Building resilience to multiple shocks is one of the most urgent development challenges facing Asia and the Pacific. Economic crises and natural disasters are more frequent, and respect no boundaries. They devastate wide areas, have an impact on all sectors of economic activity, and endanger every community. They inflict deep and lasting damage on the poor, who are least capable of withstanding their onslaught.

Recognizing this as the increasingly serious "new normal" for the Asia-Pacific region, a record number of heads of state and government, senior ministers and regional policymakers will meet in Bangkok next week for the annual session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

One of their main topics of discussion will be to agree on actions to build the resilience of countries and people across the region, enabling them to better withstand, adapt to and recover from multiple shocks. As many economies have plunged further into turmoil, the impact on the people of the Asia-Pacific region has been in the form of rising food and fuel prices.