ESCAP Annual Report 2013 by United Nations ESCAP

BUILDING A RESILIENT, INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE ASIA AND THE PACIFIC: BECAUSE PEOPLE MATTER

ESCAP Annual Report 2013

CONT

TENTS

MESSAGE FROM THE

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

WANG HUILING

Dr. Noeleen Heyzer UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS & EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

his has been a year of challenges and opportunities for Asia and the Pacific. It has seen the region focus firmly on the future we want: of sustainable development, of inclusive resilient growth, and of closer regional economic cooperation â&#x20AC;&#x201D; putting people and planet at the centre of Asia and the Pacific plans for shared prosperity. The mandate of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), has also been greatly strengthened in 2012 and 2013, with the role in balancing development, of all five United Nations Regional Commissions, recognized, emphasized and expanded by world leaders at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). 1

MESSAGE

deeply challenging external environment requires ever-more sophisticated decisionmaking tools, and these are what ESCAP aims to provide to leaders across our region.

This was again affirmed by the recognized General Assembly in its Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review resolution. It was resolved in this resolution to more closely link the United Nations system at the country level to the work of the regional commissions — creating an unprecedented opportunity for the United Nations in Asia and the Pacific to seamlessly “Deliver as One”, from the global to the regional and country levels. ESCAP has never been better placed to support the development priorities of our member States.

From pioneering work this year on youth, ageing and disability to innovative research on regional trade connectivity; from a Low Carbon Green Growth Roadmap to a new intergovernmental agreement on dry ports; from campaigns to improve civil registration and vital Statistics to expanded partnerships for South-South development cooperation, and an intensive focus on least-developed countries and small island developing States, ESCAP has delivered significant results for the people of Asia and the Pacific.

Inclusive and sustainable development has been the driving focus of our work. All of our divisions and subregional offices have reoriented their programmess, to ensure that the outcomes of Rio+20 are implemented. There has also been a concerted effort by ESCAP to assist our member States in a big final push to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, to eliminate disparities, to close development gaps and to build a united Asia-Pacific voice in the global negotiations shaping the development agenda beyond 2015.

To even better serve the economic and social development of our member States, there has also been a focus this year on how the structure of the Commission could be revisited to improve efficiencies, enhance effectiveness and accelerate responsiveness. With the close cooperation and assistance of our member States, the results of this conference structure review will now inform organizational changes to strengthen our role as the most inclusive intergovernmental platform for development in the region.

Leading this reorientation, in the area of socioeconomic policy analysis, is our flagship publication, the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacifiic 2013, which calls for a fundamental shift to more forward-looking macroeconomic policies for sustainable development. The Survey breaks new ground this year by identifying for the first time specific levels of investment which will be needed to achieve a more sustainable pattern of Asia-Pacific development through policies, such as employment guarantees, better social protection systems and enhanced services for all. Similarly, the ESCAP Theme Study for this year’s Commission Session provides critical data, analysis and policy proposals on building resilience to multiple shocks, especially natural and economic — among the most pressing challenges threatening the development of Asia and the Pacific countries. Addressing risks and uncertainties, amid a

Empowered by its new mandates, energized by the leadership of rising Asia, and inspired by the values of the United Nations Charter, this has indeed been a year in which ESCAP has gone from strength to strength. In partnership with our member States, business, civil society, and the whole of the United Nations system, we will continue to rise to the development challenges of the 21st century — building a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient Asia-Pacific region together.

Dr. Noeleen Heyzer Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations & Executive Secretary of ESCAP 2

ABOUTESCAP

ESCAP

â&#x20AC;&#x201A; envisions a resilient Asia and the Pacific, based on shared prosperity, social equity and sustainability. It contributes to these goals through its comprehensive multilateral platform for promoting cooperation and development among its member States. 3

ESCAP is the regional arm of the United Nations, playing a unique role as the only intergovernmental forum for all countries and territories of the Asian and Pacific region. Established in 1947, ESCAP today has 53 members and 9 associate members covering more than 60 per cent of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population, or 4.1 billion people.

OUR WORK From its headquarters in Bangkok, ESCAP provides a forum for its member States that promotes regional cooperation and collective action, assisting countries in building and sustaining shared economic growth and social equity. ESCAP enables stronger participation to the smaller and the often left-out voices of the region, the least developed countries, the small island States and the landlocked States. In pursuing its vision, ESCAP provides various forms of assistance to member States: ESCAP promotes rigorous analysis and peer learning through its seven core areas of work: macroeconomic policy and development, trade and investment, social development, transport, statistics, environment and development, information communications technology and disaster risk reduction;

ESCAP translates these findings into policy dialogues and recommendations; l

ESCAP provides good development practices, knowledge-sharing and technical assistance to member States in the implementation of these recommendations.

The norm setting and policy work of ESCAP ultimately affects peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives in a positive way by assisting countries to shape and implement a more balanced and inclusive development agenda for the region.

ESCAP: A BRIEF OVERVIEW

WHO WE ARE

KIBAE PARK

MACROECONOMIC POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT Reducing Poverty, Strengthening Inclusive Growth

Countries in Asia and the Pacific face the challenging task of sustaining dynamic development amid a double-dip recession in Europe and anaemic growth in the United States. Tackling socioeconomic inequality is another important task for which inclusive policies matter more than ever. Poverty and food insecurity continue to affect millions. Through strategic analysis, policy advice and capacitybuilding in the areas of macroeconomic policy and inclusive development, ESCAP works towards fostering an enabling environment for poverty reduction and the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, particularly in countries with special needs. Through its regional institution, the Centre for Alleviation of Poverty through Sustainable Agriculture (CAPSA), sustainable agriculture and food security are given high priority. 7

GETTING RESULTS ESCAP’s flagship annual publication, the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2013, explored how forward-looking macroeconomic policies could be deployed to achieve development goals, including in the areas of education, health, social protection and sustainable energy for all. Providing cost estimates and scenario analyses, the report argues that these policies are not only desirable but also affordable.

ESCAP convened its annual high-level regional consultation on the G20 summit agendas to ensure that the voices of all countries, including the least developed countries, are reflected in global macroeconomic and financial policy initiatives and to highlight the region’s priorities in regard to issues of global reform.

l The 2012/13 Regional Asia-Pacific MDG report, prepared by ESCAP in collaboration with UNDP and ADB, provides subregional perspectives on the development agenda beyond 2015 as well as progress and challenges in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

l To promote South-South dialogue, the Center for Alleviation of Poverty Through Sustainable Agriculture (CAPSA) in 2012 established a network for knowledge transfer on sustainable agricultural technologies and improved market linkages — SATNET Asia — focused on South and South-east Asia. The network facilitates collaboration among stakeholders and provides training for scientists and policy makers.

SUPPORTING COUNTRIES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ESCAP works to mobilize regional efforts to address poverty reduction and other socioeconomic concerns of countries with special needs, least developed countries, land-locked developing countries and small island developing states, enabling greater integration into economic growth in the region. Least developed countries are characterized by constraints, such as low per capita income, low level of human development and economic and structural handicaps to growth, that limit resilience to vulnerabilities. To address this, ESCAP convened the AsiaPacific regional meeting on the Implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries in December 2012 in collaboration with the Government of Cambodia. This event helped to identify and address major gaps in implementing the Programme, including in the areas of human and social development and financial resources mobilization. With 12 out of 31 land-locked developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region, ESCAP has played a critical role in supporting the Almaty Programme of Action since its adoption in 2003. To help transform land-locked developing countries into ‘landlinked’ countries, ESCAP convened the Final Regional Review of the Almaty Programme of Action in March 2013 in collaboration with the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and the Small Island Developing States; the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The final review identified policy recommendations and actions needed for land-locked developing countries to fully participate in global trade, while sending the clear message that land-locked developing countries are land-rich, landlinked and can be key landbridges in the region with the potential to be key hubs in regional cooperation and integration. The outcome of this consultation, known as the Vientiane Consensus, will be placed at the Special Body on least developed countries and land-locked developing countries during the Sixty-Ninth Commission Session, before being transmitted as this region’s contribution at the global final review in 2014. The Vientiane Consensus goes beyond trade-transport issues; it calls for a new vision in which landlocked countries no longer see themselves as victims of history, geography and external environment. They now realize that they can become landlinked hubs for promoting regional cooperation and integration.

PAUL UBL

KIBAE PARK

TRADE AND INVESTMENT Inclusive and Sustainable Trade and Investment

The continuing lackluster economic performance in major developed economies and associated uncertainties and volatility exacerbated by a slowdown in emerging Asian economies have had a significant impact on trade and investment flows in the region as pointed out in the AsiaPacific Trade and Investment Report 2012 of ESCAP. ESCAP continued to assist countries to enhance their trade, investment and access to technology through regional cooperation initiatives, capacity-building programmes and analytical research. More than 50 activities, including those undertaken through the Asia-Pacific Research and Training Network on Trade (ARTNeT), the United Nations Network of Experts for Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific (UNNExT), and the WTO-ESCAP Technical Assistance Programme, contributed to increased capacity of more than 1,000 researchers, analysts and government officials in trade and investment policy-making and facilitation in 2012.

GETTING RESULTS The only region-wide preferential trade agreement (PTA), the ESCAP-initiated AsiaPacific Trade Agreement (APTA), made further progress in inventorying non-tariff measures of APTA members States and in completing the ratification process of the framework agreements in trade facilitation, investment and services. APTA continues to expand, with Mongolia expected to accede in 2013.

ESCAP continued its focus on responsible business practices through its annual AsiaPacific Business Forum (APBF) and its Business Advisory Council (BAC). A key outcome was the launch of the Sustainable Business Network for Asia and the Pacific, which will address specific aspects of sustainable business including the greening of business, social enterprises and investment, and renewable energy.

l ESCAP, together with the World Bank, launched a new global and multi-sectoral trade

cost database, providing unique insights on intraregional and interregional trade connectivity and highlighting the need for more inter-subregional trade facilitation reform in Asia and the Pacific. The Asia-Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology of ESCAP established a renewable energy transfer (RET) bank which promotes business partnerships and strengthens crossborder cooperation in the renewable energy sector.

The Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization of ESCAP made significant progress in advancing the establishment of the Asian and Pacific Network for Testing Agricultural Machinery (ANTAM), which aims to promote sustainable agricultural mechanization through adoption of region-wide standards, testing codes and procedures.

TOWARDS PAPERLESS TRADE Trade is vital for achieving economic growth and generating employment in developing countries. However, trade costs in developing countries in Asia remain on average up to three times higher than in OECD countries, partly because of complicated and time-consuming trade processes. Indeed, even in the more trade-friendly countries of the region, a typical export transaction requires interaction between 15 parties and involves preparation and submission of at least 24 documents and 700 associated data elements. The direct and indirect costs of these procedures have been estimated at 7 per cent to 10 per cent of the value of global trade, or more than US$250 billion annually for developing Asia-Pacific countries. ESCAP has played an active role in building capacity of Governments from the region in streamlining trade procedures. With paperless trade as a long-term goal, ESCAP emphasized the need for a gradual approach beginning with analysis of the existing trade process and identification of procedures that can be eliminated, simplified or made more transparent. In collaboration with UNNExT and UNECE, ESCAP also launched a complete Single Window Implementation Toolkit for Trade Facilitation in 2012, aimed at facilitating implementation of systems for electronic submission of all traderelated regulatory and other documents to Government authorities at one time and one place. This is in line with resolution 68/3 adopted by the Commission at its Sixty-Eighth session, in which it called for increased capacity building in this area and set the stage for the development of regional arrangements for cross-border paperless trade facilitation.

MARC PROKSCH

KK PHILIP KANG

TRANSPORT Enabling Transport Connectivity For People And Products

In response to changes in the global economy, countries in Asia and the Pacific are seeking new opportunities for trade and investment within the region. Among the ways these opportunities can be realized is by investing in more and better transport infrastructure and making greater use of regional networks, such as the Asian Highway, the Trans-Asian Railway and dry ports as an interconnected, integrated transport and logistics system. Efficiency gains can also be made through measures to facilitate cross-border and transit transport. ESCAP supports projects and programmes that encourage regional cooperation among countries, building capacities to address the major transport challenges they face. ESCAP promotes better transport connectivity between countries so that they can play a greater role in the global economy. In support of the Millennium Development Goals, it also promotes safe and sustainable transport to ensure that transport policies protect the environment and improve access to incomegenerating activities and social services.

GETTING RESULTS l ESCAP is the secretariat to the Intergovernmental agreements on the Asian Highway Network and the Trans-Asian Railway Network. In 2012, the Democratic Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Republic of Korea became the latest country to become Party to these agreements, bringing the total number of parties to 29 and 18, respectively. This paves the way for better transport connectivity in North-East Asia, as countries can use these networks to plan and develop their infrastructure. Progress was also achieved in the development of an intergovernmental agreement on dry ports, which, if adopted at ESCAPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 69th Commission Session, will improve the efficiency of transport processes and promote multimodal transport. l ESCAP adopted the regional strategic framework for facilitation of an international

road transport which identifies common targets and approaches for transport facilitation. ESCAP developed a set of transport facilitation tools and established a regional network of legal and technical experts for transport facilitation to support the implementation of the framework. l In November 2012, ESCAP organized a high-level expert group meeting on publicprivate-partnerships (PPPs) in conjunction with the Third Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Public-Private Partnerships for Infrastructure Development, organized by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. These meetings provided an opportunity for public sector agencies to share information and exchange ideas on how to overcome the challenges in implementing PPPs in their countries.

INTEGRATING TRANSPORT THROUGH DRY PORTS ESCAP promotes regional connectivity through the development of an intermodal transport and logistics system. Dry ports facilitate the smooth transfer of cargo between diff erent transport modes, giving traders more options for importing and exporting goods. Dry ports can also provide the same services as sea ports, including storage, consolidation of goods, inspections and customs clearance, thus helping to relieve sea ports from congestion and facilitate trade. In addition, dry ports can open up new investment potential and stimulate growth in inland areas. At the request of and in consultation with member States, ESCAP supported the development of an intergovernmental agreement on dry ports. The draft agreement was approved by the Committee on Transport in October 2012. This agreement outlines basic guiding principles for the development and operation of dry ports of international importance. To date, 27 countries have nominated dry ports in their countries for inclusion in the draft intergovernmental agreement. If adopted by the Commission at its SixtyNinth session in 2013, it is expected that this agreement will strengthen regional connectivity and boost the transport and logistics capacities of countries, promoting inclusive and sustainable development of the region.

MARIA MISOVICOVA

UN PHOTO

ENVIRONMENT Greening Economy to Sustain Growth, Reduce Poverty

Rapid industrialization and urbanization in Asia and the Pacific following a growth pattern based on intensive use of natural, energy and water resources have led to deteriorating ecological sustainability, exacerbating the vulnerability to rising prices of energy and natural resources and to worsening climate impacts. ESCAP is working to turn resource intensive growth patterns, which exploit cheap labor and natural resources leading to social exclusion and ecological externality, into a virtuous cycle of investing in natural and human capital to improve social cohesion and ecological sustainability. This then reinforces economic vitality and dynamism for the inclusive and green growth of the region.

GETTING RESULTS l ESCAP developed and launched the Low Carbon Green Growth Roadmap for Asia and the Pacific, which provides a toolbox for policymakers to turn resource constraints and climate crisis into economic growth opportunities necessary to reduce poverty.

In implementing resolution 67/2 in which it called for the convening of the Asian and Pacific Energy Forum (APEF), ESCAP organized consensus-building subregional preparatory consultations. Intergovernmental consultations in all five subregions have identified opportunities for regional cooperation for

energy security which will feed into APEF to be held in May 2013. l With the collaboration of the Center for Economic Research and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), ESCAP undertook a project on municipal management reform to improve urban infrastructure and service delivery in Central Asia. The project promoted policy dialogue on reforming municipal governance, infrastructure and utility services in several cities in Central Asia, stimulating multi-stakeholder dialogue for sharing of experiences across national barriers.

A GREEN BRIDGE ESCAP has been a pioneer in developing green growth and environmentally sustainable economic growth as specific paths for development in the region. The Green Bridge Partnership Programme (GBPP) is a multilateral, crosssectoral and voluntary programme that provides a stable and long-term basis for green investment, transfer of new technologies and innovations between the developed and developing world towards an environmentally sustainable, equitable and prosperous future, in both Europe and Asia and the Pacific. GBPP was welcomed in the Rio+20 Outcome document, ‘The future we want’, as a cross-regional initiative and implementation mechanism for the Astana Green Bridge Initiative (AGBI), stimulated by the green growth approach of ESCAP. Kazakhstan is taking the lead by linking Europe and Asia and the Pacific in promoting green growth and a green bridge through GBPP, highlighting the need for cross-regional partnerships through green growth policies and actions. Both AGBI and GBPP were welcomed at the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific held in 2010 and by the Seventh Pan-European Conference on “Environment for Europe” held in 2011. As part of its national twenty-year transition strategy to a green economy, Kazakhstan has committed to hosting EXPO 2017 “Future Energy”, which aligns with the Secretary-General’s “Sustainable Energy for All” initiative with the upcoming APEF and the ESCAP initiative to explore the creation of an Asian Energy Highway.

JOHN ISAAC

RENATO MACSPAC

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION Building Resilience, Deepening Connectivity

Asia and the Pacific is the most disaster prone region in the world. In 2012, floods were the most frequent disaster in Asia, with the highest human and economic impact. While rapid economic growth and population expansion have made the region more exposed to disaster, many developing countries have become increasingly vulnerable to disasters. The coping capacities of their communities have not expanded at the same rate as the frequency and virulence of disasters. ESCAP is focussing on the pressing contemporary development challenge of how to build resilience and how to deepen connectivity in Asia and the Pacific by providing multi-sectoral, multidisciplinary policy analysis and guidance; capacity-building in disaster risk reduction and the application of information and communications technology (ICT) and space applications; demand driven regional advisory services; and deepening regional cooperation for knowledge and technology sharing among member States. 15

GETTING RESULTS The Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2012: Reducing Vulnerability and Exposure to Disasters, prepared jointly by ESCAP and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, was presented at the Fifth Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2012, providing timely and relevant policy discourse and recommendations.

During 2012, ESCAP worked closely through its regional cooperation mechanism, Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development (RESAP), to operationalize a region-wide early warning system for monitoring drought. Using spacebased products shared by RESAP spacefaring countries, the mechanism aims to identify and monitor high-risk drought-prone areas, and build capacity for effective response to droughts.

The ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness in Indian Ocean and South East Asian Countries strengthened the capacities of 16 member

States in multi-hazard early warning capacities and coastal resilience building. The value of the Regional Integrated Early Warning System (RIMES), established with the support of the Fund, was confirmed at the First RIMES Ministerial Conference held in New Delhi on 21 June 2012, where 21 countries pledged to strengthen regional disaster early warning systems. In partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), ESCAP is developing a regional map of the information superhighway, a first in the region, as part of an in-depth ESCAP study aimed at identifying the infrastructure gaps and related policy bottlenecks in the region.

The Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (UN-APCICT/ESCAP) is continuing to develop and implement needbased information and communications technology for development (ICTD) capacity building programmes for member States. l

OPTIMIZING SPACE TECHNOLOGIES FOR DISASTERS Space technologies, especially remote-sensing and geographic information systems (GIS), have proven effective in monitoring and providing early warning and emergency response during disasters, and are more affordable than ever. However, while the Asia-Pacific region has a rapidly growing number of space-faring countries with many existing and planned remote sensing satellites in the region, space and GIS applications continue to be underutilized primarily because of the lack of capacity in developing countries in terms of human, scientific, technological, organizational and institutional resources and expertise for operational applications of these tools. To address this dichotomy, the historic five-year Plan of action on applications of space and GIS for Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development was adopted by an ESCAP-convened intergovernmental meeting held in December 2012. The Plan provides a road map to broaden and deepen the contribution of these technologies to all affected countries and communities so that the most vulnerable people of the region can benefit from space and GIS technologies, creating a virtuous cycle of economic and social benefits. The Plan called on ESCAP, as the most inclusive intergovernmental platform in Asia and the Pacific, to play a catalyst role in harmonizing the myriad of existing regional initiatives, and pooling expertise and resources in order to enhance the effectiveness of these efforts in addressing the capacity gaps, especially in high-risk, low capacity developing countries.

UN PHOTO

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Protection, Empowerment and Equality

Confronting the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rising inequality in Asia and the Pacific continues to be priority for ESCAP. Despite impressive economic growth, the divide between the rich and poor is increasing in the region. The gender gap needs to be closed. Women, youth, persons with disabilities, older persons and other vulnerable groups continue to face disparities in income and discrimination in jobs and unequal access to opportunities and services. Against this backdrop, ESCAP supports member States in the formulation and implementation of social development policies and programmes to advance the legal rights and promote the economic and social participation of the above-mentioned population groups. Support is also extended in promoting comprehensive social protection systems to mitigate risks and vulnerabilities faced by these population groups.

GETTING RESULTS The gap between women and men on economic participation remains wide in Asia and the Pacific. There were 65 employed women for every 100 employed men during the period 1991-2009. To address this gap, ESCAP conducted research and convened national policy dialogues in selected countries to consider measures to create an enabling legal and policy environment to enhance women’s economic participation.

The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing unprecedented population ageing. By 2050, the number of older persons will almost triple in the region. The socio-economic implications of this are profound. Member States gathered l

in Bangkok at an ESCAP intergovernmental meeting in September 2012 to adopt measures to increase national awareness, capacity and resources to prepare for and respond to an ageing future. l The Rio+20 Summit stressed the importance

of the active participation of young people in decision-making processes. It encouraged the sharing of good practices to address the high level of youth unemployment. ESCAP, in cooperation with United Nations system partners, is supporting member States to strengthen investments in young people, and enhance their participation in economic, social and political processes.

CREATING A DISABILITY-INCLUSIVE SOCIETY IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC There are 650 million persons with disabilities living in the Asia-Pacific region. They account for 15 per cent of the population, but are mostly unseen, unheard and uncounted. Evidence indicates that persons with disabilities are among the most marginalized in society. They lack access to education and have limited employment opportunities. They also face barriers in the physical environment, public transportation, knowledge, information and communication, which are all preconditions for persons with disabilities to fulfil their rights in an inclusive society. That is why Governments of Asia and the Pacific gathered at an ESCAP conference in Incheon, Republic of Korea, from 29 October to 2 November 2012, to tackle the existing barriers that prevent the growing number of persons with disabilities from participating in economic, social and political life. The Governments launched a new Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities for the period 2013 to 2022. They also adopted a regional strategy to chart the course of the new Decade by adopting the world’s first set of regionally agreed disability-inclusive development goals. For the first time, the Asian and Pacific region will be able to track and measure progress in efforts to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities. Referred to as the “Incheon Strategy to Make the Right Real for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific”, the Strategy contains specific time-bound goals and targets. The goals include reducing poverty and increasing employment for persons with disabilities, enhancing their political participation, ensuring disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction, promoting gender equality for women and girls with disabilities, improving disability data and accelerating the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

UN PHOTO

KIBAE PARK

STATISTICS Producing Reliable Statistics For Effective Policies

Statistics, when used properly, help end hunger, create jobs and improve lives. However, many countries in the region still face challenges in producing basic statistics, which hampers policy-making and undermines inclusive and sustainable development. Steered by the Committee on Statistics, the Division supports member States in improving official statistics through regional cooperation. The Division collaborates with development partners to ensure that by 2020, all member States will have the capability to provide an agreed-upon basic range of population, social, economic and environment statistics. It also contributes to the innovation of national statistical systems to meet emerging demands for new and better statistics, faster and more costeffectively.

GETTING RESULTS In December 2012, ESCAP convened the third session of the Committee on Statistics. By adopting a number of regional programmes, strategies and action plans, member States strengthened their cooperation to improve official statistics in a number of priority areas.

On the same occasion, member States agreed to use a core set of population and social statistics as a regional framework to guide national capacity development. The agreement represents a global milestone for developing population and social statistics that are essential for achieving inclusive development.

As part of a global strategy, ESCAP, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), supported member States in developing a regional action plan to improve agricultural

statistics. The action plan, which is being implemented, will improve statistics for policies supporting food security and sustainable agriculture. Through assessments of regional progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the Statistic Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific and its related online statistical products, ESCAP strengthened its position as a “go-to-place” for information on economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific.

Statistical training activities provided by ESCAP, including through the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP) continued to enhance the knowledge and skills of government officials and statisticians, contributing to the improvement of national statistical capabilities.

CIVIL REGISTRATION AND VITAL STATISTICS SYSTEMS IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC It is estimated that between one and two-thirds of children in Asia and the Pacific are not officially registered and, globally, three-quarters of deaths are either not registered or the cause is incorrectly certified. Civil registration — the recording of births, deaths, marriages, divorces and adoptions — is a fundamental function of government. It is also the most basic requirement for people to establish legal identity, which is critical for safeguarding rights, accessing essential services and social protection, and participating in the economy and public life. People who are not registered are officially non-existent and effectively invisible, without important means to escape poverty. Vital statistics, derived from civil registration, help decision-makers understand the needs of people and society. For instance, reliable vital statistics on population, health and mortality underlie the measurement of 42 of the 60 Millennium Development Goal indicators. In December 2012, more than 200 senior officials from the health, civil registration and statistics sectors of 43 member States gathered at a highlevel meeting convened by ESCAP in collaboration with 19 development partners. They reached consensus on the ‘Make Every Life Count’ Regional Strategic Plan to improve civil registration and vital statistics in the region. The Regional Strategic Plan was subsequently endorsed by the ESCAP Committee on Statistics, paving the way for national action and regional cooperation.

MARC PROKSCH

The strategic importance of North and Central Asia makes it a unique subregion, due to the significant role it plays in the energy security of Europe and Asia, its transit potential as a transport hub between two continents and its active role in addressing global security challenges. The prolonged global economic crisis, commodity price volatility and extreme weather conditions has slowed down the economic growth of member States. They have also continued to face such challenges as the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, barriers to trade and transport connectivity, management of water and energy resources, climate change and environment degradation and exposure to disaster. Most member countries are landlocked and among them economic development is divergent, with economic development and a rapid growth gap between the income levels of energy-exporting and non-energy exporting States. In turn, North and Central Asian States face the urgent task of diversifying their economies, moving away from their present status as energy and commodity exporters. Strengthening regional cooperation is a key precondition for rapid, balanced and sustained economic development of all the countries of the subregion. The ESCAP North and Central Asia Office (ESCAP-NCA) is strategically positioned as a gateway between Europe and Asia. The Office works to support enhanced economic cooperation within a regional framework for closer economic integration. It focuses on the promotion of subregional and intraregional trade and transport linkages, sustainable infrastructure development and efficient management of energy, water and other natural resources. It provides targeted and in-depth technical assistance, capacity building, cutting-edge data, and policy advice to member States, supporting their efforts to address the priority issues of this subregion. It also serves as a joint office for the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA), in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

SUBREGIONAL

ESCAP NORTHAND CENTRALASIA

MARIE ANGE SYLVAIN-HOLMGREN

GETTING RESULTS: Closer regional economic integration was the theme when SPECA countries met at ESCAP headquarters towards the end of 2012 to discuss how the integration experiences of other Asia-Pacific subregions can help promote sustainable and inclusive growth among its members amid the current global economic uncertainty.

l Additionally, the 2012 SPECA Economic Forum offered an opportunity to member countries to learn more about the successes and challenges of regional economic cooperation in Asia, in particular the experiences of regional and subregional organizations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Addressing new challenges and implementing the decisions of the Rio+20 Conference, the Office has refocused its activities, prioritizing the promotion of energy efficiency through advanced energy technologies, including increased use of renewable energy sources, cleaner fossil fuel technologies and the sustainable use of traditional energy resources, and strengthened Integrated water resource management.

ESCAPNCA 22

KAILASH MITTAL

ESCAPSOUTHAND SOUTH-WESTASIA South and South-West Asia, home to 1.7 billion people, has emerged as one of the fastest growing subregions in the world. It faces immense challenges, however, in terms of reducing poverty and hunger, accelerating the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and reversing the widening economic and social disparities within and among countries. Of the 10 countries in the subregion, four are classified as least developed, among which three are also landlocked. The subregion also has the highest mortality risk from natural disasters in Asia and the Pacific. Against this backdrop, the ESCAP South and South-West Asia Office (ESCAP-SSWA) strives to assist the subregion in the formulation and implementation of development policies for the achievement of internationally agreed development goals. It furnishes analysis, policy advocacy, targeted technical cooperation and capacity-building programmes, and promotes regional cooperation and partnerships across the subregion and beyond.

SUBREGIONAL

GETTING RESULTS: The Regional Cooperation for Inclusive and Sustainable Development: South and South-West Asia Development Report 2012-13, the first in a biennial series, examines the development challenges faced by countries of the subregion and outlines a policy agenda for addressing them. l

It argues that regional cooperation can be an important strategy to address many of these challenges. Through inclusive growth and regional cooperation, the subregion can harness its many advantages, including its youth bulge, to grow, within a generation, into the world’s largest centre for consumption — driving global growth and filling the global skills deficit. Finally, better connectivity, across the subregion and beyond, can help leverage the subregion’s strategic location at the crossroads of Asia and the Pacific to re-emerge as the hub of East-West trade. l Supporting the articulation of the subregional perspective on energy access and energy security and the role of regional cooperation, the office hosted a Subregional Consultation on Energy Security in late 2012. Attended by more than 35 senior government officials and policymakers of subregional countries, the consultation highlighted the immense and large potential for subregional cooperation for energy security, and identified key areas for enhancing collaboration, including establishment of energy infrastructure and the promotion of renewable energy.

Working jointly with the Geneva-based International Trade Centre of UNCTAD/WTO, the Office organized a technical capacitybuilding workshop on Afghanistan’s Accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The programme was attended by 22 officials of the Government of Afghanistan and other stakeholders, identified knowledge-gaps and related trade policy and development issues, including drawing upon the experiences of Nepal with WTO accession. As the accession process moves towards sectoral negotiations, ESCAP-SSWA/ITC will continue to engage with Afghanistan regarding its accession and other capacity-building needs on trade and productive capacity. l

ESCAPSSWA 24

SUBREGIONAL

COURTESY OF SUNCHEON BAY

ESCAPEASTAND NORTH-EASTASIA The East and North-East Asian subregion remains the economic powerhouse in the Asian and Pacific region. Amid global uncertainty, the subregion has made important progress in accelerating economic growth, reducing poverty and in enhancing regional integration. Major challenges, however, persist including widening socioeconomic disparities and considerable inefficiencies in the use of natural resources. Widespread poverty continues to afflict some areas. The ESCAP Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia (ESCAP-ENEA) assists member States through knowledge-sharing, capacity-building and field projects on the ground.

GETTING RESULTS: In a meeting co-organized by the Subregional Office with its partners, 51 youth representatives from the subregion adopted a bold declaration entitled “The world we want: A North-East Asian youth vision”. This was presented to the foreign minister of the Republic of Korea as a formal input to the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

In collaboration with the National Population and Family Planning Commission of China, the Office organized the Asian Symposium on Building Sustainable Ageing Societies, bringing more than 100 participants, including high-level governmental officials, academic researchers and civil society organization representatives together to review issues and initiatives to address challenges that come with an ageing population in Asian countries. The meeting called for continued dialogue and exchange of good practices, as well as the creation of a knowledge-sharing platform, which the Office will build in 2013.

l Member States in the subregion continue to face transboundary environmental challenges, as well as their own distinctive environmental issues. As the secretariat for the North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC), the Office convened the 17th NEASPEC Senior Officials Meeting at the close of 2012. Key new initiatives included the creation of a marine protected areas network, protecting the key habitats of migratory birds, and launching an information platform for low-carbon cities.

In 2012, the Office brought together experts from the quarantine and inspection agencies in the subregion to share experiences and identify key areas in which capacity training would be beneficial for their counterparts in Mongolia. This provided the basis for the Office in designing for capacitybuilding activities.

ESCAPENEA 26

MARIE ANGE SYLVAIN-HOLMGREN

ESCAPPACIFIC Despite significant resource outlays and effort, Pacific island developing countries as a whole have experienced weak economic performance in the past year. While there has been some progress towards social development, including progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals, significant gaps, especially in poverty alleviation, gender equality and environmental sustainability persist. A fifth of the total Pacific islands population still lives in poverty, and Pacific island countries are highly vulnerable to climate change. Against this backdrop, building resilience of communities and populations has been placed at the centre of sustainable development planning by the Pacific governments in the subregion. In response to these challenges and in support of the implementation of the outcome of the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, the ESCAP-Pacific Office (ESCAP-EPO) is supporting Pacific island member States in integrated and evidence-based sustainable development planning, including through green economy policies.

SUBREGIONAL

GETTING RESULTS: Following the Rio+20 Summit, ESCAP showcased its in-depth analysis of the concepts and opportunities of green economic policy for sustainable development in the Pacific through the Green Economy in a Blue World: Pacific Perspectives 2012 publication, launched at the â&#x20AC;&#x153;High-level Policy Dialogue on the Role of Macroeconomic Policy and Energy Security in supporting Sustainable Development in the Pacificâ&#x20AC;?.

l ESCAP has expanded its work with subregional organizations to promote sustainable development in the Pacific, such as with the Melanesian Spearhead Group, to support the development of a Green Growth Framework which would enhance economic growth and integrated sustainable development through the avoidance of loss of biodiversity and unsustainable use of natural resources.

Economic valuation of environmental capital and social equity underpins the capacity of policy-makers to make balanced policy choices in pursuit of sustainable development. Specifically, with respect to gender inequality, policymakers need to understand the economic impact of gender inequality has in the Pacific. The ESCAP Pacific Office has initiated discussions with development partners to pursue a comprehensive study into the costing of gender inequality in Pacific island countries. l

ESCAPEPO

KIBAE PARK

ACHIEVING RESULTS THROUGH INCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIPS Results, partnerships and building ESCAP as a knowledge-sharing organization are three key drivers underpinning the mandate, role and work. Achieving results is the touchstone of the work of the ESCAP subprogrammes, as it strives to make a real and enduring difference to the lives and prospects of people across Asia and the Pacific. Improving results-based management is therefore a key priority for ESCAP at all levels of its work. Through its technical cooperation programme, ESCAP works with a diverse range of partners to strengthen the critical development capacities of member States, with a particular focus on enhancing South-South cooperation and sharing of development knowledge, experience and lessons. Increasingly focused on larger-scale and longer-term projects, this work in 2012 was underpinned by a strengthened monitoring and evaluation system to ensure the accountability of ESCAP to its member States and the donor community, and to facilitate learning and ongoing improvement in performance.

PROMOTING INCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIPS national women’s machineries in the region through a series of sub-regional workshops and provision of tools and resources.

The power of partnerships is an essential foundation for the success of ESCAP. In all of its work, ESCAP aims to maximize the impact of the resources, experience, skills and linkages that partners bring to the implementation of our shared vision of an Asia and the Pacific region which is based on shared prosperity, social equity and sustain-ability. Examples of effective and innovative partnerships during 2012 included:

l Collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates

Foundation and Citinet to help cities in Asia and the Pacific to collect and recycle solid urban waste, using an approach through which up to 95 per cent of the collected waste is recycled or composted.

Working with the Hilti Foundation and a local non-governmental organization — the Homeless People’s Federation Philippines — to pilot a housing development project that promotes environmentally friendly, ecoefficient, disaster- resilient and affordable housing.

Working under the auspices of the longstanding tripartite partnership between ESCAP, ADB and UNDP to convene a series of subregional consultations across Asia and the Pacific to input into the publication of the annual regional Millennium Development Goal report. This will highlight Asia-Pacific perspectives on the development agenda beyond 2015 and identify areas where critical interventions are needed if offtrack countries in Asia and the Pacific are to achieve the Goals by 2015.

l Working with Goldman Sachs to strengthen gender equality policies and programmes in the region.

In 2012, ESCAP adopted a number of measures to further strengthen the effectiveness, visibility and efficiency of such partnerships. These included the establishment of a dedicated partnerships and resource mobilization section, and the stepping up of formal and informal consultations with current and potential donors. Recognizing the importance of the private sector as an emerging key partner in delivering capacity-development work, ESCAP established a task force on private sector partnerships and resource mobilization to develop strategies for enhanced collaboration in this area. The task force is expected to complete its work by the middle of 2013.

l Working with the European Union to improve

security and nutrition of the poorest and most vulnerable in South and South-east Asia through adoption of sustainable agricultural technologies. l Collaboration with the Government of Thailand, the Government of Sweden and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency to operate the MultiDonor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness in Indian Ocean and South-East Asia Countries. l Working with UN Women towards strengthening the institutional capacity of

STRENGTHENING EVALUATION AND LEARNING Ensuring that ESCAP is continuously learning from its experience is critical to its capacity to innovate, identify new solutions to regional challenges and enhance organizational effectiveness. This means continuing to build ESCAP as a learning organization — with the ESCAP monitoring and evaluation system as a foundation — and to strengthen its wider role as a regional hub for the sharing of development good practices and lessons in Asia and the Pacific. In line with this commitment, ESCAP carried out strategic independent evaluations in 2012 of the functioning of the conference structure of the Commission and of the subprogramme on Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction. In addition, four project-based evaluative reviews were undertaken during that period and follow-up actions on the recommendations of completed evaluations were taken, particularly the evaluation of the ESCAP Pacific Office. To strengthen and expand this work, a dedicated ESCAP Evaluation Unit was created in 2012.

UN PHOTOS