The Poverty Reduction Section (PRS) is part of the Poverty and Development Division of UNESCAP.

Strategy

Contribute to the reduction of poverty in the region through:

• Identification, documentation and dissemination of innovative practices
• Pilot testing and analysis of innovative practices to develop replicable models
• Capacity-building of member countries to adapt, replicate and up-scale the practices. (read more)

Mandates

The Millennium Declaration and related goals (MDGs), the Habitat Agenda and Johannesburg Plan of Implementation on the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) form the primary mandates for the work of the section. (read more)

Partners

Local governments in urban and rural areas are recognized as the main clients of the Poverty Reduction Section, because of their direct influence on the conditions that allow the poor to reduce poverty. (read more)

Regional and local networks

In order to reach as many stakeholders as possible, the Poverty Reduction Section carries out much of its work through regional and local networks. (read more)

Poverty issues

Asia and the Pacific are estimated to have around 700 million poor, by the definition of people living on less than one dollar a day. The poor in Asia and the Pacific account for two-third of all the poor in the world. (read more)

Rural-urban context

Most of the poor in Asia and the Pacific live in rural areas. At the same time, a growing share of the population is living, and expected to live, in urban areas. The high rate of urbanization stresses the need for good urban management. It also raises questions about:

• The links between urban and rural areas; and
• Rural development polices in an urbanizing world. (read more)

Contact us at:

Poverty Reduction Section
United Nations ESCAP
Rajadamnern Nok Avenue
Bangkok 10200, Thailand

Tel. +66-2-288 1600
Fax. +66-2-288 1056
E-mail: escap-prs@un.org