Karnataka Struggles For CSR Funding To Save Forests

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April 6, 2017

What is the likelihood of seeing a company board or hoarding in the middle of a lush forest? And even if there was one, it is unlikely that tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of a tiger will give it any attention.

Perhaps, it is this lack of visibility that has become the biggest barrier in the Karnataka Forest Department’s outreach to corporates to take up forest protection measures under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

It was in 2014 that the initiative started, and so far around Rs 35 crore has been spent by corporates on forests, said Vinay Luthra, Chairman of Karnataka Ecotourism Development Board (KEDB), which organised its third annual day-long workshop on CSR funding.

“This contribution has come in the form of kind: vehicles, cameras and other equipment,” he said.

However, this contribution has come from barely 20 companies — a mixture of NGOs and corporates, including mining firms. This is not just a fraction of the companies in the State, but also represents a fraction of the over Rs 500 crore spent annually under CSR in Karnataka.

This also falls short of the department’s expectations. The Forest Department presented to the small gathering of corporates their “charter of desirables”, which comprises projects worth more than Rs 730 crore.

The bulk of this comes from the purchase of private lands close to forest blocks, construction of underpasses to reduce road kills, solar-powered borewells to alleviate water crisis in tiger reserves, and to even purchasing buses to help children travel safely to their school in areas witnessing high human-elephant conflict.

While CSR mandates 2% spending of profit, G.S. Sugur, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), said the forests received a marginal per cent of this money.

A recent CRISIL report on CSR spending in 2016, showed that less than 9% of the total CSR funds went into environment, and even lesser in rural areas. “Corporates would rather spend in urban areas where they get better visibility, than in remote forests. Moreover, most would also like to spend within their own districts — this would mean forests of Western Ghats, where there are hardly any big industries nearby, do not get CSR spending,” said Mr. Luthra, who said corporates enrolled currently were primarily due to the passion for wildlife among their promoters.

He believed it was important to get corporates on board, not just for monetary contributions, but to inculcate a long-term “sense of responsibility” that could influence policy-making.

(The Hindu)

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Averting The ‘Smoke On Water’

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Anirban Ghosh, CSO, Mahindra Group

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April 5, 2017

India is on the way to become very highly urbanised with 60% of its population expected to live in cities by 2050. But urbanisation is not a new story in India. Bengaluru, India’s Silicon Valley, has gone from being a “City of Lakes” and a “Garden City” to becoming an urban nightmare. A grim omen for the future of Indian cities.

Once upon a time Bengaluru had 2000 lakes. The government of Karnataka website says there were 262 lakes in 1960. Today the number is down to 81 as per the same website. Its biggest lake, Bellandur, catches fire occasionally. Three instances have happened already with the most recent ‘smoke on the water’ episode occurring in February 2017. Dense smoke emerged from the middle of the lake, flames appeared soon afterwards. The smoke was so dense that it took the fire department hours to locate the source of the fire and get access to the spot, according to news reports. Why did this happen?

Experts say that a lethal mix of factors created a situation that required the slightest of triggers for the lake to go up in flames. Untreated effluents pour into the waters from many industries and homes on its banks. Illegal waste disposal takes place on a large scale and invasive weeds cover large bands of the lake in a thick green canopy. This is a recipe for disaster and officials believe that residents near the lake set the garbage on fire just as people do to garbage in other places. Whether the fire is spontaneous or a case of arson, the fact remains that the lake is terribly polluted.

According to a study by the Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bengaluru, rapid urbanisation and expansion between 1973 and 2016 caused a 1005% increase in paved surfaces and decline of 88% in the city’s vegetation, while another study showed that water bodies declined by 85% between 2000 and 2014 and concluded that Bengaluru will be “unliveable” by 2025. Unless we do something about it.

The Bellandur lake is in the jurisdiction of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), or the Municipal Corporation in the city, and the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), the custodian of the water body. The BDA feels that there is no point in restoring the lake if sewage water is not stopped from entering the lake. The responsibility of diverting sewage water lies with the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). A recipe that has so far spelt disaster.

Relocating residents and industries from around the lake could be an impossible proposition. Getting them to use the lake responsibly may be asking for too much given the current experience. Making the waters of the lake the sole source of fresh water for them and therefore getting them to ensure that the lake remains clean could be a feasible solution in the best spirit of participatory governance.

But the lake and its stakeholders will not suddenly become amenable to this form of radical innovation in urban administration. A major project will need to be done to rejuvenate the lake. Here is where the not-so-recent legislation on CSR can be leveraged. Irony or coincidence as you want to call it, this is in a city which has someone like AR Shivakumar, who through rainwater harvesting has ensured that his house doesn’t need a water connection for the past 22 years. He ensured this using treated rainwater not just for bathing and washing, but also for drinking. You can know more about this initiative here.

A public – private partnership with a consortium of stakeholders that include currently polluting industries, nearby residents and some profitable, water intensive industries such as soft drink manufacturers and beer manufacturers should be formed. A combination of public funds and CSR funds of the profitable corporations with water intensive operations should be used for the rejuvenation of the lake. All stakeholders should then be given rights to use the fresh water from the lake and duties to ensure that the lake is properly re-charged at all times. The lake should be the only source of fresh water for the stakeholders to ensure that they have a vested interest in sustaining it.

This is an experiment whose success can create a new model for the sustainability of fast diminishing natural resources in urban settings. It will also ensure that no policy or surreptitious acquisitive tendency reduces the expanse of the natural resource. Whatever may be the pitfalls of the experiment, it can’t do worse than setting a lake on fire.

Anirban Ghosh leads the sustainability wing at Mahindra and Mahindra as the Chief Sustainability Officer. He has been working with Mahindra Group since 1999. A gold medal winning engineer from Jadavpur University, Calcutta, Ghosh has pursued doctoral studies in Marketing Management at IIM Ahmedabad. He enjoys music, reading, travelling, driving, cricket and tennis. He is an active public speaker and has represented the nation at the Festival of India across multiple nations.

Views of the author are personal and do not necessarily represent the website’s views.

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Red Tapisim And Poor Directives Demotivate You: Ritu Chhabria, Managing Trustee, Mukul Madhav Foundation

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Pooja Domadia

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April 5, 2017

Ritu Chhabria wears two hats; one is Managing Trustee of Mukul Madhav Foundation (MMF) and the second being Director of Finolex Industries.

MMF is the CSR arm of Finolex Industries involved mostly in activities strengthening the current system and not making new ones. Chhabria believes that there are many existing educational and healthcare facilities in the country that need upliftment. The foundation essentially involves itself in this upgradation.

She wishes that the social sector be free of red tapism and has clear directives so there is clarity and convenience while working for social development.

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‘Arise By Aricent’ To Impart Employable Skills To Engineering Students

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The CSR Journal

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April 4, 2017

Added to a list of initiatives is the launch of ‘Arise by Aricent’ an initiative to create employability opportunities for 3400 college students, by up-skilling engineering undergraduates across Delhi-NCR, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. The Delhi-NCR region will have 1300+ students trained under the ARISE program.

Under the program, the students are trained in the qualification pack for software developers, as developed by the Sector Skills Council NASSCOM.

This on-campus program will engage with 16 Tier-2 and Tier-3 engineering colleges including Bhagwan Parshuram Institute of Technology, IIMT College of Engineering, Greater Noida Institute of Technology & Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology from Greater Noida, ABES College of Engineering, providing the necessary job skills to students from underserved communities. The skills will range from basics like SDLC methodologies, to programming languages like JAVA, and database management languages like SQL, API creation through JDBC, project design, and software testing.

The programme will train the students on essentials such as verbal and written communication, business etiquettes, problem solving, time management, customer orientation, interview skills and other soft skills required to enhance their employment opportunities. To develop further insights for the students on what it is like to work in a corporate environment, ARISE will integrate a sustained volunteering program wherein current employees will work with these students as mentors/expert coaches for facilitating students’ gaining from professional experiences of those who are part of the IT/ITes industry.

The candidates will be assessed on the NDSC- SSC NASSCOM Qualification Packs (QP) and certified for the relevant job roles, further enhancing the chances of employment.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Santosh Abraham, VP NASSCOM Foundation said, “We are glad to partner with Aricent to train the youth from underserved communities on key technology skills and make them employment ready for any IT BPM company to hire is a win for both the society and the industry. This partnership also is a great example of how CSR money can be used for the benefit of creating more employment opportunities for the ever-expanding young population of our country.”

NASSCOM Foundation along with Aricent has identified three training partners, Centum Learning, iPRIMED and MindMap, to carry out the on-campus skills development under the ARISE program. The training will be delivered through a series of online and classroom sessions, including project work and learning events like project competitions, tech talks, Industry leadership talks and Mentorship program etc.

Program culmination will include a joint certification from NASSCOM SSC, Aricent, the training partners, and NASSCOM Foundation. The students will also be given placement assistance at the end of the course through regular job fairs and campus connect programs conducted by the NASSCOM Foundation and the training partners.

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Participatory Dialogue On Maternal & Child Health Organised in Mumbai

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The CSR Journal

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April 3, 2017

Ambuja Cement Foundation, the CSR arm of Ambuja Cement, organised a knowledge sharing forum on Maternal and Child Health on the occasion of World Health Day that is celebrated on April 7 every year.

The participatory dialogue to promote ‘Maternal and Child Health – Evidence, Reflections, Way Forward’ served as a platform for leading organisations, influencers and veterans from the social field who exchanged their views and opinions on the subject. The event facilitated to a step towards identifying solutions for empowering communities on Maternal and Child Health.

Speaking at the event, Pearl Tiwari, Head – ACF said, “In a vast country like India, maternal and child health continues to play a pivotal role in the country’s overall development and progress. India currently witnesses 20% of deaths reported globally, caused by preventable complications, related to pregnancy and child birth. This calls for an urgent intervention in promoting evidence-based planning and policy creation towards pregnancy and child birth. By hosting this participatory dialogue on maternal and child health, ACF is creating a platform for experts to share knowledge, best practices and innovation in this field that can be adopted into programmes.”

This dialogue has been organised with an aim to create synergies and share experiences to enable knowledge pool for better maternal and child health.

Rural healthcare intervention has been one of the primary focus areas for ACF since its very inception. It has been implementing innovative programs that promote community and sustainable development with focus on implementing an evidence-based approach for most of its flagship projects on home-based new-born care. ACF has successfully aligned several organisations to come together and create breakthrough programs pertaining to maternal and child care.

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Asia Pacific Adopts Regional Road Map To Accelerate SDGS

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The CSR Journal

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April 3, 2017

Asia-Pacific countries have adopted a road map for regional cooperation on implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD 2017) that concluded in Bangkok recently.

The road map lays out priority areas, implementation arrangements and a process for tracking progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), building on the agreements reached at the last two APFSD meetings. It will, with the support of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, (ESCAP), facilitate regional level cooperation with a focus on the means of implementation of SDGs and in the thematic areas of social development, disaster risk reduction, climate change, management of natural resources, connectivity and energy.

“The APFSD deliberations and agreements reached this year have cemented the foundation for a concerted and effective regional response to address cross-cutting issues under the 2030 Agenda, with a focus on eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity,” said Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, United Nations Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP.

“While the countries of the Asia-Pacific are forging ahead in this common endeavour, much work remains to bring about the transformations needed. In the years to come, through the APFSD, ESCAP will continue to support crucial dialogue among member states, to share experiences and to strengthen implementation,” she added.

The road map places particular emphasis on supporting implementation of the 2030 Agenda by developing countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small-island developing states and other countries with special needs. It also outlines a process for tracking progress on the SDGs.

Gender equality and women’s empowerment are placed at the centre of the regional policy agenda in order to enhance women’s leadership and decision-making in all aspects of society. The road map also recognises that sustainable development must be underpinned by peaceful and inclusive societies, addressing inequality and by good governance.

The roadmap will be brought to the attention of the ESCAP 73rd Commission in May 2017 and to global dialogues on sustainable development including the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development to be held in New York in July 2017.

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Cabinet Approved Ratification Of ILO Conventions. What Would This Mean For Our Children?

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The CSR Journal

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April 1, 2017

The Union Cabinet on Friday took long pending steps to strengthen laws against child labour. It approved ratification of the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) and Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval for ratification of the two fundamental conventions of the ILO concerning the prohibition and immediate action for elimination of the worst forms of child labour. So far India had been one of the few countries that did not ratify these conventions. Presently, Convention 138 has been ratified by 169 countries and Convention 182 has been ratified by 180 countries.

Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi welcomed the cabinet decision. He said, “India’s decision for ratification of Convention 182 and 138 was long overdue in providing justice to our children. After the total prohibition of child labour this is yet another important step in protecting all our children from exploitation and abuse. It now remains a collective responsibility of everyone to do their bit to scourge of child labour from the country.”

In spite of recent labour laws passed by the government, there is a need to further accentuate its initiatives to ensure a safe and fulfilled future for the children of our country. This is possible by ensuring proper implementation of provisions of the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 which now completely prohibits employment or work of children below 14 years in any occupation or process.

ILO Conventions

India is a founder member of the ILO, which came into existence in 1919. At present, the ILO has 187 members. The principal means of action in the ILO is the setting up of international standards in the form of Conventions, Recommendations and Protocol. India has so far ratified 45 Conventions, out of which 42 are in force.

The momentum of the recent initiatives taken to eradicate child labour has to be maintained as elimination of child labour is also crucial for the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The ratification of these convention would move a step ahead in the direction of eradication of child labour as it would be legally binding to comply with the provisions of the Conventions.

Convention 182

In June, 1999, after intense deliberations, delegates of the International Labour Conference unanimously adopted a historic convention prohibiting the worst forms of child labour.

It was the first time in the history of ILO that a convention or treaty had been adopted so fast and that too with unanimous support of all members

The new Convention won the undisputed support of the International Labour Conference, with 415 delegates representing governments, employers, and workers voting in favour of the Convention, 0 voting against it, and 0 abstaining.

What are ‘the Worst Forms of Child Labour’ that are prohibited under the C182?

Child slavery (including the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage, and forced recruitment for armed conflict)
Child prostitution and pornography
The use of children for illicit activities (such as drug trafficking)
Any hazardous work which is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children

How does the Convention operate?

Once a Convention is ratified and in force for a country, the country must adhere to the provisions, in both law and practice. For example, C 182 declares, “Each Member which ratifies this Convention shall take immediate and effective measures to secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour as a matter of urgency”.

• The necessary actions range from a reform of laws and their enforcement, to practical and direct help to children and families.

• For C 182, a ratified country must report every two years and this helps in regular supervision.

• The government which has ratified also has to be accountable for any allegation of non-observance raised by procedures called “representation” or “complaints” under the ILO constitution.

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Achieving Water Security in India: Towards Innovative Solutions

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Neha Bilandani

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March 31, 2017

An ‘Open Situation Room’ on ‘Water Security in India: Towards Innovative Solutions’, as part of the ‘Humanitarian Diplomacy Lab’ event was held by Vestyn Partners, an accelerator for global businesses in India in association with BMW Foundation and Swiss, German and Israel Consulates.

It was hosted by Jasdeep Randhawa, a water expert, who has consulted for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Government of India, the World Bank, Gates Foundation, and the Water Security Initiative at Harvard along with Rasesh Seth, COO, Vestyn Partners.

Open Situation Room brings together experts and practitioners from many fields, the OSR supplements the classical crisis meeting with an open forum to discuss foreign and humanitarian policy challenges. The OSR in Mumbai combined the specific know-how and skill sets of social entrepreneurs, tech developers and designers, along with that of academics, youth, water experts, social enterprises, NGOs and businesses to ‘hack’ traditional diplomatic problems in start-up style groups. The participants discussed the ongoing water crisis, and identify innovative solutions to address the problem. Particular emphasis was on the application of digital technology, social media and financing such initiatives.

Commenting on the occasion, Jasdeep Randhawa, water expert said, “Water security is among the top global risks in terms of development impact. It is also an integral part to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Meeting the SDGs would require improving management of water resources and ensuring access to reliable water and sanitation services.”

“A World Bank report suggests that water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, could cost some regions up to 6% of their GDP, spur migration, and spark conflict. The combined effects of growing populations, rising incomes, and expanding cities will see demand for water rising exponentially, while supply becomes more erratic and uncertain,” added Randhawa.

In India, more than 330 million people, around a quarter of the population, are facing acute water shortage. 75.8 million Indians, currently lack access to clean water, with children in 100 million homes lacking access to clean water.

Climate change resulting in drought and water mismanagement due to corruption has further exacerbated the crisis. Evidence shows that agricultural production for essential food grains has declined in the last two decades, as a result of fall in groundwater, lack of investments in agriculture and irrigation.

Over the past twenty years over 300,000 farmer suicides have been reported, with the number being the highest in 2015 with two years of continuous drought. Water conflicts at each level and competing demands among a multitude of users, has resulted in intense violence, litigation, riots, damage to public property, and deaths.

Over 21% of the country’s diseases are water related, as water sources are contaminated with bio and chemical pollutants. With 50% of India’s water contaminated by sewage, Indians purchase water at 72 cents for 50 litres.

Rasesh Seth, Vestyn Partners commented, “Water security is a core issue faced by our country in topical times. It is imperative that solutions available globally must be implemented locally in order to unravel the situation we currently are in. Contemporary technology in the space, backed by proficient implementation, I believe is the call of the hour. ”

Water scarcity in India is expected to worsen as the overall population is expected to increase to 1.6 billion by year 2050. To that end, global water scarcity is expected to become a leading cause of national political conflict in the future, including for India. Therefore, taxed infrastructure, urbanisation, corruption, water mismanagement, failed service delivery, and climate change are just some of the many causes for the exacerbating humanitarian water crisis in India.

Other dignitaries present at the event were Suresh Kulkarni, Secretary, Maharashtra Water Regulatory Authority, David Akov, Consul General of the state of Israel, Gabriele Boner, Deputy Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Nimrod Assouline, Deputy Chief of Mission, Consulate General of Israel, Dirk Walther, Project Director, Support to National Urban Sanitation Policy and Adi Bhujle, Director, German Water Partnership.

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Centre To Accommodate 165 Pediatric Cancer Patients Opened In Mumbai

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The CSR Journal

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March 31, 2017

Three buildings in Mumbai have been allocated to accommodate 165 pediatric cancer patients and their families who come from outstation to Mumbai for treatment.

The centre in Cotton Green area of Mumbai was inaugurated by Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari. The buildings spread across 1.2 acres, which belongs to the Mumbai Port Trust. They were handed over to Tata Memorial Hospital under their Corporate Social Responsibility endeavour.

“Patients come from remote areas for treatment to Mumbai. Usually, due to lack of funds, these patients and their families are found staying on the pavements affecting their health too,” said Sanjay Bhatia, Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust. St. Jude India ChildCare Centre would be taking care of the children and the complete facility. “Very often we have seen people abandon treatment and go back to their homes as they do not have place to stay. These buildings will help them complete their treatment,” said Usha Banerji, CEO, St Jude India Childcare Centre. “We are confident that with this new facility and its provisions, we will be able to make a positive and powerful impact on the lives of these children and their families,” she added,

The three buildings are made keeping children in mind with usage of vibrant colours. Since the treatment takes about six months to one and a half year, it becomes important to take care of food, education and fitness of children. The building is equipped with a kitchen where each family will be given one stove and a starter kit with food essentials. The family can cook food for them here. Additionally, a garden area with basic play rides has been setup.

“I have seen how poor people die due to cancer and lack of medical facility. This centre will help outstation patients in saving their lives. We will try to have three more buildings with similar facilities so that we can help more patients,” said Gadkari.

In 2015, Mumbai Port Trust, in an agreement with Tata Memorial Centre, provided three usused buildings at Cotton Green for housing young patients, who otherwise need to find alternate means of accommodation that may not be safe or economical. St. Jude India ChildCare Centres, a not-for-profit organisation established in Mumbai in 2006 and India’s only home away from home for cancer-afflicted children, was invited as the implementing partner.

The property was then transformed into a safe, clean, cheerful haven for children receiving cancer treatment and their parents, all within a year. The three buildings, house 14 centres and can accommodate 165 families. At the behest of Tata Memorial Centre, there is a floor for doctors to reside as well.

Dr RA Badwe, Director, Tata Memorial Centre said, “This is the only centre in Asia with the capacity to house 165 family units. It will certainly add a lot of value in saving lives of pediatric cancer patients.”

The new facility will be a boon for families that travel far and wide from villages and small towns across India, seeking life-saving cancer treatment for their children. These families usually face the problem of finding safe, secure and low-cost accommodation. As a result, the children, who are usually between 6 months and 15 years, succumb to infections. Alternatively, parents often abandon treatment. To help such families St. Jude India Childcare Centres provides a cost-free support, including a positive environment to stay, transport facility to and fro hospitals, clean water, nutrition, educational and recreational activities as well as psycho-social support.

Hindi cinema veteran, Nana Patekar, also graced the event to show his support for the initiative. Patekar and Gadkari were taken on a tour around the new campus. They also met the children at the facility, who recited a song that they had specially prepared for all attendees.

With this CSR initiative by the Mumbai Port Trust, St Jude’s is now able to take care of 40% of the need for accommodation of children currently under treatment in Mumbai.

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One In Every 10 people in Asia-Pacific Region Live Under Poverty: Report

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The CSR Journal

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March 30, 2017

About 400 million or one in ten people in Asia and the Pacific are living under poverty due to widening income inequality, according to a report titled ‘Eradicating Poverty and Promoting Prosperity in a Changing Asia-Pacific’.

More than one in four people in Asia and the Pacific’s developing countries experience poverty in multiple dimensions. This includes additional deprivations that impact their health, education, and standard of living. The report displays the bleak picture despite the region’s impressive gains in reducing income poverty in recent decades.

The report was launched by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in a forum- APFSD 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand.

“As outlined in the report, a renewed strengthening of the social contract is critical for addressing multi-dimensional poverty and the high marginalisation and exclusion of people,” said Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, United Nations Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP at the Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development.

“It also provides opportunities for innovative partnerships in which diverse stakeholders can find common ground to inclusive and sustainable growth to tackle entrenched problems and build synergistic solutions to the challenges of poverty in both rural and urban areas. This requires strong policy signals, clear commitments and allocation of resources to address the multiple dimensions of poverty,” she further added.

The report underscores the importance of addressing poverty through pro-poor urbanisation, effective management of rural-urban transitions, and investment in sustainable infrastructure. Although people in extreme income poverty are more likely to live in rural areas, they are increasingly found in cities, therefore provision of high quality; low-carbon, and resilient infrastructure is essential.

“Asia’s infrastructure needs are large and will only grow, with our recent report suggesting that the region will need $1.7 trillion annually in climate-resilient infrastructure investments,” said Bambang Susantono, ADB Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development.

Adding further he said, “How our region chooses to bridge the infrastructure gap will have profound global implications. Concerted efforts, as highlighted in the tripartite report, can help us cover the last mile for infrastructure towards inclusive and sustainable development.”

“As urbanisation booms across Asia and the Pacific, its cities are powering innovation, economic growth and prosperity, lifting many out of poverty. But there has also been an increase in inequality and exclusion in some regions. To be more inclusive and to leave no one behind, cities must adopt innovative policies that align with the SDGs, and prioritise building the resilience of the most vulnerable groups,” said Haoliang Xu, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.

The report recommends effective action on eradicating poverty, while tackling the systemic, sociocultural, and geographic factors that underpin marginalisation, exclusion, and lack of human rights protection. The number of people likely to be in vulnerable employment in the region is now greater than the global average, for example and women are particularly affected. Measures to ensure that all people can benefit from growth in the region on an equal footing are needed.

ESCAP, ADB and UNDP also launched a new SDG Data Portal today to provide up to date data on SDG indicators for governments and stakeholders in Asia and the Pacific along with an outlook assessment on SDGs in the region. All three products have been developed under a renewed partnership between the three organisations to help track SDG progress and support countries in the region to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

APFSD 2017 is being held by ESCAP in Bangkok from 29 to 31 March 2017. The conclusions and recommendations at the forum will inform discussions of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at the global level, to be convened in New York in July 2017.

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