MDG Analysis

Access to basic services for the poor: The importance of good governance

This Technical Background Paper, part of the Asia-Pacific MDG Study Series, elaborates on the need for good governance to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and eradicate extreme poverty. It argues that achieving the Goals is not simply about money. It is about removing physical, legal, financial, socio-cultural and political barriers to basic services for all, in particular for the poor and disadvantaged groups. This report presents a number of strategies for removing such barriers, including broadening the range of service providers to include the formal and informal private sector, civil society organizations and traditional institutions. Their involvement as service providers, however, requires a review and, where necessary, a revision of the framework that regulates the provision of basic services.

This paper embodies the collaborative efforts of the tripartite regional partnership of ESCAP, UNDP and ADB to ensure a common voice on the Millennium Development Goals in the Asia and the Pacific.

Achieving the MDGs in Asia: A Case for More Aid?

This report attempts to broaden the perspective on performance by highlighting the work that remains to be done in Asia. First, it shows that, despite the progress that many countries in the Asian and the Pacific region are making towards reaching the MDGs, by far the largest number of people affected by the various social and economic dimensions of poverty live in Asia. Second, it demonstrates that, given this large number, Asia is benefiting from relatively small amounts of development aid. This report was prepared by the ESCAP secretariat as background for the Commission at its sixty-second Commission session in Jakarta from 6 to 12 April 2006, with funding support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Asia Water Watch 2015

Into the countdown to 2015, what progress does the Asia and Pacific region register in meeting MDG Target 10? What more is required? How will meeting MDG Target 10 advance countries toward achieving all eight MDGs? This report offers answers to these questions. Prepared by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and World Health Organization (WHO), it uses the latest data available to measure each country's progress toward MDG Target 10 and analyzes whether it will be achieved. The results show a mixed picture. Some countries have already met the target; others are on track; others are likely to miss it in 2015. Some countries even show a decrease in coverage.

Pursuing Gender Equality through the Millennium Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific

The Asia and Pacific region's performance on gender-related issues has been mixed. Despite substantial progress toward gender parity in education, the region is seriously "off track" on other indicators of women's capabilities and opportunities. Given the importance of gender equality to the MDGs in general, slow progress on gender issues may harm the overall MDG achievement. It is essential, therefore, to prioritize efforts toward gender equality and women's empowerment. This paper has been prepared to inform policymakers in the region about the current situation and provide a guide to interventions urgently needed in this crucial area.