Evaluation of the project on enhancing regional cooperation and integration among ESCAP member States in East and North-East Asia and with the rest of the Asia Pacific region for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, 2019-2023

Abstract

The aim of the project to enhance multilateralism in the subregion needs to be understood within the context of a lack of a generic sub-region wide intergovernmental mechanism across the six countries in the ENEA subregion covering all aspects of the 2030 Agenda. Enhanced cooperation across the countries, including on cross-border issues, was meant to provide a means for acceleration of SDG achievement. Thus, the Incheon project focused on support to development of capacities for cooperation and partnerships for reaching the SDGs with a particular focus on environment and resilience, trade related issues, transport-, energy- and ICT connectivity as well as enhancing multilateral cooperation mechanism and supporting the means of SDG implementation. The project built on an earlier phase of similar support by SOENEA in the period 2016-18, also supported by the City of Incheon. The project was implemented by the sub-regional office in close cooperation with ESCAP divisions, making use of existing multilateral cooperation mechanisms and in partnership with government agencies and university, civil society and other stakeholders.