The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) is a UN regional commission that promotes economic cooperation among its 53 member states and nine associate members. The commission serves as the primary legislative organ of ESCAP and the highest intergovernmental regional platform. UNESCAP works to fulfill the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Goals, provide capacity building and technical assistance to governments, and promote water management approaches. Specifically, the commission supports the monitoring and coordination efforts to achieve SDG 6: clean water and sanitation for all. UNESCAP members meet once a year to discuss and decide on sustainable economic and social development recommendations for Asia and the Pacific.

In the coming decade, there will be a significant increase in the geriatric population in Asia and the Pacific. By 2050, 26 percent of people will be 60 or older, which is double the current proportion. At the same time, the number of young people aged 15 to 24 is decreasing in most countries. As a result, an uneven age structure will emerge, presenting several socioeconomic challenges. Older people are at a higher risk of facing poverty due to a lack of access to pensions and age-based hiring discrimination. In addition, women are specifically more likely to be affected by poverty in old age as they often have informal jobs without pensions. Diseases and disabilities also become more frequent as people live longer and experience poverty in their old age. Thus, infrastructure and the healthcare system must proactively adapt their practices to serve this growing population. Despite these challenges, this demographic change presents an opportunity. Fewer children mean a larger working population and the ability to provide extra support to families. Longer lifespans allow for more investment in education and training, resulting in higher incomes and a stronger economy. With demographic transitions occurring throughout Asia and the Pacific, delegates in the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) must address the challenges while ensuring societies can benefit from the opportunities.

There are 1.4 billion informal workers in Asia and the Pacific whose jobs are not regulated by the government and do not provide benefits. These jobs include farmworkers, merchants, and domestic workers. The internet has exacerbated an economy that relies on these workers, as users are willing to pay other individuals for their services. However, they are not legal employees. Informal workers are more likely to face poor working conditions, job insecurity, and irregular hours. Thus, poverty is common among these workers. They lack access to benefits or legal protection in the event of injury or job loss. As these workers often do not pay taxes, benefits or laws that would support these workers can be difficult to create or enforce. Worldwide, unfair, and biased hiring practices cause vulnerable groups, such as women, Indigenous people, and people with disabilities, to have informal jobs. Specifically, half of those working in Asia and the Pacific are paid less than USD 5.50 daily. Delegates in the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) must combat this growing issue by protecting informal workers and addressing their unique challenges.