Distr.
GENERAL
e/cn.14/677
E/CN.14/TECO/37 '
.16 February 1977 . Original: ENGLISH
ECONOMIC :QCiIJnpSSiqN FOR AFRICA Technical Goinroittee of •Expe-rts:
Sixth meeting •-■-l.'■•'••';■ '"■"■ - Kinshasa, 16-19 February., .1977-
.. ECONOMIC
Thirteenth session" ■"■■■■ '-''■ '- - - 1 Fourth meeting of: the Conference ."
of' Ministers; ■ - '■'■ ' ' :' Kinshasa, 24 February - 3 March 1977
, .... ; .,,,"> r,.,;., .ECONOMIC■COMMISSION FORr AFRICA. -.-.... .■■■' . '"':.'-■ ■ . s -■■-; A t.\ \->::u''tv.-: RESOURCE-NEEDS' AND AVAILABILITIES': " ■ ■■■■■■:■.■■■"■•■' -' :-' ?■■■
■ ■ l[. '■L>?iV'.>!? ■■'■ !977r-l?79 ■ ' . ■> "'■.'■■ . .'-- ' '"'" ;."' ',?
As has been argued in earlier papers submitted to this meeting and in supple mentary, statements by officials, EC_A. expects to .become,,, in response to the.:. . ...
frequently expressed wishes of ^memper..Spates, an instrument'capable., of making. „_-!'..
positive, pratticai and concrete, contributions to the.;estabiishmerit of the new ,... . international economic order in the' region.' The emphasis;'for . example,--in ■the.'.'V ■',..
orientation of the Commission to practical and concrete issues, is illustrated by
Economic and Social Council resolution,2Q43(XXl),_. dealing Twith the strengthening^
of the regional .Commission and by the".'fact;.,-tha,t: ECA expects, in pursuance of^h^S;' ., resolution, to become the executing agency, for .U^IDP projects, \ '..■■,.
Accordingly, there are basically four major aspects of the evolution of"the Commission*^.programme of., work and related, activities viz: .- . ,;
(i) The revised; strategy, as laid./down:.i^. document .E/CN.l^ECo/^/Rey.J., \.;. ','i'.'
. .^ ..entitled ■"Reyised^fTamework of ip,rinciples,.fc?r .the impiemen-tat'lon o^,,ii J"nsH- iinterhat.iohai 'ecpnomic, order iri'.AfricaJ!;-.. . . r " .'"' , ■. V.""-'.,.
(ii) V'
ring^pf, the secretariat; .'.- ., ".■;'-.- ' ■ -^ -o;;; .,.-j^;
(iii) The reshaping of relations with other specialized agencies and with
African regional and. subregional bodiesj..and. ■ , . ; ... ,..,.
(iv) The restructuring of the various institutions, of ^theJ-Cqmmission.
These orientation measures are intended to^place the Commission and the.;;
secretariat. inTa better position to .assist member States, individually and. , collectively, to: ".'.'. . .. ", . ' ■ .- . . ,,
(i) Solve concrete problems on the ground-;
KM 77/14
Page 2 :.\
(ii) Create or*improve the necessary institutional machinery;
(iii)i. Design and,implement concrete projects: and
(iv) 'Review and reformulate policies, strategies and instruments.
In ordeit,.;to provide such services to member States, the Commission mustI
rapidly incre^e ita range of competence-. For example. the/;.secretariat is already obliged to examine such technical and sometimes complex subjects as the development
of the foundry industry; mining and transport equipment; national'policies for spare parts,' components and accessories; technology transfer? adaptation and development; human settlements;' remote sensing; the environment-; .data- banks;
transnational .corporations and the restructuring of domestic markets.
This thrust towards more operational field projects requires high-level tech nical expertise. As is well known., the cost of such expertise has been rising rapidly during the past four ye?.rsY Similarly- the cost of travel has also been going up. Although the* maximum use will be made of regular staff members, it will be appreciated that the Commission will not be-in a position to provide the full range of expertise required for the implementation of the current programme of work. As a result there has to be an increased dependence on consultants.
So far the secretariat has ,had. to rely, extensively on bila+.eral technical o operation arrangements with the-.governments of various advanced countries arid other donor agencies for the execution of a significant proportion of its programme . ..
activities.
Although the Commission would continue to enlist such co-Operation, it is essential that member States of the Commission should, in ■keeping with the principle of self-reliance, contribute substantially to the development efforts
of the region. , • .;-.-.. .
... .]■■-.
It is worth noting that the member States of the other regional economic commissions such;as_the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECIA), the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Economic Commission
for Western Asia (ECWA) have been contributing in no small measure to the development
activities of their respective regional economic commissions. It is therefore hoped that member States of ECA will also respond substantially to an appeal for similar support to their Commission within their means and circumstances so as to facilitate the effective implementation of its programme of work and priorities.
The constraints on the Commissions conventional budgetary resources are essentially due to inflationary factors and the fact-that alteration of resource availability and pattern within the United Nations system is not practicable at short notice* For example the regular budget is prepared biennially so that the resources available :from this squr?e..;to the Commission is already fixed for the ■ current year 1977* Added to this :.s the fact that there is a ceiling growth rate which budget proposals should not exceed. Needless to say that this ceiling in the context of the Commission's .resource requirements is extremely inadequate.
e/cn.14/677 : E/CN.14/TECO/37 '
Page 3
The Commission has been" very successful indeed in two major areas of collabora tion with UNDP, namely the UNBAT and the multinational projects. These two areas of collaboration represent a major institutional breakthrough in the relationship between the two organizations since it reflects a basic and necessary understanding of the mutual role of the organizations in the region.
For some time now, the member States of the Commission have clearly recognized ' that external assistance, even though properly organized and well directed can only ~ serve as a welcome catalyst, and that excessive dependence on external aid cannot be regarded as an effective substitute for that internal motivation which is a prerequisite for the transformation of the economic and social conditions still prevailing on the continent.
It is therefore obvious that if. the Commission is to live up ta,.;fche rational expectation of its:member States, some tangible support is called for to augment . . the present inadequate resources at the disposal of the Commission. In this ■ ■ regard some special consideration might be given to the proposal that member
States of the Commission should be approached by the Executive Secretary of the Commission with a view to enlisting their co-operation in providing financial assistance ^- within the limits that each State canafford to nake on a regular basis - in the form of'voluntary contributions.
The resource situation
Before consideration is given to the figures in annexes I to III,' some explana
tion may be helpful.
As pointed out earlier, the regular budget resource provision is allocated on a biennium basis. Accordingly,;our request for additional resources for the biennium
1978/79 under the regular budget has already been submitted for consideration. In
addition to other aspects, this request envisages an increase of 624 man-monthsfor the biennium 1978/79. However, in the light of past experience and the current
international economic situation, we can only expect to secure a small percentageof our request.
Fortunately, the regular budgetary resources of the secretariat have been considerably supplemented from extra-budgetary sources. There are basically three such sources, namely other United Nation bodies, governments and donor agencies.
Although the secretariat would continue to enlist such co-operation, it is fairly obvious that our resource requirement, in the light of the current orientation of the secretariat, would substantially exceed the availability of such supplementary
resources.
Against the above background, we can now consider the resource situation as
presented in annexes I to III.
As shown in annex III, the total resource requirement for 1977 is estimated at 2,725 man-months. Out of this total, the actual commitments from both the regular budget and other extra-budgetary sources amount: to 2,226 man-months.
This leaves a gap of 499 man-months which is currently estimated at $US 1,9 million.
Page 4
...The total requirement, for 1978 is estimated at 3,028 mart-months which re presents an increase of about 11 per cent over that of 1977- The actual
commitments remain more or less stable at 2,514 man—months resulting in a gap of 514 man-months which is estimated at &US 2 million. ■ ■ .' .. "■■
In 1979 the total requirement is estimated at 3,220 man-months indicating a growth of just about 6 per cent over that of 1978. As seen from the. table the actual .commitments-stand at 2^496 leaving a.gap of 724 currently estimated at
&US 2.8 million. ■ .. .■-■;. ' ' ■
It should be noted, that ,the gaps indicated above do' not include provision for the orientation measures and the additional responsibilities referred to elsewhere since the precise formulations have not been finalized for costing purposes.
However, a ten-tatiye .;e.stimate has indicated a minimum total gap of approximately : SUS 3 million, in 1977, &US 4-5 million in 1978 and &US 5.2 million in 1979- More definitive estimates are being worked out and would-"be available shortly.
It is therefore obvious that the Commission is faced with a critical resource situation in terms of the implementation:, of-its programme of-work and activities- over the 1977 to 1979 programme period and it is in this context that the secretariat would like to solicit the co-operation of member countries for the implementation of its current programme of work and activities. Member States would recall that during the past four to five years, a very important dimension in se;lf_-r.e.liance '.:-
has been promulgated on the initiative of the developing countries (including those. of.:the. African ■ region). This theme has also received the endorsement of the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 2974(XXVIl) adopted in
December 1972. It is therefore imperative that member States should demonstrate both the principle of self-reliance and universal participation by supporting as far as their means and circumstances permit, the development priorities of the
region. ... ■
1
•
ANNEX I
e/cn.14/677 E/CN.14/TECO/37
Annex I
ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS (GAP) REGULAR BUDGET
1978-1979
q i? r t n p Available
O J_j \j X v/ £[
A. SUPPORT SERVICES
1. Executive Direction and Management
(a) Executive Secretary's Office
(b) Policy and Programme Co-ordinatior
Office
(c) Economic Co-operation Office (d) Technical Assistance
Co-ordination and Operations Office
(e) Information Services
2. Administration and Conference Services Division
Sub-totals
(bodies)
B. SUBSTANTIVE DIVISIONS
1. Joint ECA/FAO Agriculture Division 2. Joint ECA/UNIDO Industry Division
3. International Tradeand Finance Division
4. Population Division
5- Social Development Division
6. Natural Resources Division
7- Public Administration;, Management and Manpower Division
8. Socio-economic Research and Planning
Division
9. Transportj Communications and Tourism Division
10. Statistics Division 11. Subregional Offices
Sub-total;
(bodies)
Total;
(bodies)
1976/77
84
1
72 72
48 24
420 720 60
96 192 180 24 132 168 108 156 84
144 60 1344 _112 2064
172
Additional Requirements
1978/79
24 36 12
36 24
96 228 19
. 48
84
24 2424 24 36 12 12 24
312 26 540 45
ANNEXII EXTRA-BUIGETARYRESOURCES-ACTUALCOMMITMENTS Man-months:1977-1979 SUBSTANTIVEDIVISIONS 1,JointECA/FAOAgriculture Division 2.JointECA/UNIDOIndustry- Division 3-InternationalTradeand FinanceDivision ^■PopulationDivision |>SocialDevelopmentDivision 6.NaturalResourcesDivision f.PublicAdministration, Man-CementandManpowerDivioioi 8,Socio-economicResearchand PlanningDivision ^iTransport,Communicationsand TourismDivision 0,StatisticsDivision
1977 UNXB
841 6O3 1O83 1202 245 125 245 so]
12P 588Bilateral 12 18 36 - 72 48 50 _ 12 258
1978 UNXB
1081 603 144 3 962 24 5 125 245
12^ 612Bilateral 12 6 36 72 12 60 12 210
1979 UMXB
10S1 6O3 1443 ^~962 125 245 125 24 5
612Bilateral 36 — 72 12 60 12 192
1977-1979 UNXB
3001 18O3 3963 3122 108J 1034 3^ 725 72^ 156^ 36^
1,812Bilateral 24 24 108 _ 216 72 180 36 660 FAO UiaD0andCTNC UNICEF
o Advisers
a;:in ADDITIOMALR1SOURCHR3D.UIR3MJNTS(GAP) 1977-1979 (ft&n-nonths) SubstantiveDivisions197719731379 Heruire-CommittedRequire-Committed'Require-Committad
raent 33 UITC3 73 GA? nient 33 UIJXB 73 GA? nent 33 UTIX3 X3 GAP
1.JointJiCA/FAOAjri- cultureDivision 2.Joint3CA/UfJID0Industry Hivision 3.InternationalTradeand FinanceDivision 4.PopulationDivision 5*SocialDevelopment Division 5.NaturalResources Division 7.PublicAdministration, ManagementandManpower Division J,Gocio-economicRessarch andPlanningDivision 9.^Transport,Communication: andTourismDivision 10.StatisticsDivision Totalman-months2725133044H410- 444 350 V-'S
192 130 24
50 103 120
1; _
174 35 12
453 504 153
r?~7'~. 204 43
-°
144 93124?-92144103- 512545327550- 35120504?-041443; 2/:.2044395- 29313272721731715J7272 23313224602225215324SO102,52lSS2450 20015612 21S12024 23315072
3?-200153122027515c 12. 13050413050
40 120 50 4229421512125435021>1212110 10 50259132241291259132241291 43 2534993023159251221051432201692512192724
3H
