The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ensures that the appropriate means of implementation (finance, trade, capacity building and/or science, technology and innovation) were given attention in the formulation of almost every Sustainable Development Goal. In addition, Goal 17 is dedicated to ensuring that the means of implementation are delivered to support member States’ efforts. The means of implementation in the 2030 Agenda also include commitments to address systemic issues, including policy and institutional coherence, multi-stakeholder partnerships, data, monitoring and accountability – all of which are addressed through ESCAP’s work. ESCAP is contributing to global processes focusing on the means of implementation, including on science, technology and innovation and financing for development, while strengthening the delivery of all means of implementation at the regional level.
Science Technology and Innovation
ESCAP is engaged in a number of activities on science, technology and innovation to support member States in the region with effective implementation. Activities include policy advice, research and analytical work, capacity-building, supporting regional cooperation, and linking regional needs and experience to global initiatives such as the UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism and the Technology Bank.
Financing for Development
ESCAP aims to facilitate follow up from the Asia and the Pacific region to the Sevilla Commitment in line with the outcome of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development through enhanced regional follow up, regional forums on sustainable development and regular regional reporting on progress and priorities. This may also include future research on priority issues determined by the region’s member States such as sustainable finance, domestic resource mobilization, debt and debt sustainability and other emerging issues. ESCAP seeks to serve its member states by providing policy and technical support as well as capacity building in response to their needs relating to financing for development.
Trade
ESCAP stands ready to support the region in terms of policy research (including Aisa-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2017 and other analytical research to focus on Trade and the Goals), capacity building (numerous regional and national training programs on various aspects of trade policy and facilitation) and promotion of knowledge networks (ARTNeT expert group on trade and the Goals; UNNExT Advisory Group on SMEs and Agriculture Trade Facilitation), all of which with the central aim to harness trade for sustainable development. Through the Asia-Pacific FDI network, we facilitate exchange of experience between policy makers in the region on how to attract foreign direct investment in support of the SDGs. We also build capacity on how to support SMEs to better position themselves to reap the benefits of global market participation.
Data and Statistics
ESCAP is committed to strengthening the supply of statistical information in the region necessary to monitor progress, conduct integrated policy analysis, and effectively implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This is achieved through supporting member States and development partners in setting priorities to transform national statistical systems and providing regional indicator data and statistical information to support regional analysis of SDG progress. ESCAP also advocate for investment in official statistics and adherence to the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, promotes integrated measurement frameworks to improve the efficient and effective production and dissemination of quality SDG data and statistics, facilitates regional collaboration and the sharing of experiences among countries, and enhances the technical and statistical skills of professional staff to address human resource needs.