AD.Evidence-based policies for the sustainable use of natural resources in the
Asia-Pacific region
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, in
collaboration with the Economic Commission for Latin America and
the Caribbean and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs
($666,000)
Background
205.
The Asia-Pacific region has achieved high rates of economic growth and overall
development during the last decades, lifting a billion people from poverty. However,
progress has come at significant costs. Rapid growth within the region, largely driven by
the increased consumption of natural resources, has resulted in deep social, ecological
and economic imbalances. Despite growing efforts by countries, sustainable development
remains a distant goal, and governance of resource use requires recognition of the
unsustainable economic model of development that assumes no ecological limits to
growth.
206.
The need for sustainable data for sustainable development has been particularly
emphasized across many platforms. However, gaps in data remain and existing data are
underutilized, hampering policymaking efforts. Low capacity to effectively access and
utilize data on resource potential, reserves, production and consumption for long -term
planning in many countries increases the vulnerabilities of those countries and limits the
potential for sustainable economic and social development.
207.
Decision-making that considers the linkages between the management of resources —
coal, oil, hydropower, gas, solar, wind and biomass — and economic, social and
environmental impacts requires cross-sectoral approaches to analysing challenges and
developing effective policies. However, decision makers participating in ESCAP
dialogues continuously emphasize the need for increased knowledge exchange to enable
policy development, and have pointed to the issue of limited access to examples of
successful policies in countries having a comparable development context.
208.
This project will focus on enabling evidence-based decision-making through three
targeted capacity-building streams: (a) strengthening the data and policy information
base; (b) analysis of future resource demand, availability and development scenarios; and
(c) broadening understanding of trends, impacts, and efficacy of current and past policy
structures in order to inform new policy development. Taking advantage of advanced
information and communications technology, policymakers will be given access to a
knowledge platform offering a comprehensive set of data related to resource reserves,
potential, production and use, as well as a digital library of policies from the region.
209.
Capacity-building will focus on enabling national policymakers to utilize the
informational tools made available to them to identify national trends across data and
policy indicators, recognize opportunities for improving the sustainable use of resources,
perform research and analysis on existing policy approaches in other countries having
similar development contexts, and draft responsive policies governing resource
development with consideration of economic, social and environmental aspects. The
project will target five countries, chosen on the basis of expressed need for improved data
and policy information availability, as well as requests that the secretariat assist in the
implementation of initiatives and projects aimed at the sustainable use of natural
resources. The main partners will include ESCAP subregional offices and subregional
and national organizations in South-East Asia, South Asia and the Pacific who have
acquired local expertise through their close contact with member States and ongoing
activities in data and policy.
Objective of the Organization: To strengthen capacities of
policymakers in Asia and the Pacific to develop evidence-based
policy and planning for sustainable use of natural resources at
national and regional levels
Relationship to the biennial programme plan for the period
2016-2017: Economic and social development in Asia and the
Pacific subprogramme 4 (Environment and development),
Economic and Social Affairs subprogramme 3 (Sustainable
development), Economic and social development in Latin
America and the Caribbean subprogramme 9 (Natural resources
and infrastructure)
Summary budget
(Thousands of United States dollars)
Consultants
Expert group
Travel
Contractual services
Seminar, workshops
Operating expenses
Equipment
Total
Expected accomplishments of the Secretariat
Indicators of achievement
(EA1) Improved capacity of policymakers in
selected countries in the Asia-Pacific region to
review and assess the use of natural resources,
development challenges and trends through the
use of a knowledge platform containing national
and regional data, policy information and
development scenarios
(IA1.1) 70 per cent of trained policymakers
and decision makers acknowledge that they
have enhanced knowledge and capacity to
analyse the challenges and trends in the use of
natural resources through the utilization of
national and regional data, policy information
and development scenarios contained within
the knowledge platform
(EA2) Increased capacity of policymakers in
selected countries in the Asia-Pacific region to
develop and implement evidence-based policies
for the sustainable use of natural resources by
identifying gaps and good practices utilizing
project informational tools
(IA2.1) Three of the five project countries
draft or revise evidence-based national policies
for the sustainable use of natural resources
Main activities
210.
186.0
15.0
64.0
55.0
315.0
7.0
24.0
666.0
The main activities of the project will include:
(A1.1)
Organize an inception meeting to: (a) inform the development of a knowledge
platform in order to ensure that the scope and functionality will meet the
informational and analytical needs of policymakers; and (b) review challenges
related to data and policy availability and provide recommendations on how to
best meet informational challenges;
(A1.2)
Develop a scope study for the development of the knowledge platform based
on the results of the inception meeting;
(A1.3)
Organize an expert group meeting on methods for integrating informational
resources into the decision-making process;
(A1.4)
On the basis of the outcomes of the inception meeting and the expert group
meeting, develop an innovative, centralized, web-based knowledge platform to
host the collection of data and policies and enable analysis of energy resource
reserves, potential, production, distribution and use;
(A1.5)
Organize five national training workshops on utilizing the knowledge platform
and providing inputs to continue the expansion of the knowledge base. The
training will cover the use of the centralized knowledge platform, as well as
an assessment of the availability and quality of inputs;
(A1.6)
Provide advisory services to follow up with project countries to assess the
ability to use all knowledge platform functionalities and to improve the
coverage and quality of inputs;
(A2.1)
Organize two subregional seminars in collaboration with international,
subregional and national organizations on the resource -use scenarios to the
year 2050, emphasizing the following scenarios: baseline (business as usual),
resource efficiency and sustainability transition through systems and
governance innovation. The scenario outputs will be incorporated in the
knowledge platform;
(A2.2)
Conduct a regional assessment and prepare a report on natural resources, with
a focus on trends and policy options regarding resource reserves, potential,
production and consumption. The assessment report, drawing largely on the
information provided by countries through the web -based regional knowledge
platform, from seminars and from national workshops will be disseminated
through the knowledge platform;
(A2.3)
Organize five national training sessions on the application of knowledge
gained from the enhanced knowledge platform (see activity A2.1 above), the
national workshops (activity A1.5) and the assessment report (acti vity A2.2) to
develop policymaking and national strategy development;
(A2.4)
Provide advisory services to project countries as a follow -up to the training on
developing policies for strengthening natural resources governance;
(A2.5)
Organize a closing regional workshop with the participation of government
officials, civil society and the private sector, based on the study report, to
share experiences and lessons learned from country-level efforts in evidencebased assessment and policy development and to identify priorities for
regional cooperation in resource management.
AD: Evidence-based policies for the sustainable use of natural resources in the Asia-Pacific
region
Duration: 2016 – 2019
Objective: To strengthen capacities of policymakers in Asia and the Pacific to develop evidence-based policy and planning for sustainable use of
natural resources at national and regional levels
Implementing entities: ESCAP in collaboration with ECLAC and DESA
Summary budget
Detailed budget (US dollars)
(Thousands of United States dollars)
Consultants
Expert Group
Travel
Contractual Services
186.0
15.0
64.0
55.0
Seminar, Workshops
315.0
Operating Expenses
7.0
Equipment
Total
24.0
666.0
Consultants
International consultants ($93,000)

International consultants for the task(s) of (substantive technical support on
methodology and analytical study as well as training and seminars), in support of
activities A1.1, A1.2, A1.3, A1.4, A2.1, to A2.5. Consultant(s) travel (5 missions
to project countries + 3 missions to subregional organizations)
A1.1 (1 work month x $6,000 per month = $6,000)
A1.2-A1.3 (1work month x $6,000 per month = $6,000)
A1.4 (1.5 work months x $6,000 per month = $9,000
A1.5- A1.6 (2 work months x $6,000 per month = $12,000 + $15,000 (5 missions)
= $27,000)
A 2.1- A 2.5 (6 work months x $6000 = $36,000 + $9,000 (3 missions) = $45,000)
National / Regional consultants ($80,000)

National consultants for task(s) of (national policies and data analysis as well as
trainings and seminars), in support of activities A1.5 and A2.1, A2.2, A2.3, (20
work months)
A1.5 (1 work month x 5 project countries x $4,000 = $20,000)
A2.1 (1 work month x 5 project countries x $4,000 = $20,000)
A2.2 (1 work month x 5 project countries x $4,000 = $20,000)
A2.3 (1 work months x 5 project countries x $4,000 = $20,000)
Evaluation Consultant

External evaluation = $13,000
Expert Group

One Expert Group Meetings (EGM) for the purpose of examining methods on
how to integrate informational sources into the decision-making process, in
support of A1.3. $1,500 per participant x 10 participants = $15,000.
Travel of staff

UN
Staff
from
the
implementing
entity
($40,000).
20 missions mainly in the region by UN staff for the purpose of (conducting
186 000
15 000
64 000
national activities on policy analysis and advisory services as well as regional
workshops and seminars), in support of activities A1.3 to A2.5. A1.5, 5 missions
with staff travel (5 x $2,000 = $10,000). A1.6 3 advisory services to be provided
with staff travel (3 x $2,000 = $6,000). A2.1 2 mission x 1 staff to organize
subregional seminar (2 x $2,000 = $4,000). A2.3 5 missions with staff travel (5 x
$2,000 = $10,000). A2.4 5 advisory services to be provided with staff travel (5 x
$2,000 = $10,000)

Staff from other UN entities ($24,000). Four missions by other UN staff (one staff
each from ECLAC and DESA) for the purpose of attending the regional EGM on
integrating information resources into the decision-making process and the
regional workshop, in support of activities: A1.3 Two staff to support EGM (2 x
$6,000) - $12,000. A2.1 Two staff to attend a subregional seminar (2 x $6,000) $12,000
Contractual services

In support of activities A1.4, A1.5 A2.1, A2.2, A2.3: to select subregional and
national institutions to conduct national studies, and provide substantive inputs
and data to knowledge platform and the regional study; co-host national seminars
and meetings = $55,000
Seminar and Workshops

A1.1 inception meeting to inform the development of the knowledge platform and
review challenges to enabling evidence-based decision-making. $1,500 per
participant x approx. 30 participants = $45,000

A1.5 five national trainings on introducing the knowledge platform, gathering
data and policy information, and establishing channels for ongoing informational
inputs: $1,000 per participant x approx. 15participants x 5 countries = $75,000

A2.1 two subregional seminars, one per annum, to examine resource use scenarios
to 2050: $1,500 x 20 participants x 2 seminars = $60,000

A2.3 five national trainings on utilizing the knowledge platform for evidencebased decision-making: $1,000 per participant x approx. 15 participants x 5
countries = $75,000

A2.5 a regional workshop to share experiences and lessons learned from country
level efforts at evidence-based assessment and policy development. $1,500 per
participant x approximately 40 participants = $60,000
Operating expenses

Communications. In support of A 1.1 to A 2.5 = $4,000. Other general operating
expenses. Printing and office supplies in support of A1.1 to A 2.5 = $3,000.
55 000
315 000
7 000
Equipment
24 000

A provision of $24,000 is required for software licensing specific to (1) data
management and (2) GIS mapping, in support of activity A1.4.
7