The document summarizes key development issues in South and East Asia based on a presentation given by Nik Sekhran of the United Nations Development Programme. It notes that over 300 million people in the region lived in extreme poverty in 2013, water withdrawals have reached 48% of renewable resources, and the region will emit over 20 billion tons of carbon dioxide by 2035. It also discusses issues like gender disparities in education, lack of access to sanitation, increasing inequality, challenges of job creation, and ongoing hunger affecting about 16% of the population in South Asia. Small island developing states are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

1. Nik Sekhran
Director, Sustainable Development
United Nations Development Programme
Manila, September 2017
Session I: Taking Stock/ Overview of Progress

2. Poverty
Over 300 million people lived
in extreme poverty in 2013 in
the region. South Asia
accounted for over 15% of
people living in extreme
poverty in 2013.
Water
48% of South Asia’s
renewable water resources
are withdrawn.
Climate Change
The region alone would
emit more than 20 billion
tons of CO2 by 2035 which
equals 46% of the world’s
share.
Gender
Large gender disparities in
enrolment ratios are found
in tertiary education.
Sanitation
55% of the population lack
access to improved sanitation
facilities in South Asia, and
23% in East Asia & the Pacific.
Inequality
Twelve of the 30
economies in the region
showed an increase in the
Gini coefficient in the past
two decades.
Jobs & Livelihoods
By 2050, some 280 million
people will join the job
market in India alone.
Between 1991-2013 less
than half of new entrants
to the labour market were
absorbed by the economy.
Hunger
About 16% of the
population in South Asia,
10% in East Asia and 7% in
Pacific small island states
remain undernourished.

3.  SIDS are particularly vulnerable to climate change, with populations, agricultural lands and infrastructure
tending to be concentrated in the coastal zone
 $63.1 billion is the annual damage caused by disasters in Asia and the Pacific*
 $40 billion is the budget required annually to help the region adapt to climate change
Source: ADB
*This is the average over a twenty year period (1995-2014)

4. Source: SDSN - SDG Index (http://www.sdgindex.org/download/)
SDG DASHBOARD FOR COUNTRIES IN EAST AND SOUTH ASIA