Draft programme of action for the application of science and technology to development in the African region

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E!CN.14!ECO!160jAdd.1

i!CN.14!UNCSTDjAFREGj2!Add.1 27 August 1978

Original: ENGLISH

UNITED NATIONS

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

ZCONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA Executive Committee

Nineteenth meeting

Arusha, 23-25 October 1978

DRAFT PROGRAMME OF ACTION

FOR THE APPLICATION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO DEV],LOPMENT IN THE AFRICAN REGION

..,.,.1 ^{,~'I_! 1.,' _}

DRAFT PROGRAMME PF;.ACTI0:N

,." ^{"~ ~._.-}... •• . . ;. . __ J....

Preamble

Rec;;~zing"the world-wide urgent need to alleviate the disparities and inequities whioh exist between, the developed and the developing countries, , and hence the need to establish and implement the New Ihternational Economic

Order, '

Recogniii~g rurtherthat the African countri~s are particularly wide apart in the attainment of socio-economic development from the majority'df'"

the developing countries of the world,

Mindful of the fact that the most urgent call for action is from African countries that are, and have been, facing the survival-threatening problems' caused by prolonged ~tural disasters,

, Conscious of the critical and persistent problems in the very large

rural

or'subsistence sectors of countries within 'the African region,

" " Mindful of the obstacles which impede the effective utilization of science ari.d technology for Survival and development in the 'African countries and'hence of the need to eliminate these obstacles,

Conscious of the role of science and technology in helpin,g the African countries in general to red~ce the effects of technological dependency and approach technological self-reliance,

Recognizing the vital importance, therefore, of reaching a world

m~riton ihe Code of Conduct on Transfer of Technology,

•

agree-

'Rec02¥izing Dlrthet the importance of ' subregional and regional co-op~ta­

tiQn a~ a major instrument to achleve the ~'~ansionof domestic markets :to facilitate the use of modern technologies, eff~cient industrialization, better integration into the world econo~, and to give greater weight to the position of African countries i~ internatipnal relations,

Recalling the objectives of the United Nations Conference on 'SCience and Tecpnologyfor Development as outlined in ECOSOC resolution 2028 (LXI) and the

~neral ¥Jsem1\ly resolution31!1B4. and of the necessity of elilerging from the Conferen£ewith a world programme of action, .: " ,

Con~ideringthat the world programme of action, both in concept and in' practice, in order for it to be realistic, missi on-orient ed , purposeful and conducive'to,"the realization of'the objectives Set out withi'n at' me frame, 'Bhbuiain~olvethe participati~nof the entire world community'for action at

the national, subregional, regional, interregional and international levels, and particularly the participation of the developed countries, the United Nations'system and international organizations,

The African Regional Meeting on the United Nations Conference on SCience 'and Technology for Development hereby adopts the following Programme of Action

and calls on the united Nations, its appropriate agencies, and'the UNCSTD secretariat to implement the Programme of Action in co-operation with other international organizations.

.• Efcil'2.t~/ECO/11501

^{Add. i.}

E/(;1'/,14/UM,~'.JJI ~RLG!<:

Page 2

A. Institution buildin£ for the'effective utilization of science and technology for development

1. National level

,(if

^{'M!Jillg fifnl} politibal commitment' to theapplicatiori. ofsdence and t~chn,~10gy.f.oi develollment' and seeking the imPlementation of national policies

on the same; .

,(!0 .

Creation. or s~ren~neningof existing national structures for policy-

making

and

planning in science and technology; .

. - .' . -:l ' . ",

(c) Formulation of central national plans for scientific researcihand technolo.gipaldevelopment p,a;rallel to and concordant with the national plans

for economic. and, socfa'L devflJ.~pment;' ...

(g.)

Reinforcement of existing institutions of scl.entific research and' technclogy with regard to. their manpower and material resources in order to

enhance their R and D activities. and provide them With' the much-needed~organiza­

tional s t a b i l i t y ; ' .,' "

.(a) , Orientation

oi

^{a ,midor}

'pr~~o~tionof

the natioha'! scierl-Uf4cc:research efforts towards applied obj edives~hile maintaining an' appropri-ate balanoe' between applied research and basic research; . . .

..",

..'(t:) .Perpetuation of t";,, notion ofcomni:i:tment in 'the R and DoOmmuni.ty, through 'contractual arrangements, to perform its functions to the fullest ' ....

extent possible in the light of national p r i o r i ' t i e s ; ' " ' ' (g) Creation ofa.n informed public>'n 'a.cience and technology-matters, through intensified action for the popularization of Science 'and teohnology, b;ll'highligh:t;il1g.the role of. scienoe mu,s!l~s and science programmes in the media and infueing intereet in handicr;JIte e.r.d science models 'whilenialting their euppliesinexpensive).yavailable 'to 'as wi.de a sector of the popufat.ion as p o s s i b l e ; ' . . , . . .

(li) research

Commitment to the setting'up of statutes for policies on national cO··.'lci],s; ..

(1) Integrating' the Nle of' social sciencee arid the humani,tiee in the proceee of over-all developme~t, particularly for the prevention and treatment of the eocial ill-effects of new technologies; whiie working towards the

preservation.of the cultural identities of the nations of the region;

i

CiJ

Establishment or strengthening o( existing national science and technology information and documentation services, inoluding patentseI'vices,

through:' -" . . . , .... ,

.⁽~.

(i) Diesemi~ation'ofireeiy-. available

production sectors

and

^servicee; teChnolo~calinformptiont6 local

• I •; ' / " " " . ' '.!' .

(ii) Implementati~n^of and technology;

viable programmes for the popularization. o'£: aci ence

, .. ' .. .: ...". ;:J'....

~,'.

(i.~)

_., ,,"'J

11--'" - - - -....- - - - -

"',

(iii) C0-6peratlon with regional

8nd.

in1iernationa'ischemes for the establishment of a world network fer .'the exchange of science and

":,,, 1;echh610gy inron!lationl' ..

'..~.-.'\._- .. " . . .

EstabliB~t or strengtheningofeiisting bureauX of standardiza- 'tion and metrolugy. .. -,' . - '

(k)

,Cultural ~eavour to acquaint the: developed s~c~eties.with t4e

ci~li.zat1onand heritage!! ~f the African nationS~dthe ~?terttial of their contr.ib'Ution to hu~it y ; ' .. " , ' . ., ,,"

- .", . -. ' , . '.~'.

(1) Establishment of basic national 'sCientific and technological servioes such as standards, quality control, testing_{'., . .} and_{. . .}calibration,,'"." ) ' .'

2. "Regipnal level

".~."

-

'; 'el{!!).. Sustained support for the Afrioan ,Regional Centre for Teohnology;

.""'.",' :;-;T:

(!2.)

Organization of exohange programmes for soienti,sts and. technologists in the region;

,:(1 .

. ;. '(c:'s,) .'.Strengthening of the ties -between and among the ecientiets and

specialists in the African region, through unions and professional associations;

. ','-, (~) Convening of regional oonferences and seminars, and publishing, of soientifio and, informatiQnal periodicals on topics of· importance to the development of tlle ~egioJ1.;'..

"(J,) .

Establishme~t

of.

regi.Q~linstitu:t~?~~'

fo!:,.

Bp,y;m,9e'1l.

training and research1' particularly in· t&08e areas of· scientificres.ea:rCh .. and .. technological ,~vB'1oPDlentWhich ue specific'ally relevant to. the' priori ty'at-eu of the

African continent. This sh9uld be based wherever possible on m/Uirnum utiliza- tion o~·existingin8titut1ons'1n the region' andstrengthelling"them to be able '.to· serve at theregiQnal levei'ias an alternat;,ve to est~bli8hinga chain of

new ones;

(f) Establishment of subregional and,relil~';'~andtechnology inf~:n;tien-syetems,inelUding.thoselfhicharespeoit"igal:-ly' cencS1'1'led'~th' the disciplines related to the development isft-e&-'ot'· tbe region; ..

(s)

Eetablishment of r.egional centres of high education.

3•. ' Int'er!iitiona.l level' ,

.-

'j

:(~)., 'Developed countries:'"

i .•. :

(i) Prcvision of assistance in eXecuting the above programmes at both national and regional levels;

(ii) Intensification of the efforts of the developed countries to helP the developing oountries in solving their problems through. implementa- tion of' carefully designed and effecUveneed-eriented. projeots for

S/W.1,4/P;O/16fJ/#.dd.l E!CNJi4!WCS'rD!AFRFIJ/2

Page 4

fastly increasing productivity and improving services

;;.s

^cited

under (D) to (K) belo~; - - - _

(iii) Provision of material assistanoe and expertise to the countries of the African region in the organization and management of highly functional national science and technDlogy infrastructures and in the assessment of their performance;

(iv) Ac"ive participation 'in the efforts of the cc-mtries of the region to establish science and technology information and documentation systems of utmost utility, and also in the international efforts -to establish world-wide networks;

~) The United Nations system

(t ) Exerting a world-wide effort for approaching a state of unified

standards and measures by developing a world mechanism for monitoring advanced science achieveinents with the purpose of preventing their use in threatening world peace, humanity and civilization BJlYWhere in the w o r l d ; -

(ii) _Revision of the existing procedures for the implementation and follow- up of the recommendations of international conferences end-appraisal of their effeotiveness;

(iii) Over-all assessmeut of the output of the United Nations developmentli.l projects which have so far been implemented in Africa in order to benefit from the results in scheming new projeots;

(iv) Harmonization of the United Nations system of science-end_t~hnology

policies and activities and their co-ordination with those of other international organizations to realize the afore.-mentioned objectives;

(v) Establishment of new institutional arrangements and new forms of international co-operation in the over-all field of the application of science and technology for development.

B. ^{trainin of}

echnologr to development

OKer for the - lication of -science and 1. National level

~) Improvement of science teaching in primary and second.ary schools by:

(i) Review of objectives, methods and approaches to science teaching and curricula_in concordance with national realities;

(ii) Development of relevant course material;

(iii) Development of inexpensive laboratory equipment;

(iv) Training of science teachers, school technicians4

,0.-1 ^{hl _ _}

E/CN·14/ECO/160!A~1

E!CN.14!lJRCSTD/AFmO!2

Page 5 . (b) Introduction of tecbnological education at both primary and secondary levels-by:

(i) Development of objectives and policies;

(ii) Development of appropriate. curriculum and ccur'ae material;·

(iii) Establishment of workshops for the teaching of technology;

(iv) Training of teachers and tecbnicians for technological educationf (£) Vigorous pursui t of the democratization of general educafi on at all levels;

(d) Improvement of the technological content of vocational training programmes;

(!.) Strengthening of applied science, and science-based programmes in existing universities;

(f) Review and re-design of university courses in engineering, medicine and environmental studies so as to make the training more relevant to national development objectives;

(g) Review of objectives and policies for universit7-based applied and pure research;

(h) Establishment and strengthening of institutions for the training of·crartsmen and technicians;

(lJ

Planning for national investment an science and technology education;

(l)

Determination of technological manpower needs in all sectors, and the mix. of professional manpower requirements;

(k)...., Fncouragement of more women for science and technology careers;

(1)

Inculcation in the general population of reading ,habits, especially in children. and the attitude of self-improvement through reading;

:~) Provision of opportunity for periodical self-improvement through attendance at refresher courses and workshops;

(ll) Organization and mobilization of science and engineering professional associations;

(.21

In-service and in-plant work-study or holiday job programmes with strong support from industry;

(~) Training of persons without formal qualifications but having scientific creativity;

(~) ArtiCUlated system of selection of candidates for programm~s of study· and training overseas for relevant and specific manpower needs at the local level;

&iCN.14/EC.~I.

^..

+~~Ad~.1

E/e~.14/UNC~/'AfREG/2 Page 6

(!.)' Evolution of the existing wages and inoenti ve system to depart from traditional patterns, and thereby provide satisfying material r~ward to

soientists and teohnologists;

(~) Maintain continuous tr&ining and provide refresher courses,at all levels.

\.',',.

2. Regional leve!.

-, (a) Exchange programmes for 'students andteaohers of science and teo!mology;

~) Training and fellowship programmes for Africa;

(£) Establishment of regional centres for training and provision of speoialist expertise in science and technology; '.'

"(~) Ericouragentei11i Of the mabili ty' of experts, exchange of exp~riences,

and the regulation of the process of migration of trained personnel'&hd . .. , elJ.treprenEurs within the region;

,"~.'.J _. . . : " "

C~) Exch6.flge programmes 'in the field of libraries.

3. International level

(ii) (iii) (iv) (v)

(vi)

~)

(i)

At the level of the developed countries

Provision of assistance in executing the, current and recommended programmes of action at both national and regional levels;'

Training and'fellowship programmes in science and technolngy;

Exchange programmes for' students, 'teachel'$ and research workers;

..,ngaging ind,ividuals frc. ..• the region in th,.. projects carried out in the developed countries for the, benefit of development in Africa;

r-

Revision of the existin'g systems and programmes of educa.ting· and training citizens of developingcoun~riesin the developed countries, to increase their effectiveness and to make them more 'relevant to the needs cf national develop~ent :in the developing countries;

Training of citizens of dEveloping countries in the developed

countries institutions of technological development and production;

plants on modern methodologies which help in promoting production and services ~d introducing new perceptions i~ the' countries of the region;

r ' .

The United Nations system

Qrganization:Q[.intensive tr~ning programmes and establishment of regional and subregional traiping oentres which are concerned with the fundamental development issues, inoluding advanced vooational

(it)

(iii) (iv)

produotion training to produoe different levels :of gradua~~s ,and trainers, and support of existing institutions; , ,

OV.er-all assessment oithe oriteria used in the selectipil of' inter- national experts with regard to their oapabilities, sui'tabi];~i#f'or their oommissions and remuneration, exerting efforts to ensU~e that ',a aubstantial:number,of oompetent experts and oonsultants fron the

Afrioan region would be seleoted for oommissions within the region;

In hiring local experts ceserve certain ,balance between the various African subregions;

Work towards the, establisb,ment in Africa of at l~ast'one United Nations sponsored university as a centre of excellence to se~ the entire regicn and,to aceept a substantial proportion of Af,z:ican

students who seek high levels of education in the develpped countries.

c.

DeveloEment, choice, transfer and adaEtation of technology in Africa 1., National level

(.!!:) Establishment of national centI'es to advise on the developmeM,' -

adaptation, transfer and'apprcpriate choice of technology, and'to wperviee, and foUow-up on the impJementation of technology related activities; ,

(!2.) Establishment'

~c:lor

strengthening cf national'

informatio~';~and

dooumentation services as' viable centres for the acquisition,and',;llissemination of ,information on the tec~ical, economic and legal aspeots of the choice,

transfer and development of technology; : •

(~) Formulation of~tionalpolicies and establishment and regulations governin~,'the impb:i't and use of technology;

of national laws

! : ;-,-,. '\

~) Promotion of the local capability i~ the fields of e~eering, design and consultanoy.servjces;

(~) Promotion of Rand D capabilities in local industrial concerns and..

the creatio . of effective linkages between research ard development institutes and the users of their results;

~) Orientation of a major proportion of the national scientific research I'esources towards applied objectives; ,

.

^'

(g) Study and implementation of measures to stem and reverse the brain- drainaewell as inappropriatedeplqymen't 'o:flocal high level manpQWer;

. ' . .,.1; . .,','" ,.,.;'. :.::.". :.- :

{)~J Developme~t ofmeasw.es td'!insure nliixiniiiiiti'ori of the effectiveness .-,and, ,utilization .of techm.cal, assistance;

(i) Participation of local research lind' 'development institutions in consultative and executive capacities in the various phases involved in the process of transfer of technology;

(i)

Setting up of registers of imported technologies classified by sectors and by short-, medium-, and long-term replacement potential,

, E/CN.14/F£Ojl60j

Add. I i!dH.14!lP-TGSTD/;.FREG/2 Page 8

2. Regional level

, (J0

Establishment and/or strengthening of regional and subregional centres fer technology and centreBCfo~ science and technology informatiOn and

documentation to: '",

(i) Provide guided leadership in the development, transfer and appropriate choice of technology;

" (ii) Act as forums for the exchange of information' and experiences wi thin the region;

(iii) Provide advisory and consultative services;

(iv) Serve as centres for the oo-ordination, harmonization and rationaliza- tion of'national and international programmes and efforts in the

field of science and technology;

(v:) -

Promote

~egioiia.l

scientific and technological

co":operation~

(b) Identification and strengthening of competent centres in the region to .a,ct-as oo-ordinators of effeetiv,e networks on important areas on science ancit,eolmology on ,the regional and/or subregional levels;

(£) Maintain a roster of engineering design and consultancy ssrvices as weHas data on '''l'tPer,tsar.d R and Dinsti,t,utions and facilitate the .dissemina- ,'hon of' such inf,oI:lllB.tion to users wi thiii_{. . . . '. . - ' . c',}.and _{' .}outside the region;' , ,_{. . '. _~1.,'}

t . " . . ' , ' . ..,.

(£) Encouragement of joint industrfal'v-en-tures among neighbouring countries; , , ,

(investments)

~~ticularlY

_.'

..

^'

~"j

^•

(~)

Establishment :of regional

tr~ining,centres

in areas o'f ,pJ.ticular interest to the region thrOUgh the upgradi.ng of existing oentres of ''excellence in particular fields;

and 1

(f) Establishment of an African regional centx'efor ind{,'~trial design uMtlfacturing;

(£i) !-'romotion of subregional and regional indigenous consultancy, and , contracting associations;

(h) Strengthening of the role of,ECA to co-ordinate and follcw-up on the implementation of the afore -mentioned ~ctivities;

,(1) Encouragement of transfer of appropria~et~chnologybetween' countries within the region through elimination of restrictions, adequate

informa~ionand documentation, and preferential treatment;

(j) Strengthening of scientific and technological co-operation through the establishment of common research projects.

"

-"

.,.,-.."---

3.

International level

(a) Adoption of a multi-lateral legally binding code of conduct on the transf;r of technology, with specific' provision for its implementation at the national, regional' and' international level~; .'. . . .

(!2.) ~stablishment of an Lnte...·national.. compenaecory fund - to which the developed countries should substantially contribute - to compensate Africa for the·sefious brain'movement from the region, and use these fUnd~:for the techr.ological t.r-anef'ormat.Lcn of the region' and for training purpoaea]:^c

(£) Establishment of a risk capital fund, especially in existing'inter-

natio~l

and

regional finance institutions, to finance technological develop- ment projeots in developing ~ountr1ea; .

(d) The decommercialization and depackaging of technology with a view to exp~dingthe supply of freely availabie technology; .'

(~) Establishment of a United Nations body, preferably the strellgthening of an existing onp, to co-ordinate the science and technology elements in the various existing United Nations organizations and to serve as a referral

service for governments; .

(f) 'International oL'ganizations and international finanOial'institutions should be direoted to encourage their maximum utilization of available manpower resources and consultancy organizations in the region;

(E)

Provision of technical expertise and material support which would enable the countries in the.region to produoe capital goods which relate to basic development requirements;

(h)

Provision of practical assistance ~o the developing countries'in matters relating to the transfer of technology through the establishment of a world centre, with affiliated technological information expertise. bank';

which would participate in the negotiation processes and the·subsequent"follow- ,up and ev~,uation.of projects.

Action by developed countries

Special treatment should be given to meeting the technological needs of the African countries aiming at their technological transformation arid the reduction of their technological dependence through the adoption of the follOWing measures by the developed countries:

(~) 'Provisions of assistance in the development of'the scientific and technological infrastructure in Africa by giving effective support to ilistitu- tion building and ^trainin~ of manpower;

(!2.) Assist in the development of the scientific and technological irifrastructure in Af'ricaby giving effective' support to institution building and training of manpower;

(c) Increasing technical infcrmation availability through accelerated de-classification cf non-military information currently ccnsidered proprietary to security or company interests;

'(~) The entire' sp~ctrum of problems ,invplving, industrial p~operty system arid technology transfer, i11 ,luding the, ail-vant- gee of transferring vertically integrated technology;

'(~) a~irecticn

^of

a:~ubstantial,~~~.of a

and D resources'to, 'tackle the specific technological problems of the African continent. Such efforts shbuld be problem" ,and action-orientedimd~hculd be' located in the cbntinent to utilize'and bolster its scientific and tecrunological resources and

cil-pabili ties;

. . . y • ' , ' .

developed

(r)

Engaging personnel from Africa in the, p~ojects c~ried out world for the benefit and/or for implementation in Africa;

in the (£;) Facilita:t,ion of the utilization of transferred technology in such, a manner as to assist the African countries in attaining their trade,and cieve,lopment obj ec;l'j;iv,es; . :,'l'

. ' . .:. . ' C ' , '

' 0 , . , :

(n):

Control c'v~~ the practices of tra.n~nationalCorporationsin developing

cbuntl-re's of the region;

,_.re~9n~,(i):

Provision,,?f financ;le for R and D c;l~operative ac;ltivities in the

Action by the United Nations system

; )~,',. J .•

1.: Establishment of an effeotive world +^{, 0}ohnological information network to enhance the productive capabilities of develfping Lcountri

es,

'including 'a

revision of industrial property laws and regulations particularly those dealing ,with patentS' and trademarks;'

2. Adopt'con of'a'world"tntegrated prog1'amJDe for the, development of appro- priate and intermediate technologies 'to' improve 'the quality of life and improve the productive capabilities of the rural areas in the 'developing countries;

3. Harmonization of the the United Nations system tional organizationS', and 'technologicalp6licy;

.

^{' ..'}

S'cience and technology policieS and activitieS' of_{.. ' J ' . ) ' . ,} and their c~ordinatt¢nwtththose of other interna- provision o~.~idelineson ,general scientific and

r

4.

Establishment of allleoha,nisin:f,or

an

effective continued dialogue

an4

consultation between developed and'developing countries in issues pertaining to science and tec:hnololl;y. ¥\ci to "t,He .que,stion, of. the adaptati,on, development and trarisfer of' tEjchnology,inpart:Lcular,;_{. ' ' . ' . . ,. . . , , ' .}

5.

The United Nations system shouid'h~lpAfrica in particular in:

(~)

Building-up

'the;~~cel;lS¥.7,iI!f;'<M:t,ructure

for the effective applica- ticn of science and technolcgy; -

(£) Control and/or regulate the restrictive practices by transnational corporations in connexion with their operations in the region;,

(2) treatment

Effectively sUPP",:,~,,-t~e region in i tseffort to obtain, pref,erential in the field of 'the effective choice and transfer of teclino:J:tigy;

(£) P,~E\B::,for th~ honouri.ng o, comIni tments and ¹ _solutions, adopt I'd at the international level on lssues pertainlng 'to science and technoiogy;,

(e) Strengthen the role of ECA in terms of struoture and resouroes in order to improve its capability in the provision of as,sistance and 'S'Upport in science and technologyo

D. ^Food~~d igriculture 1. Jiational If-v'el

(a) Formulation of national

technology 'in agricultUre for ~he policies for the utilization of science and social' and economic welfare' of the PBople;

(b) Formulation of a strategy for rural development based on, among others~ the development of agriculture and agro-based industries;_{. ,.}

'

(c) Utilization of science and technology for improving productiqn of food in quality, quantity and diversity;

(g.)

Provision in the agricultural

of gainful sector.

/

and productive employment, especially ,for women, (e) Pr-oducti.on of cash cr-ops in order to improve th'e Lnoorse of 'wal households; and export and import-substitution crops for 'foreign 'exchange earnings and savings;

: !'.:: . ' , , ' .

, , (0

Iricrease"'inthe knowl edge of the environment; inoluding weather

patterns and the assimilation of processes and phenomena that are of importance to the .'deve_Jpmentof"'a.griculture, "tld orient r'esearcL towards new technological fields usually fundamentally ba oLoga.ca.l means in":improvi'ng soil fertility and the protection of vegetation;

(g) Inventory of resources such as climate, soils, vegetation, and surface and underground water in order to determine the land capability and the best agr~cultural activities in relation to the environmental capacity;

(h) Improvement of distribution and marketing facilities for agricultural products;

(1)

Development and application of suitable technologies in order to bring arid; s'emi-arudand swampy' lands into production;

(i) ;'Development of' technologies that permit optimum utilization.of the

limit~dwater resources for irrigation;

, "

(~) Development of technologies that are commensurate with land'use intensification for rainfed agriculture in the over-populated areas;

(I) , EstabHshment B.rid/or strengthening of Rand D institutions to improve local ;;:griculture; , " "

'(m) Establishment of'cr-op :improvement programmes through plant '(lreeding,

croj'huebandry andcrojl protection; , . ,

(a) product;

EXploration' for lfuitable plants for food' and industrial

;.i _'...,.-.:-

' " , "

(0) Development of pre and post harvest,techilOlogiesto minimize losses in agricultural products, partictrlarly'grains;

(~) Implementations of the food and agriculture related recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Desertification at the national level;

" ,

~) Adaptation, development and production of agriCUltural tools and machinery for different purposes and conditions;

,:<!:.)

"lWsearch on

and,

development of Ii

v~stock

farming, animal nUtrition techniques, animal diseases and the produch~h of drugeand: vacoines to ' control them; ,

(~) ^{Study of} n~~ompsticated^antmals ~~ potential food sources;

(i)

^Research i~ ;gromet~orologyparticul~lyin regions frequently affected by drought and other weather hazards;

'(!:!) 'Developmerit of fisheries"'including preservation of products;:

,'~(i!!) .. Development o~ fo,restryt~,oughapproprili!Je programm~s"off0t;est

reso\IDlel\deve~oJllllBllt,andconse;rvation; ^{' c , : ' ' • , , - ' "}

(~) Establishment and/or strengthening of food techn61~B1 institutions;

and ;development, of ,new prC;>9,esseP. fopds from existing,,:gr,iculturll,lprc;>ductsi

) :

,,' ,,' (~) Provi,sion of education

oth~r workers fOr agr~cu~ture;

and training for eupezi,risc!'ry',:eitensi:6n and_,

'

. . .,:,.

Provision of adequate resources for the development 6fagriculture;

(z)

ti) :"~i

^table distribut~on^{. I -. • -}of land;^{" ',-,} :.,

: .'.:'-.

...

,

'_.J_ 1c·

for:livestockutilizing fortified Development of special foods

agriCUltural, and industrial wastes., 2. Regional level

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.,

^{, .",}

<:i

:~.; +~)J;::

Co-operation in water development projects for ,i~rigatiQn;

. ' . . . . ", . ',t .. , ' . :

for

(af Establishment' c;>fjubregional

bio~,l~~tOli>~ca+

^centres;

~)

(£.) Establishment or strengthening of subregional and regi6nal centres agronomic research;,

, "

(~) Establishment or strengthening of insect pest co~trpl centres, especially migratory insect pests;

.J!_', . '; .

(e) Establish!iient of centres or pr-ogrammes for the control of the major livestock diseases;

(f) Establishment of tsetse fly eradication programmes;" ""

(£;) Development of sui table agricultural tools for differerrt -purposes' and cOn~itions;

'(h)' 'Research on and development and utilization of improved,~~cultural techniques for both traditional and new crops;

(i)

Research on and develcpment and application of stock farming and animal-nutrition teohniques;

Creation of a germ-plasma bank;

Establishment cf centres for marine scienoe and teohnology;

(j) (1£)

(1) Establishment cf rese~rch centres for the genetio improvement of the 'main'tree' species;

(m) Establishment of education and training centres for supervisory, extension and other workers,in agricult~e.

3. International level

I:, \

\.:...-'

Assistance in implementing the above programmes at both natiol'lal and regional levels;

Development; offa~urable terms of trade particularly in ^~elation to the prices of primary and processed agricultural products;

I _,'

, -

,Developed countries

(ii)

Preferential treatment of Afrioan countries with-regard to the ^sa~e and supply of oil, fertilizers and pesticides;

(iv) Preferential treatment on agricultural development for countries prone to frequent ,droughts and desertification;

(iii)

(v) Implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Desertification at the international level;

(vi) "Application' of science and technology in the region in a concerted effort to increase the indigenous production of food supplies and other items of basic human needs.

(b) United Nations system

(i) Financial and material assistance from WMO in the field of agriculture;

. 'Competerrt Uni't'eu Na'tions agencies should assist· African: coUftiiries in developing high yielding varieties and "advanced dgricultural ,.

techniques, establishing agro-industries, agro-metrological and

hydraulogical actiVities. ' . . .

E. Housinf and urban d.evelopment 1. National level

(~) Formulation of effective and reasonable urbanization and. habitation policies which will take into account high and. low density dwelling ~eas

'Withback-upsupport from science an<itechrioiogy through: "..

(i) (ii ) (iii) (iv)

The provision of urban and rural planning and settlement designs;

,, ^',

The development of improved traditional and new building materials based on local resources through research;

The development of suitable, inexpensive methods of construqtion;

" . " . • r

Establishment of National Building Stand.ards Bureau for the . standardization of building material an'd componehts with. regard

to dimensions, cc~position, quality, performance 'me~hods of manufacture and testing,.

. .^{, .. " ~.}. .

(E,) Provision of adequate utilttl:esjin particular wa'ter, sewerage and waste disposal systems;

(£) Encouragement for the formation of indigenous consUlting'organiza- tions to help to develop appropriate techniques in the area of deSign and construction and to promote the effective t!ansfer of technoiogies relevant to '_~~~:al ne~4s; '.I~U

(d) Promotion of the establishment of small-scale manufacturing units for the Pr9ducAion.of building· materials and components;

(~J Establishment and/or strengthening of research projects on local building materials.

2. Regional level

,

(!)

Strengthening of selected national, training centres for,personnel in tropical architecture, urban planning, building and construction technology

for regional trainillg; " . ,.

(E,) tiona for

Strengthening the research capabilities of these the development· of local bUilding' materials;

selected institu- (c) Subregional ana regional, arrangements for planning, design and construction of housing projects.

. ..:

'".

^_.

..

^{' .,.}

.. ..,.-..,,---

3.

International level

(~) Establishment of a oapi tal fund to finance the training of manpower in the technology qfurban development and housingj

(b) Establishment of financial support through scholarships f6~ the traini~g of .manpower in the areas of water resource development, waste disposal, urban planning and road construction;

(c) Strengthening of existing United urban and housing in the region.

F. Health and sanitaticn 1. National level

Nations ~gepcies.concerned with.• . . . f

(a) Contrcl cf transmissible diseases by: Yector control, diagnosis and tr;atment of diseases, and programmes of immunizationj

(b) Improvement of national health planning, implementation and evaluation of the-following:

(i)

Health education .of the public;

(ii)

Improvement of health infrastructure;

(Hl) Improvement of nutritional status and mate;ma.l and child care;

(iv) Research on drug safety and drug d~pendence;

(v) Safe and ethical programmes of family planning.

(£) Research on medioinal plants and on traditional·medicines;

. (£). Pre.tection of workers against professional diseases in agricultural and industrial enterprises;

(d) Development of,~he appropriate health technologyj (e) Training of health personnel;

2. Reglonal level (art

drugsj- (b) (£) thldsof

•••• L

Establishment of research centres for medicinal plants and traditional

-

Control of transmissible diseases at subregional and regional levels;

Assistance in the training of high level health personnel in the education and research.

\

I

1

, ,

^'

I

~

paramed.icai personnel;

Control of communicable and transmissible diseases;

3- International level (a)

(,e)

Training of medical and

,

.

^,

(~) organization of joint med.ical health research pr'ograrnm~s in

oo-operation with other regions p~ticularlywith countrie~having similar

, - " , . ' . . . . ' ,".

problems.

G. TrAnSpo~t and communioations 1. National level

(ii) (iii) (iv) (v)

Improvement and extension of road transport services tbro~:

Establishment of national transport institutes entrusted witb the economic 'and enltineering studies of the variou'sprojects;

Establishment of consultant bureaus for road planning and de~ign;

' " . •• L - "

Rational organization of road transport services;

Improvement of the organization of road maintenance by national enterprises;

Conat ruc'ta.on of service roads in the, rural areas and/or improving

existing ones"f'" ' , ,

Participationih the United Natic~.~ Transport Decade;

Strengthening of railway transport through:

(vi)

(,e)

(i) "~llI\lrovemeht'in the operational efficiency of existing rail ·routes;

(ii')' Adaptation Of methods to achieve the linking of railWay sy-stems of different technical specifications; , ,

(iii) Development' of improved handling facilities at railway terminal points;

(iv) Improvement of maintenance services for railway equipment;,

(0) Development and improvement of inland waterways and mari time shipping;

(g) Improvement of efficiency of port operations;

h.ti ••r.:

I ^~~'JI.d _

% ^CN~ _ 'fJ?C!/~f~Ud-/l

,E

oli.!1iresm

^{ABREG 2}

' .• - , J - " . a •-,•

Page 17

(~) Improvement and development of air transport ,facilities, and 'servicesi'

! . .t.I

(h)

•

(f' ' DeVelopment and improvement of telecomifuinications networks and

services tiu'ough:

Development of technical criteria for the planning of natio~al, telecommunications networks andservi'ces;

(iii) Maintenance of teleciommunicati'o!l.s'tie'e£J6rks and equipment ;:-'

(iv) Improvement of telecommunications links with neighbouring African oountries;

(v) Development of the telecommunications and eleot'z:onic!" industry;' (g) Training of: personnel in' all areas and at aU levels of trrmsport

and communications.

2. Regional level

(~) Inauguration and ccmpletion of the trans-African road network;

(:E)

Development and improvement of subregional and regional tel"ebommunioa- tions networks and services;

(£) Development of methods to achieve the linking of railway systems of different technical specifications;

(d) Organization of subregional and regional conferences, seminars and symposia aimed at:

. ~" l •\"~

(i.) Transport and communications improvement, research and develdpment;

(ii)

. ,.,

Harmonization of administrative, customs ,and 'adoption of identical nomenclatu'res,

tion by all countries in the region

'-..\..'

and immigration formalities documsrrtat rnn ancj;:J.egisla- (~) Establishment of inter-African airlines and the improvement of air freight and air mail;

- '";. .r r . .'

(r)

Establishment of subregional and regional engineering aircraft maintenance services;

(g) lines; ,

Development of multinational inland waterway and maritime shipping

. , ' ,

(11), Strengthening, of>co-operation' between neighbouring African' countries through the harmonization of road signs and signals and axle load' limits;' so as to permit infrastructures and equipment to be built in future as to render intercountry" transi t as,' eaBy' 'as poasible. '

3. Intern'tional level

(~) Assistance by the Intern~tional Telecommunic~tionUnion for,the speedy installation of an all Afrioan teleoommunication'network;

(:2)

Assistance in implementing the above programmes at the national and regional levels.

H. Natural resouroes 1. National level

(a) Establishment of a basis for taking inVentories ,and for development, planni;g and 'management, of the natUr~l res~ee" of each African country;

(b) Conducting oomprehensive energy demand and supply surveYS in bqt,h urban and rural areas;

'(c) Conduct of national surveys 'of potential sources of energy, identifying:

Conventional and non-oonventional sources of energy available in each ,country and their present utilization;

(ii) The possibility of supplementary ~ lpply of energy throu~ advanoed technology;

. '

^'

(~) Intensification of efforts in development, adaptation and transfer of technologies for harnessing, d~reot utilization and oonversion of non- oonventiona: souroes of 'energy, such as geothermal, wind, solar and bio-fuels;

(~) (f) services

Development and ratio'nal 'utilizationofnatJiral resources;

Training of national personnel to perform the required specialized in the development of natural. resouroesj ^c,

(B;) Establishment of national dooumentation services to collect and disseminate information on natural resources.

r~• . : . . : •. . . . • .'~ •

2. Regional level

(a) GondX1oting subt-egiorial

and

regional surveys of potential energy.' supply and demand;

(£) Co-operation in the exploitation and development of large scale energy resouroes particularly among neighbouring countries;

_-I

".'#"1'1--1.1---

.

^,

(~)'Promotion of regi'6nil-lCo-operationinnatUral resources research,' particularly in the explo~~tionand u~ilization of ·the natutalresources 'bf the continent;

{.'

Promotion of trade in energy commodities;

(2,)

(d) Promotion of joint manufacture of large scale har~essing, direct utilization and conversion equipment and devices, where nati~.~market:for·

such e~ip'ment and devices is too small; .

•

(f) Development of research, education and technical training in the domain~pfnatural resourpes by the establishment of subregional and regional training insti tutions and research cEmtrlls '; .

(s)

Creation and promotion of African multinational companies and institutions for the exploration of mineral resources and the'u-Hi.i:Zit:l:on of energy and water resourpes;_{, .}

-.' ( .

(h) Establishment of sUbregional mineral resources development'centies;

(i)

Establishment of multinational centres for marine science and

technology; ...

(1)

Resort to the latest and advanced technologies such as remote sensing in. tile survey of natural re.s.ources, and in mapping•.

3~ International level (~)

national

Assistance' in' the implementing of the above programmes at the and regional levels;

(b) Promotion of international co-opera~10n in the ~ield of exploril-tion, development and utilization of the natural resources of the, contine~t!._.

I. Industrial base 1. National level

. (J!) .The establishment of effective linkages between national industrializa- tion strategies and science and technology policies and activities;

(£) Acceleration of the growth of industries based on the maximum.

feasible processing - particularly for export purposes and utilization ~f local raw materials and resources;

. ! 1

(c) The establishment, whenever feasible, of the higher stages of fndustrialization,e.g. intermediate and capital goods;

(~) Introduction of special measures to remove impediments facing industrial growth and provide the necessary infra-structure and supporting policie,B and institutional arrangements that are necessary for the accelera- tion

or

the industrialization process;

(e) Establishment of management andprod:u6tivity iiistitliti(jliil~ "

•

2. 'RetjoBallevel

' , . -to _ : ,.

(a) Adoption of a progressive industrializatioil13trategy for Af'ioica aiming-at sl'Jstantially increasing: :-rica' s share in t'le world industrial prociiJ.ati6n,reducing its dependence on imports or"manufactured goods and the oreation,of

a

solid industrial base"in Africa iilgenera.l;

(b) The co-ordination and harmonization of industrialization policies and pr~grammes in ,the region and the 'establishment of regional institutions for,rese1ll'ch and trainirig in the indl1strial field, and'the encouragement of effective networking of industrial-related activities and programmes.

International leid',' .:.

(a) Developed countries should relax barriers fading the entry,of manufactured goods from Africa and grant preferential treatment for African

manufacttire~8$; [

(b) ,Developed countries should assist African countries to establish intermediate and capital goode industries;

(c)' The African continent has the potential to utilize the ourrent, trend of looating some commodIty 'produotion centres in developing 'countries,

particularly where material and manpower resources are available and reasonably priced, the developed countries are invited to explore these _possibilities and use the facilities offered in the African region in this regard.

J. Rural technology

. :,' l. f ^{.1. .}i .

, .,

(~) Emphasis on training of rural artisans and other members of rural communities on operation, maintenance and repair of ac·icultul'al..and::Qtlier machinery used in their communities;

(b) Expansion of extension services provided to rural communities and increased part1cipation 'of the national Rand D pcr-sonnel, thero;in;"

(c) Provision of material and informational resources to enable the rural family to gain access toiniproved 'food and agricultural '-technolo~es;

. .".' -

(~) Investigation of intermediate, and'appropri'ate, 'technclogies"f'-or the development of life, diversification of production and increasing the earning capacity of rural communities, such as housing, 'smal'l'':'l1'c'ale pr6duCrtion,uni ts, limited processing of agricultural 'products 'and utiliza~ion'6fwastes 'of all kinds;

, ~, -

(e) -Greater emphasi'!3$hou:ld be placed' on intensive research-designed to examine the role of women, 'particularly in agriculture'arid the home with a view to introducing improved technologies to - assist in 'their work.

,,' '..-"1'1--""---

•

J

2. Regional level

(a)' Exchange of experiences and infcrmation at the regional level in reg'ird to the above-mentioned recommendations;

(k) Ol'g3Jlieati'~n:'of~li:changeprogrammes and semincrs at the regional level for exiansion service workers L~ the various cour•• ries of the region involved in 'the introduction of technological perceptions and methodologies: -, in the rural areas.

3. International level (~) Developed countries

" .::

.-'.-

---_

^....

Provision ,of assistance" primarily through R and D programmE1s and also through existing knowledge and know-how to enable the, countries of the African region to maximize the benefits drawn from rural teohnologies in the areas, outlined above;_,.

';' .' . ^,

(E,) United Nations system

" Organization of viable programmes specifically designed to help the African countries introduce and utilize'thetechnologies (as exemplified'ab~ve) which have the potential "to "ring about radical change in rural life and

output in ~rican,countries.

K. Drought and desertification, 1. At the national level

(~) Steadily increasing the awareness and action, of the inhabitants of the desert and sudano-sahelian areas for the centrol of drought and desertifica- tion;,

(E,) Est'l.blishment of national i!1stitutes for investigation and research on drought and desertification occur-i-enc es ;

...^~.

(g)

Pursuit of activities already undertaken for the' control 'of drought and desertification.

2. At.the," regional level

(~) Establishment and strengthening of. African regional 'agencies' for th'll control of drought and desertification;

(k)

Financial and material assistance to existing African'organizations (CILSS and the Sahel Institute) to help them achieve their goals;

(£) Implementation of the food and agriculturE1 related recommendations of 'tl!.e Un1ted· Nations Conference on, Desertification at' the 'nati¢nal level.. "

At the international level

(a) Implementation of recommendations of the .United Nations Conference on des';rtification; .

~) Assistance of.international organizationsand:organs and agencies of the United .Nations system and developed countries to countries. of.the _.

desert and SUdano-Sahelian belt for the control of drought and desertifica- tion.

L. Energy resources 1. National level

(a) Conduct comprehensive energy demand arid supply surveys in both urban ~d rural· areas;

..

•

•

(ii)

(:!2.) Conduct national surveys of potential sources of energy, identifying:

(t ) Conventional and non-conventional sources .of energy; _

The possibility-of Supplementary supply of energy through advanced

technologyi •

(s)

Intensification of efforts in development, adaptation and'transfer of technologies for harnessing, direct utilization and conversion of non- conventional sources of energy sueb as geothermal, wind, solar and bio-fus·lsi

<2,)

Intensification of efforts to develop and disseminate the use of.

locally manufactured efficient appliances as well as the use·of more·efficient energy conversion methodsi "

(~ Introduction of more intensive rural electrification and other rural energy supply schemes through the implementation of appropriate sooial,

economic .and teohnica,l meaSUl:'es;

(r)

Develop local design and manufacturing capacity of parts or whole equipment necessary for the production,.transmission, distribution and use of energy;

(&)

Undertake intensive research and experimental development (R and D) work as well as manpower training in all aspects of energy· appropriate to'the

sooio-~conomicconditions of oountries;

(h) Start immediately the preparation of a core of experts in the field of nuclear energy through a combined programme of training abroad and the acquisition at home of a small nuo,learl'eaqtor for research and training purposes;

(i), Introduce immediately·meas~es to oombat the harmful effects on"....

enviro~ent of traditional energy· use patterns.

l

,'" '''-''l'j-- - - - _

•

,

"

•

•

r

E/CN.14/ECO/l60/Add.l E/CN.14!IINCSm/AP'RED12

Page ~3

2. Regional level

(a) Subregional and regional surveys of potential energy supply and demand;

(£) C'-operation in the exploitation and development of large scale energy resources particularly among neighbouring countries;

(2) Promotion of trade in energy commodities;

~) Promotion of joint manufacture of large scale energy harnessing, direct utilization, conversion equipment and devices where national markets for such equipments and devices is small;

(e) Promotion of regional co-operation in energy resources research and traini';g.

3.

International level

Assistance in the implementation of the abcve Pl'ogrlUllllles both at national and regional level.