•
l .... rrrn :\ATlONS
ECO'OlJ(C AND SOCIAL COUNCiL
EC(]NOMIC COHI!ISSION FOR AFRICA
ThirdMe",tin<j of the Technical Preparatory ComJll.ittee
ot
the WholeTripoli,
Libyan
Arab Jamahiriya, 19-23 April 1982IlIii ::1
Distr, LIMITED E/ECA/'rPCW.3/10 21 April 1982
Original, ENGLISH/ FJlENCH
DRAFT REPORT
OF TIlE TECHNICAL PR<."""'PARATORY COHMITTEE OF TIlE WHOLE ON ITS TlUlID MEETING
I,
E/ECA/TPCW.3/10
A. ATTENDANCE AND ORGANIZATION OF WOJU(
1. The third meeting of the Technical Preparatory Committee of the Whole was held in Tripoli, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, from 19 to 24 April 1982. After the meeting was opened by Mr. David A.B. Minah (Sierra Leone), Chairman of the second meeting, formal opening addresses were delivered by the Under-Secretary, Secretariat of Planning of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and the Executive Secretary of the Economic commission for Africa
(see section C below) .
2. The meeting was ilttended by representatives of the following States members of the Co~dssion: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Chad, the Comoros,
the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, the Libyan Arab Jclm~~iriya~ ~~liJ Mauritania, Morocco, the Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda$ Sao 'rome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, the Uniteci Republ~c of Cameroon, the Upper Volta, Zaire, Zambia and Zil!t>abwe.
3. obse rve rs were present from the following States not members of the CollUllission; Argentina, Austria, Cze-chos Lovak.La , the Federal Republic of Germany, Fr~~ce, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Italy,
the Netherland,;, PoJ.and, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, the uniteu Kingdom, the Union of Sov:et SociQliM~ Republic, Democratic Yemen and Yugoslaviaa An observer for the Holy See was also present.
4. Representatives of the following United Nations bodies attended the meeting, United Nations Department of Technical Co-operation for
De.velQjJLle:ai"C.; 'U(,:i..:,:..e·~ \~(i"ci0ns Sail:::!:J.lcm Office, United. Nations Conference on Trbde anc, iJtV~~O?).T,.;:~)TC, Oni'~-.",,",J N.,.;~t.j_ons Industrial D<~velopmentOrgan:l.zation, Unil.:ed ·t'~'o:i.:.:O;-i~ ,~i...eve>..L1?iJ..2l1';';" ?'{<. g:carmne, World Food counctt , ![l'te.:...national
Labour vi:"902...:tn",,'::..c.io:t11 i:',,::).}"::' a..n.. It9:ciculture Organization of the United r~ations,
United Nat~O~iS ,,:;ouCQ,\:.ion.:;.l, Sclent.ific and Cultural organizati,on" International Civil Aviat.::'on Organization, I>.-orld Health Organization and International Trade Centre.
\.
E/EC1I/'1'PCW.3/10 Page 2
5. Observers were present from the follaring inteJ:9ClYernJll8ntal
Or9~i~ations) African Centre for Applied Research and Training in Social Development. African Institute for Higher Technical Training
and ReBearch. Afric.." Training and Research Centre in Administration
for
oe...
lopment. Association of African Trade p:comtion organh:lltions,organization of Afric.'l1l Unity lind Regional Institute for POpulation Studie••
6. The Coll'illlittee unllnitnously el$cted the following officers:
ChairllllUl'
First Vice-chairman, Second vice-Chairman:
Rapporteur:
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Guinea
ZeJIt>ia Zaire
7. It was <>lao ""dded to set up an open-ended drafting ~ittee
in which a.ll member States could puticipate for the consi<leration of draft resolutiac.& to be subudtted to the Conference of Minicters,
B. AGENDA
8. On 19 April 1962. the meeting adopted the following agenda, 1. Openin~
of
~he maeting2. Election ~f oificers
3. Adoption of tile agenda and organization of work
4. ResaJ.utiens and ciec1sions adopted by the General Assembly
t...C lLtI thl.r.:y-s~xthsession which are of concern t.o the Commi s s Lon
5. SurJey
or
socia-economic conditions in Africa, 19616. World Bark Report. on ACcelerated DevelopllEnt in StJb-Saharan Africa, An Agenda for Action. Joint crnrunents by ECA, ADB and QAU
7. A review of the developing international crisis and its implications for Africa
8.
·
,\E/ECJ\!TPCW.3/3 Page 3
Develop~~nt of hurr~ resources in Africa,
(!':I
Report and recommendations of the ECJI/OAU Joint.Conference of vice-Olancellors, Presidents &rid Rectors of African Universities on Higher Education in Africa and the Lagos Plan of Action
q"l
African Institute for Higher Technical Training andResearch: Progress Report
(~l The proposed African Institute for Future Studies:
Progress Report
(~) Industrial entrepreneurship in Africa: Report and recommendations of the Seminar of African businessmen on development of industrial entrepreneurial capabilities in Africa
9. Development of natural resources, Progress report
10. Report of the Intergovernmental CoJl1lllittee of Experts on Science and Technology Development
11. United Nations Transport and Communications Decade in Africa,
(!':) Progress report
~l Report of the technical consultative meetings
12. Proposals for the formulation and implementation of progrSllDll;! for the Industrial Development Decade for Africa
13. Implementation of the Regional Food Plan for Africa: Progress, problems and prospects
14. ECA-sponsored regional and subregional institutions:
(el
Biennial report 1980/81~l Programme of work and priorities, 1982-1983
(!:) Report and recommendations of the second Conference of the Olief Executives of ECA-sponsored Institutions
,
'\E/ECI\,/TPCW.3/3 Page 4
15. Report of the Joint Inspection unit on the cOllllllission
16. Report of che ?:CJI!UNDP evalU6tion teall'S on the MULPOCs
17. Report on full regionalization of regional training inatitutes for population studies in Africa
lB. Pan-African Documentation and Information System: Progress report 19. Report of subsiciiazy bodies of the Conference of Ministers:
(e) Report of the second meeting of the joint Conference of African Planners, statist~ciansand Demographers
(0) Report of the third reeting of the Africa Regional Co-ordinattnq COII'Jllittee for the Integration of WOJren in DevelopJrent
20. Report on. <:.he integra.ted rt:gional training, research and advisory progran:are for the consazvarLon and management of African wildlife
21. Implell'ent_ation ot the NQ~::.-obi recoIl1l\endations 01'/. a progrllll1jlle of technical co-operation among African countries
22. combat ins desertification :LT, Africa
23. Report of -cite «e'lional l:n-i:.ergoverrunental Meeting on Aging
24. United N6tions 'l'Ci:,SC -,,"lund for A.frican Developnent~ Progress report on pledge" and payreen ce bv member States and institutions, proj ect
27. ;;;Cl-. Silver J\,.Jilee Ann~ver5ary
28. Follow-up action on commissicn resolutions and decisions
29. Report of t.ne Conference of Directors of Social Science Institutes and policy makers on the Third United Nations Development Decade,
the MOnrovia Stl-ategy and the Lagos Plan of Action
E!ECA/TPCW.3/3 Page 5
30. Preliminary review of the work on proposed Code of Conduct for Transnational corporations
31. Other matters
32. Date and place of the next meeting
33. Consideration of report of the meeting together wi'th
recolllllV3ndations and draft proposals for consideration by the Conference of Ministers
34. Closure of the meeting.
C. ACCOUNT OF PROCEEDINGS
9. In his opening address, the Under-Secretary of the Secretariat of Planning of the socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Baid that he was convinced that the African continent, with the abundant natural resources, would only find its rightful place in the world when i t would have extricated itself from all forms of dependence through intra-African
co-operation. In that respect, the Socialist PeopleIs Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya had demonstrated its beliefs in practical terms, as was evident from a variety of bilateral agreements it had concluded with other African countries for the creatiorr of industrial and agricultural joint ventures.
10. As could be seen from the agenda, the meeting faced an enormous reeponsibili'Cy1 partic<l~,,,rly in view of the changing international climate and crucial d€ve10pi.~ntprob:"e.TISI among which the JOOst iIrportant were
food and ar:JTiculture. Air:i(;~n coun crIcs had to co-ordinate their efforts to diversify pr06uC\':ion and ".::hieve maximum self-sufficiency in food, "ince imports could. only ever be a palliative for the problem. In the field of industry, co-operation was required in order to set up industrial complexes to prevent Africa's T,atural resources from being exploited by monopolistic companies. Equally, productivity should be increased eo as to absorb the
labour force and in that regard, the experience of some countries in organizing training progra>nJtes caul d be llIOst useful.
I!;/ECA!TPCW.3/3 Page 6
11. Moreover, Africa's development plans should take account of the
realities on the continent, world trends and the implications of the North- South dialogue. With their balance-of-payments probleJIIS al'ld dependence on
~aw materials, African countries should spare no efforts to find a way out of the vicious eire I" in which they were now caught.
12. In conclusion, he paid tribute to the Executive Secretary of the Corranission for his efforts to prepare for the present meetin",.
13. The Executive Secretary of the Collllllission paid tribute to the leader :of the Septemer Revolution and the People of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
as a whole and thanked them for their hospitality and generosity in hosting the meeting.
, 14. In descriDing the bdcl;ground to the present meeting, he noted that unfavourable econom1c trends had intensified since the adoption of the Lagos iPlan of Action and the region's VUlnerability to external factors was also . increasing. At the same time, Africa's main trading partners and aid donors
continued to be pldgued by long-term difficulties, which made ItII1Ssive
transfers of resources unLi ke Iy , It was therefore clear that African countries had no choice Ou·C to intensify their efforts to implement the Lagos Plan of Action and thp Final Act of Lagos.
15. In view of the need to pay increasing attention to the role of natural resources in deve l.opraarrt a.,5 the need to expand and diversify local
product::'oi1, the rreedng '""" odore :It document E!ECJl./I'PCW. 3/20 «hich assessed pr-...igress a.-::-::,,~ie.ve\:'.: it.. layiTlS the foundations for the efficient exploration, eval'.la,tic.l1j E-K;,loit.ation a."i.6 deve ropment of natural res'O'.Jrces in the re9ion~
In the fl~ld oi ~~!UU,u.h ::'esc-":,IcesJ the report of the fi:r."st meet1n'~ of the
Conference of. l'tJ.ni5~e;cf; :cesp(msible for Human Resources Planning) De~lelopInent
and Utilization (E/ECA/CiYj.
8/-'i
highlighted the qua~1taU ve and quanti tati ve inadequacies of human resources development in Afri.ca, which were largely due to the lack of comprehensive policies and measures for the deveLopment;and optimal utilization of such resources.
(
E!ECA/l'PCW.3/3 Page 7
16. With regard to subregional econOlll.ie eo-operation the Treaty
establishing a Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa,
"hieb had been opened for signature lit the sUlllllit meeting in IUsaka in Dece.,er 1981, had now been signed by 11 states. The Central African States had now a150 Bet in ll1Otion the p:r:cr:eel5 for estaJolishing a wider basi. for eeonolllie co-operation in that subregion and i t was to be hoped that such co-operation arrangements would be developed in the other
aubregions so as to establish a veritable foundation for ""er-all economic
in~gration,which was a !!,;.~_~_~~ of the economic md political survival of ~frican countries.
n.
concerning the Multinational Proqr!\lllll\inq and Operational Centres of the Comm1ssion, both the report of the Joint Inspection Unit (E!ECA/CM.6/2) and the ECA!UtlDP evaluation missions to the four MULPOCs south of theSahara (E/ECA/CM.B/25 stressed the need to make the MULPOCs more operational
by
Th" ,----
1nter alia allocating DIOre I;esources, both human and financial, to thelll.--
_eting should help the MULPOCs to be in a position to discharge their
,
re~ponsU>i1ities for pro\llOting economic eo-operation and integration effectively.
18. With reqard to other intergovernmental organizations, of lolhich som 2S had been sponsored by ECA, the meeting had before it the report of the second meeting of Chief Executives of ECA sponsored regional IUld ..ub~·egian..l iNltituUons IE/ECA/CM.8/4). of particular 1Illportance were the proposals relating to uniV\!Blllity of meatlership, ProIIlpt payment of contributions and the establishment of a buffer fund frOID the institutiollS' meaqre resources to assist institutions facing temporary financial difficulties. The
establishment of the (\DId '<fall a practical delllOTl$tration of the principle o,f self-reliance. It was hoped that meDtJer state&' wuld earmark pledges for the buffer fund at the fourth Pledging Conference for the United Nations Trust FUIld for African Development.
19. Efforts to reach out to other actors in the development process had _de great st.rides with the re<:ent conference of Vioe-Chancellors!presidents/
Rectors of Institutions of ~.iqher rearning in Africa, which had defined the role of BUch institutions in the iJIillementation of the Lagos Plan of Action.
equally, at the syup0<5 iwn of African Chambers of COII1IIIerce, oJ::'9'anized jointly
E/ECA/TPCW.3/3 Page 8
by the Commission and the Association of African Trade Promotion Organizations, it had been agreed that an all-African federation of Chambers of Commerce
should be established. Similarly, the Seminar for AfricllJl Businessuen had underlined the importance of developing indigf,nous entrepreneurship. In
addition, ECA, in collaboration with CODESRIA and IDEP, had recently organized a conference on the role of social science research institutes in the
illlplementation of the Lagos Plan of Action.
20. However, around 90 per cent of the projects and programmes required for t;he iJrplementation of the Lagos Plan of Action had to be undertaken at the
,
"ational level and i t was for that reason that, in response to the request
~e
at the seventh meeting of the Conference of Ministers, the present ueeting!low had before it a revised version of the document entitled "Implementation
,
1f the Lagos Plan of Action: seee guidelines and reoollllleIldations for the
tidance of uentlers States" (E/CN.14/TPCW.II/18/Rev.2). The revision had been 4!scussed with the OAU secretariat and then submitted to the Joint Conference Jf African Planners, Statisticians and Demographers before being finalized.
21. It would appear that the fear that certain elements would try to clivert attention from the Lagos Plan of Action had been justified, for the
I
¥orld Bank had issued a report entitl"d "Accelerated Development in
$ub-Saharan Africa: An agenda for ac .Lon" which was opposed to the Lagos plan. However, since i t was clear that Africa preferred the Lagos Plan
,
to the Agenda for action, the meeting, on the basis of document (E/ECA/0I.8/l6)
I
trutch contained an assessment of the Agenda for action prepared jointly by the
I
tCA, OAU and ADB secretariats and which had already been submitted to the 38th seas ion • of the OAU Council of Ministers, had a duty to come out
"ith appropriate recollllllendations on the divergencies between the goals, objectives and characteristics of the World Bank report and those of the t.agos Plan of Action and the Final Act of Lagos. It WIIS to be hoped that the inevitable conclusion would be that for the African region there was no alternative to the Lagos texts.
I
E/ECA/TPCW .3/3 Paqe 9
22. Speaki.ng on behalf of all participants, the representative of the united Republic of Cameroon expressed his appreciation to the Leader of the Great Septellt>er Revolution and People of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for their warm hospitality and the excellent facilities for the present meeting.
23. The outgoing Chairman thanked memers of the committee for the oonfidence they had shown in him and his bureau and assured them that they would do all within their power to continue to work for the development of Africa.
24. The Chairman of the third meeting thanked participants for having elected him. He recalled the principles and objectives of the Lagos Plan of Action and stated that his oountry would spare no efforts to strive to secure a better life for the peoples of Africa in line with those principles
ana
based On the concept of freedom from external interference.~~~!~~!~~_~~_~~~t~~~~=_~~~E~~_~~_~~_~~E~!_~!~~!r_~!_!!!
~!~r:=!~_~~~~!~~(item 4)
25. A representative of the secretariat introduced document
E/ECA/CM.8/8 and Add.!. He stressed that the document was selective, and highlighted some of the resolutiolU!l of interest to mentler States and the ConmU.ss10n. The document was intended for information purposes only, as all JrelOOer States had been represented in the various committees of the General Asse.i6ly.
26. The rreeting- took n01:," of document E/ECA/CM.8/8.
E/ECA/'l'PCW. 3/3 Page 10
~~l_~!_~~~~~E_~~_~~£!~_~~~!!!~_~_~:!!E!_!2~£:!2~!
(item 5)
27. A representative of the secretariat introduced document
E/ECA/CM.8/17 containing the ~~!Y!r_2L~~!!~~_~~-!!~!:!!Ls.'~~!!:!!l~
an Africa, for 1980-1981. He recalled that the Exacutive SecretaIy had already highlighted some of the difficulties which African countries had continued to face during the preceding two yean. To make the document more readable the secretariat had decided for the first time to prodUce a condeNled SWllll1ary in a single volume, the individual country profiles would be written separately.
28. Referring to the slow-down in the general rate of growth of the African economies, he stated that neither the African oil-exporting countries nor the non-oil-exporting countries had fared well during the period under review. The output of the former had increased only by about 3 per cent, largely owing to a short-fall in demand for oil in the industrialized countries, while for the latter the oil bill remained a heavy burden on their economies, in many cases accounting for over 30 per cent of total illports. The non-oil-exporting countries had experienced no increase in over-all growth rate between 1980 and 1981 which was still around 4 per cent. Mention was also made of the continued rise in AfricaIs food illport bill which had increased from an estimated
$056 billion in 1980 to $US7 billion in 1981, reflecting in particular the extremely poor perfomance of the agricultural sector whose growth rate had been oniy about 1. 7 per cent in 1981. There was however possible cause for optimism in the near future regarding the prospects of a few countries where oil had recently been found.
29. The meeting took note of the ~~~!l and accepted it as a factual and succinct account of the socio-economic conditions in Africa,
which did not require discussion.
E/ECA/TPCW. 3/3 Page 11
ACf.e.lerated development in sub-Saharan Africa: An assesSlnent by the DAY. ECA and ApB secretariats (item 6)
30. In introducing document E/ECA/CM.8/16, a representative of the secretariat explained how the secretariats of ECA, OAU and ADB had come to be involved in producing a joint assessment of the World Bank report entitled "Accelerated Development in sub-Saharan Africa: An Agenda for Action". Aft~r the World Bank document had been released, a joint staff working grou" f the three secretariats had reviewed it and submitted preliminary ·/'._s to the African Governors of the World Bank. The latter had then requested the three secretariats to discuss the report in depth, which they had done at a meeting organized for the purpose.
31. The bspjr thrusc of the paper prepared by the three secretariats was that, a: .gh the World Bank document pretended to accept the Lagos Plan of Action, it in fact contradicted it. While in general its analysis of Africa's pr~.. ems was in agreement with the one which underlay the Lagos Plan of Action and the Final Act of Lagos, its policy prescriptions were obsolete o.nd went contrary to what African themselves had decided.
The Lagos Plan of Action had been adopted after a careful review by African leaders of the problems facing African economies over the past
20 years. which haa left 'chem convinced that a change of course was necessary.
The World B..n.~ r€o?ort took the traditional and outmoded view that the poor state of Afric~ economibs reflected their failure to come to grips with internal problems. I~ assert.ed that what Africa needed was to increase agricultural out,'ll'c, especially L. axport, to concentrate on small-
scale Lncusczy "no to prOVide inaucements for priv8te invest"",nt in general and forel.gn investn-\Cnt i~l particular. It further spoke against "over- extending" the pU:Ulic sector which it regarded as inefficient, and in favour of ~nternal Inoneta~y adjustments and other reforms intended to create a climate favourable to aid donors. In addition, the World Bank report cOJ'I'letely qlossea OveT the ~~j for collective self-reliance and self-sustainment which were the cornerstones of the Lagos Plan of Action and the "inal Act of Lagos, which enphasized the paraxrount inportance of self-sufficiency in food production, rapid industrialization, increased reliance on the domestic market, and the utilization of Africa's own resources ..
E/ECA/TPCW.3/3
Page 12 l
\32. The purpose of document E/ECA/CN.B/16 was to bring to the attention of member States the danger implicit in accepting the World Bank's Agenda for Action which in effect went far to undermine the letter and spirit of the Lagos Plan of Action.
33. The Chairman read to the Committee resolution 177/XXXVIII adopted by the Council of Ministers of the OAU at its 38th session in which the Council inter alia deplored the attempt by the World Bank to divide Africa,
.---
called on member States to intensify their efforts to implement the Lagos Plan of Action. and on the African Governors of the World Bank to adopt a common approach on the World Bank report in the light of the assessment by the three secretariats, the deliberations of the Conference of Ministers of ECA and the deliberations of the African Ministers of Finance.
34. In the discussion that followed, representatives congratulated the secretariats of OAU, ECA and ADB for the initiative they had taken in assessing the World Bank report in the light of the guiding principles and objectives of the Lagos Plan of Action. Participants generally felt that the report was politically motivated and as such was biased and subjective. It represented the very antithesis of the Lagos Plan of Action; which had been adopted by the African Heads of State and Government after a thorough
examination of socio-economic performance and an analysis of the long-term potentials and capabilities of the region and which therefore represented a strategy for the long-term development of Africa. Any prescription for development that was opposed to it must be deplored and rejected.
35. Many participants felt that the agriCUlture-based and export-oriented development strategy proposed in the World Bank report was retrogressive and represented an obsolete vision of Africa. The intention of the
advocates of such
~strategy, it was emphasized, could only be to perpetuate
the traditional role of Africa as a mere supplier of agriCUltural commodities
and raw materials to external markets over which they had no cOi;trol. It
was also stressed that to accept and implement such a strategy would be
suicidal as the adverse long-term trends of the international prices of
commodities of export interest to Africa and the consequent deterioration
in the region's terms of trade had amply demonstrated.
E/ECA/TPCW.3/3 Page 13
36. A number of representatives deplored the fact that the World Bank report covered only
sub~SaharanAfrica. that, it was felt, was a deliberate attempt to divide the region in the interest of outsiders. The Committee emphasized that Africa's problems were similar and
tharew. .need to consider
them in their totality and in an integrated manner. Many members also deplored the over-emphasis in the Bank report on internal domestic factors and the play down of external factors as the main causes of the present development problems of the region.
37. The Executive Secretary said that the debate had clearly revealed that the secretariats of cAU, ECA and ADB were closer to the thinking of African States than was the World Bank. Similarly, the lively discussion had shown that the various African ministers and agencies were speaking with one voice. He was of the opinion that the World Bank, Which was not only an aid donor but also an influential international development
organization,
~ldother aid agencies should not be allowed to distort priorities laid down by Africans themselves. In that connexion. he recalled that, even though African leaders had proclaimed the Regional
Food Plan for Africa, the United Nations Transport and Communications Decade for Africa and the Industrial Development Decade for Africa. some donors and agencies kept on saying that those programmes were not their priorities. It was the same attitude that they were adopting with respect to the Lagos Plan of Action. He was convinced that such donors and agencies needed to change their attitude and respect the wishes of African States.
38. In conclusion, the Chairman reiterated that the adoption of the Lagos Plan of Action had 1.en the culmination of a series of declarations and
convictions which reflected Africa's true interests. It >hould be remembered that Africa in 1982 differed from Africa in 1945. Africa was now mature and knew what it wanted. Unfortunately. the World Bank was still behaVing
asin
1945 when it pad been established. He also affiTmed that any attempt to
divide A rica on any basis, be it geographical, religions or ethnic, must
be rejected. Similarly, the belief of the WOrld Bank that Africa should
remain a
s\~plierof raw materials which created jobs for people in tho
developed countries should be rejected. Finally, he enjoined the Drafting
Comm'ctee on reso1utions to take into account all the salient points made
Quring the debate
~enconsidering the relevant resolution on the matter.
T
E/ECA/'l'PCW.3/3 Page 14
~..!~~!~!!_~:L!!.!~_~~~~l?~!.JS:_~!~!!!~!!~~!_~:!!!!!_and_!~_!!!I?!i~!io~
!~_~!:~~ (item 7)
39. A representative of the secretariat introduced doc:wrent
E/ECA/CM.8/1S entitled "A review of the developing international crisis and its implications for AfLica" and described two scenario!! of the futures one favourable, representing substantial progress in the implen>ntation of the Lagos Plan of Action, and the other depicting worsening conditions as compared with 1982 arising from failure to face up to the practical challenges of implellW;lnting the Lagos Plan of Action. He suggested that the African region was in danger of allowing a fixation with developed countries to illJ>"de the necessary mobilization of intra-African indigenous resources (intellectual, physical and moral;
manpower, raw materials; institutional and physical infrastructures;
research and development capabilities, etc.) for the implementation of the Plan and drew attention to a number of associated expectations which could not be described as justified by circumstances, by past experience or by a realistic view of the position and inclinations of groups of interest on the world stage.
40. The docllIllent examined the principal characteristics of the developing international crisis and its implication for Africa. It argued that the conventional north/south system of relationships could not, taken solely, offer a viable franework for the impleuentation of the Lagos Plan of Action.
It expressed the opinion that limits to growth in Africa might have
actually been se~ not by the developed countries or foreign transnational corporations but by African policies which, in effect, confined the
exploitation of growth potentialities to the production and export by each country of one or "Cwo ;:>nmary cornnodities. The document maintained that attempts to grapple with the various aspects of the challenge facin9 policy-makers in Africa cou.cd have meaning only if such attempts were
organized along the lines of the Lagos Plan of l<c:tion. That was why African countries should put more e~~hasis on the evaluation and effective exploitation of natural resources and raw materials, institution building. the development of science and technology for development, and the execution of progr~s
and projects concerning food and agriculture.
E/ECA/TPCW.3/3 Page 15
41. In the discussion that followed, one representative said that
the document was an excellent one and threw considerable light on Africa's problems. However, it would have been better if i t had contained concrete proposals showing how to rely on national planners rather than foreign experts. Another representative agreed that the document was a very good Sllll1lll/lry of the si tuation but wanted to know what solutions and recollillendations were to be put forward. He equally wanted to know whether the problems
were peculiar to Africa and, if not, how other continents which had faced them had solved them. Reference was also made to the scarcity of financial resources in many African countries. With regard to paragraph 37, it was noted that States
were
not against mUltinational institutions but that theyfaced financial constraints and hence it
was
necessary to rationalize those institutions. The view was expressed that the issue of global negotiations should also have been mentioned in the document. One representative made two recommendations in that regard, one concerning the relaunching of global negotiations and the other concerning the outright cancellation of external debt, particularly in respect of African least developed countries.42.
For information purposes, the representative of UNESCC announced that the points raised in paragr~h 33 of the document were all;eady the subject of a study on Africa's past image.43. In response to certain questions raised by participants. the representative of the secretariat said that the aim of the document was to sound a warning signal. The secretariat had the impression that little had been done in the past two years to iJnplement the Lagos Plan of Action.
In fact, ECA could do nothing until countries took the first step. Africa had the natural resources, manpower and markets it needed. What was
needed now was to inventory those resources and design development plans which took into account what resources there were. In reply to a question raised by one participant, he said that items 5 and 7 (H.ffered in that item 5 related to the economic situation prevailing in Africa whereas item 7 covered the international as well as the African situation. The international economy was at present in a very critical state and it was necessary to analyse how that situation could affect the African continent.
45. Global negotiations had not been mentioned in the document because the issue was before the General Assembly and consultations were being held.
!E/ECA/TPCW.3/3 Page 16
~~~_~~_=~~~!!~!:!~!!!!_~!_~_~_:!2!!!~_S:~!!~!!!..C!_~_Y!~~~~?:?:~!!!l
~!!!!~n~!_~~_~~~~_~!_!~=!!~~!~!-2!_!!2~!=_~~~~2_!2_~!=!S!_~~
__
~~~22!!_~!~_~!~~!f~~ (item B(all
46. A representative of the secretariat introduced document E/EClI/TPCW .3/7 and briefly recalled that the aims of the meeting wid'! had been held at
Addis Ababa in January 1982 under the joint auspices of ECll. and the Assoclation of African Universities in collaboration with OAll and UNESCO, were to make universities aware of the role of human resources in the ioplementation of the Lagos Plan of Action, to study ways of reorienting their progrlllllllles to contribute effectively to the implementat.ion of the Plan and hence to respond to the
socio-economic needs of African States. The recolllI1ll!ndations which had been adopted stressed the need to adapt curricula to the needs of the rural masses, to develop science progl:'a1I1ll'IeS and to establish co-operation I1IIlOng the African institutions of higher learning as well as the production of lIWluals and . co-operation with Governments. It had been decided that the Conference would , meet every three years to evaluate progress in that field.
47. In the discussion which followed, one participant referred to paragraph 28 (e) of the annex to the report relating to the recollll'l!ndation that countries should reServe 10 per cent
ot
"t""dent places for students froru other parts of Africa and recalle& that: ch.. reBources of African universities were often limited and that. the te~~~ fo~ accepting foreign students were generally laid do.m in bilateral agreements. Another participant said that if they were to be effective, any reform of university level prograJIlllEls should be accompanied by Ii reform of prima"}' and secondary education •. 48. The prob:;'"m of graduate unemployment and under-elIploylllellt, which often led to the "br a.i.n drain" was also raised and the possible desirability of limiting enroln""nl:: until ~,,"ch tiJne as gradu.t.... could be fully absorbed was mentiont;!,o."
49. The representative of UWr:SCO regretted that his Organization had not been Jl\Ore closely involved in the preparation and conduct of the meeting
although it had sent a representative to the conference.
50. Finally, the Executive Secretary supplied information about the ECA Fellowship Progranure which enabled students to continue their studies in the region or abroad.
E/ECA/TPCW .3/3 Page 17
~!:!=~_!~~!!!~!~_!~:_~!2~~:_!~=~!~!_!:~!~!~_~~_~~~~!:~~:
~~~~~~~~ (item 8(b))
51. In introducing document E/ECA/TP<:'w .3/5, the representative of the secretariat, gave the history of the Institute and indicated the difficulties encountered in establishing it, namely the insufficient number of mellber States and the inadequate financial resources. To date, only three States had paid their contributions. Nevertheless, despite the fact that legally speaking the Institute did not exist as it still had to achieve the minimum membership, i t had been possible to undertake certain activities including holding the meeting of the Goveming Council, the organization of two training workshops, and promotional missions, the si9J'ing of the headquarters agreement and the appointment of the Director-General.
52. In the discussion Which followed, participants stressed that political will on the part of States was required if the Institute was to function.
In reply to certain questions raised by participants, the representative of UNDP explained that the ra880ll why, his organization had cut the amount i t had initially earmarked for the Institute and later withdrawn its support was that i t had to respond to other requests from African countries. In any case, UNDP's contribution should only supplement the amounts contributed by African States.
53. Mention was made of the need for States to be better informed about the Institute's aims and programmes. One delegation stressed that the lack of support by mellber States was not because they did not want the
Institute but because they were handicapped by the serious adverse financial situation they were experiencing.
54. The Director-General of the Institute said that in the course of the sensitization missions in various countries it had appeared that one
reason why States were reticent about joining the Institute was that they did not fully understand the advantages they could really derive from it.
He explained how the Institute could help to preduce caders with specifically industrv-oriented skills.
55. It was agreed that the report on the difficulties facing the Institute should be referred to the meeting of Ministers of Education of UNESCO to be held in Zimbabwe in June 1982.
):JIECA/TPCW . 3/3
J~e
IB~~ge~~~~_~!=!~~_!~~~!~~~~_!~E_~~~~~_~~~~!~!l
__
~=~2=~~ !_!!E~~(item 8(c»
56. In introducing document E/ECA/TPCW. 3/2, the representative of the secretariat said that a feasibility study had already been carried out on the Institute and stressed how much importance had been attached to
the establishment of the Institute at a variety of African Intergovernmental meetings. The aim of the Institute was to study, evaluate and monitor, at the regional level, trends in the development problems facing the continent and provide appropriate early warning and guidance in policy formulation.
The Institute would cO-'ordinate and disseminate the work of similar institutions at the national level and would operate through a network of national, sub- regional and regional research institutions.
57. Some participants acknowledged that such an Institute might be useful but wondered whether it might not duplicate the work of similar institutions such as the !!~~y~!~g~_S:::::~U:l~:::~~~and planning institutes such as IDEP.
In view of the difficult financial period which some existing institutes were going through, several participants wondered whether i t might not be possible to n~rge the Institute with one which already existed. A number of participants informed the meeting that institutes of a similar type had been established in their countries.
58. The ExecutiVe Secretary recalled that African countries had recognized the need for such an Institute as long ago as 1976 al:- the meeting of the
Executive Conn"iotee of Ute cormnission and stressed how inportant and necessary the Institute was since its objectives would be different from those of existing planning institutes. Tf,e establishment of the Institute was also in pursuance of the recommenQa~ionsof the Lagos Plan of Action.
59. He further exp:...1ined 'th"t as the Instittltle would differ from existing ones, in that it would take the form of a co-ordinating body, it would require only a small core staff and coul d easily be financed from the proceeds of an
end""",,,,nt fund financed by one-time voluntary contributions from African Governments , organizations and private individuals.
60. In the light of the intervention of the Exeutive Secretary and after further consideration, the Committee agreed with the proposal to establish the Institute on the lines indicated in document E/ECA/TPCW.3/2.
E/ECA/TPCI~.3/3 Page 19
!~~~~~!~~_~~~~E~~~~~=~!e_!~_~~~!~~l
__
~e~~~~_~==~~~~~~!=~~~!_~~_~~~~_=!_~!E!~~_£~!~~~~~~
__
~~_~!=!~e~~~_~~_~~~~~~~~~~~:=E~=~=~E!!~_=~~!~!E!=~_~_~~:!~~ (item B(d»
61. A representative of the secretariat introduced the document entitled
"Report of the Seminar of African businessmen on developmeht of inaustrial entrepreneurial capabilities in Africa" (E/ECA/'I'Pe.w. 3/4). lie said that the seminar had been concerned with industrial entrepreneurial capabilities in Africa, constraints to their development and ways and means of promoting and strengthening them. He stressed the main ways of encouraging and
strengthening industrial management skills in Africa and of establishing closer relations among African countries so as to increase industrial production and intra-African trade.
62. In the discussions which followed, representati Yes referred in particular to the role of foreign investment which could be of benefit to Africa only if an adequate minilllUlll economic base existed. That meant that national industries had to be created on the basis of existing raw materials. The most important issue was how to overcome problems related to manpower and the transfer of teehnology which drained foreign exchange.
One participant advocated that care should be taken in the choice of foreign partners which did not necessarily have to be transnational corporations which were often the middlemen in the transfer. adaptation and development of technology and hence of industry. It was possible to have relations with the outside world without going through such firms.
63. A representative of the secretariat introduced the document entitled
"Development of natural resources: Progress report (E!ECA/CM.B/20). He stressed that the African continent had enormous natural resources which more often than not were unknown to the memer States. Yet if development and economic growth were to be accelerated, merner States had to make strong
". :orts to inventory their natural resources. To do so all available t .. c,,,lical tools had to be used, including cartography and reaote sensing techniques. He also stressed that a large part of Africa's natural resources was exploited by transnational corporations, contrary to Africa's interests.
I
~/ECA/TPCW.3/3 Page 20
64. He expressed disappointment at the fact that very few mellt>er States participated in the activities of the cartography and remoting ..ensing centres, particularly as regards payment of contributions. He infor1!Vi!d the meeting t..'lat ten out of 12 atlasses under preparation on a cartographic inventory for Africa would be published by about mid-1982, and that financial support from lI"ellber States was needed to complete work on the remaining two atla9a~.
65. With regard to agricUltural resources, the representative of the secretariat indicated that, with the exception of the North African subregion, the cultivable area far exceeded the area ectually under cultivation. There was considerable potential for livestock development which suffered from low productivity per head of cattle due to outdated practices and the prevalence of endemic diseases. Data relating to
fisheries were available 0>11y for the West African subregion where production was only One third of the potential resources. The continent's increasingly limited forest resources had to be properly managed and conserved.
66. With regard to the development of water resources, the representative of the secretariat urged member States to establish national water resources committees, c~nissions or councils to co-ordinate all their water related activities. There was also the need for memer S1oB.tes which have COlllDOn rivers and/or lakes to establish river/lake basin commissions, where they did not already exist, ior common uses. Member States were also urged to prepare and submit 'Co the secretariat, without further delay bankable water projects as well as their water development plans in the framework of the progr",nrne for the International Drinking Water and Sanitation Decade.
He said further uhat at~ention should be paid to agriculture irrigation by member £.tates WilD have SUCil j)Otentials"
67. He e'c xes eied "Cr,,. import",,'.: role that energy could play in the development of African ccun-cz-ies Ana particularly hydroelectric, solar and biomass energy in view of the need to conserve fossil fuels (hydrocarbons). Although the various forms of energy were far from being equally distributed among the various sUbregions, there was ""PIe rOOlTl for intra-African co-operation and trade in energy, even on a barter basis ..
E/ECA/TPCW.3/3 Page 21
68. In the discussion that followed, one participant stressed that document E/ECA/CM.8/20 did not distinguish between the deployment of lI.frican and non-African human resources in the exploitation of natural resources. Another participant noted the unfortunate situation which elldsted whereby Africa cOllp1ained of a lack of skilled human resources ..tli1st its cadres were going outside. More attention should have been paid to the causes of the brain drain with a view to finding a sO~D~ion
to the problem.
69. In reply to the observation, the Executive Secretary said that the document had been submitted to the Committee for informatj,en only to
help ~er States to evaluate .what progress they had made in illplementing the natural resources chapter of the Lagos Plan of Action. It would be
~ated regularly. With regard to the problem of the brain drain, a study was available on the North African subregion. ECA was also seeking funds to
illP1euent a scheme to persuade Africans working outside the region to return, although not necessarily to their country of origin.
70. Pina11y he appealed to memer States to accelerate the development of their human resources by training adequate manpower at all levels, particularly
at
technological level for the development of their naturel resources.~~~_~!_~~_~~~!2~Y~~~~!_~2~~~~_~!_~~~_~~!Z!_~~_~=!~~=~_~~
:!:'!=P.!2!~~~!~~::.!:(item 10)
71. A representative of the secretariat introduced the report and
recommendations of· the meeting of the Intergovernmental COll1lllittee Experts
on Science and Technology Development, held at Addis Ababa from 2 to 6 November 1981 (document E/ECAlTPCW. 3/3) .
72. The Intergovernmental committee, in reviewing its previous work had stressed the need for not only adequate African participation in meetings on science and technology matters but also for the development of a strong African voice at such fora especially when international issues were being discussed, it took note of the efforts made by meDt>er States, the ECA secretariat and other United Nations bodies in the iup1euentation of the science and technology chapter of the Lagos Plan of Action and of the financial support so far received as well as that expected from UNDP for science and technology projects and urged African Govemments to ensure tthe urgent release of extra funds for such projects from UNDP as well as from other financing sources.
r-~I,
.
,
i
Ef'ECA/rPCW.3/3 Pllge 22
?3. The Intergovernmental Committee had decided to establish three working groups on science and technology development. basic needs and industry. including energy and Transport and Communicationa resepctively, which. in accordance with Conference of Ministers resolution 385 (XV), were supposed to undertake an indepth review of the scientific and technical issues and problems facing the African region with a view to It'ecommending concrete solutions. The strategy of having the working groups consider BUell problems in detail had been adopted because i t would not be possible for the Intergovernmental CoDllll1ttee itself to do so at its ordinary meetings where there was little time for working sessions.
Ethiopia had been designated the convenor of group I. Togo of group II and the United Republic of Tanzania of group III. However, up to the time of reporting, no country had responded to the appeals by the ECA secretariat to implement the decisions of the Integovernmental COlllllittee regarding the establ1stut..nt of the Working Groups. In that connexion he called on
participants to urge their Governments to do so. He requested participants to take note of the repor" and endorse it for transmission to the Conference of Ministers.
74. One participant said that the recommendations and resolutions contained in document E/ECA,!TPCW.3/3 should be studied IllOre thoroughly before the COllUllittee approved the". However, i t was pointed out that they would automatically be submitted to the drafting committee on resolutions. Another ;>a.rticipant asked what action had been taken on the Vienna Programme of Action on Science and Technology for Development and particularly about the question of the Fund for Science and Technology.
With respect to the Fund, t,;o,e Executive Secretary infonned the ColllJllittee that. in fact at its t,;.irty-sixth session. the General Assembly had been
unable to reach a consensus on the question of the permanent Fund. Nevertheless.
Africa had be~n ~:~ocated 33 per cent of the actual resources of the Interim Fund.
E/EClII'tFCW.3/3 Page 23
gnited Nations Transport and C01lllllUnications Decade in Af.ri.£!.!
'a) ProqrElS13 report~ (b):ileport of the tecbnical consultatiY!l _etiooll (itelll 11)
75. A representative of the secretariat intl'Jduced doo\lDleJlt E/ECA/0I.B/7 on act&oD undertal<en ",ithin the framewon of the first ph ....e of the
Transport and COD1DUIlioations Deoade in pursWlnce of Conferenoe of Ministers resolution 422 (XVI). He noted that 40 per cent of the proqrarnme of the first ph....e was either being ill1pl_nted or had been iJlplemented llIld SUSS.19B JDillion had been mobilized, of which 70 per C>!nt had come froo the African countries thBlllSslves. He described the positive autoc:me of the teohnical consult:ative meeUngS whare countries had had an opportunity to inforlll and SE!n!!Iitize donom about the Decade progr_s, (a) the Lome _eting on roads, air transport, telecoJlllllunications and broadc<lSting for th.. ECOWAS eoun triesI (bl the ouagadougou _eting on raih.aysI and (c) the Yaounde llI!eting On roads and river transport for the Central African countries.
A lI'oeeting on ports was to be held in Abidjan in May 1982. As those IIlestings had proved useful, the secretariat intended to orqan1r.e !!lilllilar Ones for the countries of North Africa and the Indian oceen , ECA also intended to setup an interagency co-ordinating committee for the unifioation of the regional cOll1D1UIlioations network.
76. In the discussion which followed, partioipants stressed the illportanoe of caupai9Jls to sensiti"e donors to the fact that SOllIe elemente of the
p:rog-r_ were being implemented by States themselves and to the iJlJ>ortant role ECA had to play in that regard. Elllphasis was also placed on the need for a region_ide till'etable for proqraJllllll! implementation and for co-ordination in respect of the timing of the construction of the various national sections of the trana-Afrioan highwCiYS. It was also reoalled that the prograllllle for the fint phase included preparatory activities tor the second phase and partioularly assistance to States in the preparation of specific proj eots.
One participant also referred to the need to eliminate legal and administrative barriers to the IIOvement of goods and pezsone ,
E/ECA/I'PCW.3/3 Page 24
77. The observer for lCAO expressed concern about the inadequecy of facilities and aviation risks in Africa. He informed the meeting of the activities his organization had planned in Africa. In reply to a question, concerning
assistance for civilaviation projects, the observer for UNDP announced that 14 million had been allocated to projects relating to four civilaviation and pilot and mechanic training schools, two for English-speaking and two for French-speaking countries.
Assistance might also be granted to the former East African COll1IDllnity school if requested.
78. The observer for OAU drew attention to the need to followup the adoption in May 1980 of the International Convention on
Multimodal Transport. Two seminars were to be organized on that
subject, one for English-speaking and one for French-speaking countries.
Efforts were also re<ouired to ensure that, in accordance with various Conference of M~nisters, resolutions, there would be one single
regional satellite communications system.
79. In reply to the questions rais·ed in the discussion, the representative of the secretariat said that ECA was anxious
to co-ordinate activities and promote the exchange of information.
For the purpose of eliminating legal and adinistrative barriers, authorities had been setup for the Lagos-MoDi:lasa and cairo-Gaborone highways. Meet~ngs had recently been held for that purpose on the freedoms of the air and air tariffs but efforts sometimes met with
the opposition of cora.:nsrcial airlines. The timetable for the preparation of phase II of "cae Decade i,aa been approved at the second meeting of the Conference of African Ministers of Transport and was being respected.
E/ECA/TPCW.3/3 Page 25
PrQpOsals for the implementation of a Programme for the Industrial Development Decade in Africa (item l2)
80. In introducing this agenda item, the representative of the se,cretarb.t referred to five working docwrents, ECA/IDD.l/INRlWP.l, ECA/CMI.6/INR/WP.l, ECA/IDD.l/INR/WP.2, ECA/CMI.6/INR/WP.2,
ECA/IDD
.l/INR/WP/3.
EC1I/CMI. 6/INR/WP/3, ECA/IDD.l/INR/WP/ 4;ECA/CMI.6/INR/WP/4, and E/ECA/CM.B/2. He pointed out that the dOCWN!nts which had been prepared jointly by an ECA/OAU/UNIDO intersecretariat coanittee and examined by an intergovernmental coDlllittee of experts
w~e in line with General Assellilly resolution 35/66 (b) of December 1980 which proclaimed the 19 BOs. as the Industrial Development Decade for Africa and OAU resolution CM/RES .8BB (XXXVII) which called for
close collaboration among the three organizations for the iDp1ementation
ot
the Decade. The Conference of African Ministers of Industry had approved those documents.81. The first document (ECA/IDD.1/INR/liP/1) on the frllllll!WOrk for the preparation and inplementation of ths Decade ProqrlUlme attellJlted to Cleve10p some concepts and to provide a strategic framework which could . .sist member States in their formulation of integrated and self- sustained industrialization at the national, subregional and regional levels. The second one focused on key industrial sectors and subsectors and crystallized them into project ideas, taking into account both
institutional requirements and various sectoral and subsectoral inter- linkages. The third (ECA/IDD.I/INR/wp/3) contained proposals on
monitoring and reporting Programme implementation, and the fourth [ECA/IDD.I/INR/liP/4) suggested practical modalities for both short- ed long-term iq:>lementation of the Decade Programme, with particular .-phasis On measures to be taken at the national level. The oonclusions end recollllllendations of thoo:e documents were sUllllllArized in the relevant .ection of the last document [E/ECA/CM.B/2} which was the report of the sixth meeting of the Conference of Ministers of Industry. Be eDlphasized that the development of industry was a prerequisite for the achievement of the objective of self-reliant and self-sustaining development contained in the Lagos Plan of Action. In that ccnnexfon , attellpts had been made
E/ECA/TFCW.3/3 Page 26
to identify core industries, to relate final products to domestic raw materials and other resources, to identify linkages with agriculture and transport and to identify capacities and capabilities for
illplementation of industrial prograuunes. The ECA, UNIDO and OAU secretariats were, througn tne Joint Committee, currently undeztaking follow-up activities in respect of the preparatory phase (1982-1983) of the Decade which would De iinanced by UNDP and the next neeting of the Follow-up Committee on Industrialization of Africa would be held in Kigali, Rwanda, soma ti"~ during the year 1982.
82. The representatives of I.flUOO supported the presentatior. of the representative of the secretariat and acknowledged the close and
harmonious working relationship among the three secretariats. They drew attention to the meeting of United Nations agencies held in Vienna cn 23 March 1982 t.o iexchenqe views on ways and means of providing"more effective support to the African countries in the implementation of the Decade Programme. They underlined the illpQrtance of carrying out a
collprehensive review of the industrial structure including its cOllplenentarity with the other sectors of the economy. They also emphasized the need to develop
industrial and technological manpower, energy at reasonable cost and intra- African co-operation at the subregional and regional levels as well as to mobilize domestic and exteznal financial resources for the implenentation of the Decade.
83. Concerning finance, they welcomed the resolution adopted by the sixth meeti"9 of the Conf'ez'enoe of African Ministers of Industry in support of the actions by
u:n:ro
on the establishment of an International Industrial Devel.o,m'ent baM wnich could provide a significant contribution to the financi~~'of ~Le Decade Programme and u~ntioned L~e commitment ofmuoo
to increasi[i0 iiI:'':' ex...-.'i1..-~din9 the scope of its assistance to the Africar! count.zi es wit.al.;J. --:ne confines of its lim! ted resources~84. In the di6cus~~an d~~t followed, one participant stressed the need for African co~'tries to disseminate and share industrial and technological information among themselves and to atteupt to break the monopoly of
technological i ,for.natiQn possessed by the developed countries. He also underlined that, without co-operation and co-ordination at the subregional level, particularly in the industrial and financial fields... African
countries could never succeed in capitaliz:l.ng on opportunities for production or marketing cOllplementarities. He drew the attention of the meeting to the
E/ECAITPCW·3/3 Page 27
activities that his country was undertaking in promoting co-operation among the Maghreb member States. He also mentioned that his country was providing technical assistance and training to countries south of the SlIhara. He ellphasized the role that national and sub_ional industrial development banks could play in the iIIlplementation of the Decade Progrllll'llle.
85. The observer for UNESCO expressed his organization's readiness to
continue to co-operate with UNIDO, OAU and ECA in areas within its competence, and notably in research and training in the field of science and technology, which had special relevance for African industrialization.
86. The observer for OAU warned against the tendency of agencies to be complacent that their current activities were precisely those required by the Industrial Decade or the Lagos Plan of Action. They had to realize that a new departure, or at least a considerable reorientation of their traditional programmes, was called for.
87. In conclusion, the Executive Secretary said that it was incllDlbent on all concerned to do their utmost to ilnplement the Industrial Development Decade Programme. He paid gl""'ing tribute to the Executive Director of UNIDO who, he said, had been a driving force behind the Decade since the third General Conference of UNIDO and who continued to inspire the team spirit which characterized the collaboration among the UNIDO, ECA and OAU
secretariats.
Imlementation of the Regional Food Plan for Africa: Progress, probleDlS and prospects Citem 13)
88. A representative of the secretariat introduced the paper on the progress achieved, the probleJllS encountered, and the prospects in
implementing the Regional Food Plan for Africa (AFPLAN) (E/ECA/CM.8/l2).
Be appraised the meeting of the objectives and targets of AFPLAN, stressing that the major aim of the plan was to achieve food self-sufficiency by the end of the century through an increase in food production, reduction of food losses. illproved food security and increased intraregional trade.
89. He outlined the main problems accounting for stagnation of food
production in member States which included: Cal inadequate and inappropriate agricultural policy and research; Cbl the lack of appropriate incentive schemes to induce farmers to produce and market more; (c) manpOW'er shortage at the middle and high-levels: and Cd) the lack of funds.
E/ECA/TPCW.3/3 Page 28
90. He said that it was in fact possible to doub Le or even triple yields in Africa and increase livestock productivity if diseases and pests were eradicated. The fishery resources: of the continent were also tremendous but there was need for indiqenizing the ownership of fishing vessels. He called upon African countriB8 to take advantage of the new Exclusive Economic Zone (EEzl to control their own resources. In conclusion, in spite of the numerous chronic and interlocking problems facing tood and agriculture production in many African countries, the prospects were good, especially in view of the strong determination of the Governments and people of Africa to solve the problems themselves.
91. In the discussion that fo1101<ed i t was generally felt that the document presented an overly optimistic picture of the prospects for food ana agriculture in Africa. In addition, participants referred to a number of issues which were either missing or needed to be more fully ellflhasized.
92. on food problO!mil,a nurrober of representatives stressed the iIliportance of food education. It was ewphasi.ed that, in view of
increasing food ill'ports, theI'e was a need to be vigilant to ensure that the food habits and patterns of the population were not oriented towards the censumpcIon
at
exotic foods produced outside Africa. The problems of commercialization of products resulting from, !~~~£ ~!!~, the lack of adequate manet.ing networks were also underscored. One representative said that cnexe was a g,eat need to llIObilize the masses at the local level for food ;::>:reduction and gave an e"""Ple of how, in his country, the youth were bEdng IOObilized to that end. Another said that it would be useful "CO know now ",.,el by what nethods food Lcaaes were being reduced since some [nechoas rrl].S-~1.i: involve use of chemicals which could endanger the environment.93. Participants furtiler el!i'haslzed the fact ths.t agricultural expansion could be attained onLy if due attention was paid to agricultural researeh activity in terms of co-ordination and resources allocated to it. I t was also felt that given the large area of land and volume of soil that was being lost annually, it was necessary to have soil conservation and
reafforestation measuX"es. One representative pointed out that the problems
E/ECA/TPCW. 3/3
"age 29
"flecting agriculture were not only intemal, the lack of adequate ert'lrnal llSsistance to the agricultural sector vas critical. Most of the assistance to agriculture tended to be on a piecemeal bILSis end insufficient to a11010/
many Africen countries to make the desired struetural cheng", In Bgric,J:ture which involved changes in techniques of production, imports of farm implewents
and large amounts of fertilizers and odler chemical.. and est!\blishing
irx-igation schemes. He, therefore, ellgJhasi.ad the necessity for
an
integrated approach to assistance to agriculture.94. The representative of the Food and Agriculture organization info;rmed the meeting that the FAO prC><]ramme for Africa had been aligned with the objectives IIl1d policies of the Lagos Plan of Action. In vim. of tilt: report on the progress in the implementation of the Food Plan, there was no zoon for couplacency. In addition to the iqllementation meMures outlinE!<! in the report, there were other areas which were critical, nalllely, (a) soil and wllter conservation, (b) transport and cOlIllllUnicQtion ..yutaN especially rural f ...der roa""" (e) provision of agricultural farm inputs, and ld} participation of the IIIllSs~S in agricultural planning and implementation. In spite of the many problems, he hoped that the African oont1nent could make a breakthrough, given hard work.
95. The representative of the World Food Council expressed his concern at the depressing l'oo<! situation in Africa with its declining ~ ~lIpita food produetion and an increasing food gap. The foed picture was net in his view U briqht as the report had i;nplied. His organization was ca"rying out a study to evaluate what the varaous agencies were doing in reRpec·" of the food piCOblelll in Afl:"ica. The international cOllUlunity had not responded i'ldequately to help Africa to solve its food ?robl""",. He identified the fralJmentation of efforts and the dis aggregated approaches as the lIlllin probl.,,1!S and caned for II hlll:"d lind critical examination to ~he food proble~R in Africa and a ra,&.dication of efforts.
96. In concluding, the Executive Secretary of ECA said that the secretariat was very concerned about the seriousnes.. of the foed problem in Africa and
acknowledged the importance of food education. In that regard, the report under consideration had shown that there was a deClining trend in food _If-sufficiency IIlthough tihe J:;...te of decrease was not as fast as before.
The optimiSlil which had been expressed by the secretariat was based mainly
On the increased awareness of African countries reqarding food prcblems.
I E/ECA/TPCW. 3/3 Page 30
ECA-aportRQred regional and subregional iostitptiMS. Cal Biennial report 1980/Bl i (b) Progri!!l!!!!e of worlr; and priorities, 1982-1983;
(gl Report and reCQiI1IIlendatiol1S of the second COnference of alief Executives of ECA-Sponsored, !<egional and Subregional Institutians
(item 14)
97. A representative of the secretariat said that, in order to make ECA-sponsored institutions better known in higher African Government
circles and thereby obtain greater support for them from GoveDU!lents, Conference of Ministers resolution 409 (XVI) had directed the Executive secretary to submit to the Conference of Ministers biennially a consolidated
report on the activities and progr~s of work of the institutions
sponsored by the Commission, Documents E!ECA!TPCW.3!9 E!ECA!TPCW.3!8 had been prepared in response to that resolution. The Technical Preparatory Committee of the Whole was asked to note the two documents and to commend them to the Conference of Ministers.
98. He also introduced the report and recommendations of the second Conference of Chief Execm,ives of ECA-5ponsored Regional and Subregional Institutions (E/ECA/CM.B/4). Among the main issues discussed by the Chief Ell8cutiveswas a draft resolution for adoption by the Conference of Ministers urging African Governments which provided host facilities
to ECA-sponsored institutions to grant such institutions, which were
after all their own, no le~s favourable facilities, courtesies, immunities and privileges than those provided in the Convention on the Privileges and 11lIllIunities of the Un! ted Nations (see E/ECA/CM. 8/4, annex I).
the draft resoluti~~.
99. A second ,...ajor aeveiopmocnt was that, in re-examining previous proposals relating co l1'",,,,,",.:cship of, and the payment of contributions to, the institutions and the est<iolishment of a buffer fund to advance .meys to institutions in times of temporary financial difficulties, the Chief Executives had agreed, as a start, to establish a buffer fund into which the institutions themselves would make initial contributions. They hoped that such an example of collective self-reliance would encourage others to follow suit and African Governments to make pledges during the fourth Pledging Conference for the United Nations Trust Fund for African
