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This publication provides guidance for national and local policymakers on the management of their assets in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It introduces the reader to the basic principles of managing physical assets — like equipment and machinery, public land, buildings, and infrastructure facilities — in the most cost-effective and sustainable manner. Providing a number of practical and field-tested tools, it aids local and central governments in assessing their asset management needs and developing comprehensive and proactive asset management frameworks, policies, and strategies. The publication also places special emphasis on far-sighted and effective actions that integrate financial, lifecycle, and demand aspects of asset management. Topical deep dives cover the implications of Covid-19 and climate change on asset management, measures that help build statistical and data capacity, as well as guidance on creating an enabling environment for local asset management at the national level. Short case studies, practical exercises, and references to reading materials throughout the book aim to further contextualize the content and engage the reader.

As an innovation policy tool, business incubators (BIs) have great potential to catalyse innovative entrepreneurship by providing incentives, support, connections, and an enabling environment for people who want to develop and try out new ideas. Experimenting with ideas to create value and solve problems more systematically is essential for sustainable development and is therefore high on the policy agenda among the transition economies of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA), i.e. Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. This handbook reflects upon the lessons learned from incubator practices around the world and in transition economies, providing examples of initiatives in the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan, including the respective roles of universities, government, and the private sector. The recommendations and tools here target national and local governments, universities, as well as those parties involved in the development and management of business incubators and similar institutions, such as pre-incubators, accelerators, and entrepreneurship support centres in the SPECA countries.