Bangkok (ESCAP news) – As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses around the world, governments are relying on geospatial information, digital solutions and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven risk analytics to enhance community resilience. A new United Nations report released today highlights how space and geospatial...

Bishkek (ESCAP news) – Countries participating in the United Nations Special Programme for Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) have recognized the need for a more integrated approach towards structural economic transformation in order to build back better while staying on track to achieve the Sustainable Development...

Bangkok (ESCAP news) – Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread socio-economic impacts and disruptions across Asia-Pacific, high-level officials called for a rethink on the future development of sustainable transport connectivity and mobility in the region at the sixth session of the Committee...

Addressing non-communicable diseases reduces COVID-19 deaths

Berlin, Germany -- ( ASIA TODAY ) -- Today, at the World Health Summit, health ministers from Myanmar and Rwanda presented national strategies and costed action plans to reduce deaths from non-communicable diseases. These strategies and action...

Bangkok (ESCAP news) – As countries strive to build back better post COVID-19, sustainable urbanization can make cities change agents on solving the persistent problems of climate crisis, unsustainable resource use, widespread inequality, discrimination and injustice in the Asia-Pacific region.

International and local Students, Innovators, and Startups to Compete in Providing Innovative Solutions for People Working in the Humanitarian Field

Dubai – United Arab Emirates, October 27th 2020: The Dubai Future Council for Humanitarian Aid Initiative in collaboration with the Dubai International...

Bangkok (ESCAP news) – Countries in the Asia-Pacific region have today endorsed an action plan pledging to collectively step up regional cooperation for social protection – a timely move as governments are striving to protect people from unprecedented economic and social development setbacks wrought by the COVID-19...

The World Food Programme has been awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Problem:

• The world is moving in the wrong direction: hunger is on the rise. 690 million people are hungry and nearly all the world’s major food crises (10 out of 13 of them) are driven by conflict.

• Conflict and...

For the first time in decades, Afghanistan has an opportunity for peace. The United States agreement to withdraw foreign troops and negotiations between the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban set the stage to end the bitter conflict.

Chief executives of 110 companies in Thailand on Wednesday, have signed up to a new set of UN principles on women’s economic empowerment, pledging to improve gender equality in the boardroom, equal pay for equal work, and safer and more inclusive workplaces.

The Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs),...

Young adult volunteer group ASEZ WAO (Save the Earth from A to Z — We Are One Family) has been awarded with a Certificate of Gratitude at the Manila Bay-ani Awards. This follows ASEZ WAO’s previous Manila Bay cleanup efforts, such as participation in the 2019 Battle for Manila Bay and a separate cleanup drive in...

Photo caption / Abdul Jabbar and his son Muhammad Hashim walk across floodwater. Their home was devastated during the recent monsoon floods. September 16, 2020, rural Mirpurkhas district, Sindh, Pakistan.

I have covered many stories of suffering and hardship, but I am heartbroken by what I have witnessed...

MANILA (Sep. 04, 2020) -- ( ASIA TODAY ) -- Habitat for Humanity today announced that its Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter is taking applications for ShelterTech accelerators in Southeast Asia and in the Andean region of South America. As the world’s leading platform for affordable housing innovation,...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) in June 2020 was faced with the challenging task of delivering urgently needed personnel protective equipment (PPEs) to member countries in Southeast, East, Central, and West Asia, at a time when travel and transport restrictions were at their most severe.

The COVID-19 crisis...

United Nations ESCAP and Switzerland to partner for disaster relief in Asia and the Pacific

Bangkok (ESCAP news) – The Government of Switzerland has pledged USD300,000 in contributions for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami,...

Countries across Asia and the Pacific are using new technologies to contain the global pandemic and mitigate its impact, the UN’s regional socio-economic development arm has said, as governments and experts work together to identify ways to innovate further, and build back better, after COVID-19.

Advances...

August 11, 2020 — The Visa Foundation and The Asia Foundation launched a new partnership to support women’s economic advancement and address rising incidences of gender-based violence (GBV) across Malaysia, Myanmar, and Nepal. This partnership is part of The Visa Foundation’s commitment to support small and micro-...

MUMBAI (Aug 11, 2020) -- ( ASIA TODAY ) -- In the wake of Cyclone Amphan, which devastated the state of West Bengal leaving hundreds of people and families homeless, Habitat for Humanity India is providing transitional shelters, drinking water and other services for more than 120 families in South 24 Parganas...

A flight carrying protective masks, ventilators and other essential medical supplies for COVID-19 response, landed in Papua New Guinea on Thursday, marking the start of a humanitarian air service for the Pacific region, Governments and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) have announced.

The supplies were...

August 3, 2020 — The Asia Foundation and The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation (ELCCF) have renewed their commitment to transforming the future of economically and socially disadvantaged adolescent girls in Vietnam and Indonesia through education and skills development programs. Since the launch of ELCCF...