ESCAP Repository (United Nations ESCAP)
Not a member yet
8868 research outputs found
Sort by
The secrets to unlocking the next frontier for a circular economy in the Asia-Pacific Region
Get PDFThe Asia-Pacific region has experienced rapid in-dustrialization, population growth, and improved liv-ing standards over the past few decades. These de-velopments, however, have led to increased mate-rial extraction, consumption, and waste generation, exacerbating global environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss and pollution. The linear “take-make-waste” economic model that dominates the region is unsustainable, with countries breaching critical planetary boundaries. A shift to a circular economy, which aims to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, offers a solution by promoting systems where materials are used efficiently with limited waste, and nature is re-generated.
The circular economy presents a transformative approach for Asia-Pacific countries, many of which have expressed a growing interest in such strategies. Despite this interest, widespread action is yet to arise. Without bold, ambitious measures, the circular economy risks becoming just another concept, and the region may miss out on the opportunity to balance economic development with environmental sustainability.</p
Growing your inclusive agribusiness : a toolkit for businesses
Get PDFThe purpose of this guide is to support businesses working in the agricultural sector to develop or refine inclusive business (IB) models that allow them to create mutually beneficial business relationships with smallholders. It provides a framework that identifies common challenges, highlights solutions and shows how these can be implemented through cooperation at different levels.
In this way, the guide aims to support company managers engaging in inclusive agribusiness practices with practical tools and a comprehensive overview of potential solutions and collaborative approaches. Practitioners from development agencies, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), intermediaries and other organizations working to develop and support inclusive agribusiness will also find useful insights here.
Based on in-depth sector research and case studies, the guide showcases existing experiences and lessons related to inclusive agribusiness and distils them into a hands-on guide for practitioners. </p
Facilitating policymakers’ access to data for evidence-based policy
No full textAsia-Pacific Information Superhighway Initiative –
Working Group 2 on Digital Technologies and
ApplicationsSince the Covid-19 pandemic, countries in the Asia-Pacific region have been on a path to becoming increasingly digital societies, leveraging digital technologies to drive economic growth, improve service delivery, and enhance e-government services. The expansion of Internet connectivity has significantly contributed to this digital transformation and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Nevertheless, digital divides and inequalities persist. While advanced countries in the region are effectively utilizing modern connectivity networks, such as 5G, in driving growth, a large portion of the population still falls behind in adopting digital solutions, even in the areas with Internet access.
Digital divides and development inequalities are a key reason behind the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (APIS) – a multistakeholder initiative that aims to accelerate digital transformation through regionally coordinated actions, enabled by specially established Working Groups (WGs) across three Pillars, namely (1) digital connectivity, (2) digital technology and applications, and (3) the use of digital data.
In this context, the virtual workshop on “Facilitating policymakers’ access to data for evidence-based policy” was organised by APIS Working Group 2 on Digital Technologies and Applications in July 2024, with support from the ESCAP secretariat. The workshop aimed to introduce Asia-Pacific government officials to useful resources and data available through online digital platforms which could facilitate and improve their daily policy-making work.
This Policy Brief provides an overview of the insights shared and lessons learned during the workshop, and aims to act as a short and practical resource for APIS and other Asia-Pacific government officials interested in using the opportunities offered by various online digital platforms to access policy-relevant data.
In particular, the Brief presents a quick overview of some key digital platforms initiatives implemented at the national level by the Government of India and, especially, its Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), as well as practical insights about three additional open-access digital platform resources: the Pulse Platform operated by the Internet Society, the UN/DESA E-Government KnowledgeBase and E-Government Survey, and the UNDP Data-to-Policy Initiative and Navigator.</p
Regional Digital Trade Integration Index (RDTII) 2.0 economy profile 2024 : Singapore
No full textThis brief provides a concise summary of Singapore’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 Singapore is generally among the economies with low regulatory compliance costs for cross-border digital trade. Compared to the group average, based on data up to 2023, Singapore’s digital trade policies related to intellectual property rights, tariffs and trade defence on ICT goods, public procurement on ICT goods and services, and cross-border data policies are relatively enabling. However, compliance costs are relatively high concerning policies on non-technical non-tariff measures (NTMs), domestic data protection and privacy, and content access. in sectors relevant to digital trade. Additionally, it highlights new policy measures, proposals related to digital trade, and Singapore’s participation in trade negotiations involving digital trade.
For more information, please visit Initiative on Digital Trade Regulatory Integration
Regional Digital Trade Integration Index (RDTII) 2.0 economy profile 2024 : Australia
No full textThis brief provides a concise summary of Australia'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 Australia is generally among the economies with low regulatory compliance costs for cross-border digital trade. Compared to the group average, based on data up to 2023, Australia’s digital trade policies related to intellectual property rights, standards and procedures, and tariffs and trade defense on ICT goods are relatively enabling. However, compliance costs are relatively high concerning policies on internet intermediary liability and cross-border data flows. Additionally, it highlights new policy measures, proposals related to digital trade, and Australia’s participation in trade negotiations involving digital trade.
For more information, please visit Initiative on Digital Trade Regulatory Integration
City action plans and technology adoption strategies in Dhaka, Bangladesh : assessment report
No full textThis report, a collaborative effort involving experts and stakeholders, presents a detailed analysis of existing measures and proposes strategic approaches for technology adoption. The findings herein serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, city planners, and technologists in Dhaka and other cities, providing insights into the effectiveness of current initiatives and recommending future policy pathways or enhancing air quality. We hope that this report significantly advances our understanding of air quality dynamics and stimulates further discourse and evidence-based actions for a cleaner and more resilient urban environment in Asia Pacific.UNESCAPFunded by the Korea ESCAP Cooperation Fun
Multilevel governance for SDG localization in Asia and the Pacific
Get PDFThis policy brief explores the untapped potential of multilevel governance (MLG) for the SDG Localization in Asia and the Pacific and encourages policymakers and practitioners to promote innovative approaches to multilevel governance in implementing the 2030 Agenda. The concept of MLG describes an approach that supports policy and decision-making across national, regional and local governments. In the context of SDG localization, this approach requires a ‘whole of government’ and a ‘whole of society’ strategy, emphasis on the critical role of regional and local governments, communities, civil society and other stakeholders in driving effective SDG localization and ensuring coordinated, inclusive, and coherent policy action
Regional Digital Trade Integration Index (RDTII) 2.0 economy profile 2024 : India
Get PDFThis brief provides a concise summary of India’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 India 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, India’s telecom regulations and competition are relatively enabling. However, compliance costs are relatively high concerning policies on tariffs and trade defence on ICT goods, public procurement on ICT goods and services, and foreign direct investment in sectors relevant to digital trade. Additionally, it highlights new policy measures, proposals related to digital trade, and India’s participation in trade negotiations involving digital trade.
For more information, please visit Initiative on Digital Trade Regulatory Integration