UNESCAP

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. It was established in 1947 as the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East by the UN Economic and Social Council and was renamed in 1955 to reflect its broader geographic scope. The commission is headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, and serves the Asia-Pacific region, comprising a large number of member states and associate members.

UNESCAP conducts policy research, technical assistance, data collection and statistics, and capacity-building to support sustainable development and inclusive growth across the region. It facilitates regional cooperation and integration by bringing together governments, civil society, and the private sector to address shared challenges. The commission focuses on areas such as trade and investment, transport and connectivity, energy, digital economy, disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, gender equality, and social protection.

Key outputs include analytical reports and policy guidance, most notably the annual Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific, along with regional statistics yearbooks and other publications. It also implements targeted programs and projects through regional and subregional offices and in partnership with other UN bodies and development partners.

Governance and funding: UNESCAP operates under a Commission that meets regularly, with an executive secretary leading the secretariat. It relies on assessed contributions from member states and extrabudgetary funding to support programs, technical assistance, and knowledge-sharing activities in the region.