Regular Programme of Technical Cooperation (RPTC)

Success stories

Subprogramme 1
Poverty and development

During 2008-2009, Asia-Pacific countries, particularly the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states, strengthened their capacities to respond to the food-fuel crises and climate change, as a result of the technical assistance provided by ESCAP. Ministries of Finance and Central Banks from 17 Asia-Pacific countries were trained to improve and implement macro-economic policies in the context of the financial crisis based on innovative practices available in the Asia-Pacific region. Furthermore, the ministries on housing and national housing banks in India, Pakistan and Thailand received technical support to develop policies and measures that support stronger partnership with community-based organizations in providing pro-poor housing finance. This effort resulted in the launching of a regional network on pro-poor housing finance, which is serving as a platform for sharing policy options, innovative approaches and good practices in the region. ESCAP also responded to the urgent need in Samoa for post-disaster impact and needs assessment after the recent tsunami in the Pacific and in Myanmar for increasing the capacity of policy-makers to design and implement recovery and reconstructions measures following the Cyclone Nargis in May 2008.

Subprogramme 3
Development of Pacific island countries and territories

In 2009, Pacific countries strengthened their capacities to implement the Biwako Millennium Framework of Action and the Biwako Plus Five and coordinate among relevant stakeholders, including NGOs and disabled persons organizations, as a result of the provision by ESCAP of technical cooperation and advisory services. Pacific countries endorsed the Pacific Regional Strategy on Disability, through a subregional forum on disability held in the Cook Islands in October 2009, which provided countries with tools to assist in setting national priorities to address articles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The ESCAP Regional Adviser on Social Development and Planning provided advisory services to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu in developing national urban policy and strategic plans. The Government of Nauru revised its National Sustainable Development Strategy with technical support provided by a joint UN team led by the ESCAP Regional Advisor on Development Policy.

Subprogramme 6
Environment and sustainable development

SPECA member States, including Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, received technical assistance from ESCAP to enhance their capacities to integrate energy efficiency and conservation in national energy sector development policies and strategies in the context of implementing the Baku Initiative on Energy Efficiency and Conservation. With technical cooperation services from ESCAP, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam identified innovative, pro-poor and environmentally-friendly approaches for solid waste management utilizing, among others, resources from carbon financing. This effort resulted in the replication of a decentralized neighbourhood-based compost plant developed by an NGO in Dhaka, Bangladesh in at least 10 other cities in the region, with further funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Subprogramme 8
Social development, including persistent and emerging issues

Asia-Pacific countries received technical cooperation services from ESCAP in support of their efforts to implement the Beijing Platform for Action and its Regional and Global Outcomes. As a result of the provision of technical assistance, senior government officials from 11 countries (Bangladesh, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor Leste) strengthened their capacities to deliver basic services in conflict affected and fragile areas and to contribute to the process of peace-building and reconciliation. Cambodia formulated a national youth policy framework through a participatory approach involving various stakeholders from Government, youth organizations and international organizations. In July 2009. Pacific countries received technical assistance from ESCAP to develop social protection and policy measures through a subregional workshop organized in collaboration with the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, ILO and UNICEF.