United NationsEconomic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

United Nations ESCAP

www,unescap,orgWorking towards reducing

poverty and managing globalization

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

United Nations ESCAP

• Reducing Poverty •

• Managing Globalization •

• Addressing Emerging Social Issues •

www,unescap,org

Contents

Support for a better future 2BY KOFI ANNAN

Meeting the challenges of the region 3BY KIM HAK-SU

Secretariat structure 4What is UNESCAP? 5How does UNESCAP work? 6Millennium development goals 7UNESCAP CONTRIBUTIONS TO WORLD SUMMITS 8UNESCAP SERVING REGIONAL NEEDS 10

Pullout map of asia and the pacific and 2005 UNESCAP population data sheet

11-14

Reducing povertyPoverty and development 15Statistics 16

Managing globalizationTrade and divestment 17Transport and tourism 18Environment and sustainable development 19Information, communication and 20SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Addressing emerging social issuesEmerging social issues 21

UNESCAP AT WORK 22

Information in the service of development 24

Published by UNESCAP, 2nd Edition, 2005

1

United Nations Support for a Better Future

by Kofi Annan

Secretary-General of the United Nations

The challenges facing our fragile world are many, but the United Nations, through the millennium development goals, has charted a course to a stronger, safer, more equitable future for all. We must prevent the erosion of generally accepted norms of behaviour, caused by human rights abuses, the proliferation of arms and the use of force to settle disputes. I believe that non-proliferation must be accompanied by general disarmament, and that counter-terrorism measures must not water down human rights.

The struggle against poverty must be intensified, in particular the need to provide people with clean drinking water and the need to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Without ecological security, the fight against poverty

will not be won. Extreme weather conditions are occurring more frequently around the world. The global public should be alerted to this, to the probable human causes and to the action needed to prevent or minimize these “natural disasters”. The growing scarcity of water in various regions has alarming implications for human security.

All these challenges are confronting us in the Asian and Pacific region. Because of its size, both in terms of geography and population, the efforts of this region endevours to tackle and solve these problems which will have repercussions around the world. We look to the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, its members and associate members for inspiration and new approaches. Be assured that the full weight and support of the United Nations will be behind you in your work to build a better future for our peoples.

2

UNESCAP: Meeting the Challenges of the Region

by Kim Hak-SuExecutive Secretary

With nearly four billion people, Asia and the Pacific is the most populous region in the world, containing both the largest and smallest countries, and some of the richest and poorest. Therein lies the region’s greatest development challenge - reducing poverty. Fifty per cent of the population live on less than two dollars a day, with nearly 670 million having no access to safe water and over 1.8 billion lacking adequate sanitation.

But poverty is not just about lack of income and basic services. It is about the failure to respond to the often neglected voice of the poor. The poor need a new and innovative partnership with their local and national authorities and the international community in order to overcome the obstacles facing them.

It is to meet such challenges that UNESCAP has undergone a significant transformation, choosing three themes of over-riding importance to the peoples of the region, and restructuring its organization so that all efforts can be effectively directed to achieving results. These themes directly address the current challenges facing the region: the need to reduce poverty, to reap the benefits and avoid the pitfalls of globalization, and to address emerging social issues, such as HIV/AIDS.

The current wave of globalization has stimulated international trade, investment, tourism and economic growth, along with the introduction of a rule-based international trading system and rapid technological and operational changes in transport and communications. Many countries have benefited, but others remain locked in poverty. We need to channel the undoubted benefits of globalization to these countries without the negative effects such as environmental degradation. Fortunately, the Asia and Pacific region has success stories that can be studied and the lessons learned can be passed to the less developed countries.

It is for all these reasons that UNESCAP has reorganized its divisions under the three over-arching themes. As the Executive Secretary, I am committed to completing the task I began - to make Asia and the Pacific a better and more secure place for everyone.

3

SECRETARIAT STRUCTURE

Executive Secretary DeputyExecutive Secretary

Office of the Executive SecretaryLDC Coordination Unit

United Nations InformationServices (including Library)

Programme Management Division

Administrative Services Division

Reducing PovertyPoverty and Development Division

Statistics Division

Addressing Emerging Social IssuesEmerging Social Issues Division

Managing Globalization Trade and Investment Division

Transport and Tourism Division Environment and Sustainable Development Division

Information, Communication and Space Technology Division

What Is UNESCAP?UNESCAP is the regional headquarters of the United Nations Secretariat in Asia and the Pacific,

dedicated to promoting economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific. Founded in 1947 in Shanghai, China, it moved to Bangkok, Thailand in 1949. It consists of 53 members and nine associate members.

UNESCAP covers an enormous region, (see the map on the centre pages) stretching from Turkey in the west to the Pacific island nation of Kiribati in the east, from the northern borders of the Russian Federation to New Zealand in the south. Of the 53 members, three are developed countries, 21 are developing, 10 are

economies in transitionand 14 are least developed countries. The population of the region in 2002 was 3.8 billion, of which 768 million are estimated to live in absolute poverty, existing on only one dollar a day.Members andassociate members of UNESCAP meet annually at the ministerial level to discuss economic and social issues and

the challenges that face the region, as well as to approve the work programme. An advisory committee of permanent representatives from embassies in Bangkok meets almost monthly to advise the Executive Secretary. The Commission reports to the United Nations Economic and Social Council in New York.

A new, focused and effective conference structure for UNESCAP has been established. It consists of three thematic legislative, eight sectoral subcommittees and two special bodies. The work programme is divided into seven subprogrammes implemented by seven divisions.

Reducing PovertyPoverty and Development

Addressing Emerging Social IssuesEmerging Social Issues

Statistics

Managing GlobalizationTrade and Investment Transport and Tourism

Environment and Sustainable Development Information, Communication and Space Technology

5

How Does unescap Work?The revitalized work programme reflects the Secretary-General’s agenda for further change, the global

goals expressed in the Millennium Declaration and major international conferences, and the specific priorities of UNESCAP members and associate members. UNESCAP is the most comprehensive intergovernmental body covering the Asian and Pacific countries. Thus, it can address interdependent and multidimensional problems from a multisectoral and inter-country perspective. The focus is now on narrowing disparities through action-oriented programmes in the three thematic areas: reducing poverty, managing globalization and addressing emerging social issues.

Activities of marginal utility have been cut as a result of a comprehensive review and assessment of the comparative advantages of UNESCAP. These advantages include its regional convening authority, and role as a regional focal point for world conferences. It brokers regional agreements and action plans, setting regional norms and standards, and through its policy advocacy, it supports implementation. In addition to its regional authority, UNESCAP can influence the global agenda. The value of its research and analytical work is based on its impartial role, its long institutional memory with a document and information base, and its interdisciplinary approach. It can also call upon a large, well-established network of intergovernmental and civil contacts. The work programme reflects the needs of member countries in a cost-effective way because of in-house expertise.

Many of the work methods are similar among the divisions. The objective is to enhance the ability of national governments to plan and implement effective policies and programmes, to improve their decision­making on regional and global issues, and to incorporate emerging social issues into their policies. This is achieved through a balance of normative, analytical and policy-oriented work and technical activities. Workshops and seminars are held to promote ideas, to train, to exchange good practices and to encourage networking. Publications covering guidelines, training manuals and new technologies are produced. When requested by governments, regional advisers are sent out to work with government officials. Programmes and projects are carried out on seminal issues. In addition to utilizing its regular budget from New York, UNESCAP mobilizes extrabudgetary support from donor countries, funding agencies and the private sector.

Rescuing Forgotten ChildrenWhen the economic well-being of families is

seriously shaken the future of their children is doomed. Many are born, grow up and will probably die on the streets. They manage to survive by seeking work from a very young age. They are deprived of love, affection and sympathy and subjected to exploitation, sexual abuse and unhealthy work conditions. Shunned by society because of their dirty and shabby appearance, they are deprived of educational and intellectual development. Even if they had previously attended school, they often lapse into illiteracy. Seeking escape, they often turn to substance abuse. UNESCAP is running many projects to help these children, bringing previously taboo issues such as sexual exploitation of children to the fore.

6

Millennium Development GoalsAs the Secretary-General has instructed all United Nations agencies to reorient their programmes to the attainment

of the millennium development goals, it is worthwhile to describe them. At the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000, 191 nations agreed to a set of time-bound and measurable goals and targets for combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women. Placed at the heart of the global agenda, theyare called the millennium development goals. Together with a wide range of commitments in human rights, good governance and democracy, they provide a road map for achieving a better world for all.

However, without financial backing and resources, these goals are not achievable. Fortunately, at the International Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey, Mexico, leaders from both developed and developing countries started to match these commitments with resources and action. They signalled a global deal in which sustained political and economic reform by developing countries would be matched by direct support from the developed world in the form of aid, trade, debt relief and investment.

The millennium development goals, their targets and achievements to date are listed in tire chart.

In order to make best use of its resources and expertise, UNESCAP will concentrate on five of the millennium development goals, numbers one, three, six, seven and eight. To help monitor and support progress towards the achievement of these goals in Asia and the Pacific, UNESCAP, jointly with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will report periodically on poverty reduction policies and best practices in the region. The first regional report was launched in June 2003. http://www.unescap.org/povertycentre

Goal Target Selected progress

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Reduce by half the number of people living on less than a dollar a dayReduce by half the number of people suffering from hunger

43 countries, with over 60% of the world’s people, have met or are on track to meet the goal of cutting hunger in half

2. Achieve universal primary education

Ensure that all boys and girls complete primary schooling

113 million children do not attend school, but this goal is within reach: India should have 85% of its children in school by 2005

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary schools preferably by 2005 and at all levels by 2015

Two thirds of the world is illiterates are women, and 80% of its refugees are women and children. Since the 1997 Microcredit Summit, nearly 19 million women have been helped

4. Reduce child mortality

Reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five

11 million young children die every year, but this is down from 15 million in 1980

5. Improve maternal health

Reduce by three quarters the maternal death rate In the developing world, the risk of dying in childbirth is one in 48. But nearly all countries have safe motherhood programmes

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS Halt and begin to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases

Killer diseases have erased a generation of development gains. Countries like Brazil, Senegal, Thailand and Uganda have shown we can stop HIV in its tracks

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

Integrate sustainable development into national policies; reverse the loss of environmental resources; reduce by half the number of people without access to safe drinking water; achieve significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020

More than one billion people still lack access to safe drinking water; however, during the 1990s nearly one billion gained access to safe water and many to sanitation

8. Develop a global partnership

Develop further an open trading and financial system that is rule-based, predictable and non- discriminatory;Assess the least developed countries’ special needs;Address the special needs of landlocked and small island developing States;Deal comprehensively with developing countries’ debt problems through national and international measures;In cooperation with the developing countries, develop decent and productive work for youth; In cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries;In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications technologies

Too many developing countries spend more on debt service than on social services. New aid commitments made in the first half of 2002 amount to an additional $12 billion a year by 2006

7

UNESCAP Contributions to World Summits

To push forward the world agenda for economic and social development, the United Nations holds world summits covering a wide range of issues, such as education (Jomtien, Thailand 1990), environment (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), the sustainable development of small island states (Bridgetown, 1994), population (Cairo, 1994), social development (Copenhagen, 1995), women (Beijing, 1995), human settlements (Istanbul, 1996) and food security (Rome, 1996).

These conferences produce much discussion, but words can inspire and give a sense of direction and commitment. New alliances for development are forged. International norms and standards are established, quantitative goals, time-bound targets and numerical indicators are set, and money is pledged to help achieve the commitments. In the long run, these summits contribute to changes in the climate of opinion. For example, the 1993 Vienna Conference on Human Rights held agonized discussions as to whether human rights were universal. Today, this is taken for granted.

In addition to the global forums providing the framework for the UNESCAP programme of work, what does UNESCAP contribute to these world summits as a regional commission? It collects opinions and ideas from the countries in Asia and the Pacific through regional conferences and together with suggestions for action based on its own research, UNESCAP submits a regional assessment. Afterwards it follows up with the countries to make sure their commitments are fullfilled.

The most recent conferences that are working towards the millennium development goals are the fourth World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference, held in Doha, Qatar in November 2001, the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico in March 2002, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa in August/September 2002.

Fourth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial ConferenceOne of the purposes of the Doha Conference was to help developing countries overcome their

problems in implementing WTO Agreements that arose from the previous Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations. Ministers adopted 50 decisions clarifying the obligations of developing countries regarding agriculture, subsidies, textiles and clothing, technical barriers to trade, trade-related investment measures, and rules of origin. This had taken three years of hard bargaining.

The process of reform and liberalization has been difficult for developing countries. UNESCAP, through its Trade and Investment Division, organizes capacity-building training workshops and seminars with WTO to improve understanding by national policy makers of multilateral trade agreements and their implications. The least developed countries are particularly vulnerable in the global economy. The international community has made commitments to help these countries secure meaningful and beneficial integration into the global economy. UNESCAP works to help ensure these commitments are upheld. In 1999, WTO and UNESCAP secretariats established a joint programme of technical assistance on trade and development. In line with the

8

mandates of the Doha Development Agenda, the number of WTO/UNESCAP training activities has been increased from two to six a year and the number of persons trained increased by 100 per cent. Overall, the programme has served as an important vehicle for UNESCAP to help developing countries to integrate into the global trading system.

International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentMonterrey was the first United Nations-hosted conference to address key financial and developmental

issues. It attracted 50 heads of state, over 200 ministers and leaders from the private sector and civil society. It tackled financing issues related to trade, aid, debt, investment and the coherence of global and regional financial structures.

UNESCAP, through its Poverty and Development Division, presented an analysis of financial resource mobilization in Asia and the Pacific and made recommendations on such issues as the banking sector (the primary form of financial intermediation in the region), stock markets, bond markets, microfinance, and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Saving Endangered SpeciesThe snow leopard is widely but sparsely scattered

at about 2,700 to 6,000 metre elevations in central Asia. They are endangered because they are hunted for use in traditional medicines and for their fur. Perhaps only 4,000 to 7,000 of these large mammals remain.

Using the Global Positioning System and a transmitter in a collar, snow leopards in Mongolia have been tracked and studied. In this way, using new technology, we can learn how to protect our biodiversity.

World Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentThis was a follow-up summit to the original one held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, which produced tangible

results, including international conventions on climate change and biodiversity. Since then the emissions of greenhouse gases have increased and natural resources have further degraded. What the world wanted, the General Assembly said, was not a new philosophical or political debate but a summit of actions and results. Some have said Johannesburg was disappointing as there was no new agreement on reducing greenhouse gases. However, there were major government commitments to expand access to safe water, proper sanitation and modem clean energy services, as well as restoring fisheries, curtailing illegal logging and limiting the harm caused by toxic chemicals.

UNESCAP, though its Environment and Sustainable Development Division, prepared a regional platform of recommendations for the World Summit. It focused on the strategic planning of water resources, integrated water resources management, water conservation and water­use efficiency, pro-poor public/private partnerships, water contamination and the reduction of water-related disasters.

Energy for sustainable development is crucial, not only for socio-economic development, but also for ridding the world of poverty. UNESCAP is formulating and implementing energy policies to widen access for the poor, is promoting energy efficiency at the both the supply and demand sides, and is advocating the increased use of renewable energy.

9

UNESCAP Serving Regional NeedsThere are four regional institutions of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific that are instrumental

in helping UNESCAP achieve its objectives. They cover quite different subjects and are located around the region.

Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

APCTT was established in 1977 by UNESCAP and is now based in New Delhi. The focus of its work is on five thrust areas:

(a) Technology transfer support services for small and medium-sized enterprises;

(b) Technology management and innovation;(c) Environmentally sound technologies;(d) Emerging technologies;(e) Women's entrepreneurship development.

It promotes the transfer of technology in Asia and the Pacific by implementing development projects, undertaking consultancy assignments and disseminating technological developments from around the world through publications and transfer networks. APCTT applies information and com­munication technology as much as possible in carrying out its activities and also works closely with the private sector.

Statistical Institute of Asia and the Pacific (SIAP)The Institute, known originally as the Asian Statistical

Institute, became operational in 1970 as a centre for statistical training for developing countries in the region. In 1995 it was given the status of a regional institution of the Commission.

Based in Japan, the Institute provides practically- oriented training for official statisticians to strengthen the capability of developing countries to:

(a) Collect, analyse and disseminate statistics;(b) Produce timely and high-quality statistics that can

be used for economic and social development planning;(c) Help countries develop their own training abilities.

This is done through fellowships for general courses, advanced courses and training workshops; delivery of country courses, expert missions and on-the-job training; and the preparation of training materials. Courses can last for a few weeks to a few months and include modules on core official statistics, application of information and communication technology to statistical processes, analysis and interpretation of official statistics, sample design for household and establishment surveys, and statistics for national human development reports. The Statistical Institute has trained over 8,000 people from every country in the region.

Regional Coordination Centre for Research and Development of Coarse Grains, Pulses, Roots and Tuber

Crops in the Humid Tropics of Asia and the Pacific (CGPRT Centre)

The CGPRT Centre, based in Bogor, Indonesia, was established in 1981 as a regional institution of the Commission.

Coarse grains, pulses, roots and tubers have important roles in subsistence and traditional farming, as well as being important vegetable, feed and industrial crops. They are the second most important group of food crops after rice and wheat in the Asian and Pacific region. Unfortunately, they are mostly grown in ecologically fragile upland areas. But they are important for sustainable agriculture and food security, for the creation of employment, for agricultural diversification and poverty alleviation.

The Centre provides its members with expert technical services and facilities, an agricultural research network, agro-economic studies, training, and the dissemination of information.

Asian and Pacific Centre for Agricultural Engineering and Machinery (APCAEM)

A regional network for agricultural machinery was established in 1977, but in 2002 it was upgraded to a Regional Centre, a new subsidiary body of UNESCAP. The new Centre was launched in Beijing in 2002 and became operational in early 2003.

The Centre's mandate is to help reduce poverty, in line with the millennium development goals and the outcome of the Johannesburg Summit. It undertakes a number of activities, such as:

(a) Disseminating knowledge and technology on preservation and processing technologies, post-harvest technologies and the manufacture of farm machinery;

(b) Sharing knowledge on the development of agricultural tools and equipment;

(c) Developing human resources;(d) Developing the application of agro-biotechnology.

10

Population and Development Indicators for Asia and the Pacific, 2005

Country or area and region

The ESCAP region

EAST AND NORTH-EAST ASIA

Mid-2005 population (thousands)

Annual growth rate a (percentage)

Crude birth rate

(per 1,000)

Crude death rate

(per 1,000)

Total fertility

rate (per woman)

2.3

1.7

Age-specific fertility rate ages 15-19 (per 1,000)

42

5

Percentage of 1 births attended 1

by trained | health personnel b

62

97

Life expectancy at birth (years)

Infant mortality

rate (per 1,000)

Mortality under age 5

(per 1,000)Percentage aged

Sex ratio of

population aged 65+ c

Potential support ratio d

Urban population ■ 1 Gross primary school enrolment ratio Human

development index g

Population projected to 2025

(thousands)

Percentage urban (2005)

41

46

Annual growth rate (percentage)

2.3

2.4

Projected percentage urban (2025) |

52

60

Malesby sex'

FemalesMales Females 0-1427

20

15-6466

71

65+7

9

3,952,239

1,524,582

1.1

0.6

18.4

12.9

7.8

7.0

66

71

71

75

50

31

69

37

..

..

..

..

..

..

4,709,486

1,649,186

China 1 1,315,844 0.6 13.4 6.9 1.7 5 97 70 74 33 40 21 71 8 86 9 41 3.0 57 116 116 0.745 1,441,426Democratic People's Republic of Korea 1 22,488 0.5 15.4 10.7 2.0 3 97 61 67 43 57 25 68 7 72 10 62 1.0 71 24,118Hong Kong, China 2 6,889 0.8 6.9* 5.4* 0.9* 3* .. 79 85 4 5 15 73 12 87 6 100 0.8 100 108 108 0.903 8,068Japan3, 4 1 27,798 0.1 8.9* 8.0* 1.3* 6* 100 78 * 85 * 3* 4 14 66 20 73 3 79 0.3 88 101 101 0.938 121,136Macao, China1,3, 5 456 1.1 7.2* 3.3* 0.9 5 .. 78 82 7 9 19* 73* 8* 75 * 9* 99 0.9 99 107 101 0.898 § 523Mongolia 1 2,646 1.2 21.9 7.0 2.3 53 99 63 67 55 79 30 66 4 78 18 57 1.6 64 97 100 0.668 3,266Republic of Korea 6 ^^^B80^| 0.5 10.2* 5.1 * 1.2* 4 100 73 * 80 * 4 6 20 71 9 70 8 81 0.8 85 102 102 0.888 50,649

SOUTH-EAST ASIA 558,428 1.3 20.4 6.9 2.4 42 70 66 71 35 47 29 65 6 81 12 44 3.1 58 .. .. .. 686,656

Brunei Darussalam1 374 2.2 22.6 2.8 2.4 29 99 75 79 6 7 30 67 3 102 21 78 3.0 86 107 106 0.867 526Cambodia1,7 13,807 1.9 28.5 8.9 3.6 45 32 58 64 73 106 38 58 4 67 15 20 5.3 33 130 116 0.568 19,993Indonesia 1 222,781 1.2 20.1 7.3 2.3 53 68 66 70 38 48 28 66 6 80 12 48 3.6 65 112 110 0.692 263,746Lao People's Democratic Republic1 5,924 2.2 34.5 11.9 4.6 88 19 54 57 84 133 41 55 4 86 15 22 4.5 34 123 106 0.534 8,712Malaysia1,3 8 26,045 1.8 21.3 * 4.6 * 2.8 18 97 71 * 76 * 10 12 32 63 5 86 14 65 2.8 76 95 95 0.793 33,223Myanmar1 50,519 1.0 19.5 9.5 2.3 19 56 58 64 71 105 29 66 5 84 13 31 3.1 45 90 90 0.551 59,002Philippines 9 85,237 2.0 25.6 ** 5.1 3.3 38 60 65 71 26 31 35 61 4 82 15 63 2.9 74 113 111 0.753 119,879Singapore1,3 10 4,295 1.3 10.4* 4.4 * 1.3* 5 100 77 81 3 4 20 72 8 84 9 100 1.3 100 0.902 5,144Thailand11 64,261 0.6 13.0 6.8 1.7 56 99 67 75 17 26 22 70 8 79 9 31 0.8 43 100 96 0.768 70,150Timor-Leste 1 947 5.4 49.3 12.1 7.5 175 24 55 58 87 124 41 56 3 97 21 8 4.5 13 0.436 1,938Viet Nam1, 12 1.3 19.6 6.0 1.9 §§ 25 §§ 85 69 73 18 §§ 24 §§ 30 65 5 86 12 27 3.2 39 107 100 0.691 104,343

SOUTH AND SOUTH-WEST ASIA 1,618,631 1.6 23.5 8.3 3.0 72 40 63 66 65 93 33 62 5 89 13 32 2.5 42 .. .. .. 2,117,228

Afghanistan1 29,863 4.1 48.6 18.8 7.3 122 14 47 47 145 244 46 51 3 96 19 24 5.9 38 55,443Bangladesh 1 141,822 1.8 26.4 7.6 3.1 120 14 63 65 54 72 35 61 4 93 17 25 3.5 36 97 98 0.509 1 93,752Bhutan 1 2,163 2.2 29.8 8.3 4.1 32 24 63 65 52 77 38 57 5 90 12 9 6.1 17 0.536 3,209India 1 1,103,371 1.5 23.5 8.6 2.9 71 43 62 66 64 92 32 63 5 88 12 29 2.3 38 107 91 0.595 1,395,496Iran (Islamic Republic of)1 69,515 1.1 19.4 5.2 2.1 20 90 69 73 31 35 29 66 5 101 15 68 2.3 78 94 90 0.732 89,042Maldives1, 13 294 1.9 24.7 * 5.7 * 3.0* 39* 70 68 67 38 49 33 63 4 127 16 30 4.5 42 125 124 0.752 506Nepal14 25,343 2.2 30.7 9.0 3.6 102 11 62 63 68 * 93* 38 58 4 101 15 16 4.9 26 130 113 0.504 36,504Pakistan1,3 15 1 53,387 2.1 27.8 § 7.2 § 4.0 69 23 64 64 75 107 38 58 4 96 15 35 3.5 46 0.497 229,353Sri Lanka1,3 16 19,680 1.1 18.9* 5.9* 1.9 18 97 72 77 16 18 24 69 7 84 9 21 0.9 27 0.740 23,358Turkey 1 1.3 20.5 6.6 2.4 41 81 67 72 39 29 65 6 81 12 67 2.1 76 98 91 0.751 90,565

NORTH AND CENTRAL ASIA 217,302 ■0.1 13.8 13.1 1.7 30 96 60 71 39 49 19 69 12 52 6 63 ■0.3 64 .. .. .. 215,586

Armenia1,3 17 3,193 -0.4 11.2 * 8.1 * 1.3 30 97 68 75 30 34 23* 67* 10* 68 * 7* 64 ■0.6 67 97 95 0.754 2,908Azerbaijan 1 8,411 0.7 16.1 7.3 1.9 31 84 63 71 74 88 26 67 7 69 9 50 0.9 56 93 92 0.746 9,596Georgia 1 4,474 -0.9 10.9 11.4 1.4 33 96 67 75 40 42 19 67 14 65 5 51 -1.1 55 92 92 0.739 3,917Kazakhstan 1 14,825 -0.2 16.1 10.9 1.9 29 99 58 69 60 75 23 68 9 57 8 56 ■0.2 63 100 99 0.766 14,774Kyrgyzstan1 5,264 1.2 22.0 7.4 2.6 33 98 63 71 53 64 31 63 6 63 10 34 1.2 41 102 99 0.701 6,282Russian Federation 1 143,202 -0.5 10.6 15.7 1.4 29 99 59 72 16 21 15 71 14 48 5 73 ■0.5 77 114 113 0.795 1 29,230Tajikistan 1 6,507 1.3 28.5 7.4 3.6 30 71 61 67 87 113 39 57 4 79 15 24 0.2 29 109 104 0.671 8,769Turkmenistan 1 4,833 1.4 22.4 8.3 2.6 16 97 59 67 77 97 32 63 5 66 14 46 2.1 56 0.752 6,068Uzbekistan 1 26,593 1.4 23.1 6.8 2.6 36 96 64 70 57 33 62 5 72 13 36 1.2 103 102 0.709 34,042

PACIFIC 33,296 1.4 17.0 7.1 2.3 30 84 73 77 27 37 25 65 10 81 6 73 1.3 74 .. .. .. 40,830

American Samoa1, 18 64 2.0 30.0 || 3.9 § 4.0 || 56 il .. 69 || 76 || .. 38* 58* 4* 101 14 91 2.7 95 92Australia1,3 19 20,354 1.2 12.6* 6.4* 1.8* 14 100 78 ** 83 ** 5* 6 20 67 13 80 5 93 1.2 96 102 102 0.946 24,329Cook Islands1, 18 18 0.1 21.6 ±T 6.7 TT 2.9 ' 1 68 '' 100 68 TT 74 TT 21 TT 34* 60* 6* 10 68§ 2.1 88 16Fiji 1 848 0.8 22.6 6.3 2.8 31 100 66 71 21 26 32 64 4 80 17 53 2.3 66 109 109 0.758 939French Polynesia 1 257 1.5 18.8 4.9 2.3 37 .. 71 76 8 11 28 67 5 92 14 52 1.3 58 321Guam1 170 1.6 20.8 4.9 2.8 51 .. 73 77 9 11 30 64 6 87 11 94 1.6 96 217Kiribati1, 18 95 2.3 32.4 || 6.9 || 4.3 || 71 11 85 61 || 67 || 44 || 38* 58* 4* 20 50 4.1 70 138Marshall Islands18,20 59 1.6 41.8 # 4.9 # 5.7# 94# 95 66 # 69 # 37 # 40* 58* 2* 29 65# 1.4 73 83Micronesia (Federated States of)1, 18 114 1.2 29.8 || 6.4 || 4.1 || 51 11 93 67 || 68 || 36 45 37* 59* 4* 79 17 30 2.1 42 117Nauru 18 10 1.0 32.7 ^^ 9.6 ^^ 4.0 11 93 11 .. 53 ^^ 58 ^^ 42 ^^ 39* 60* 1 * 30 100* 1.0 100 15New Caledonia1, 18 241 1.9 19.3* 5.2 * 2.4* 24* .. 70 * 78 * 7* 9 28* 66* 6* 90 11 62 2.0 69 314New Zealand21 4,091 1.2 14.4 * 6.9 * 2.0* 35 100 76 ** 81 ** 5* 7 22 66 12 80 5 86 1.0 88 99 99 0.926 4,599Niue1, 18 1 -0.5 18.5 11 7.8 11 3.0 '' 35 '' 100 69 11 71 11 29 11 33* 59* 8* 7 37 0.4 50 121 114 2Northern Mariana Islands22 80 2.6 19.5 2.3 1.3 44 .. 73 79 7 26* 72* 2* 36 95 4.0 97 116Palau1, 18 21 2.0 20.0 || 7.0 || 2.5 || 63 || 100 66 || 72 || 17|| 24* 71* 5* 14 68 1.8 71 22Papua New Guinea 1 5,887 2.0 29.8 10.1 3.8 64 53 56 57 67 93 41 57 2 110 24 13 2.4 18 77 69 0.542 8,205Samoa1, 18 185 0.9 32.5 § 4.6 § 4.6§ 45 § 100 72 § 74 § 19§ 23 40* 55* 5* 81 12 22 1.6 29 104 101 0.769 190Solomon Islands1 478 2.5 31.9 7.0 4.1 42 85 62 64 33 55 41 57 2 112 23 17 4.5 27 0.624 709Tonga 1 102 0.3 23.2 6.0 3.4 20 92 71 74 20 24 36 58 6 104 10 34 1.8 45 114 111 0.787 101Tuvalu 1, 18 10 0.5 26.0** 10.2 H 3.7 ** 40** 99 62 ^^ 65 ^^ 35 ^^ 36* 58* 6* 10 57 2.8 70 11Vanuatu 1 211 1.9 30.1 5.4 3.9 31 89 68 71 31 38 40 57 3 120 17 24 4.1 35 112 111 0.570 294

Afghanistan

New Zealand

Australia

^<1^—

g

W

Azerbaijan Bangladesh

Marshall Islands MongoliaKiribati KyrgyzstanKazakhstan

Brunei Darussa am

Malaysia Micronesia(Federated States of)

Nepal Netherlands

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION120° 135° 150° 165° 480° 165°' 150°

Anchorage135°

Palau

Philippines

Russian Federation

FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFICRUSSIAN

FEDERATION

RUSSIAN FEDERATION Sea of Okhotsk

Seacd# UNITED STATES'XT OF AMERICA

60°

Pakistan

Astana .Sakhalin

Black Sea-■■AnkarS------- "

• YerevarTURKEY

Mediterranean ,

-30°

-o°

KAZAKHSTANr^Cospian \ ^Sea vZERBAl.lAN TPBakuC'X

Ashgabat

Alma Ata.fash)

Ulaanbaatar*

MONGOLIAVladivostok

’Hokkaido

Aleutian■'Isla”08

Papua New Guinea

•TehranJSLAMIC REPUBLICS

>> OF IRAN

>5?^KâbjjF

ÿ'Shk^KYRGYZSTAN<-£TAJIKISTANishahbe

‘Janin1U

nirIEPAL,

HINA

0^

Beijing

Pyongyang, 3 Honshu

JAPAN kyo NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN

Wuhan

New Delhi KarachiGulf

V Oman

MumbaiP

1"'’ Aral>ian Sea :?1.

INDIABANGLADESH

oHyderabad Bay ofBengal

caLAO Guangzhou

MYANMARYangon,/

f ^TH,Bangko

ESCAP Hi

[LAND

Hànoi, rtiane

' Hong Kor g, China ^cao, China

South China (viET NAM

Sri Jayawardhanapura-Kotte^)SRI LANK

MALDIVES^ J|ale'’^^D

Kuala Lumpur* jLL

BRUNEI < DARUSSALAM rA,

Members:

-30°

Associate members: Timor-Leste

y Afghanistan Myanmar/ Armenia NauruL Australia Nepalal, Azerbaijan Netherlands

Bangladesh New Zealandj Bhutan Pakistan

Brunei Darussalam PalauCambodia Papua New GuineaChina PhilippinesDemocratic People's Republic of Korea Republic of KoreaFiji Russian FederationFrance Samoa

C Georgia Singapore3 India Solomon IslandsA Indonesia Sri Lanka

- Iran (Islamic Republic of) TajikistanJapan ThailandKazakhstan TongaKiribati TurkeyKyrgyzstan TurkmenistanLao People's Democratic Republic TuvaluMalaysia United KingdomMaldives United States of America

— Marshall Islands UzbekistanMicronesia (Federated States of) VanuatuMongolia Viet Nam

American Samoa Cook Islands French Polynesia Guam

INDIAN

-60°- — 30° 45° 60°

American Samoa Cook Islands

Republic of Korea

Hong Kong, ChinaMacao, ChinaNew CaledoniaNiueNorthern Mariana Islands(the)

75° 90°

French Polynesia

^Shanghai / East~

y China.

jTaiwan

■ Manila--------- :—|—I PHILIPPINES

tindanao ,

Bandar Seri Begawan ‘fV I Celebes

KororPALAU

■

Perth1

OCEAN

30°-

Samoa

Sea

•Sulawesi^

«Sor- A^sea

Northern Mariana Islands Saipan

»Agana Guam

.Palikir

FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA

AUSTRALIA

O

Solomon Islands

MARSHALL S ISLANDS

> Majuro

NAURU "YarenPAPUA^. ’

NEW.GUINEA • SOLOMON

Tarawa ÿG)7bert'/s K I R I B

Northern Line- Islands

Equator TajikistanPhoenix Is.

-^Honiara

TUVALU Funafuti, Tokelau Is.

Coral Sea

VANUATU •)°rt ^lla

■New XiCaledonia Nouméa

Canberra,/Sydney

I Tasman, Melbourne

Tasmania

Sea

SAMOA “aanAnia Samoa

• P Pago Pago

Southern LineIslands

| French

PolynesiaMarquesas

Is.

Niue Alofi

Papeete

TUa^^Tonga

NukualofaTONGA

SOUTHtuckland

North Island

y NEW ZEALAND Wellington

South Islanc

Avarua

Pitcairn'

PACIFIC OCEAN

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

UzbekistanThe boundries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

Dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties. Capital city 0

105° 120° 135° 150° 165° 180°

1000 2000 3000 km

Viet Nam

165°

1000 2000 mi

150°— -60°-135°

Department of Public Information Cartographic Section

Hong Kong, China Macao, China New Caledonia Niue Northern Mariana Islands (the) Timor-Leste (Will be added in 2003)

Poverty and Development

Organic Farming Brings HopeFor over 20 years, intensive, green-

revolution-type agriculture with its emphasis on chemical farm inputs, has not reduced the poverty of small farmers. Indeed, it has often increased poverty because of the depletion of the soil and the consequent declining yields.

To reverse this trend, UNESCAP, through its Fertilizer Advisory, Development and Information Network, introduced the use of on-farm-produced organic material in Pakistan, the Philippines, Nepal, Sri Eanka and Viet Nam. The use of compost was especially effective in high-value vegetable farming, usually carried out by rural women. The simple techniques taught to selected farmers were adopted by their neighbours when they saw the results.

the decrease has been strikingly uneven and has

The Secretary-General’s first priority in his second term as head of the United Nations is the eradication of poverty. It is a breathtaking ambition. As more than two thirds of the world’s poor live in the Asian and Pacific region, UNESCAP created the Poverty and Development Division in January 2003, a synergetic combination of research/ analytical work and operational activities. This division functions as a think tank, good quality research being a prerequisite for understanding the many development challenges facing the region. It conducts multidisciplinary research and analyses the macroeconomic, socio-economic and institutional aspects of poverty reduction to help policy

makers identify realistic policy alternatives.The Division’s key objectives are to strengthen the

capacity of members and associate members of UNESCAP to identify and analyse opportunities and constraints for poverty reduction, including financing for development, and to design and implement programmes to reduce poverty in accordance with the millennium development goals. Based on the dollar- a-day poverty line, the overall incidence of poverty in Asia and the Pacific decreased from 34 per cent in the early 1990s to 24 per cent in the late 1990s, led by sharp declines in China. However,slowed down since the 1997 financial crisis. The recent global economic downturn, terrorist attacks and the war in Iraq may further slow down the decrease in the incidence of poverty. There is a clear need to understand the underlying causes of the successes and failures in Asia. Current research shows that sustained growth combined with pro-poor policies increases the attainment of all the millennium development goals.

The Division has a unique institutional memory of economic and social changes in the region, changes that have been charted by the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific since 1949 and the Asia-Pacific Development Journal. It can tap rich reservoirs of knowledge and understanding in

its day-to-day work, with the result that its analytical work feeds into the development of operational activities in the field. It also publishes the Bulletin on Asia-Pacific Perspectives, development papers, monograph series and manuals on good practices in poverty reduction.

The Poverty Reduction Section handles operational activities in both rural and urban areas, such as replicating “best practices” in rural community development, promoting low-cost and environmentally friendly farming through an organic farming network set up in 2000, and providing training on the use of the Internet for suppliers and users of agricultural inputs. The emphasis will be on income and employment generation activities, community development and the provision of public services.

The section’s mission in the urban areas is to strengthen the capacity of local governments, non-governmental organizations and communities to work together and learn from each other to reduce poverty in towns and cities. Innovative practices are tested and documented, and good practices are disseminated, particularly those that build on the existing initiatives of the poor.

15

StatisticsHow do you measure absolute poverty? How can you say a country is least developed? How can you

measure a woman’s unpaid work? These questions can only be answered with statistics. They are vital in assessing the social and economic conditions of a country and even more crucial in providing for evidence-based decision­making, both within UNESCAP itself and in the national context. Statistics are needed at every stage of the development process, from policy formulation to programme monitoring and evaluation.

The Statistics Division helps countries improve data quality through enhanced data collection, quantitative analysis and data presentation techniques. New statistical methods and technologies are introduced to national statistical offices and knowledge-sharing among them is facilitated; for example, in measuring the knowledge-based economy. This Division is also crucial in providing statistical expertise to all the other divisions in their research and analytical work. To support the millennium development goals, the Division is focusing on poverty statistics and indicators, national accounts, gender statistics, including the measurement of unpaid work, disability statistics and the International Comparison Programme. This programme generates the purchasing power parities necessary for meaningful intercountry comparisons, including the “dollar-a-day” international measure for absolute poverty. Poverty is a complex, multifaceted phenomenon and its measurement involves a variety of statistical techniques.

Major publications include the Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific, Asia-Pacific in Figures and the Statistical Indicators for Asia and the Pacific. An increasing volume of key data on the region is available on the website : http://www.usescap.org/stat/

Highest increases in female life expectancy (years) at birth between 1970-75 and 1995-2000

Republic of)

Source: UNESCAP, Statistics Division.

16

Trade and InvestmentEntrepreneurs in the least developed countries may have an idea for a marketable product and cheap labour to produce

it, but without capital they cannot rent premises, buy equipment and raw materials, or pay their staff. And without access to a market, either local or global, their idea will remain forever a dream. If the entrepreneur is from a group that may face social exclusion and a discriminatory regulatory environment, such as women or die urban poor, they cannot even jump the first hurdle. These countries desperately need sustained investment and trade for their economic growth. To encourage such investment, the Trade and Investment Division promotes innovative and pragmatic approaches, policy dialogues, and networking, as well as providing training and advisory services, such as on accession to WTO. Currently, less than half of UNESCAP members and associate members are WTO members. With a mix of research and operational activities relevant to trade, investment, industryand technology, developing countries, economies in transition

Developing Good ManagersSeveral countries of the subregion are

still in transition to a market-based economy. UNESCAP helps these countries to develop managerial skills, entrepreneurship and institutional infrastructure so as to tap the potential of the private sector for development.

This includes Cambodia, Yunnan Province (China), the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam. The subregion has abundant, but relatively unexploited natural resources and a large potential market.

and least developed countries can be helped to integrate into the global economy with a clearer idea of the costs associated with trade liberalization.

Small and medium-sized enterprises are helped to increase their competitiveness, trade documentation is simplified and automated, investment and markets for least developed countries are sought, and rules of trade are simplified and harmonized so as to enhance confonnity to standards and certification. UNESCAP collaborates with other global organizations, such as WTO and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) that have no branches in tlie region. Some of the major activities of the Trade and Investment Division are described in the boxes below.

Previously, weak policy, legal and institutional frameworks have discouraged foreign direct investment. However, intrarégional and intersubregional flows of trade, investment and technology have been enhanced through strengthened networks of institutional support services. The Bangkok Agreement is one example.

The Bangkok AgreementThe Bangkok Agreement was founded in 1975 as a preferential trading arrangement for countries in the

Asian and Pacific region. The original members were Bangladesh, India, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Republic of Korea and Sri Lanka. China acceded to the Agreement in 2001. UNESCAP serves as the secretariat.

It is the only truly regional trade agreement in Asia and the Pacific and membership is open to all developing countries that are members of UNESCAP. In terms of population, and therefore possible market, it is the largest preferential trading agreement in the world and has great potential for furthering the development of the region.

Recognizing this potential and building on the momentum provided by China's accession, member countries recently launched an initiative to revitalize the Agreement. A new round of trade negotiations has been launched to further reduce trade barriers among members.

17

TRANSPORT AND TOURISMGlobalization has revealed the glaring need for more efficient transport in the region. This has

created new financing challenges and logistical problems in providing safe, affordable, high quality and environmentally sound transport infrastructure. The development of transport and tourism brings opportunities for increased domestic and international trade, better access to health and education services and promotes cultural exchanges.

The Transport and Tourism Division, with its regional expertise, is in an ideal position to help integrate the transport network. This is most evident in its work on the Asian Highway, the Trans-Asian Railway and intermodal transport connections. It also promotes public/private partnerships, greater awareness of environmental concerns and health and safety issues.

The tourism industry is an important contributor to national income and foreign exchange earnings in the region. The Transport and Tourism Division focuses on the development of sustainable tourism so that coral reefs and pristine beaches can be enjoyed without being spoiled. Tourism development workshops and seminars are being held, networking for the development of human resources promoted and an agenda for action implemented.

Spreading Growth and Prosperity in the Region• Asian Highway Network

This network now covers 31 countries and 130,000 kilometres. The alignment and numbering of routes and the design standards for the Highway were decided in meetings held by UNESCAP. The Asian Highway identifies specific routes that connect the member countries providing the opportunity for increased regional trade. It includes important connections for landlocked countries to maritime ports and a land bridge to Europe. The UNESCAP member countries are presently drafting an intergovernmental agreement on the Asian Highway.

• Trans-Asian RailwayThe plan to have demonstration runs of container block trains along the northern corridor of the

Trans-Asian Railway network has been agreed. This would have trains passing through China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Belarus and Poland, a major step forward in facilitating the international movement of goods.

• Network of Asia-Pacific Education and Training Institutes in TourismCurrently 131 tourism training institutes and national tourism organizations in 35 countries are actively

participating in the network, resulting in enhanced collaboration in training and the development of tourism.

18

Environment and Sustainable Development

Many countries in Asia and the Pacific have seen dramatic improvements in their economic and social development, but the environment continues to deteriorate. Forests are cut down, soils are degraded, the air is poisoned and species are driven to extinction. Environmental resources are being irretrievably lost and the sea level continues its inexorable rise. The poor cannot afford to waste resources. However, to survive from day to day, they are often forced to overuse natural resources, cutting down trees for land and energy, and occupying environmentally fragile land in urban areas with no access to water, energy, sanitation, drainage or waste collection. New patterns in the use of natural resources, demographic changes and globalization increasingly affect the environment. The environment has no political borders; deliberately set logging fires in Indonesia cloaked large areas of South-East Asia with brown haze.

As the Gaia hypothesis suggests, we are all interconnected and as such only multilateral action can be truly effective. UNESCAP works on a regional level to help countries achieve more sustainable development, integrating economic, social and environmental dimensions into national and regional planning. It promotes regional and subregional cooperation and contributes to global thinking on the environment.

The Environment and Sustainable Development Division takes a multidisciplinary approach, working with stakeholders, promoting public/private partnerships, developing capacities and increasing public awareness. It produces the comprehensive State of the Environment in Asia and the Pacific, which analyses development trends and their effects on the environment and the governments’ policy responses.

The Division follows up on decisions taken at world summits. A major concern of the

to provide people with access to safe, affordable drinking water and energy supplies. In many countries, liberalization, decentralization and privatization

the financial resources needed for capacity expansion. But regulating oligopolistic energy markets will be a challenge. New models are needed for investments that are economically feasible, socially balanced and environmentally benign. UNESCAP offers technical assistance, develops guidelines, manuals and reference materials, gives training and provides opportunities for countries to exchange information and experiences. One example is given in the box.

2002 Johannesburg Summit was

are core strategies for mobilizing

Action for Clean WaterThe presence of arsenic in drinking water in Bangladesh and

other countries has caused a public health crisis. UNESCAP has brought together international and government agencies and experts to address the problem, initiating a programme to study the major sources of the pollution of the soil, surface and groundwater and its effect on crops and public health. When the causes of arsenic poisoning are known, effective regulations to ensure safe drinking water can be drawn up.

19

Information, Communication and Space Technology

A farmer in the Republic of Korea works his rice fields in the traditional, backbreaking ways, but he makes a good profit. How does he manage to do this? He does not sell his crop in the local market or through a middleman. In fact he markets his rice over the Internet. The Information Age with its new technologies - the Internet, mobile phones, electronic commerce, GIS (geographic information systems) - has arrived in Asia and the Pacific. However, it has created an enormous digital divide between the developed and developing world and within countries themselves. The region contains globally connected mega-cities and remote villages that are only accessible by foot. UNESCAP works to help developing countries access this new world while building an enabling environment and the necessary regulatory frameworks. Information and communication technology (ICT), while drastically changing managerial and commercial requirements significantly improves productivity, quality and efficiency. Furthermore, it creates digital opportunities to integrate even remote and poor communities into the mainstream of social and economic development. To see the severity of the digital divide, look at the table below:

Phone Mobile(per

Television1,000 people)

Internet Access

High income countries 569 266 674 48.18World averages 142 54 253 7.42East Asia 85 31 275 0.22South Asia 24 02 69 0.01

Source: United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report 2000.

ICT provides great opportunities for development. It also poses critical challenges, such as social and cultural changes, marginalization of disadvantaged social groups, and cybercrime, if appropriate policies are not properly addressed. Recognizing the importance of information in the knowledge economy and its impact on the economic and social development of Asian and Pacific countries, UNESCAP created the new Information, Communication and Space Technology Division in July 2002. To bridge the digital divide, this Division promotes policy development and applications of these new technologies to benefit all the peoples of the region, encourages the development of cooperative mechanisms for the use of ICT for improved disaster management and facilitates human resources development in ICT. The new technologies have a strong skill bias and without offsetting policies, they can increase disparities.

20

Emerging Social IssuesSocial unrest - vandalism, violent mob behaviour, strikes, riots - generally result from actual or perceived

disparities in the distribution of economic benefits. It is exacerbated in poor crowded communities where ethnic or religious lines are sharply drawn or deprivation is rife. Social disintegration may occur when epidemics, disease and drug abuse strike communities. To avoid these threats to the social order, UNESCAP promotes sustainable social development through a multisectoral, balanced approach. Research, the economic analysis of social issues, workshops, seminars and the exchange of ideas are the tools used. A current focus is on population ageing, an emerging social issue, and the promotion of an inclusive, barrier-free and rights-based society for people with disabilities. UNESCAP is the only United Nations agency at the regional level with a funded and multi-pronged programme on disability and population ageing.

The slowing of high population growth and death rates in Asia and the Pacific has been a major achievement, the result of cooperation among national governments, the international community and non-governmental organizations. UNESCAP set regional goals, provided technical assistance, conducted research and encouraged information exchange. It publishes the highly respected Asia-Pacific Population Journal and an annual Population Data Sheet. Major health issues, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and drug abuse are being tackled through political advocacy for increased investments in health, training of health and social service providers and awareness raising of health issues. In addition to addressing the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS, the cost of inaction will be calculated. This region has one of the fastest growing epidemics in the world; the estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS reached 8 million in 2002.

Many of these health problems are not simply medical issues. Rather they are development challenges requiring multisectoral responses that transcend the health sector. Furthermore, many infectious diseases have assumed a transnational dimension through increasing cross-border mobility. Hence, there is a need to address these challenges through regional cooperation. Such a merger of focused action within a holistic vision can only happen through leadership and commitment at the highest decision-making levels.

Equally important work is being done on improving the role of women in society. Girls need to be educated, women's organizations need strengthening through information and communications technology, women need to participate in local and national government, and government officials need to be trained in the implementation of United Nations conventions regarding the rights of women. Some of the worst forms of violence against women take place in this region. The gender dimension is being successfully mainstreamed into the UNESCAP subprogrammes.

How Roberto Was SavedAfter grade six, Roberto worked in a slaughterhouse. Like his friends, he started to drink alcohol

and use drugs when depressed. He started stealing from his employer to finance his drug habit. Then while working in the slaughterhouse, he had a accident and fractured his lower spinal column. A religious congregation helped to pay his hospital bills. But after being discharged, he was too weak to work. A year later, while drunk and stoned, he was stabbed in the back. His parents sold their belongings to pay for his treatment. He tried to stop using drugs, but relapsed into using cough syrup, marijuana, methamphetamines and alcohol.

Fortunately for Roberto, his family had joined a UNESCAP project, which motivated him to join other community-based activities in the project. He attended drug awareness seminars and now has a chance of a better future.

21

UNESCAP at WorkOffice of the Executive Secretary

The Office of the Executive Secretary provides overall strategic leadership, supervision and management of the UNESCAP secretariat to promote the economic and social development of the region through interaction with members and associate members and through the translation of global issues into regional action. This Office also services the sessions of the Commission and oversees its subsidiary intergovernmental structure as well as other ad hoc intergovernmental meetings mandated by the Commission. It takes the lead in coordinating with other United Nations organizations and agencies at the regional level. The Office of the Executive Secretary includes the United Nations Information Services (UNIS) and the UNESCAP Library.

Least Developed Countries Coordination UnitThe Unit was established in 2001 under the Office of the Executive Secretary. Its mission was to

help countries formulate and implement effective national poverty reduction strategies. The Centre analyses progress made, obstacles encountered, and forges closer links with centres of excellence, non-governmental organizations and civil society. As the least developed countries suffer from multiple disadvantages (great poverty, limited human resources, remote geographical locations, frequent national disasters, and sudden exogenous changes), UNESCAP devotes much attention to helping them overcome their handicaps. The unit is supervised by and works closely with the Poverty and Development Division.

Programme Management DivisionThis Division provides strategic direction and advice on all aspects of programme and project planning,

monitoring and evaluation. In close coordination with the programme divisions, Programme Management Division prepares the work programme and budget, and provides substantive and technical support in defining results and setting indicators of achievement. Accordingly, the Division monitors and evaluates the impact of the work programme and reports to the Commission and its subsidiary bodies.

The Division plays a central role in the design and implementation of technical cooperation projects. In 2002, the technical cooperation programme was revitalized to align directly with the new programmatic goals. A range of innovative project planning, management, monitoring and evaluation methodologies were introduced to ensure that UNESCAP activities are needs-based and impact-oriented. While placing a stronger emphasis on multidisciplinary and interdivisional projects, UNESCAP is moving towards the implementation of larger projects in areas of key strategic concern rather than spreading resources across many projects.

In line with United Nations policy directives, this Division seeks to enhance synergies and ensure overall programme and project coordination by forging strategic alliances with global and regional partners. Similarly, partnerships with multilateral and bilateral donors are fostered in a joint effort to strengthen the developmental success of the work of UNESCAP.

22

Administrative Services DivisionThis Division provides a wide range of administrative services to support the other divisions within

the system-wide administrative instructions and guidelines set by the United Nations. These services include human resources management, and financial, electronic, conference, general and security services.

The Human Resources Management Section handles recruitment and placement, administers Staff Rules and regulations, and provides staff training and medical services. The Financial Services Section manages the central accounts, payroll and allowances, technical cooperation trust funds, vendor and travel claims and the treasury. The Electronic Services Section provides information and communications technology systems support and maintenance. The Conference Services Section provides meeting services and facilities, together with in-session interpreters so that meetings can be held in Chinese, English, French and Russian, and editors and translators to process documents and publications. The General Services and Security Section maintains and operates the United Nations complex and its buildings, provides physical and advisory security services and purchases all goods and services required by the organization. The Protocol Office liaises with the Thai Government regarding stay permits, visas and other diplomatic issues. The Division is increasingly taking a proactive client-oriented approach to its work. Without the smooth delivery of programme support services, the operations of UNESCAP would be severely hampered.

UNESCAP Pacific Operations Centre (UN-EPOC)This Centre is based in Port Vila, Vanuatu, but under the aegis of the Poverty and Development

Division. It gives technical assistance to the Pacific island countries that are generally resource rich, but lack trained human resources, finance and technology. Strung out in the vast Pacific Ocean, they are isolated and subject to frequent natural disasters. Their main concerns are social development, statistics, physical planning, port and harbour development, and policy management.

Regional CooperationUNESCAP works closely with regional bodies to promote policies and programmes beneficial to the environment.

Mekong River CommissionEstablished by UNESCAP in 1957 as the Mekong Committee, it became the Mekong River Commission

in 1995 with Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thailand and Viet Nam as member countries. It maintains a regular dialogue with China and Myanmar. The mission of the Mekong River Commission is to promote and coordinate sustainable management and development of water and related resources by implementing strategic programmes and activities and providing scientific information and advice. It is involved in navigation, flood control, fisheries, agriculture, hydropower and environmental protection.Typhoon Committee

Established by UNESCAP and the World Meteorological Organization in 1968 to minimize tropical cyclone damage in Asia and the Pacific. It has 14 members: Cambodia; China; the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; Hong Kong, China; Japan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Macao, China; Malaysia, the Philippines; the Republic of Korea; Singapore; Thailand; United States of America; and Viet Nam. It is based in Quezon City in the Philippines. The Typhoon Committee keeps up-to-date with the latest developments in tropical cyclone damage prevention and recommends measures to improve meteorological and hydrological facilities and to boost community preparedness and disaster prevention. It helps to secure financial and technical support. It has also just named another 140 typhoons waiting to happen.Panel on Tropical Cyclones

Established by UNESCAP in 1973. Its members include Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand. In addition to offering training on storm surges and publications on tropical cyclones, it disseminates cyclone warnings through a variety of media - radio, television, print, telephone, fax, telex, telegrams and the police wireless network. The INSAT satellite provides area-specific services even when conventional communication channels fail. Advisory messages are issued four to eight times a day and they come in two stages: (a) cyclone alert which is issued 48 hours in advance; and (b) cyclone warning which is issued 24 hours in advance.

23

Information in the Service

of Development

United Nations Information Services (UNIS)UNIS, including the UNESCAP Library under the direction of

the Office of the Executive Secretary and guided by the Millennium Declaration, is the external communications hub for the dissemination of current news and information about UNESCAP activities and the UN to the wider community, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, international and local media, and the general public.

UNIS has the dual role of an information service for UNESCAP and the designated Information Centre for the Department of Public Information (DPI), United Nations, New York, in Cambodia; Hong Kong, China; the Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Singapore; Thailand and Viet Nam.

UNIS helps “fulfill the substantive purposes of the United Nations by strategically communicating the activities and concerns of the Organization to achieve the greatest public impact.” (UN/DPI mission statement, 2003)

UNIS publishes press releases, feature articles, newsletters, information materials, and messages from the Secretary General, as well as produces and distributes audio-visual products. UNIS also handles public enquiries, holds special events such as UN observances and activities, and organizes briefing programmes on the work of the organization attended by thousands of government officials, non­governmental organizations, educators and students.

UNESCAP LibraryThe Library aims to bring together a working collection focused

on the challenging issues faced by the Asia and the Pacific region in both economic and social spheres. The Library collaborates actively with other institutions, organizations within the United Nations system, member governments, research agencies, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and civil society in general.

The Library’s products and services are based on a specialized collection, mostly in the English language. It also serves as a digital resource on United Nations documents and publications. There are over 200,000 volumes and 500 active subscriptions on a broad range of subjects including economic policies, emerging social issues, disadvantaged groups, best practices, country studies and other subject areas of interest to policy makers and practitioners.

Its bibliographic database, the ESCAP Bibliographic Information System or EBIS, is available to users for professional research. There are currently 38 electronic products of the library.Among these are UNESCAP publications (abstracts, meeting documents with selected annotations), e-book collections, digital reference services, image and photographic galleries, Asian and Pacific current awareness services, and current lists of research institutions and non-governmental organizations.

United Nations

Information, please...• Information materials including monthly newsletters, press releases, backgrounders, press kits, and special publications• Audio-visual materials (Radio/ TV, CD-ROM)• Exhibitions to commemorate special United Nations observances and days such as International Women’s Day (8 March), and United Nations Day (24 October)• The UNIS Bangkok visitors programme• Support to journalists and information specialists in the region through internship and in­service training sessions• Media accreditation• Digital resource on the United Nations publications and documents• Bibliographic database available for researchers Telephone: +66 (0)2 2881234 Fax: +66 (0)2 2881000E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

• Reducing Poverty *

* Mnnnÿing (j)obdbïMlan *

- Addro&SFny Emerging Social Issues *

wwwrunescap,org

24

www.unescap.org

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific United Nations Building Rajadamnern Nok Avenue Bangkok 10200, ThailandTel: (+662) 288-1234Fax: (+662) 288-1000E-mail: escap-registry@un.org

comm_ctr.unescap@un.org