Reports, working papers, policy briefs and other publications

With significant increases in life expectancy across the Asia-Pacific region, more people of different age groups now live and interact together for longer than ever before, reshaping both opportunities and challenges for intergenerational solidarity. This intergenerational reality is at the heart of what national transfer accounts (NTAs) measure – the flows of resources between generations. Building on the NTA methodology, national inclusion accounts disaggregate economic flows, not only by age, but by income group, education level and family structure. In this paper, the analysis of three countries with available data in Asia and the Pacific (Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Maldives and Viet Nam) shows who within each age group actually benefits from public spending on education, health and pensions – and whether public programmes are reducing inequality or reinforcing it. These findings have implications for other countries in Asia and the Pacific, given persisting inequalities across the region. The paper concludes by calling for promoting equity across both generations and social groups, through an overall life-course approach to policymaking, focusing on access/coverage and quality, public/private partnerships and regional cooperation.

This paper explores the current situation, and ways forward to strengthen health systems in Sri Lanka in the context of population ageing, climate change, disaster preparedness and investing in technology solutions for health. 

This trainer guide has been developed to support facilitators, trainers, community educators and partner institutions in delivering inclusive and effective digital literacy training for older persons in Asia and the Pacific. As part of ESCAP digital literacy toolkit, and designed to complement the accompanying video series, the guide provides practical guidance on how to organize, adapt and deliver learner-centred training in diverse community contexts. It promotes participatory, respectful and age-responsive approaches that value the experiences of older learners while addressing common barriers to digital engagement, including low confidence, limited prior exposure and concerns about safety or relevance. The guide offers facilitation strategies, session structures, teaching tips and suggestions for creating supportive learning environments that encourage interaction, practice and peer learning.