAP's performance on gender mainstreaming
Get PDFESCAP commissioned an independent evaluation to assess ESCAP’s performance on gender
mainstreaming through the implementation of its Gender Equality Policy and Implementation Plan.
The evaluation responds to the UN-SWAP 2.0 performance indicator on evaluation requiring that UN
entities conduct at least one evaluation to assess corporate performance on gender mainstreaming
every 5-8 years. The evaluation aims to provide an impartial and credible body of evidence regarding
ESCAP’s performance on gender mainstreaming and areas for improvement that will inform the next
iteration of the ESCAP Gender Policy and Implementation Plan. The target user of the evaluation
results is the ESCAP Secretariat, particularly the Office of the Executive Secretary, the Social
Development Division, the Strategy and Programme Management Division as well as the Division of
Administration and its Human Resources Management Section, the Communications and Knowledge
Management Section, Subregional Offices and Regional Institutions. The evaluation scope covers the
work of ESCAP from 2019 to the present and includes substantive gender mainstreaming in
subprogrammes and projects both at regional and country levels, as well as institutional gender
mainstreaming. The geographical coverage is the Asia-Pacific region as defined by ESCAP’s
membershi
Evaluation of projects on enhancing SDG statistics quality and nurturing young official statisticians in Central Asia
Get PDFLeading Division: Statistics DivisionThe Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Statistics
Division launched three projects between 2018 and 2023 aimed at strengthening the capacity of
national statistical systems (NSSes) in Central Asian countries to produce, disseminate, and analyze
data to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. All three projects were funded by the
Government of the Russian Federation. The projects focused on building skills of official statisticians
through the translation and delivery of training courses, with a final project focused on establishing a
Network of Young Official Statisticians to support their professional development. The projects were
implemented by the Statistics Division in collaboration with the Federal State Statistics Service of
Russia (ROSSTAT) and two Russian universities, the National Research University - Higher School of
Economics (HSE), and the Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO).
This evaluation was conducted between February and May 2024 to support
accountability and enable learning to inform the design and implementation of future ESCAP projects.
The evaluation assessed the performance of three projects in terms of their relevance, effectiveness,
impact, efficiency, sustainability, and cross-cutting issues.Table of contents ..................................................................................................................................... i
Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................................. ii
List of acronyms..................................................................................................................................... iii
Executive summary ............................................................................................................................... iv
1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1
2. Description of the Project ............................................................................................................... 2
2.1 Background ............................................................................................................................... 2
2.2 Link to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ................................................................. 2
2.3 Project theory of change .......................................................................................................... 2
2.4 Project strategies ...................................................................................................................... 3
2.5 Beneficiaries, target countries, and key partners ..................................................................... 3
2.6 Innovative elements ................................................................................................................. 4
2.7 Resources .................................................................................................................................. 4
3. Evaluation Scope and Methodology ............................................................................................... 5
3.1 Evaluation scope ....................................................................................................................... 5
3.2 Evaluation approach ................................................................................................................. 5
3.3 Data collection and analysis...................................................................................................... 6
3.4 Stakeholder analysis and sampling ........................................................................................... 8
3.5 Risks and limitations ................................................................................................................. 8
4. Evaluation Findings ......................................................................................................................... 9
4.1 Relevance .................................................................................................................................. 9
4.2 Effectiveness ........................................................................................................................... 11
4.3 Impact ..................................................................................................................................... 20
4.4 Efficiency ................................................................................................................................. 21
4.5 Sustainability ........................................................................................................................... 22
4.6 Cross-cutting Issues ................................................................................................................ 24
5. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................... 25
6. Recommendations ........................................................................................................................ 27
ANNEXES ............................................................................................................................................... 28
Annex 1: Evaluation TORs ............................................................................................................ 28
Annex 2: Project’s theory of change ............................................................................................ 37
Annex 3: Evaluation matrix .......................................................................................................... 38
Annex 4: Data collection instruments ......................................................................................... 43
Annex 5: List of individuals interviewed ..................................................................................... 53
Annex 7: Management response ................................................................................................. 5
Applying the growth identification and facilitation framework to the small island Developing States : the case of Solomon Islands
Get PDFThis report employs the Global Identification and Facilitation Framework to the Solomon Islands, aiming to reveal latent comparative advantages and propose targeted national policies. By analyzing the factor endowments, the paper argues that due to abundant natural resources and limited capital formation, the Solomon Islands should focus on developing labor-intensive light manufacturing and resource-based manufacturing. In light of potentials and feasibilities, the paper identifies China as a benchmark country that could serve as a reference and provide industrial transfer opportunities, given its industrialization trajectories and relocation possibilities of light manufacturing sector. The identified key constraints to the recommended specialization include low accessibility of electricity, high transportation, and labor cost. Therefore, to stimulate structural economic transformation in the Solomon Islands, the report highlights the need for the government to actively seek external funding for infrastructural improvement and gradually raise the reserve ratio to reduce the real exchange rate and avoid “Dutch disease”.This report employs the Global Identification and Facilitation Framework to the Solomon Islands, aiming to reveal latent comparative advantages and propose targeted national policies. By analyzing the factor endowments, the paper argues that due to abundant natural resources and limited capital formation, the Solomon Islands should focus on developing labor-intensive light manufacturing and resource-based manufacturing. In light of potentials and feasibilities, the paper identifies China as a benchmark country that could serve as a reference and provide industrial transfer opportunities, given its industrialization trajectories and relocation possibilities of light manufacturing sector. The identified key constraints to the recommended specialization include low accessibility of electricity, high transportation, and labor cost. Therefore, to stimulate structural economic transformation in the Solomon Islands, the report highlights the need for the government to actively seek external funding for infrastructural improvement and gradually raise the reserve ratio to reduce the real exchange rate and avoid “Dutch disease”.</p