General description

The regional arm of the United Nations Secretariat for the Asian and Pacific region is the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). It is located in the United Nations Building, Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue, Bangkok, Thailand. The functions of ESCAP have been defined by the Secretary- General as follows:

(a) Promoting economic and social development through regional and subregional cooperation and integration;
(b) Serving as the main economic and social development forum within the United Nations system for the ESCAP region;
(c) Formulating and promoting development assistance activities and projects commensurate with the needs and priorities of the region while acting as an executing agency for relevant operational projects;
(d) Providing substantive and secretariat services and documentation for the Commission and its subsidiary bodies;
(e) Carrying out studies, research and other activities within the terms of reference of the Commission;
(f) Providing advisory services to governments at their request;
(g) Developing and executing programmes of technical cooperation;
(h) Coordinating ESCAP activities with those of the major departments/offices of the United Nations at Headquarters and specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations.

To carry out these functions, the ESCAP secretariat comprises the Office of the Executive Secretary, the Office of Deputy Executive Secretary, the United Nations Information Services and the following divisions in Bangkok:

• Development Research and Policy Analysis
• Environment and Natural Resources Development
• International Trade and Industry
• Population and Rural and Urban Development
• Programme Management
• Social Development
• Statistics
• Transport, Communications, Tourism and Infrastructure Development
• Administrative Services

The main legislative organ of ESCAP is the Commission, which meets annually at the ministerial level and reports to the UN's Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It provides a forum for all Governments of the region to review and discuss economic and social issues and to strengthen regional cooperation. The Advisory Committee of Permanent Representatives and other Representatives Designated by Members of the Commission (ACPR), composed of ESCAP members and associate members, meets every month to advise and exchange views with the Executive Secretary on the Commission's work.

The Commission maintains close cooperation and consultation between the members and the secretariat of the Commission. Five Committees and two Special Bodies guide the Commission's work and make recommendations in accordance with seven subprogrammes.

Committees:

• Environment and Natural Resources Development
• Regional Economic Cooperation
• Socio-economic Measures to Alleviate Poverty in Rural and Urban Areas
• Statistics
• Transport, Communications, Tourism and Infrastructure Development

Special bodies:

• Least Developed and Landlocked Developing Countries
• Pacific Island Developing Countries