The increasing economic volatility that affects most developing countries in Asia and the Pacific implies new economic and social risks that bring further challenges to social protection schemes already under strain due to the disparities at the subnational level existing in most of countries of the region. The structural changes in the risk and socio-demographic structure of our societies call for new approaches based on the expansion of the realm and instruments traditionally covered by social protection. In this context, new social framework must be formed with social rights as the normative horizon and existing inequalities and budgetary restrictions as the limiting factors.
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Publications
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Social Protection Fact Sheet 2017
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Policy Brief: Financing Social ProtectionTechnical material on innovative financing for social development in the context of sustainable development. |
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Time for Equality: The Role of Social Protection in Reducing Inequalities in Asia and the PacificESCAP has released a new publication entitled, "Time for Equality: The Role of Social Protection in Reducing Inequalities in Asia and the Pacific". The publication explores the linkages between inequality and social protection. Overall, it argues that inequality, in its multiple forms, is on the rise in Asia and the Pacific, and is having an adverse impact on sustainable development. |
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The Social Protection Toolbox: Advancing the Sustainable Development GoalsInfographic on Advancing towards Sustainable Development Goals by processes through the Social Protection Toolbox while aligning with goals of the Social Protection Floor. |
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Disability at a Glance 2015Disability at a Glance 2015, the fifth edition in the Disability at a Glance series, focuses on barriers to the employment of persons with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region, and offers solutions to strengthen their employment prospects. Like its previous ones, the present edition offers a regional overview of disability legislation, policies and practices, as well as relevant country-specific information with a particular emphasis on the employment of persons with disabilities. The information is drawn from a targeted disability survey carried out in 2015 by the ESCAP secretariat, and research undertaken by other organizations and scholars. |
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Switched On: Youth at the Heart of Sustaible Development in Asia and the PacificThe Regional Coordination Mechanism - United Nations Development Group Asia-Pacific Thematic Working Group on Youth, co-chaired by ESCAP and ILO, has produced this report for three main reasons. First and foremost to raise awareness of the importance of youth- related, evidence-based and strategic participatory policymaking, planning and programming. Second, to highlight the current status, challenges and opportunities for the youth of Asia and the Pacific. Third, to support the understanding and practical responses — by governments, civil society, the private sector, academia and other stakeholders of the position and promise of youth in the region. In line with the recently-adopted SDGs, the report examines the 2030 Agenda from a youth perspective, following the so-called ‘five Ps’ — people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership. It considers the social, economic and environmental dimensions of development and stresses the need to create conditions for youth to be engaged, active and integral parts of the solutions we need. |
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Towards Income Security in Asia and the Pacific: A Focus on Income Support SchemesRising inequality as well as the need to build resilience to crises, whether economic and financial crises, or natural disasters, have increased the call for strengthening social protection in the Asia-Pacific region. To strengthen social protection, most countries in the region have already set in place income support schemes, often targeted towards certain vulnerable groups. Those include schemes for providing universal social pensions for older persons, income support schemes targeted at poor families, schemes targeting women, as well as food-for-work schemes. |
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The Promise of Protection: Social Protection and Development in Asia and the PacificOver the past two decades, the Asia-Pacific region has witnessed a number of economic crises that have threatened progress towards reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals. These crises reflect the increased risks associated with globalization, especially for the poor and those without voice. In addition, several countries in Asia and the Pacific have been profoundly affected by high-impact natural disasters which have exposed vulnerabilities and amplified the insecurities of many people’s livelihoods. This has especially been the case for poor households located in rural areas. Such crises and development challenges have generated renewed interest in social protection as a tool to mitigate not only the impacts of shocks but also to help accelerate the recovery of people most affected by such events. |
