UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (UN ESCAP)

NEWS: (UN ESCAP) has released its 2026 Economic Surveyà warning that the West Asia conflict is driving up energy and food costs.

ABOUT

Serves as one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations.

Comprises 53 member states and 9 associate members, representing nearly two-thirds of the world’s population.

Established Inà 1947 in Shanghai as the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) to aid post-WWII reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE

• Promotes regional cooperation to overcome challenges such as income inequality, climate change, and gender disparities.
• Guides the region in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Supports member states in emerging more robust and future-focused following global shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Functions

• Produces action-oriented research, such as the Economic and Social SurveyàTo help policymakers navigate global trade protectionism and geo-economic fragmentation.
• Provides capacity-building services to help nations implement regional agreements and global frameworks.
• Spearheaded the development of the Asian Highway Network and the Trans-Asian Railway to boost regional trade.
• Played a vital role in forming key institutions like the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
• Promotes regional investment in disaster technology, a focus sharpened after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.
• Social Policy Advocacyà Engages members on critical issues like aging populations, urbanization, and gender parity.