TOP 25 Latest UNESCAP UNPAN DocumentsArticle Limit gopher://rss-net.sf.net/ http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ United Nations ESCAP has conducted a study entitled "Pacific Connectivity: The Current Situation, Opportunities for Progress". Compiling new socio-economic and connectivity indicators, the study finds most Pacific states delivering on health care and education, with many people noting that jobs, socio- economic opportunities provided by affordable and effective communications may now be a high priority. The study describes opportunities for improved cable and satellite connectivity, and for the use of terrestrial wireless as well as wired and satellite connectivity within Pacific states. The study suggests that sufficient capital is available for connectivity, if policies, infrastructure and services lead to effective, affordable, and popular systems. http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/unescap/unpan039029.pdf Policy and Strategy Document UNESCAP Wed, 05 May 2010 04:49:05 GMT Many developing countries have begun initiatives to build the necessary ICT infrastructure in rural areas, including establishing ICT access points - also known as telecentres - which are community centres that provide public access to ICT in the form of telephones, computers and the Internet. The establishment of ICT access points poses numerous challenges, particularly for those located in extremely remote areas that are inaccessible by roads and/or have no power supply. This policy brief features appropriate policies drawn from the experience of successes and failures to promote the establishment of sustainable ICT access points for the economic and social development of rural communities. http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/unescap/unpan039028.pdf Policy and Strategy Document UNESCAP Wed, 05 May 2010 04:39:54 GMT Extreme weather conditions and natural disasters are taking an increasing toll, in both human and economic terms. Globally, 2008 was the third most expensive year on record in regard to disaster-related economic damage. In the Asia and the Pacific region, 2008 was marred by Cyclone Nargis, which devastated the Irrawaddy Delta in Myanmar and killed an estimated 130,000 people, and the earthquake that struck Sichuan Province in China, which affected millions and left more than 85,000 dead. It is widely recognized that information and communications technology (ICT), including space-based technology, plays an important role in establishing effective early warning systems and successfully conducting emergency preparedness and response activities. http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/unescap/unpan039027.pdf Policy and Strategy Document UNESCAP Wed, 05 May 2010 04:35:46 GMT The aim of this policy brief is to explore the possibilities of using telecentres for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), drawing from real world examples of what is being done in India and the Philippines. It also examines the necessary policy foundations required, the extra infrastructure and human resource enhancements needed to successfully leverage the telecentres to support DRR at the community level. Although the use of Telecentres for DRR is not widespread yet, the brief could inspire more telecentre operators to take up the extra scope such that funding available for DRR could be used to also solve the the problem of sustainability of suitable telecentres. http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/unescap/unpan039026.pdf Policy and Strategy Document UNESCAP Wed, 05 May 2010 04:32:14 GMT The Spatial Data Infrastructure is the means to assemble spatial information that describes the arrangement and attributes of features and phenomena on the Earth. The infrastructure includes the materials, technology, and people necessary to acquire, process, store, and distribute such information to meet a wide variety of societal and economic needs. However, due to lack of SDI framework, policies and coordination, countries are benefitting less from what the technology can offer, if not benefiting at all. The SDI connects people, places and policies towards leading to better decisions. In the SDI initiatives, the goal is the sustainable development of the countries and the regions. http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/unescap/unpan039025.pdf Policy and Strategy Document UNESCAP Wed, 05 May 2010 04:29:20 GMT The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set targets to reduce the mortality rate of children under five years old, the maternal mortality ratio and also to halt and reverse of the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other major diseases. Achieving the health-related MDGs requires strengthening health systems, particularly in the following areas of (a) Expanding the primary health-care workforce and enriching the skill levels; (b) Upgrading and broadening medical infrastructure and logistics; (c) Providing affordable access to drugs and medical supplies; (d) Improving health decision-making and early warning by enhancing data collection and analysis of disease trends. http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/unescap/unpan039024.pdf Policy and Strategy Document UNESCAP Wed, 05 May 2010 04:22:55 GMT This publication aims at increasing awareness and knowledge among policymakers on how to create an enabling policy environment for enhancing regional connectivity and building a regional information society, taking into consideration the needs of the developing countries, least developed countries, the landlocked developing countries, the small island developing States, and countries with economies in transition. It takes stock of the progress made by intergovernmental organizations, the United Nations and other regional and international organizations, as well as civil society, on the implementation of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Plan of Action in Asia and the Pacific. http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/unescap/unpan039023.pdf Policy and Strategy Document UNESCAP Wed, 05 May 2010 04:03:26 GMT To assist policy makers and researchers in decentralization, ESCAP initiated a study of local government systems in 15 countries of the region. http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/unescap/unpan017463.mht Analytical Reports Local Government UNESCAP Wed, 07 Jul 2004 20:37:14 GMT