s ...
}U.NITED 'NATIONS
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E'(ONOMIC
AND
SCCI.AL COUNCIL
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IJistr.
GEnERAL E/Clio14/103
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ECONOMIC COM:USSIO; FOR AlcRICA
T~ird Session
rrovisional agenda at.e. 13(b)
\.:~':ginalg EFGLISE
DeC811tralicatj.(.11 of the lJ~~te~ ~&tiOTI8 ~conomic 2ni Social Activi ties a.nll Stron{;·theniil;; ..f the 8.eL,iLYlal Zcnnomic. Cummis:ioY.s
1. 'The texts of re;;iolu.ti(::rlS 793 (ZJ'-:X) of the :jconomic bLd Social Counci L and 1518 (XV) of the General Asse~nrj12! have "been pl;,'tcc'0. beI'or-o the third session of the j~collomic CCI:",Lli.~sicn fer Africa il!_ dccur.en~ E/Cl~.. 14/91 and addendum.
2g In the first of these r-e so Luti c n s , the ~~conO!;-!ic and Social Coun ci L 1. Draws the attention of GovernmeLts to the advant&L;G of fully using the f'u c i.Li ties and services of tile Togional c con onri.c commis- sions in r ci a tion to development prc,S!'r..1:nmes b ei r.g undertaken by Oove.rrmcn t.e , lvhioh arc 01' COiTu~".0n il:tr.::.re;.:t to cour..tries in the respective reGion8~
2. Reguests tho Secretar-)---Gen8Tal a.Lno to c.raw , as full;y as po s si b Le , on tho s e rv i.co a of the .c·'~G'ion3.1 eoonoIiliG:'O!~lillis::-:ions,
e epe cd a.lLy in the planniY'i.[; -md e xe cu to.c», of programmes for advancing regional dovolopI:"!.ent ire tll:.? ocorioni c and 30ci;::~1 fiGlciG~
3. Rogues.-is tho SecrotarJ-G(:~18l~al -t.o en courag e and Ln ter.aif'y 00- operation of the regional o ocncn i.o commi a si oro thr01;~gh thoir se cr-e t.ur-i.ate ,
3.. 'I'hc General Assemblyj i f i its r-o so l.uti cu , ~8c;uGGtcd tho SecrGt2..r;/- Oerier-a.L, inter alia Ilta consult t ac rc::;..ic:'L1J e corio.a.ic ccr::rr;issions at thoil' fc.r th coru ng sessions and tho s:p8ciCiliz(j(~ agencies; and to TE3,f<)I't to tho 3conomic and Social Cr.un ci L ;.:..t it;::; t;_::.irt'y-s8COnd?!8s:,~ion :'LCd. tc. the General Assembly at its o i.x toon cn GC.iJiol1 on t.l.o stops taken Lr, .irnpLe.ncnt.at.ion of resolution 793 (XXX) o~ the ~cono~ic 3nd Social Council reG~rQing t~e
decentrali~ationof a cti.vi ti o r and 0lj'3ratiorls and tLG incrl..:asod utilization of the sorvicos of the rogional ocono~!ic commissions.11
4~ The prosent ncto io subrm.tt cd for tho J;:url"0SU e-f f aci Li t(:.ting tho con- sultations with the Economic COillmisGion for Africa ..
61-.346
Simil~r not~3 will be
fi'\'~i1",'1\,.t.\., • "1.L4/103 page 2
suomi tted to t'_~(: othc r rG,~,i0t12,1 comrri e s'i on s at their fort~:coT;:i;'lg SCSSiOl'lSo
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;',:' the ba.ei s of till? viGWS ~;fLic~1 ~>lill 0'8 cxpr-o a sod d.uri n.: the 8088ic:-'.3, tl;c S,)crctaI';y-General \vilJ. oubnrit to t:::'8 :;:;;oonomic ami Social Got~l--:.cil ,,,,_~~,~: to tho
~~axt BOGSlen of t-.c 0':;l1Gr~~1 As sombly t}:e r-epor-t r oquontod of him b:,,- Assombly l"Gsolutiln 1516 Cvr crIt,~'.,ti()ns 1T111 00 held in tho moant i me ~:\-ith the
':;0 Tho Socret2rs'-Genoral's V10l'lS in this nat tor wero developed in a series cf s t.e.t.enent s by the Under-Secretary for 1i:conomic and Social Affairs at the last se8s10::'1 of the General Asser.lbl,r!:< The followin£,' cxt.ract is of particular relcvanc8 to the :Economic Commissior.. for Africa~
"With regard to the role to be plafcd by tho Economic Commission for
Africa~ i t h~s always been the Secrotary-GenGral's int0ntion to take advantago of tho fact that this CommissioE came latc into boing snd CGuld. consequGntlJ bc n ef'a,t from tho experience of the oth.r- Comn.i s si onn i l l ordor to define its role from the out sot in such a WD,::{ as to make it as cf'f'c ctivo [1,2 po s si b.Lo, and in particular to oriaur-e trL~:;,ty evcn ill the first few yc arn , this z-olc is not L'imit od to that of' a ccntro for resoarch of a more or loss a cad erci c char aotc'r , 'The importar:cc of tho i:'Gc;'ional factor in economic c c-eopcr at i.on and e spo oi e.Ll.y with regard. t.c a s si s t.ance , both tochnical aud ±~inancial, is recoGnizod by ov ..:ryoce he r c , ancl in 30 far as it has been pos si ble to take any action, this has boci: .::,uiJ.od b:,r a concern to gi va the 2061;etariat of the :Jconomic Comra.ias ion for Africa ti~c maximum responsibilities compatible with its existing staff. ::'ut it h.~_~, 'be en possible to r,-;ako vsry considerablo progrOGC i~'l this di ro cti on dur:il-~b thc. pr o a ant year-, I chou.Ld like to give Darti Gular ncnti.ori to tho role entru a t.ed O:i the So cro tary-Gonoral to the ::2::::::Gcutivo Secret3.ry of tho Economic Comrni s si on for Afrie&. in tho r1anni"'1.5' of technical assistc.l1ce program::l8S and in saoking out projocts which could CC' financed by the Special Fund, Ver-y rc,cently, the :GxeclJtive Socretaryof the ]boncm1c Cormni.se Lcn , Mr. r''1okki .Abl'C1s, visited f i vo ~lest Ai·ri.c~n countries to di s cu s s initial prOe;rammGs of t-::;c:r~rJ.ic3.1 a s si s tnncc l'1it~l th.. ri : ; 3 p o n s i - o l o
i"':icistrios Lr. tl102.G GovernLwnts. It is na tur-aL'ly .,JUT L·-~~~.:.mticn to r-cpe at thiG experLmcnt as often as po aoi b Lo , La.kcwi sc , viith l'eearc1 to tI'ail1ing )rO[;:,amm08? we aY°tj relyinc illCrOc,GinGly on tho E.Y.:0CUt iV8 SOer-etar-y to ao Io at tht..- cand ul e.tc e and mako all the pr--::liLlinary arr&'ngQr;l~:::.;.tf.~ f'o r t~·(ii:.'J.inb· abr oad , There are a l s o a nurnbo r of projects of a rccic.nal charac tc r vrhl ch have boor:
.md will coriti nue t.c be o Labcr-a tc.d by the .concnn.c Conu.i se.i on for .A~.rica~
tuc se represent about 10 prr c ont of .il I :f'r0L;:!:'ammes ane:. i t Il,il:cht 'bG desi::'~,:lJ_'l(;
to i:ncrcasG thi s pe r c ent ag o0::
"Gcnc r a.lLy opoal....-:inC) 'tW regard. ti10 Econom.i o Comm.i o oi on for Africa as the f'oca.L poi.nt , or ccnt.r-o, 1~-hcr,j t.ho vari ous needs of th0 AfT_~can GOj"tiincnt in the matter of co-oporation dnd ~.;.s[:i:::',tF-t:r_C8 can find uzpropf.don, ..nd whc r c it is po s si b Le to considor ~~OTN to moct these nocds by calling en tJi'~ di r f cr cnt pa.e ce s of the nOvl vory divc r si f'a c d mech ani em of tho Uni.tod Nati:...nc nystem, 'I'o quote an exaz.p l.o , a confsT'JnoG 01' ~:::te,.tisticians vias held at tno very
;~ ,,1t:/1G3 page 3
bee-inning of the COIii.wission's 8xistencG in all endeavour to launch a five- year programme designed to ensure that the statistical services and docu-
~ents of different African countrios wuuld, ~~thin a relatively short
period, be raised to a certain level, regarded as possible and desirable, by calling on all the possiblo Cleans of multilateral or bilateral assistance available to thG Govc.r-nmcnt s cor.corned , a Ivav s wi thin a co-ordinated Plan set in motion by the Econumic Commission for Afric~. And I should add that
since technical assist:mco was merged ;,i th the activities of the Department of Economic and Sooial Affairs, we have infinite possibilities for docentrali- zing and placine on a r~,gi0nal basis those many technical assistance opera- tions which arc, if I may say so, of ~n intollectual rather than a purely logistic character."
6. In tho annex 1·;rill 'be found a e tutemcnt on the inotitutionlll framework governing United Nations oporations for tho promotion of economic and social development, as jre Ll. 2.S Lnf'c rna.:ti cn co n cc rn i.ng the measuros taken by the Secretary-Gol18ral wi thin that fra!lL>Tork for incroasillcs tho range and scope of the r-e sponsi bili.tie s Lai d upon tho ro:c'ion:ll 0ccnoruC commI s sions. I twill be noted that tho Sec r-e t.ar y-flone r-a.L hcs boon ta~.~ing car cf'uL account of the conclusions reachod by tho Council's Committoo on Programme Appraisals in its report tc tho thirtioth sossion of tho COunCil.!/
7. The Socretary-Goneri:Cl suggosts that tho precesses set in motion for the achievement cf a great r m8~sure of doc0ntrQli~ationof u~r. activity and for the strengtbGnin; of t.he rogi 0110.1 comni s si ons poi nt to the 08St lines of progress for the f'utur-o, As rogards t'r.c role of the rG,:-ional commissions in oporational activitios, the followinG troad oOnsideratiuDS would S80rn to be pa.r td cul ar-Ly r-e Lcv ant :
(1) I t is primaril,Y at the planning and programming stage that that role should bo developed. It should bo r3cognized that the rogicnal commis- sions have developed or will develop I"lita co untr Lo s \'iithirJ their region
relationship of a v8r~/ .i.ntd mu t.c character and that thoy will acquire a knowl- edge of loccl problems ~hich Headquartors could h~rdly matcho The Resident rteprGsentativGs of tho Technical Assistance TIoard Ghould~ more and more, draw 011 the resources of t;.10 rogional cccncnu c commissions for purposes of planning and prograuming and i t is ttl" intention of the SGcretary-General to call iLc:!.'Gasil'lt,l~y on the: ~.:::ecuti vo Sccroto.r~y and hi s staff fer programming tasks. 1l. combination of rocionG,l and .Icad.qua.rtc r-s actic-ll 1<111 eften produce
!! Five-year Porspectivu, 196C-1964. Consolidated rcport on thv appraisals of the scope, trend G.nu. costs of tho I1rogramrr:os of tho United Hations, ILO, FAO, UNESCC, iiEC, mIC and IllA in tho,conomic, eo ci c.I arid human rights fields (UnitGC', lTatic'ls pub l j onti c n , SdC3 NC!. 6S.IV.14).
E/cn.14/103
page
4
tho best r-o suLtc , For tll0i'G arc co r tr.Ln fiolds in uiich Duro knoulGdt:i3 and compoten co has 'be on dovclo~;,cd at }Ieadquartors f;.nd a.Lsc OOC2.USO }irotlciDs of
oven at tho planninL stagG. All tIlls indicBt::S that flGxi~ility is roquired, but it is f'o Lt that a significant12'- groator rolo than horotofore can be foro-
S00n for tl10 regional c conom.i.c cor,l;;-;i83ion3~
(2) TIle; socr(;te,riats of t:,iC r,~ r cna.L .,;CGY10[,1ic cC~_LJissiCE;J can al so, in many cases, ::;articipato in (,t~:Jr plv:~,8os of t.o cnnd cr.L o'scistc-xl.cco Ao..visin[;
on rocruitmc~lt of oz~ert8 and tho soloctioD of follows? and briofinG cf oxpo.r-t s , ar o cases in poa.nt , 1·,>...r-oovo r , authority for LmpLcrnerrt ati.c n of all
~~jhases of cortain yr cj c cts can fr;,-~quontly-DC: dulcgatod to t~18 Executive
~~"'rojocts but tho pro ccd ur-o can ;:;'lso aFPly to country pr-oj o ots , Hero again the d.ec'l e'i cn shr.uLd dopond 0::1 t~LJ i.u tur , of tJh." projects and. t~lC rosourcos ava i.Lab l e in OnO i:::,110,80 cr an o the;I' .
(3) Tllc:. quostiun as to llhoth:.-r in tllv l ies'l1t l,f c,n incrcS',sing 1'010 in
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ExocutiVG Socroturics. IE t.clis r:Js:p(;ct~ i t should only bo pointocl out that at :'~~0adqugrt~:r8 t.ho trcr~d has b8''':;[l t0w~-trc1. t~l\3 d ovc l oomcnt of uni ts coubi n Lng
felt nDCOSS~!.r for tIle ::si'l'ic icr;c :.';1' t>.8 I):::-(),--,.:te_;~lr.lGS ei ucc i t is 110\';, wicioly roc..:>gYJ.izE::Q that a oOl1.sid';)r:,,'.bl:; 2,.1'110'. nt i_~f rosearch directed to";\Tf',rd to chrri c a.L assistance is no cc s aar y , Th08V: c!",_r...nizE1tir : : n n l arid 2-6r.'dr,i8tro'tivQ problums involved. tr... t .0 o]!orati nell :~-r _t;l"'r,T'jfGCS of' the Uni.tcd l-ati(;l1s diffor so much from ca.ao to 02,80 thO,t no uni f'or-m i3cll.":'ti..n C8X: :'c att.ompt.cd for 'th cm,
8. Wit~:. thoso cur..sidcr8..ti DS in ni nd 0TJl t~;1 t~lC oxt,..;.;:~t p,jr::li ttod by the basic resolut:i. .ns , tll::; SGcl"'c;ta~~y-GenGrD.l is Lo oki n., f'o rwar d to cx};'loring f'ur-f.hcr- 112;YS lrhic~:J. would -;)C cond.uc i.vo t.c t.::-~c strcn-(;tl:cninc,' of tho I"3:=o-ional economic commi s si on s and th8ir constantly ii'"lcroasiLJ' pa.r-ti ci pati or. in o:pcro.ticnal prc~:;r8J:-Uj-'(;3o iI-J at tacr.o s (,;T0E.t iLlIlortancc- to tho ViOvlS vrhich tho ECOYl0L1.ic Coc::lisi.Jic,Yl fer Afric9.,~ tho o thc r rocicnal OCCi10Llic ccnrm aoi one and t::o ape ci a.Ld z od ai.;'CnCi08 rna;,/" "I·riS:l to cx)rGss in t~lis natt.o'r ,
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~/ON.14/10.
Annex:.
ANNI::X
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UTILI~tTIO~ OF ~~GIOr~L S~RVICZS IN THD
PLANNING
.um
;:X'·C'jTION OF COUNTRY 2ROGR!J'f1,;;}S1. Tho SGcrGt:J.r~{-Gcncrr~lis r c.uponzd b L; fer th.; e-Ilministrntion of funds c ornnrit tod to tho Org:-~niz2.tionund c r tl'L) programmGs~ tho ~Jxpandcd Pr-ogr-amme of 'Pcchni ca I ../1.ssist;-:,ncG und cr- resolution 222 (IX) of the .Jconomic ~nd Soci::l Council and the rOi.;ular programmo financed from tho United J.::1tions' budget und cr various rosolutions of the Gcncrr.I Assombly)! In 1961-62 the share of the ~xpanded Progr:1mme to be adY.,inistcrod by the United N~tions will :1ffiOunt to fiftoen million dollars. Undor the r ogu'l ur procr:::mmc the" tob,l will amount in 1961 to two million two hundred thousand dollars to ,nlich the, Gonerel k~c0mblfha c r ccontLy voted an adlli tional sum of three and a half million do l l ar-e for :lsGist,,,,ncl. to the: nuwly Lnd c pc.ndont countries.
2. Ls rogards the ~d~ini8tr~tionof the flmds origin3ting from the ~xpandcd
Proe;r:lmme, the Seorctary-Gensral is bound by ths leeisl.'ltion developed by
t.ho Economic and Soc.ia.L Counoil on r-ocommonrtati on of its Technical Assistanc\:
Committe •• Ls for the rcgulA.r pr-ogr-ammo , only a few l("gisl2.tivc rules hnvc bo cn Lni d d.ovn by' the GGDGr21 1i.sGcmbly but th~ S0crGt,s,ry-Ucnoral has
",,,merally been guided by till, polioy formulatvd by the, T0chnico~1 Assi st anc o Committoe.
3. The gr(~i:tcr part of tcchr..ic~Ll :;'L~~;ist:::..n0G Is rondcr,-"'.d directly to ind.ividual gcvo.rnncnt s , ,'],nd th~; Technicsl Assistance Cammit toc has placed an uppc r I jmit (l~oc"r 12/0 of total resources) for the progru.mming of rogional prujeoctG. Ll though there i 3 110 simil,:lr limi to. tion for pz oj acts undcr tho rugul[';.r pro~c.>;r~:~mmo, the S(;.crct:;,.ry-Gt:.l1cr::-l hO.8 b(011 [',Uidcd by t.he policy of th ... 'Pcchrri cr.I L.ssistanco Cammi ttco [~ncl, 'lG 2, rc.sult , cx c c pt for cxpcndi turos unc cr- Rc soLuti on 723 (VIII) vrhi.ch proscribes c0rt,:1.in ccntro..lizcd activi tics,
Resolutions 200 (III) on [;conomic Dove Lopmcnt , 418 ('I) on Social
W01f~re Advisory Scrvie~3, 723 (VIII) en Public ~dministrationand 1256 (XIII) on tho Provision of Opcrati0n~1 and ~xecutive Personnel.
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(":1")+1103
Anncz , PCo(':u 2.
Qo~n by t~c Oommittee.
Tcgo..rding the c.s aa stan cc to be ::c".-,~ldcr,:d to inclividur.l:;;·svc.:::'n;-:-i~~:'tf'" t'l~(
pr-Lnoi p l c s r.r c. :tK'_l"tiC1.J.:i:-.:rly b Lnd i.ng for- tIL; p8.rticill,':':..ting Grg::-"Y"dz:,tions.
These ;lrincij;.Jlcs, -:;:1,8 stat od r ... Gently in rConomlQ and Social Council r cao Lut.i on 786 (XXX) on country pr-ogrimmi ng pr-occdur c s , GTe; ( . ) ;'th&..t o ountr Lc s receiving e,:"d sl10111d h-vvc r. f'r oo choice of c'1rcfull~v c-:.:>n~.:;id,.)rcd.
prcgra.W71C8 Q.nd projccts",
continue t o ::~/j.visc .md ~,::;Si2t t.h.__ ::."cci:?i:-:-;n"t govcrm:i,::-;n-cs in the pLunna ng and in thE} implo:ncnt,'.o,tion of prGgrt1r:lm(,s~:nclpr o jcct s , and to I'C\ri(;vT tho
t~chnic~l ~SPC0ts of the prcgr3~mcs lnd prcj0cts for which they ~SS~0 l'oE~ponsibili-l:;y".
:':10.:::' :';;"[1o.(?vvourcd to p l r.cc CLt tIL di apoec.L of gov(~rnm(;nts th c best kn'Ji.{L~dgo
:_....ncl tcchni cr.L SCTviGr:.,s :,,:.v:'..ilt1.bl',; in the Sc,crct::;,ri9.t9 both '1,t Hoc..d_qu:1rtors
"l':1d in the; !'cgicn:11 c cono.mc \Jcmmissions.
Pl('"nning of ;'~l,8~3ist~:..nc:;::
6, Under the pTo(;Gdurcs Lni.d dc.wn by th,-~, ~.:.:conomiG r.nd So o i.a L COW1cil fer the 21x)::lndcd Prof;J.'£:JnE'':'·'9 oount.ry IJrcgr;:,mm::.:: Ilsh':J..l l bc; dr:-"~'rn up r:.:,t tho c ountr
The. }:\r:3idr)f'.t R0pro8ont-
the global }rogr~O::10 r0quc~~tcd b~y t.h.: ccv...;rnm:.;nt i[', --.{,-~l balc.xl.)c:d :_~,nd likc;ly to be nost C!ffcctiv~; in r ;.:La t i o» to thC' '~o7LTn:nGnt!s n(,~-',~ls ~~lU_ prtcr-ttic.e ,:.nd the orgo,nizr~tions possi b.i Ii. ti ...8 Cf pre-vi ding th,,.) SSTYicc:s roquirl..:d.
Due to his i>xaili-iri ty ~'Iith ::ml til2.t'_T?l L'..nct c t.hc r r-~rJUrC~..-8 of J..ssistJ..nG::';
'"'..nu. hi e knovrlcdcc cf l()c,;,l (..vlllJ.iticns, th.. ~1:~3idcnt "'2, :;;rcs·:...-nt:::.tivc l.o.s :1
progre..rn..moa ,
l:ij,)N.14!103 Annox.
Page 3.
At thG S3ffiG timG~ it is thu United Nations' ~nd the agsncissl rosponsibility to ~dviso tho ~ppropri~to govornment authorities Gnd the ResidGnt Rcpr-c scntrrt i.vc s in the tcchmca.l pl annf.ng cf individue,l projects.
7. Within the framework of this prooodure, the "tochnic'll advice" and professional guidcnec tha.t the, Unit cd Ne.ti on s pr ovd dc s in conncxion with tho prop2r~tion Df th~ tcohnio~l ~ssist~ncG prcjects is a fund~mcntal ro~uiroment of the Progr~mme. In f e.ct , this r-cspon s.Lb.i Lity of tho
org~niz~tions is beooming ~ll tho more important "hen the Programme is expanding and. when a number ef now countries arG to bonefit from technical assistance aotivitios. To a l~rgc extent tho professional advice and teohnioal knowlodge which is furnished tc governments for tho planning of their projects is 11 continuing task. New projeots I1ro often the outcome of previous technical assistanco activities. The domand for assistance also changes over timo. As the less developed countrios mark progress, their neods for I1ssistance will be more and more in now fields, especially teohnological fields and, within these fields, their re~ucsts arc likely to bo of a m o r o and m o r - e spcci2..1iz~,d n a . t u r o , Governments are also often desirous to bo ~ssisted in the estl1blishment of programmes of assistl1nce whore difforent types of assistance COln be usod in conjunotion with each othor or in suocussicn. Gcvernments, for cxamp l c , of tc n wish technical assistance to bo used in relation \Ii th capital d cvcLopmcrrt projects or in preparation for larger pr-oj c.ct s in thc field of prs-investment, such l1S
thoso of'f'cr cd under the Spo cLa.L Fund, which in turn can prepare for
ao t.uaL investment ei thcr by' the e:ovcrnm"nt itself o'r by foreign or intor- national f'Lnanc La.L institutions. F'tn.z.Lly , govcrnmcnt s in formulating their requests can eften bonefit froill tho knowledge acquirod by the Organization in oertain fields, as " rQsult of its r"senreh aetiviti8s and of the
experionce gainod. through technical assistance in v~rious parts of the world.
8. The Secrotary-General has always attached grol1t importance to rendering technical advice to govc.rnmcnts in the: fcrmulation of their r equc sts , at their demand and in compliance "ith the roeomuendations of tho Dconomic and Sooial
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Annex.
Page 4.
Counoil. In fact, one of t.ho vcl.uc s of t.h.. teohmcal assist:mco system under United Nations auspices is tho div~rsity cf rcs(uroos and knowledge
"hich it com bring to bear on the scLut i.cn of a variety of probloms and tho possibility of capitalizing knowledgo ac~uired in all parts of the world.
9. The Under-Soorotary for ...ccncnn c and Sooial Affairs is r-o s pon si b Le for making sure t.hat tho var i.cus task s involved in assisting Ro s i.d ent ReprcsontativGs ~nd rccipi~nt govcrnm&nts in Gstnblishing programmos and f'crrnu l ati.ng .r cquoets ar c ce,rric;)d out pr-op..r-Ly, These' tssks are performed under t.hc authcrity of tho Commissioner for Technical Assistanc8 b~l the Bureau of 'Pechni cc.L "'ssist:moo Cpcrations (BT1.0) and by the substantive personnel of the Department of ~conomic snd Socisl Affairs at headQu'1rtors and in tho regions. ~ith tho mergor of the Technioal Assistanco
Administration and the Dopartmont of ~,oonomio and Social Affairs, conditions have boen croated whero it is possiblo to draw moro readily on the substantive staff, without tho former diffioultics of inter-dopartmental communication.
10. It is one of the functions of th0 Bur-c.au of 'Cechnical As s i.atanc e
OpE:.rQ.tions to study at th0 bvginning of 0D.ch progro.mmc period .:111 gJvernmcnt
rC~u3sts, in the light of th~ inf0rm~tion providod by the Resident Represont- ati.vo s and in tho light ",£' the; cxpcrt od f'Lnanci c.L r-eaour cca. 'I'he r'eque st s arc communicated to the subst:mtivc units, both at Jke.dqu'1rtcrs and in the r-egi onn.I c c on omi,c commissions ';'lhich c ari gon(Jr2.11y givG a judgcmont on their tochnicQl contcnt. ThGS& commonts nrc communicated by the Commissionor for Technical Assisti1DC0 to the Resident E\:.';pr..:::;scnt::ltivos who act on b eha Lf of tho United Nati.on s to fi.na.La z c an 2grc:-:.<. programma with the gOVGrnm0nts
concornod. It is or. tho 0ec~sion of this proceduro that the BTAO and the substantive pcr aonnc I can take stock of tho knowlodgo and experience
accumulatod in the SGorotariat Rnd make o.ppropriatc suggestions to govornmonts.
Tho pr-ogr-ammc e can l11tCT on be modified by ad hoc requests -rubmi,t t nd during the year by governments through Residant Representatives. Th0se ar0 ~lso
reviowod by tho appr opr-Let o sub stanti vo personnel. Such ad hoc r cque st s
ar-e communicated to the regional ec onomi c sGcrotC1rie,ts in those cases wher-e thoir comments may bo of particulClr impor~anco.
E/CN.14/103 Annex.
Page 5.
11. In addition to such advico on the technical c cnt cnt cf governmental reQuests, the substantive personnel is called upon to pQrticipate oven more directly in tho programming process. In cortain cases, "programming missions" involving cf'f'Lccz-s from vc.r-ious quarters 8.rG or gani z od at the rDqu0st of govsrnments (G~g. the recent mission of the Commissioner for Technical Assistance to the Malagasy R6public, on which h~ was accompanied by staff members cf the nconomic Commission fer Africa). It is the policy of the Secretary-General to h,,-v('. such mi s s ion s more freQuently hoad.cd by the
~xecutivr'secrotaryor a sonior Seoretariat offiei~l of the regional economic commission concerned (c.g. the ~xccutive Secrutary cf thG Economic Commission for Africa w,,-s rccuntly <.:allod upon to head '1 programming mission to the Ivory Coast, Uppor V?lta, Nigor Republic, Dahomey and Cameroun). In the oase of governments which may not be teo familiar with United Nations
programmes, a staff member conversant in Special Fund matters can be attached to such missions. More often, individual missions ar0 crganized in response to govornment reQuests, ~nd substantivG porsonnel may be utilized when the
Organi~ation h~s Gxrcrt knowledg8 in tho fields WhGr8 advico is requested.
There is littlo doubt th~t in view of tho knowledgo Gvailablc in the regional oommissions, hoth of the; economio conditions in thG countries of their region and in oertain specializod fieJ.d.s, pcr-ncrine L from thc region:>l economic
commissions YJill be increasingly cc,llcd upon to undertake such missions.
Progress in this respect Hill go hand in hand with thG strength they will acqua.r c over the yoars through oontinuing and t.hor ough r e sear ch in particular fields. :ilixamplcs of support given by rogional staff to thG formulation of governmental roquests c an bc I'ound irl tho anrruo.L reports cf ttG r cgt ona l
economic commissions to the ~;IccnolJic end Social Counci L, It should be
"noted that the ~dvisory groups and r88ionnl technical assistance experts attached to the secretariats ef thE regional economic commissions can play a particularly useful role in this rospectS: In c8rtain areas it will be of
S08 par-a , groups.
24 below for an 8xpl~n~tion of tho functions of advisoryI
]]/ ON .14/103 Annex.
Pago 6.
advantage to rely on Headquarters units. Flexible uso of the total staff availablo at Headquarters and in the rogions is an important roquiroment in an Or-gani zat i on iIi th 'lorld-lride rosponsibili ties. In addition, the
Secretary-General must encur e that tho maximum bonefi ts be obtai ncd by governmonts f r om the Lnt.arnati onaL char-acto'r of tho programmes adnri ni stor-ed by tho Unitod Nat i on s ,
Implementation of government rGguEstS.
12. Implementation of government r8qu~sts is basically the responsibility of the Commissioner for Tschnical Assist~ncB~ the Buroau of Technical
Assistanco Operations, the Technic~l ~ssistanc0 Rocruitm8~L Service and the Administrative Section for Technical Assistanco Cpcrat ton s , 'l'ho Commissioner for Technical Assistance lS also rosponsible for drawing on the substantive and technical support which may be availablo in the Secrotariat. His task is to combine tho so rosourcos in the most appropriate way tc meot th0 requirements of government roquests.
13. Rocruitment, Tho TARS, ;Thich is p"rt of the United 1Tations Office of Personnel, is rGsponsiblc for reeruit8ont, including tho negotio,tion of all perso~nel matters purtainin[ to the appointment of an expert, his remunoration, etc. 'TARS operatC)s principally through a Headquarters Office
(Now York) and a European Office (P~ris)J ~nd ODe ~f its principal functions
is to coordinate in a oentr al, point all the expertise and advice avad Lab Le to tho Unitod Nations in th2 rocruitment field. Thus, Resident Represent- atives and personnel officers in th~ regional economic commissions act from timo to time on its behalf in th~ screeninG of candidates in thoir rogions.
In the aamo 1'lay s:'.hRS al so r01ibs c cn ei dor abLy on the kncw.Led gc genorally available in tho substantivG units cf the Secrotctriat rogarding tho
availability c~d suitability of individual experts in diff8ront countries and in di f t'er-ent f i.eLde , tho :::,::j0rity cf which s.re proposed in the first instnnce by governments int8r6stGd in supplying Gxpert assiotnncEJ. Since the supply of experts from thG less UGv~lopGd countries will increase over the years, wh.i Lc tilEl cxpcr-ti s c r cqu.i r-ed from the mxr o advanced countries will be more and m0rG in highly specializod fields, it is likely that the
::/Oli,
1-4/!(l", .f\..rJ.rleXI Pccgo 7.regional eo onomi c c omma.crri or s m~y b cc.rne mor e activo in th("3 recruitment p'roc o s s , One of tho sp0ci:::'ic aiva.:otages of' technic·'ll assistanoo und or- Uni ted. Nati on s auupa c o s is th:lt i t can drr~;y-r - in;::~sI!1uch [i"S j.t utilises
o onverti bLo curroncies or ccntr-i.buti.on s from th0CG ooun t.r-Lo s - on expertis~)
already ~.;vQ,ilablc ill the lOGS dt~V0::"OIJ0~1 c cuntri oe , thus TJroviding for a 'WOTld.-wi'lo oxchanr,o ,jf cxpcri en ce arid porscmnel }D10re substantivG advice cannot be gi von '<ithin the Secretariat TARS utilises external rosourcos such t:..S i'Grmer experts, pzof'e s si ona L associations and the difforent Lnduntri n.I r;roups wi tb which i t mtd.nta..i.~& cl08G contact in many countri oa , It handLos , mcr e ovcr , all Q,ppliL...~?tion:J fer t cchm oe.L assistanoo nssigPJJcnts rcccivsQ by the Organization, ~lothor thuy ar0 from inJ.iviC-uz.1E. or f'rorn tbt.-, na.t i.onn.I cOr:lmitt,::oc 1lhi'.;h cnd eavour- to coor-di.nnto the SUIJply of techni cu.I D.3sistnn08 o.v~~il3.blfJ in certain countries, and which are th« maj o'r sourco of oxpc.rt recrui t.mcnt , It is not axcLud ed that th<J os tab I r nhmont of similar cornm.itteer, might bo warr3.n"ted in cortaill loss d01Jclo:;?cd countriGs. Roc.ruitmont in thcSG
of all job d oac r Lp td on a , whi ch r'.TC 3180 ccramun'i.cnt cd to govcr-nmcnt s through thoir pLr"j:1Yl011t ma sai or.s in Hew Yerke
14.. FIO-coment of follows: It if" tbo Bur-eau ofT0chnical Assista.nce 0pu1-""aticns, through its Tr.--:.ining Socti')r~$ which is responsible for tho placement of follows. ~\.pplic...".tions ?ore narm::'_lly s c cuz-cd through the Rosid.ont RGprosontnti.V0S, but t.ho :3oGrct['vri:lt~;of thc.., r0gionnl ec onoma o commissions ::~rG also of ton calLo.l upon to :1ssift in (Jv~l-luat,ingthJ suit-
sc Lo cti on of cand l dzrt c s for thoir own trnining cour-ses and in-s€lrvict,.
abi.Lti, ty for the
of cal1did.atcs~ Tho rObion~l oGonomic co~missio~s arc rcsponsiblG
trc..ining, as liCll D.S in sorao C~;,S0G for rogi·Jnn.l institutes sponsorod undor- U:ni ted Nations t~chnical assistanc,.:.,. Placoment in European countries is
secured through a, sna.Ll toclmi c a I a,ssistancc cf'fi cc in Gonova , 1fith th0 increasing avei Labi Lity of training facili t:.os in thG regions, the
regiona,l oconomic commissions ~ro likoly to play n more important role
r.j eN .14/103
lil1l:ll';x.
:?~~g(;
e.
t.hnn in the P~:,Gt in the l'cvi;.;w of trcdnintj fC1cilitios an.I a Ls o in pl.'1C0:'llut.
r-c.pr-cncntod on t ho "','1, iSJry bo z r l s of L1 nun.bc.r 'J±' rogic.u'11 tl':'1iting ~"nd
J'(;uc:":,l'ch instit.uti o-re •
. 5. Subst nrrtivc support. t,; oxpcrt oe Th() 1)r-.:'II'1rntion of export =-L:,;sien··~(;ntc·
lG :_:n important phar.c of LmpLcrccntc.tLon , as much time: O."1n be snvod by thc.
0}~'p(;rt i f ho r-c oe i.vo s ad cquc.to briefing Of1 tho nochanics of Uni tad Natiul1a tcchm.caj. n.sslstn..l1CiJ, on previous aS8ist£"nco rcnl(:r(;d to the country of t1f1signmont by the Unitcd :r~:"'"ti(;liS cr under bi1,~1torr 1 . 1 progrr1[c.:nef~, ar..i on tc chn.i.or.L assi8tn.nCG C;Ji..IJurit:-nc0 in otl....r- c cuntr-tc s in his pnrti.cuLatr field.
Whcnov0r possible, such briefing is providod in };cw York, in G0nC-\TQ or o.t th8 sco.ts Gf tho regional 0conomic commif>sions. In caS0S whcro it is warrantod, a substantive officor may be askod te preparo a thorough ovaluation of the assistano0 provided in thG p~Gt and of tho probl~ms
with t.ho gonc;ro..l r08c~rch wo.rk Q.n1 suppcrting facili tics avni.LabLc 8.t Hec.dquarter-s and in tho regions" so t.hct the GX£JLrt may rusort to those f00ilities when neudod. Briofing is .~rrc.ngod on :."'... fY"lSO tc case b.rsi s , d cpondi ng on i ti nor-ar-i c s and a Lso en whothor the aub s t.anti vo units, oi ther c.t HVL.dquartors or in th o rogions, have t: substantivo contribution to offer.
~"ith the progross mrid o in tho r-c sour-ch acti vi t i c a of the SGcrctarie,t and th0 ac cumuLc.ti on of t.cchni cn.I n.ssist[~ncc, experionce on a world-l.;ido basis, t.he briofing function becomes ineruasinglj' important, iCS it may gr-orvtLy
i!IrprOV8 the assist.'lnco rendered '18 wall as sh or tc n in certain C2.SCS tho
dur-ati on
0/
expert adv'i c c , SincE:;' most experts also provide tr::iningdurinc their assignmonts, th8 vo.rious marruaLs nnd other tr"ining material prep=ed by th o aub stanti vo units n.t Hoadqucr-t or s and in the regions must be considorod as a va.Luub l o form of -:tssistance.
16. Most experts ar-c r cqua r-od to submit :prOgT8SS r-cpcrt s at appr opri a tc intorY·:>.ls. 'I'ho ee ar-c rovio1fsd by thc substantive units which are thus given an opportunity of pr,widing guidanoe to tho exper-t ..hilG ho is in tho fi01d, of dr2.wing his :1ttcnt,ion to 0xpuri0r!.co in othiJr countries and of
---_._---_._----.~----
E/CN.14/103 Annex.
Page 9.
providing him with special studies or legislation which may be available at HeadCJ.uartors or in the regions. The roports sometimosprovido ve.luable information fer tho rosearch wcrk of the Secret~riat. This is particularly true of tho final reports which oach export submits upon completion of his mission. Thoso r8ports, which Qro intendod for tho govornment, arc
reviewod and commonted by the substantivG unit. Final proc0ssing, editing and reproduction is tho responsibility of BTAD. BTAD also prepares a plan of action in consultation with substantivo units to follow up the expert's recommondations with additional tochnical assistance when needed.
The substantive reports, asido frem their value for the aid-reCJ.uesting governments, which is the primary objective, are often valuable instruments for tho Secrotariat, not only in view of thoir possible use for general resoarch work, but alsc because the whole process of rondering technical assistance is very of ton brought an important step forward' for instance, reports rocommending a specific logislation may ofton be of benefit to countries with similar conditions, where, instead of providing expert assistance, it will then bc possiblo to arr8.nge for the drafting of a similar legislation by local offioials. In the caS8 of budget classif- ication, for example, a Manual of BudgGt C13ssific~tion has boen developed by the Sccrot11ri'lt in the light of tcchru.col a.asi at anoe experience and has been appliod directly by local officials in 11 number of countries.
17. Progress reports Qr8 cont to the. rc{:;ionD,l acanomic commissions when- ever speci~l probloms ~risc whore the rogion~l commission can be of
assistance. All fine.l r cport s in the 2rC[l,S of work of tho rogional commissions are communicQtod tc them and submitted for thoir evaluation whonever tho rogionnl sQcr0t~riats JrQ in a position to contributG to their review.
~"--"--_._--,---
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _• .,·11 _ _ ...' _
E/CN.14/l03 Annex.
Page 10.
18. Handling of,administrativ8 aspects, The administrative and financial mctters necoss~ry for the 0X0cution of projocts arc m~nag0d
by the ~dministrativeSoction for Technical Assistance Operations (ASTAO) of the Field Operations Service, Office of General Services. This Section extends to the Technical Assistanco Operatiens the same techniques and procedures that havc proven effective with respect to the political missions and Information Centros of tho Unit8d N9.tions. This includ8s acting as central peint for incoming end outgcing corr8spondence dealing with administrative matters and acting as liaison betwoen the experts in the field, BTAO and the Administr~tiv8Servic8s at Headquarters. Admin- istrative or finance officers who may be availabl~ in the field, such as thoso in the rogional oconcmic commissions and the Rosident Representatives' offices, are usod as much as possible and there is a continuing effort to achieve common services among the varied United Nations offices in oach area.
*
RDGIONAL PROJECTS
* *
19_ Govornmonts~ through tho regional economic commissions and thcir subsidiary organs havo made a largo use cf the possibilities offered by the tochnical assistance system in order to promoto or support programmes of regional co-operation. Assistance in the initiatien of such prejects is a
I
! I,i E/CN.l4/103
Annex Page 11
natural outcome of the deliberative function of the commissions and of the expertise available in their technical meetings, suppcrted by the researoh work and technical advice of the regional secretariats. Proposals for regional projects under technical assistance are made by governments, either at the sessions of the commissions cr thrcugh their subsidiary bodies, and also by the Executive Secretaries. Those proposals retained by the oommissions are then reviewed, in consultation with the Executive -Seoretaries, by the Commissioner fcr Technical Assistance and the Bureau of Technical Assistance Operations in the light of the latest financial forecast. There may be revisions downward or upward (to witness the inorease which has become possible fer regional prcjects in Africa, as a result of additional appropriations of three and a half million dollars approved by the General Assembly for the newly independent countries). The projects retained are submitted to the Technical Assistance Committee along with country projects.
20. The implementation and administration of regional projects has been inoreasingly committed to the regional secretariats. This is particularly true of all substantive aspects of implementation:
agendas of conferences, curricula 0_ training centres, choice of
participants and trainees, preparation of technical papers cr training material, management of conferences, workshops, seminars and training centres, preparation of final reports, etc. It is often the case, however, that the regional secretariats rely on the substantive
support of Headquarters units, wheneve~ these have a special ccntribution to make. In the earlier phases cf technical assistance at the regional level, most projects by their very nature lent themselves to central direction and implementation. A seuinar in Copenhagen attended by participants frcm Latin America, or a study tour in North Amerioa for fellows from Asia and the Far East had to be organized principally from the centre. Many current regional projects, however, particularly projects connected with training in the region, now lend themselves to regional direction and implementation. For example, the three regional advisers for the Statistical Survey of Africa must work closely with the
m/CN,14/103
Annex '
Page 12
Executive Secretary of the ECA with a minium of control from Headquarters, This ohange in the natura of regional projects is now being refleoted in changes in administrative and finanoial control, and considerable progress has already been made since 'ohe mergorof the Technical Assistance
Administration with the Department of ~conomic and Social Affairs to delegate a wide degree of authority to the administrative and financial personnel located in the regions.
21, Technical assistance given through regional projects benefits greatly from the leadership, knowledge and technioa1 services of the regional
commissions, ....ithout whioh suoh assistancE' would often not have been possible, First of all, the cocmissions o~n provide significant advice in the formulation
of government requests fer teohnical and Special Fund assistance in their regions, in all these areas where tho seoretariato of ~he commissions have the neoessary teolmj.oa1 knowledge. SeoondJ.J' , regional projects are often a culmination of the' research '"ij-ark, studi9S and technioal advisory services providec'. by the r-egi.ona'l se cr-et az-La'ts , 'Thjs gives to their work added weight and e. praotioal meanj"g whioh Loome :,arge in a total evaluation of tho regional se~26tal'iatcI r.ch Levemcrrts , ~'inally, the regular research activities oal'ri0d out
:.'1
~he regions o.:'s often enhanoed by the end-products of regional acsi s cance , 3s:98cia12y vrh8Y1 such assistanoe is rendered byregional expC'rt;; Qr advisers aL-:;2,ched to the ODcretaria~c of the commissions.
A few exemploG chosvn from amor.g· the DlOS~ significant projects carried out so far will ~e g~vcn as il~~~trationn~
22. In .Asic ,::.:.:.10.. tl18 Fc.::..r l~2,S·::i ~ .Jui~'3 h:·\HU" Mekor.g Basin development project provides an O1.:'..tst,q.nding' e:cn.mple cf how E'~ 0J-oporative project can be
concea.vcd in c. r o gi.onc.L commi.aoi cn , L"".ppo:.::tod by the research work and advisory servl.coG of vho ~~€,gio~la:;" c8!:'.rcta:.':'iat, roceive d9cisive impetus from United. Nati cua technical "SS:.2:'JYJoe and fin6.11y become a major co- operative vorrtur e to .rhi ch Lar ge auns c;,I'G 'beLng provid9d from a variety of sources, li:1dei' ~;1e Loader chi p o~' ECAF:1, not only has tr_e 'ontire system of the United Nations been brought into play (teohnical assistance, Special Fund , sE,veral rpe c i.a.Li.zod agencl e s }, bU"'J.1Ro bilateral resources in sizeable amounts hcve beer! Qontrib';·.:t~o. ~o '~~lO pr'oj:'lct.. ECM':.!: oont Lnue a to ccr-vi ce and advise the Cornmit·~os for Co-ordinati,'l of Investigations of the Lower Mekong
•
E/CN.14/103 Annex
Page 13
Basin (composed of representatives of the four riparian countries, i.e. Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and the Republic of Vietnam) in many aspects of its work.
The Executive Agent of the project, provided under United Nations technical assistance, is located at the seat of the regional commission and works in close consultation with it. The role of 3CAF~ continues to be particularly important in the study of the economy of the basin, jJCAF;] is also called.
upon by governments to adviee them on new reQuests for assistance. In a recent report
l!
on "Regional Co-operation in the field of industrial and mineral resources development," the Dxecutive Secretary of DCAFE has made a number of suggestions for further technical assistance in support of the project as well as to other projects involving regional co-operation in the Asian and Far Eastern region.23. In Latin )~erica, the Central American integration programme offere another example of how governments may utilize the services of the regional commissions as well as United Nations operational programmes in support' of regional co-operation. Under the auspioes of ~C1A, the five countries of Central America have established a Central American Economic Co-operation Committee'through which they work towards the adoption of a Central
•
~~ericanTrade a~eement as well ae common legislation or adaptations in national legislations to facilitate regional integration. The ::;:CLA secretariat, through its sub-office in Mexico City, is responsible for the studies
and dxaft legislation need.ed by the Committee for the integration programme.
In addition, substantial support is provided by the United Nations technioal assistance programmes. In 1961-1962, experts in customs union, tariff
eQualization, industrial development, electric power development, housing and population will' be provided under the technical assistance programme.
The· FAD and ILO, for their part, provide assistance in the fields of 'land.
tenure and land use, marketing, agricultural statistics, ind.ustrial pro- .ductivity and vocational training. In addition, under initiatives of ECLA,
the United Nations established, five years ago, an advanced School for' Public Administration in Costa Rica attended by administrators from the five countries, and. the Special ~'und has financed a subst~~tial expan:sion of the Central ~"erican Research Institute for Industry initiated by ECLA
•
j}
E/CN.H/T & NR/L.18.iiJ/CN .14/103 Annex:
Page 14
which provides industrial advice tc private industry and to government departments of the five courrt.r-Les, Part of the countr;y r equeat s for technical assistance are also geared to the needs of the integration programme.
24. The field of training lends itself particularly well to regional
projects. The example of BCLA' s regional training contre in eo orromi,c -de;velopr., -.' may be given, as .it is closely integrated 1'1i th the regular r-esear oh
aotivities and also BCLA's advisory scr'rices to govornments, at their reCluest. Until last year, ECLA's training centre in economic development concentrated on the training of about fifteen to twenty fellows a year in the field of economic development programming. The courses givon at ECLA were olosely interwoven with research aotivities. 'Unong the results of the combined researoh and training >Tas the publioation of a "Manual on Economic Development projects"A1 .Thich is now a classical hand-book in the latin-american region and is also used in the in-service training performed in the other regional economic commissions and by the headquarters training course for African economists. It may be noted that the training centre organized in addition accelerated courses for economic administrators in various countries of the region. Last year, the oentre underwent some fundamental changes which brought it closer together with advisory services to governmentsl first of all, training was expanded to a number of specialize(
fieldS where there is a marked shortage of trained personnel, in particular industrial programming, transport programming, public works, budgetary problems and financing. Five high-level instructors have been attached to the training centres in these fields, f i.nance d under technical assistance. In addition, short-teim lecturers and ECLA staff members participate in the course. At
the
same time, economic advisory groups have been organized by ECLA'at the reCluest ~ the governments of Cuba, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela and Chile.,
The primary purpose of the group is to assist the governments in the
organization of mechanisms for economic programming. The instructors attached to ECLA's training bentres act as supervisors of the advisory groups and spend brief periods of time in the above countries to direct the work of the groups. As a result, a further integration of BCLA's research work, training
