ESCAP will convene a Regional Dialogue to Review Policies for the Eradication of Poverty and Hunger, from 7 to 9 January at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), Bangkok. The main objective of the Dialogue is to review the ESCAP draft theme study, Towards Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Asia and the Pacific, in preparation for the upcoming 65th annual ESCAP Commission Session (23 to 29 April 2009). The theme study assesses the severity of food insecurity in the region, and considers policies to improve the food security status of the region. Key challenges to food security in the region include climate change, water and energy insecurity, genetic engineering and industrial agriculture. The impact of trade and transport policies on food security in the region, and the role of social protection in ensuring food security will also be examined. At the Dialogue, experts will review and comment on the content, key messages and policy recommendations made by the theme study.

ESCAP, in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Marshall Islands, will organize a Workshop on Sanitation Solutions for the Urban Poor in Pacific Islands in Majuro, from 12 to 14 January 2009. The workshop will bring together local government officials from the Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati and Tuvalu. Participants will be introduced to selected practices and key lessons from Indonesia and the Philippines on sanitation for low-income urban communities. Participants will also be introduced to some of the practices that have been developed in other countries of Asia. The objective of the workshop is to encourage the adaptation and replication of innovative practices in urban sanitation in the participating countries.

The Trade and Investment Division of ESCAP will organize the Regional Global Compact Local Network (GCLN) Focal Points Meeting, from 20 to 22 January in Bangkok. The meeting is part of an ESCAP project entitled Investors for Development (I4D) which aims to increase the contribution of business to sustainable development. Effective promotion of the principles of the Global Compact, capacity building of local networks and network sustainability are the main themes of the meeting. In a series of workshops and presentations, I4D specialists together with country representatives will assess the progress of the Global Compact Local Networks in the region, discuss the strategy for strengthening the local networks and the effective use of information and communication technologies (ICT) for increasing visibility and awareness of GCLNs’ activities in Asia and the Pacific. There will also be a seminar on climate change during the meeting which will be attended by GCLNs from 15 Asia-Pacific countries; Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Trade and Investment Division of ESCAP will hold a two-day Expert Group Meeting on Strengthening Partnerships for Development through Enhanced Regional Trade, from 21 to 22 January at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. The main purpose of the meeting is to (a) discuss the modalities for launching a regional network of experts to build a critical mass of expertise for the implementation of specific trade facilitation measures and best practices, including a single window and paperless trade, and (b) analyze the impact of inefficiencies in border crossing with a specific focus on the perishable food sector. Trade facilitation leads to the development of a consistent, transparent, and predictable environment for international trade with the aim of reducing trade costs, and enhancing traders’ competitiveness and the overall national or regional competitive advantage.

A forum on Climate Game Change – Innovations and Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation will be held in Bangkok on 22 January. The Forum, organized by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and ESCAP, will address issues such as (a) How to promote financing for adaptation to climate change in the region? (b) What positive impact do investors and donors have on climate change adaptation in the region? (c) What are the business related risks and opportunities, and how are these being addressed by major companies in the region? and (d) How can development partners, private and public investors and companies work together to stimulate sustainable development while facing the threat posed by climate change? Around 150 high-level representatives of companies, financial institutions, governments, international organizations and civil society are expected to attend the forum. Its results will be used as an input for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in 2009, as well as for the future work of SIDA and ESCAP, respectively.

The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA/DSD), in collaboration with the UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development (UNWDPC) and the Environment and Development Division of ESCAP, will jointly organize a Workshop on Improving Agricultural Productivity, Water Use Efficiency and Strengthening Rural Livelihoods, from 28 to 30 January in Bangkok. The workshop aims to strengthen technical and institutional capacities of key government institutions and policy-makers in developing and implementing sustainable agriculture, rural development and irrigation water management policies focused on rural poverty reduction. The workshop will bring together senior government policy-makers, representatives of local authorities, officials from the United Nations system, researchers and experts, as well as practitioners, to share lessons learned and good practices in combating rural poverty.