The side event will showcase the work of UN agencies (ESCAP, APT, ITU, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNV) and its partners (member States, research organizations, academia, private sector) in fostering partnerships with government and stakeholders at country level in using ICT tools for e-resilience and societal transformation in sectors which cover the work programmes of the UN agencies (e.g. early warning and disaster risk reduction, information superhighway, telecommunication, capacity building, education, volunteers, water and sanitation, etc.).

The Fifth Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development is scheduled to be held at the UN Secretariat between 28th March to 30th March 2018. H.E. Dr. Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, Minister for Interior and Minister of Planning and Development of Pakistan is expected to deliver the opening speech of APFSD. ESCAP convenes the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) on a yearly basis, as a unique regional platform for dialogue between ESCAP member states and other stakeholders on the implementation, follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.