Press Release

The second edition of the groundbreaking Feminist Finance Forum, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), closed today in Bangkok with participants spotlighting the action needed to bridge the region’s gender finance gap. 

Throughout the two-day Forum, the resounding message was clear: Investing in women is key to fostering sustainable, inclusive and prosperous economies. Advancing economic equality for women could add as much as $4.5 trillion - a 12 per cent increase - to the region’s GDP annually by 2025.

“While challenges still remain, the opportunity of investing in women is crystal clear,” Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, said in her closing remarks. “I have stressed the critical need to work with all stakeholders and for ESCAP to act as a platform to bring people and organizations together to create the systemic shifts needed to unlock the potential of investing in women.”

There is still a long way to go in ensuring that financial systems in Asia and the Pacific serve the needs of women. According to the recently published ESCAP report Financial Resilience, Inclusion and Entrepreneurship: Is Asia and the Pacific close to Gender Parity?, while there has been progress towards this goal, findings indicate a clear disparity from country to country, and the persistence of discriminatory norms and practices, which continue to constrain uptake and usage of financial services and access to finance among women.

This disparity has far-reaching consequences, not only impeding women’s ability to attain economic stability and financial resilience and independence, but also limiting opportunities for women to pursue entrepreneurial aspirations, innovate and grow their businesses.

“It is upon us to dismantle the structural and social barriers that hinder their success, especially amidst today’s economic and climate challenges. We must act collectively and decisively,” said Lynda Tabuya, Minister of Women, Children and Social Protection of Fiji.

The Forum facilitated a space for stakeholders to come together to strategize on how to create the required long-term solutions for feminist finance to become a reality. Participants explored the untapped potential to align gender and climate finance in the region; catalyzed action to finance the care economy; explored opportunities to promote gender-driven foreign direct investment; and exchanged actionable insights on gender lens investing and the development of gender-responsive financial products.

The Forum convened more than 350 key players in the regional financial ecosystem, bringing together governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, development partners, international organizations and – most importantly – women entrepreneurs, women-led businesses and women business leaders.

During the event, 10 women-founded climate tech start-ups took part in a pitching competition, presenting their solution to potential investors. The winning start-up was BillionCarbon, an innovative solution which works to decarbonize the food supply chain through nutrient mining from food waste to convert to micro-nutrient rich liquid bio-fertilizer concentrate and insect protein. During the closing session, the founder was awarded a seed grant of $5,000 from ESCAP through a partnership with Accelerating Asia and funded by Global Affairs Canada.

In another key moment during the closing session, investment promotion agencies (IPAs) from around the world came together to sign a landmark gender equity pledge promoted by ESCAP and FDI Center to harness the potential of gender-responsive foreign direct investment as a catalyst for women’s empowerment. Invest in Canada, Invest Bhutan, Investment Fiji, Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation, Board of Investments Sri Lanka, Board of Investments Thailand and Board of Investment Philippines form the initial group of signatories leading the way in utilizing foreign direct investments to further gender equality. IPAs are well placed to drive these efforts forward by setting gender targets, promoting women's entrepreneurship, and reshaping internal practices.

With contributions from the International Development Research Centre, the Asian Development Bank, the Australian Government Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Investing in Women and UN Women, the Forum was organized by ESCAP in the context of the Catalyzing Women’s Entrepreneurship (CWE) programme, funded by Global Affairs Canada.

Since 2018, the CWE programme has built momentum for the movement to close the gap in access to finance and create an enabling ecosystem for women entrepreneurs. To date, it has unlocked over $90.3 million in capital and directly supported more than 178,080 women entrepreneurs through access to finance and enhanced skills to grow their businesses.

For further information: https://www.unescap.org/events/2024/feminist-finance-forum-2024

Watch the proceedings: https://www.youtube.com/unescap

For multimedia assets: https://www.flickr.com/photos/unitednationsescap/albums/72177720316770762

Governments from across Asia and the Pacific agreed today to harness technological advancements and digital innovation for sustainable development, with special attention to the region’s most vulnerable countries and population groups.

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) wrapped up its 80th session by adopting a resolution encouraging countries to work together closely to promote research, dialogue, technical cooperation and development of digital technologies and digital economy initiatives in an efficient, affordable, inclusive, secure and accessible manner, particularly for the most vulnerable.

It stressed the need to close the vast remaining digital divide in the region and affirmed the different approaches and tools available to each country for augmenting the positive impact and scale of digital innovations so that development outcomes can benefit all people.

“Solutions lie within the diversity in Asia and the Pacific,” underscored Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP at the closing. She added, “Countries have been able to leverage digital innovation for sustainable development and address various sectoral challenges, such as access to finance, resource management and delivery of public services. Some of their experiences and solutions, if tailored to meet the specific circumstances, could likewise address similar challenges faced by others.”

Asia and the Pacific are at the forefront of digital innovations. However, the region also currently exhibits the highest level of digital divide globally. Within countries, significant accessibility gaps remain, especially between women and men, youth and older persons, persons with and without disabilities, people living in urban and rural areas, and people with different income levels and educational backgrounds. Many who are covered do not have the necessary skills to make use of digital innovations, while 37 per cent of the population with access to broadband do not use the Internet.

The resolution further recognized the major impediments developing countries face in engaging with and accessing new technologies such as an appropriate enabling environment, sufficient resources, infrastructure, education and literacy, capacity, investment and connectivity.

“There must be adequate policy support at global and regional levels to integrate digital technologies and tools for sustained improvements in productivity and the creation of decent job opportunities in these countries,” said Rabab Fatima, Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. She further highlighted the need for strong support from development partners, the UN and other stakeholders, including from the private sector, to facilitate technology transfer and financing.

According to the Asia-Pacific Countries with Special Needs Development Report 2024 recently published by ESCAP, least developed countries have received only 0.10 per cent of the digital foreign direct investment inflows and account for less than 1 per cent of the region’s exports of digitally deliverable services. The study calls for a balanced strategy that prioritizes high-impact service areas, such as e-commerce and digital marketing, while also nurturing foundational sectors such as manufacturing.

More than 800 delegates from 61 member States, associate members and observer countries as well as various stakeholder groups and international organizations attended the session held from 22 to 26 April in Bangkok. Three other resolutions were also adopted, covering sustainable energy connectivity, strengthened support for countries in special situations to accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and meet other global commitments, as well as on improving procedures for intergovernmental meetings.  

For further information: https://www.unescap.org/events/commission80

Watch the proceedings: https://webtv.un.org/en | https://www.youtube.com/unescap

For multimedia assets and press kit: https://bit.ly/ESCAP-CS80

Global and regional leaders called for a decisive plan to encourage further ingenuity and to tap into emerging technologies and digital innovation to bolster the huge effort required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 as the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) opened its 80th session in Bangkok today.  

“Intelligently deployed and properly governed digital solutions, based on a common understanding, shared approaches and collaborative governance, form the foundations for the collective push necessary for the attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP.

Asia and the Pacific is at the forefront of a global digital transformation. Innovations in cognitive digital technologies, digital finance, government technology and the Internet of Things are reshaping the way we do business, deliver public services and protect people and the planet. In the finance sector alone, the value of digital transactions is projected to reach $6.7 trillion by 2026.  

“We need transformative change. Digital innovation has become a vital tool for us all to achieve that change. At the same time, we must ensure that digital innovations benefit all and truly contribute toward sustainable development,” said Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister of Thailand.

Dennis Francis, President of the United Nations General Assembly underscored the importance of digital inclusivity and closing the digital divide: “In today's world, access to smartphones and digital connectivity can no longer remain luxuries for a few – but necessities, in fact, tools for all.”

Heads of State and Government from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Philippines also made remarks at the session. They underscored several priorities for governments to focus on when it comes to leveraging digital innovation such as inclusive policies to bridge the digital divide and persistent inequalities, more effective resource mobilization and financing, and strengthening regional cooperation and knowledge-sharing.

Through illustrative case studies, the theme study of the 80th session further explores how current and emerging digital innovations can address pressing issues like climate change, poverty eradication and gender equality. It also examines how governments can create enabling environments and proposes a framework to understand the interlinkages between digital innovations and sustainable development.

“We must be mindful of the challenges that lie ahead. Issues such as the digital divide, data privacy and cybersecurity must be addressed to ensure that the benefits of technology are accessible to all and that our digital infrastructure is resilient and secure. This is why the deliberations of the eightieth session of the Commission are so critical for the region,” said Mongolian Foreign Affairs Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh, who was elected Chair of the session.

More than 800 participants from 61 member States, associate members and permanent observers as well as representatives from academia, international organizations, youth, business and civil society are attending the session this week.

It is expected to culminate on Friday with the endorsement of four resolutions covering, among others, digital innovation and sustainable development in countries in special situations.

For further information: https://www.unescap.org/

Watch the proceedings: https://webtv.un.org/en | https://www.youtube.com/unescap

For multimedia assets and press kit: https://bit.ly/ESCAP-CS80

Despite high implementation rates in various trade facilitation reforms in the region, progress in paperless trade has been slow and uneven, while growing geopolitical tensions and heightened inflation have further made business between countries more difficult and unpredictable, said the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in a new report.

Countries continue to face challenges in cross-border paperless trade, as shown by the average implementation rate of only 42 per cent, according to the Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Report 2024. However, the implementation of digital trade facilitation measures could yield a reduction of 11 per cent in trade costs.

The report was launched at the 11th Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum which took place in Samarkand this week. More than 250 participants from 30 countries participated in the five-day meet organized by ESCAP, ADB and the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan. This year, the Forum focused on leveraging digitalization to enable sustainable supply chains in the region, including deep-dives on topics such as cross-border paperless trade, transport and greening the trade process.

“There is ample evidence that streamlining and digitalizing trade procedures is key to making trade not only more inclusive but also reducing its potential negative impact on the environment,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP in her opening remarks. She underscored the importance of collaboration, including through the dedicated UN treaty on cross-border paperless trade facilitation in Asia and the Pacific, which saw a doubling of ratifications since its entry into force in 2021.

The new report further draws attention to the increasingly important role of trade facilitation in ensuring more resilient and green supply chains. This includes improved customs procedures, enhanced cross-border data sharing and increased transparency which can help address bottlenecks, reduce border wait times and support sustainable sourcing.

“Well-targeted trade facilitation can promote trade expansion and make supply chains more resilient and environmentally friendly. Leveraging digital innovations in particular can enhance the resilience and sustainability of supply chains, making them more adaptable to changing global trade dynamics and less vulnerable to potential disruptions,” said Yingming Yang, Vice President (South, Central and West Asia), Asian Development Bank.

The Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum is the leading regional platform for the exchange of good practices and knowledge on trade facilitation since its establishment in 2009. Held for the first time in Central Asia, this year’s Forum also featured dedicated sessions on the vital interconnection between trade and transport facilitation for landlocked developing countries.

“In recent years, we have made significant progress in liberalizing the economy and confidently entering world markets. We also aim to accelerate trade flows between countries and simplify licensing procedures by ensuring the integration of national licensing information systems with countries in the region and phasing out paper documents by recognizing their electronic versions,” said Teshabaev Khurram Fatihovich, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan.

For further information: https://www.unescap.org/events/2024/asia-pacific-trade-facilitation-forum-2024

Read the Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Report 2024: https://www.unescap.org/kp/2024/asia-pacific-trade-facilitation-report-2024-promoting-sustainability-and-resilience-global

Governments of developing Asia-Pacific countries are in urgent need of affordable and long-term financing as many of them are being forced to choose between servicing debt in a high interest rate environment or investing in education, health and social protection for their people, according to the 2024 Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific released today by the United Nations regional commission.

New perspectives and approaches can solve this long-standing challenge. Donors should prioritize the development financing needs of recipient countries over political interests. Multilateral development banks need to improve their lending capacities, including through fresh capital injections. Credit rating agencies should adopt a long-term perspective and appreciate that public investments to realize shared development ambitions raises fiscal credibility over time. 

On the domestic front, the Survey recommends that stronger public revenue collection not only helps close the “tax gap” but also reduces fiscal risks and borrowing costs. Apart from digitalizing tax administration, policies to increase society’s willingness to pay taxes offer untapped potential. Similarly, more developed capital markets are needed to unleash sizeable domestic savings in the region and to increase the supply of long-term capital for investments in the Sustainable Development Goals. 

“Governments of developing countries across Asia and the Pacific are victims of an unjust, outdated and dysfunctional global financial architecture. They face fiscal constraints, rising borrowing rates with shorter loan maturity and heavy debt burdens,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

Income inequality is also likely to widen in the region, as the value of national minimum wages, adjusted for inflation, has declined in several countries in recent years, further weakening the ability of lower-income groups to cope with weak job opportunities and high food prices.

“It is crucial to dispel the misconception that higher public debt levels inevitably lead to higher debt distress. In fact, strategic deployment of public debt to invest in the SDGs not only benefits people and the environment but also contributes to lowering public debt as a percentage of gross domestic product over the long term,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Average economic growth in developing countries of the Asia-Pacific region picked up from 3.5 per cent in 2022 to 4.8 per cent in 2023, although the rebound was concentrated in a few large countries. GDP growth in the region is projected to remain relatively steady, but below the pre-pandemic trend, at 4.4 per cent in both 2024 and 2025. Uncertain inflation and interest rate trends, and escalation of geopolitical tensions and trade fragmentation are examples of economic headwinds faced by economies of the region.

Published annually by ESCAP since 1947, the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific is one of the longest, continuously running reports in the United Nations system, providing policymakers with valuable analyses on the current and emerging socio-economic issues and policy challenges to support inclusive and sustainable development in the region.

For the full report: https://unescap.org/kp/2024/survey2024

For multimedia assets: https://bit.ly/APSurvey2024Assets

For media enquiries or UN expert interview requests, please contact:

Kavita Sukanandan

Public Information Officer

Communications and Knowledge Management Section, ESCAP

E: [email protected]

Digital innovation, along with fair and equitable transitions, play a crucial role in charting a path towards achieving carbon neutrality in the region. This was among the focus areas highlighted at the third Forum on Carbon Neutrality Goals of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, co-organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) and the Climate Action Team of the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General.

Held in-person for the first time, discussants at the forum also recognized the urgent need for collective and immediate action to confront the climate crisis, adopting innovative and inclusive strategies that align with the ambitious goals set by the global community.

"In light of the reaffirmed commitments by China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century and their leadership in elevating climate action in the Asia-Pacific region, it is very clear that our collective action is more vital than ever,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP in her opening remarks.

She emphasized, “As we embrace innovation, we must navigate its challenges wisely, ensuring that our approaches remain inclusive, practical as well as sustainable. As we integrate these principles into our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Long-Term Climate Strategies, it is imperative to consider the impacts on all sectors of society, particularly the most vulnerable.”

Building on this perspective, Lee Hee-sup, Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, amplified the importance of North-East Asia in this context. "North-East Asia is no exception in this global crisis. China, Japan and Korea have been active forerunners in addressing climate change and promoting cooperation to tackle this common threat," he stated. Lee added, "The theme of this year’s Forum – digital innovation for carbon neutrality – could not be timelier given the unique position of China, Japan and Korea in leading global climate action and their reaffirmation to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050/2060."

Subsequently, Selwin Charles Hart, Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Climate Action and Assistant Secretary-General for the Climate Action Team, contributed valuable insights into the practical steps needed for a sustainable future. He remarked, "At COP28, all governments agreed to transition away from fossil fuels to achieve net zero by 2050, underscoring the urgency of phasing out coal by 2030 in OECD countries and by 2040 for the rest of the world, along with reducing oil and gas production and use during this pivotal decade."

"A just transition demands urgent action to unlock the finance developing countries require to move beyond or leapfrog fossil fuel dependency, mitigate economic risks and stranded assets, while ensuring clean power accessibility for all, and ameliorating the effects on affected workers and communities," added Hart.

The keynote speaker, Liu Zhenmin, Special Envoy for Climate Change, China, capitalized on the crucial roles of the three countries’ efforts in climate change by highlighting that “China, Japan and the Republic of Korea are important drivers for both Asian and global economic development, as well as key participants in global climate governance. Achieving carbon neutrality/net-zero emissions is not only the common vision of us, but also a favorable opportunity for East Asia to achieve the green transformation in our economy.”

Liu further highlighted the importance of empowering green development by digitization, sharing “the future of global governance will be characterized by digitization and decarbonization.” Noting the hurdles of such digitization, he noted, “the digital-enabled green transition still faces challenges such as the lack of rules in governance, policy differences among countries, and the technological gaps. China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea could cooperate on how to address those challenges and bridge the gap.”

At the forum, experts from China, Japan, Republic of Korea, and Mongolia, including policymakers at national and local levels, academics, and industry innovators emphasized the critical roles of digital innovation, cooperation, and just transition strategies. The forum illuminated the integration of global commitments into national policies, showcased digital innovations driving sectoral transitions, and explored cooperation avenues to amplify these efforts across the Asia-Pacific region. Highlighting best practices for a just transition, discussions revolved around inclusive policies and stakeholder engagement to ensure that the shift towards a greener economy benefits all sectors of society.

In a democratically decisive year, in which 1.3 billion women will have the right to vote in more than 60 countries, discussants at a regional UN event today underscored the need to strengthen national institutions and governance, reform the financial architecture and commit to new means of investing in gender equality.

Themed ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’, the annual International Women’s Day commemoration hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and UN Women further drew attention to the point that when women have a seat at the table, policies are more gender-responsive and inclusive.

While significant strides in women’s education and health have been made across Asia and the Pacific in recent decades, progress towards the realization of gender equality and women’s economic empowerment continues to stagnate and even regress in certain areas.

Despite the increasing proportion of women in political leadership, with an average of 20.8 per cent of parliamentarians being women, Asia and the Pacific is still below the global average of 26.5 per cent and very far from achieving parity.

“We need to scale up investment to address the existing and widening disparities that prevent women and girls from realizing their full potential. And we need to take immediate action to provide robust policy support and innovative solutions,” said Lin Yang, Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP delivering the opening remarks on behalf of ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana. 

Female labour force participation in the region has also been on the decline since 2005 and dropped to 43.6 per cent in 2023, making the rate of Asia and the Pacific below the world average.

“Investing in women is not merely a choice, but an imperative for sustainable development. Imagine a world where closing the gender employment gap could increase GDP per capita by 20 per cent across all regions. Picture the impact of investing in care services, not only reducing the burden of unpaid care work but also creating millions of jobs. This is not a distant dream, but an achievable reality,” said Sarah Knibbs, Deputy Regional Director of UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

Collaborative dialogues were encouraged at the one-day session, with participants from governments, the corporate sector, civil society and youth networks sharing best practices and formulating action plans to enhance women's empowerment. They further explored and proposed actionable strategies, including policy reforms, investment in education, support for female entrepreneurship, and improved healthcare and social services for women and girls.

The discussions set the stage for the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action on the occasion of its 30th anniversary later in November. This conference aims to accelerate actions toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing the critical importance of investing in women as a pathway to progress.

For further information: https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/stories/in-focus/2024/02/in-focus-international-womens-day-2024-in-asia-and-the-pacific

For media enquiries or spokesperson interview requests, please contact:

Kavita Sukanandan

Public Information Officer

Communications and Knowledge Management Section, ESCAP

E: [email protected]

Diego de la Rosa

Regional Communications Specialist

UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

E: [email protected]

The 11th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) opened today in Bangkok with a resounding call for countries to take urgent, accelerated actions supported by strong, sustained multilateral cooperation – or risk falling further behind on their aspirations for sustainable development in the wake of recent multiple crises.  

“No country or region can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals or navigate contemporary global challenges alone. International cooperation is essential, but the multilateral arrangements of today are simply not up to the job,” said United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed in her keynote address. “Your leaders recognized this last September, supporting the UN Secretary-General’s call for an SDG stimulus and demanding that it be advanced without delay. And they also recognized the need for deeper change.”

Organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) from 20 to 23 February, the Forum brings together a cross-section of key development actors, including senior government and UN officials, the private sector and representatives of youth and civil society to share their experiences, and mobilize regional action and solutions.

“While the challenges ahead are formidable, the transition we envisage opens vast avenues of opportunity. We can herald an era of sustainable prosperity if we choose to act decisively and collaboratively,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP. She further highlighted six entry points for transformative actions -- food systems; energy access and affordability; digital connectivity; education; jobs and social protection; and climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution -- to amplify efforts across multiple SDGs.

Paula Narvaéz, President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), said in video remarks, “The data tells us that at the current pace of implementation, the region will miss 90 per cent of the 118 measurable SDG targets by 2030.”

“Despite these trends, we know that there is energy and potential for the countries of the Asia-Pacific region to build on their proven innovation to scale up action. The region has lessons to share across all the SDGs, including disaster risk reduction policies, the uptake of digital technologies and trade and regional economic cooperation.”

Over the next four days, Forum participants will undertake an in-depth review of the region’s progress on Sustainable Development Goals 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 13 (Climate Action), 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The outcomes will feed into the global High-Level Political Forum in July and the Summit of the Future, to be held in September in New York.

“Sustainable development is about society, the people and the planet. These fundamental elements need to be addressed in a balanced and inclusive manner. Business-as-usual can no longer be the way forward. Transformative mindsets and actions by all of us are urgently needed if we are to fulfill the promise of leaving no one behind,” said Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.

“The need to improve the lives of grassroots communities in the region is now at a critical level…We must address the structural causes of persistent poverty and deepening inequalities, and recast development as a process organized and led by the people,” said Antonia Lilii of the First Pasefika Fono Network and representative of the Asia-Pacific People’s Forum.

Shilpa Lamichhane of Visible Impact and representing the APFSD Youth Forum, drew attention to the need for meaningful engagement of young people in development processes: “We call for a dedicated and sustainable civic space for young people at the local and national level, connected cohesively at the regional level where we sit at the table as active decisionmakers, as active national delegation members and decide on the sustainable development issues that matter to us.”

On the sidelines later today, ESCAP, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will jointly launch the Asia-Pacific SDG Partnership Report 2024, which this year is titled “People and Planet: Addressing the Interlinked Challenges of Climate Change, Poverty, and Hunger in Asia and the Pacific.”

The report notes that more frequent and severe climate-related hazards will result in reduced agricultural and labour productivity, loss of livelihoods and human displacement. These strain socio-economic and environmental systems, and hinder efforts to promote food security and alleviate poverty, especially for poorer countries and vulnerable communities.

The report also draws attention to promising solutions for the region that reflect the interlinkages between climate, poverty and food insecurity. One example is food systems approaches that, designed properly, could support sustainable livelihoods for millions of farmers, ensure food security and reduce the environmental and climate impacts of food production.

Since 2014, the APFSD has provided an annual and inclusive platform for countries to share regional best practices and lessons learnt, support the presentation of their voluntary national reviews, and assess progress made towards implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

For further information: https://www.unescap.org/events/apfsd11

Watch the proceedings: www.youtube.com/unescap    

For multimedia assets: https://bit.ly/APFSD11Assets

Progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains uneven and inadequate across various segments of the population and within the five subregions of Asia and the Pacific. According to a new report published by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) today, gender and location remain key factors in determining levels of poverty and inequality in the region.

“While additional efforts are required across the board, granular data emphasizes the urgency of addressing inequalities that impact marginalized groups, including women, girls, rural populations and the urban poor, who continue to find themselves locked out of education and employment opportunities,” underscored United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana.

“Equally, the sustained progress gap revealed between countries in special situations, especially Pacific small island developing States, and the rest of the region demands a concerted response from international, regional and national partners,” added Ms. Alisjahbana.

The Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2024 takes a closer look at groups that may be disadvantaged, focusing on how sex, urbanization, education level, age and income contribute to existing disparities and sometimes exacerbate them.

Despite overall progress in school enrolment rates, women and girls in the region continue to face considerable challenges when it comes to accessing education and employment opportunities. They have lower enrolment rates and struggle with literacy. Young women also encounter difficulties accessing labour markets, leading to higher rates of youth unemployment. Meanwhile, the challenges faced by men tend to be related to their health or personal safety. They suffer from higher rates of suicide, chronic diseases and road traffic deaths.

People living in rural areas face pronounced disadvantages, such as limited access to basic drinking water and sanitation facilities. Additionally, the lower availability of clean cooking fuels in these areas contributes to serious respiratory diseases. In general, urban areas exhibit better conditions, yet paradoxically, within these areas, the poorest boys and girls face significant hurdles in completing upper secondary education.

At its current pace, the report further highlights that the region will not achieve all 17 SDGs before 2062 – marking a significant 32-year delay. While positive steps have been taken toward eliminating poverty (Goal 1) and bolstering sustainable industry, innovation and infrastructure (Goal 9) in the region, progress in other critical areas has been more modest. Efforts towards mitigating hunger (Goal 2), enhancing health and well-being (Goal 3), ensuring the availability of clean water and sanitation (Goal 6), expanding affordable and clean energy (Goal 7) and building sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11) have been less pronounced and require heightened attention.

On a more encouraging note, the report shares several laudable national success stories on supporting at-risk population groups. In the Philippines, dedicated research and analysis aimed at estimating the cost of supporting children living with a disability played a pivotal role in influencing recent legislation to provide a disability allowance, extending support to children with disabilities. Nationwide digital training programmes in Viet Nam have underscored the value of public-private partnerships in accelerating digital transformation and bridging the skills and employment gap for youth and migrant workers. Meanwhile, in North and Central Asia, national statistical systems in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have been upgraded to better support stateless populations.

An annual publication produced by ESCAP, the Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report uses the latest data for global SDG indicators to determine where additional effort is needed in the region and where momentum for future progress is building.

Digital trade and investment are driving forces of the modern economy, and growth in the Asia-Pacific region has exceeded the global average, with the region now accounting for a quarter of the US$ 4 trillion trade in digitally deliverable products.

However, digital trade and investment remain highly uneven, according to the new Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2023/2024: Unleashing Digital Trade and Investment for Sustainable Development, produced by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). While six economies in the Asia-Pacific region are responsible for 85 per cent of the region’s digitally deliverable exports, least developed countries (LDCs) account for less than 1 per cent.

“This disparity underscores an urgent need for action,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP. “It is imperative that we work together to ensure that digital trade and investment are not just growth engines but also catalysts for inclusive and sustainable development.”

ESCAP research suggests that a 1 per cent increase in digital trade value is associated with a 0.8 percentage point rise in the growth rate of an economy's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. As these benefits are closely tied to Internet penetration rates, unlocking the full potential of digital trade urgently calls for bridging the “digital divide”.

“To achieve inclusive and sustainable outcomes from digitalization in the Asia-Pacific region, we need to work with countries at low levels of digital readiness to scale up their capacity to benefit from digital trade” said Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD. “Digital trade is not just about technology; it’s about people. It's about creating opportunities for everyone, regardless of their location or background.”

LDCs in the Asia-Pacific region have seen rapid growth in digital trade, but only 0.1 per cent of the region's digital FDI inflows reached them in 2021. In addition to risks of underinvestment in crucial infrastructure, these countries face a shortfall of skilled workers and regulatory complexities, which drive up operational costs. As a result, in spite of the growth, these countries accounted for less than 1 per cent of the region’s exports of digitally deliverable services in 2022.

“Addressing the social and environmental challenges arising from digital trade and investment is a complex matter, with diverse impacts that no single ministry or agency can manage in isolation,” according to UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller. “The Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report highlights how trade and investment policies can mitigate these challenges and enable the resulting benefits.”

In addition to levelling the playing field on Internet penetration, harnessing the potential of digital trade and investment as effective means for achieving sustainable development will also require proactive trade and investment policies and coordinated efforts, globally as well as regionally.

Read the full report: www.unescap.org/kp/APTIR2023