Gender Equality for Sustainable Development

Social Outlook for Asia and the Pacific 2018

The Social Outlook for Asia and the Pacific lays out new arguments and evidence for the critical and urgent need to increase investment in people, particularly in social protection.

Developing countries in Asia and the Pacific only spend about 3.7 per cent of GDP on social protection, compared to the world average of 11.2 per cent. This under investment is the reason why 60 per cent of the population in the Asia-Pacific region has no protection if they fall ill, have a disability, become unemployed, pregnant or old.

A mother’s determination: Building a better life through Lifelong Learning

On the occasion of International Literacy Day on September 8, UNESCO Bangkok celebrates the inspirational story of a single mother of two, whose pursuit of her dream stands as a testimony to the indefatigable human spirit. The dramatized tribute to Ms Supang and her family explores the transformational power of Lifelong Learning and skills development in a story that is both uniquely Thai and yet speaks to circumstances in every country – and particularly women’s empowerment through education to the benefit of society as a whole.

Stakeholder Views: Social Inequality and Exclusion in Afghanistan: Opportunities in Agenda 2030

The study done by GCAP Afghanistan/Sanayee Development Organisation brings out the facts and analysis about the exclusion and discrimination faced by some of the marginalised groups in Afghanistan like women and girls, old people, children and young people, religious and ethnic minorities etc.

Six Stories, Six Paths to Development: Online Platforms as Drivers of Inclusive Growth

To the hundreds of millions of people in Asia with access to the web, online platforms have emerged as valuable tools for navigating this connected world. In sectors as diverse as finance, logistics, cross-border trade, talent acquisition, household services, and the traditional buying and selling of goods, online platforms are reshaping the way people interact and businesses operate. By 2020, over a billion people in the Asia-Pacific alone will be served by platforms. This paper provides a set of recommendations to policymakers, development actors, and regional and national leaders.