ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific has strongly urged the regional countries to formulate a roadmap to support the implementation of the development agenda beyond 2015.

A recent UNESCAP study ‘Balancing the Three Dimensions of Sustainable Deve­lopment: from Integration to Implementation’ said that the roadmap should draw lessons from years of work towards the millennium development goals (MDGs) and define milestones, roles and responsibilities to ensure empowerment, coordination and accountability.

It could also emphasise support to countries with special needs. There are a number of Asia-Pacific countries making headway towards balanced integration — with bold and replicable policy innovations and institutions already geared towards the better coordination of and balanced investment in all three dimensions of sustainable development.

Despite this progress, much remains to be done across the region to ensure the successful implementation of the development agenda beyond 2015, according to ESCAP Executive Secretary Dr Shamshad Akhtar.

The study — which outlines a conceptual framework, normative shifts in policy stance, strategies and policy options and offers perspectives on institutional frameworks to support integration of the three dimension of sustainable development — will be taken up at the annual session of ESCAP opening in Bangkok on May 25.

Within the region, the poorest 20 per cent of the population accounts for less than 10pc of national income; and the poorest households in the major developing economies are experiencing declines in their income.

Growing disparities in income and wealth, as well as unequal social opportunities, have a compounding effect, disproportionately affecting women and the most vulnerable members of society, including the poor, persons with disabilities, migrants and old-age people. It suggested that the roadmap should also identify a research agenda and specific monitoring/review mechanisms, such as an indicator framework and a supportive process, in line with the global agreements on the UN development agenda beyond 2015.

The roadmap should focus on the means of implementation covering science, technology, trade, capacity development and finance, on strengthening institutional frameworks and capacity for integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development; and on establishing a platform for policy dialogue and the exchange of best practices, the ESCAP study said.

The study concluded that political commitment, stakeholder engagement, enhanced capacity and a shared vision will be needed to deliver on the promise of sustainable development. This must be coupled with specific strategy, policy interventions and institutional strengthening. “Only then can poverty be ended.”

Meanwhile, representatives of Asia-Pacific countries, concluding the ‘Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development’ in Bangkok on Saturday, mapped out regional priorities for the post 2015 development agenda, including the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The importance of shifting policy frameworks to serve as fundamental drivers of sustainable development, where the quality of growth is redefined to go beyond GDP towards expanded notions of well-being, and where the region’s economic dynamism delivers on inclusive and green growth were highlighted as regionally specific priorities.

The forum agreed on the need to focus on a more inclusive, balanced and sustained growth path, while respecting planetary boundaries and social needs, and called for region-wide acceptance of social justice and ecological sustainability, as fundamental policy objectives.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2015

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