This book presents an analysis of the state of trade facilitation in member countries of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) program. It includes country-level studies and identifies four common trade facilitation priorities among SASEC countries: (i) implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement and other international conventions; (ii) logistics and infrastructure development, and related regulatory reforms; (iii) coordinated border management; and (iv) institutions and capacity building.
The book offers an overview of international examples, studies, and guidelines on how to create successful partnerships in education. PPPs can facilitate service delivery and lead to additional financing for the education sector as well as expanding equitable access and improving learning outcomes.
This two-volume report synthesizes the Asian Developments Bank's extensive research on the topic of human trafficking in Asia. Undertaken to help Asian nations better understand the dynamics of trafficking and to identify the root causes of the practice, this work features analysis of regional legal frameworks, contributing factors, and vulnerabilities. A supplementary report, "Guide for Integrating Trafficking Concerns, provides a series of steps that could be employed to limit trafficking.
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has seen governments across developing Asia move significant amounts of capital into relief efforts that have saved countless lives and livelihoods. But emerging economic recovery packages must not upset the sensitive balance between economic growth and the region’s natural capital. Many global thinkers are advocating the critical role of green infrastructure in supporting economic growth and livelihoods, while safeguarding the Paris Agreement targets. This publication examines green and innovative finance mechanisms that can be incorporated into government recovery strategies to incentivize green infrastructure investment. These mechanisms can play a key role in catalyzing much-needed funds from private capital for a green and sustainable regional recovery.
Examines the socio-economic status of women in Nepal, including issues of education, gender-based violence, access to political and administrative decision-making, and rural infrastructure, with the aims of eliminating gender inequality and empowering women.
Nepal is in one of the most active earthquake regions in the world. Nepal's current non-earthquake-resistant infrastructure, lack of sufficient modern communication networks, and limited facilities and manpower in the medical sector are the major threats to life and property during a major earthquake. On March 31, 2010, under the auspices of three leading Nepali diaspora professional organizations in the United States of America--American Society of Nepalese Engineers (ASNEngr), America Nepal Medical Foundation (ANMF), and Computer Association of Nepal-USA (CAN-USA)--a joint initiative on Earthquake Preparedness and Disaster Relief in Nepal, of which this position/concept paper is a product, was launched to help understand the current status of earthquake preparedness in Nepal. This position paper describes the challenges that Nepal will face if and when another large-magnitude earthquake strikes like the devastating January 16, 1934 Nepal-Bihar earthquake. The paper also provides a list of recommendations to be considered to minimize the loss of life and property, especially in the densely populated Kathmandu valley. The document is peer-reviewed by a group of individuals having expertise in the related areas.
Asia is in the midst of a great economic and social transformation. In virtually every dimension, life in Asia is changing at an unprecedented pace: its people have become richer, healthier, better fed, and more educated in a remarkably short period of time. But not all Asians have benefited equally. Some countries, regions within countries, and groups within societies still lag seriously behind. Asia is also a much more polluted and environmentally degraded place than it was 30 years ago. This book, Emerging Asia: Changes and Challenges, looks at this great transformation and analyzes the prospects for its continuation. Taking a forward-looking and broad view of the development process, the book identifies the major trends that are likely to influence Asia's future. It then asks how these might affect future policy and institutional choices.