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Economic and social survey of Asia and the Pacific 2023 : rethinking public debt for the sustainable development goals
Get PDFThe Survey, published annually since 1947, is a flagship publication produced by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). It provides analyses to guide policy discussion on the current and emerging socio-economic issues and policy challenges to support sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific.
This year's Survey presents the new perspectives on fiscal and public debt analysis that help Asia and the Pacific to effectively pursue the SDGs. Among other key messages, the report highlights the need to:
• revisit the nexus between public debt and sustainable development; • rethink how to assess public debt sustainability keeping in view of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and • increase the role played by the international development community in fostering timely and effective debt restructuring in countries facing debt distress. The Survey 2023 was officially launched on 5 April 2023. Please see here. </p
Electronic certificate of origin implementation
Get PDFAmid the expansion of the global trade and international production processes, demand for trade information and documents are expanding accordingly. Utilization of trade documents is not just confined in national level, but it is also applied to international level across the borders. Both manual and digital form of document exchange is used around the world where the ratio of digital form is getting larger and replacing its counterpart.
One of the most prominently used trade document is a certificate of origin (CO) which is used to prove origin country of a traded good. Proof of origin is important as treatment for the good differs according to a trade agreement as well as status of a country where the good is from.
Depending on agreements between different countries as well as their level of preparations in CO management, cross-border CO exchange procedures and complexity can vary greatly. In order to understand the details, this paper will study background and history of Cos as well as policies on CO management. Then it will list different types of COs and their electronic forms, also known as electronic Certificate of Origin (eCO). Ultimately this paper will conclude by drawing implications from the listing, for both related policies and technicality that can be referenced by policy makers who are trying to implement cross-border eCO exchange in the future.
In addition, the paper will study the Korea-China cross-border eCO exchange or Electronic Origin Data Exchange System (EODES) case which provides real world case details. The case study would provide policy makers insight information of an actual system that is currently in operation as well as details of regulations on cross-border eCO exchange in the region. </p
Regional Road map to support regional cooperation for the wider deployment of sustainable smart transport systems in Asia and the Pacific
Get PDFTransport is essential for global economic and social development, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. However, its rapid expansion in the region has posed challenges, due to continued urbanization and motorization which increase negative externalities such as congestion, pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and road accidents. In response to transport challenges and other wider global issues, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, comprising 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), was adopted by the United Nations in 2015 focusing on achieving global sustainable development. Although transport issues are not directly allocated to a specific SDG, it plays a vital role in sustainable development by contributing to other SDGs such as improved health, energy efficiency, infrastructure development, economic growth, and liveable communities. In furthering this agenda, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) prioritized the creation of a regional road map to support regional cooperation for the wider deployment of sustainable and resilient smart transport systems in Asia and the Pacific.
Smart transport systems have been recognized as an essential enabler for sustainable transport goals, in that they digitize the transport ecosystem and enhancing transport efficiency, safety, and connectivity by reducing congestion and environmental impacts in accordance with the requirements of SDGs 7, 9, 11 and 13 amongst others. However, their wider deployment remains challenging as it requires robust policies, strategies and region-wide planning and architectures. Implementing these measures is crucial to support the region’s progress towards sustainable and resilient smart transport systems and sustainable development.
Smart transport systems are an advanced integration of diverse technologies that enhance transport sustainability and are bolstered by expanding mobile services and internet connectivity across the region. ESCAP have categorised them specifically as Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS), Advanced Traveller Information Systems (ATIS), Advanced Public Transport Systems (APTS), Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO) and they include new emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles, cooperative-ITS, connected vehicles, smart mobility, and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS). These technologies have promoted a paradigm shift from “transport” to “mobility” which focusses on individual travel needs while concurrently minimizing environmental impacts. This shift has been driven by interconnected digital technologies that offer seamless and user-oriented mobility services which are supported by significant improvements in automation and AI, the continued expansion of Big Data, and 5G and IoT wireless networks. In supporting this shift, ESCAP Transport Division is well positioned as an intergovernmental platform in the Asia-Pacific region. It works towards achieving regional cooperation and collaboration with various stakeholders for smart transport systems, and has many past achievements and on-going activities relating to regional policy frameworks, intergovernmental agreements, resolutions, and initiatives.
Well-directed policies and regional cooperation are crucial to achieve regional and global agendas on transport issues. ESCAP Transport Division’s regional road map aims to promote wider deployment of smart transport systems, ensure sustainable transport in Asia and the Pacific, and contribute to the region’s resilience and response to climate change. The regional roadmap has evolved over a period of time and valuable points from previous smart transport-related projects have also been used in its development. Despite the ambitious vision for wider smart transport deployment, several roadblocks impede their development. Following research into the smart transport status, needs and priorities of Member States, fourteen issues were identified. In addressing these issues and needs, ESCAP Transport Division has offered to facilitate the implementation of five critically relevant strategies. Under each strategy, several priority policy plans (a total of twelve) aligned with achieving the SDGs and the Paris Agreement are identified. They serve as a unified pathway for the wider adoption of smart transport while supporting the development of national policies and strategies.
In furthering these strategies, ESCAP Transport Division can play a vital role in supporting sustainable smart transport systems through enhancing technical expertise and capacity, fostering intergovernmental cooperation and collaboration, providing localize smart transport systems, and keeping current with evolving technical trends in smart transport systems and producing related knowledge products.
As a way forward, proactive actions are presented using previously determined goals, strategies, and implementable policy plans applicable for the short and long-term. Short term goals focus on connectivity, integration, inclusiveness, and affordability strategies, with plans to establish dedicated cooperation mechanisms, foster international dialogues, facilitate technical compatibility, and promote capacity building, funding initiatives and upscaling analytical work. Long term goals have a shift towards integration, inclusiveness and resilience strategies, with greater integration of different transport modes, deeper institutional and regulatory foundations, increase tailored policy supports for vulnerable groups and areas, resilient and environmentally friendly mobility services, data security and utilization of Big Data, and preparedness for unexpected disruptions.
It is expected that this regional road map optimizes the use of digital technologies, with a focus on harmonizing policies and strategies, promoting regional cooperation, addressing challenges for wider deployment, while remaining flexibility to the status, needs and challenges of Member States. It also aims to foster connectivity, integration, inclusiveness, affordability, and resiliency in the transport sector, guided by good governance and institutional effectiveness, to ultimately contribute to the region's sustainable development goals.Funded by the Korea-ESCAP Cooperation Fun
ESCAP monitoring and evaluation policy and guidelines
Get PDFESCAP is committed to strengthening its monitoring and evaluation (M&E) function to inform
programme and project planning, design and implementation, facilitate organizational learning, and
improve reporting of results. As part of this commitment, ESCAP establishes its internal M&E policy
and procedures in line with the UN Secretariat-wide monitoring and evaluation requirements and the
United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) norms and standards for evaluation.
The present document serves as the third edition of the ESCAP Monitoring and Evaluation Policy and
Guidelines. It describes the overall mandate for conducting M&E at ESCAP, establishes the institutional
structure and the associated roles and responsibilities, and details the requirements for the
management, conduct and use of M&E. It reflects the latest monitoring and evaluation requirements
in the UN Secretariat, including:
The Administrative Instruction (AI) on Evaluation in the United Nations Secretariat
(ST/AI/2021/3) issued in August 2021.
• The change in the UN Secretariat programme planning from a biennial to an annual period
beginning with the programme budget for 2020 and associated changes in the monitoring
requirements.
• The new requirement to integrate disability inclusion in all phases of the evaluation process.
• The development of new monitoring tools, including the Programme Monitoring Tool, the ESCAP Programmatic Dashboard and the Senior Management Dashboard.
The AI on Evaluation in the UN Secretariat describes the organization’s requirements and procedures for the management, conduct and use of evaluations. It puts into effect the Secretary-General’s
intention to strengthen the evaluation capacity of the Secretariat. The present document responds to
the requirement of the AI on Evaluation for all UN Secretariat entities to have an evaluation policy
that is consistent with the AI.
The document is a much more concise and accessible format than the previous editions. All detailed
procedures, guidelines and description of monitoring and evaluations tools are posted separately in
the SPMD Gateway.
The document is divided into three sections: Introduction, Monitoring, and Evaluation. The
Introduction provides background information on M&E and places it in the context of results-based
management (RBM) at ESCAP.
Section 2 introduces monitoring. It starts by defining the concept, explains its use, identifies the
monitoring roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders, highlights the importance of staff
participation, and briefly introduces key support systems. Subsequently the monitoring requirements
and milestones are detailed at the level of the organization, subprogrammes and projects, respectively
Section 3 defines evaluation, explains its purpose and use, identifies the roles and responsibilities of
different stakeholders, describes the different types of evaluation activities of ESCAP, highlights the
most relevant evaluation norms, standards and criteria, explains the evaluation planning and
budgeting, specifies the management arrangement and presents several mechanisms to use
evaluation results for accountability and organizational learning.</p
Asia-Pacific sustainable development journal. Vol. 30, No. 1, May 2023
No full textThe Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Journal, Vol. 31, No. 1, May 2023 focuses on the theme “Green Transition and National Efforts towards Net-Zero Target”. This issue includes:
- Thematic Section: Five thematic articles focusing on national efforts towards a “clean energy” transition and “net-zero” greenhouse gas emissions
by 2030 as set out by the international community.
- Survey Paper Section: Provides a brief assessment of the region’s vulnerability and highlights the needed transformations for its transition to a “net-zero-carbon” future in support of sustainable development.
- Submitted Paper Section: Two articles which one of them assessing the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals in least developed countries and the other focusing on the growth performance, potential and environmental sustainability of cotton production in India.
- Early Career Researcher Section: Assesses development progress of Asia-Pacific countries resulting from the China-led Belt and Road Initiative.</p
Closing the gap for SDG 7 in the Asia-Pacific Region
Get PDFThe objective of this report is to examine the progress made by Asia-Pacific countries towards achieving SDG 7 in the decade of action on the SDGs. In it, key energy trends are examined, immediate challenges are reviewed and the preparation of more ambitious agendas towards net-zero emissions are assessed to give recommendations of the steps needed to be taken by stakeholders and policymakers to achieve the goal of access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.</p
Exploring new horizons : Nepal’s pilot in implementing data integration approaches
No full textData integration approaches are becoming increasingly popular among official statisticians and data producers; however, more institutional and technical capacity is required to fully realise their potential. To strengthen the capacity of statistical systems in Asia and the Pacific, ESCAP has released the Asia-Pacific Guidelines to Data Integration for Official Statistics and launched the Data Integration Community of Practice, a forum for sharing relevant knowledge and experience and learning. Furthermore, in 2022, ESCAP, in collaboration with the National Statistics Office (NSO) of Nepal, initiated a project to implement a tailored approach in Nepal to improve the capacity of the National Statistical System (NSS) to integrate data and produce better data for measuring Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators. This Stats Brief provides an overview of the project and the technical advisory and capacity-building support provided to the NSO of Nepal and its data partners.
Table of Contents
Summary
Introduction
Nepal project
Enabling access to data
Pre-processing of data sources
Linkage of data sources and the potential output
Conclusion, limitations, and the way forward
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