Reports, working papers, policy briefs and other publications

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.

Demographic change is a defining 21st-century megatrend and a key gauge of human progress. The transition from high fertility and mortality to longer lives and smaller families has been particularly rapid in Asia and the Pacific. Although aggregate regional figures mask variation at national and subnational levels, the overall trend is clear: population growth is slowing and age structures are shifting towards a larger and growing share of older persons.

This report examines the demographic drivers reshaping the region, analyses the implications for labour markets and the future of work, and highlights the transformative potential of healthy and active ageing. It documents the substantial economic contributions of older persons — through labour, entrepreneurship, unpaid care and social capital — and makes the case for urgently realigning employment systems, social protection and health policies with demographic realities. The report also explores pathways to women’s economic empowerment, recognizing that gender inequality compounds the vulnerabilities of ageing across the life course.

This report underscores that demographic change is not a challenge to be feared, but a human success story to be embraced. With the right evidence-based and forward-looking policies, sustainable investments and regional cooperation, Asia and the Pacific can harness the opportunities of its rapid demographic change, including its ageing population, strengthen intergenerational solidarity and advance a society for all ages — leaving no one behind.

Rapid population ageing in the Asia-Pacific region has made long-term care (LTC) a critical healthcare priority, yet in-depth regional analysis of LTC challenges and opportunities remains limited. This paper focuses on LTC system strengthening, examining seven target countries from an ESCAP project the paper relates to (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Maldives, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand) and draws lessons from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. It identifies LTC policies and practices, offering evidence-based recommendations through desk research, literature reviews, policy analyses and data from ESCAP, ILO, WHO and World Bank surveys and databases.