UNITED NA?
-,-- .^..-
-
>.;..
i.rr.-.-,
,.:'IONS
I/( Distr.: GENERAL E/ECA/CM.15/29 6 February 1989 Original: ENGLISH
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
I
ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA Tenth meeting of the TechnicalPreparatory Committee of the Whole
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 27 March
-
3 April 1989Twenty-fourth session of the Commission/
fifteenth meeting of the Conference of Ministers
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 6
-
10 April 1989Item 7 of the provisional agenda* Item 6 of the provisional agenda**
POISLOW-UP ACTION ON OTWR RELEVANT RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY
TEE ~ ~ N T Y - T H I R D SESSION OF I-EE COMISSION/PO~~TBENTH MEETING OP THE CONPBRENCE OF MINISTERS
1. The twenty-third session of the Commission/fourteenth meeting of the Con- ference of Ministers responsible for economic development and planning was held ' at the Palais des Congras, Niamey, the Niger, from 14 to 17 April 1988. The meeting adopted 34 resolutions covering most sectors of socio-economic development in the African region. Among these resolutions five were addressed to the United Nations General Assembly through the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The actions taken on those resolutions are reported in document E/ECA/CM.15/30 entitled "Resolutions and decisions adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its second regular session of 1988 and by the United Nations General Assembly at its forty-third session in f h ~ economic and social sectors that are of interest to Africa*. The other reeolutions were addressed to member States, the ECA Executive Secretary, organs of the United Nations and other organizations. The purpose of the present document is therefore to provide the meeting with an account of action taken by the ECA secretariat towards the implementation of some of the other resolutions.
Res. 631 (XXIII). The Khartoum Declaration: Towards a human-focused a o ~ r o a c k to socio-economic recoverv and develooment in Africq
2. Since the adoption of resolution 631 (XXIII), the following actions have been taken to implement the resolution and the Khartoum Declaration:
(a) The Khartoum Declaration has been made an official document of the
&d Roc Committee of the Whole of the United Nations General Assembly on the
review and appraisal of the United Nations Programme of Action for African Ikonomic Recovery and Development (UN-PAAERD), and account was taken of the Declaration in the deliberations of the Committee:
(b) The Khartoum Declaration and resolution 631 (XXIII) were considered by the 1988 second regular session of ECOSOC, which adopted resolution 1988/66 thereon. The resolution, inter alia, welcomed the commitments of ECA member States to implement the reconmendations of the Khartoum Declaration by making the human dimension an essential focus of their recovery and lpng-term development programme; and also urged international financial institutions, bilateral and Dultilateral donors, organizations of the United Nations system
and
non governmental organizations to contribute actively to the implementation pf the lvcarnaendations contained in the Khartoum Declaration, with a view to ensuring that concarn for the human dimension is adequately taken into account in chair programnaes of assistance to African countries;(c) The Khartoum Declaration has been widely disseminated by the ECA Brecutive Secretary to all concerned. A special publication on the Khartoum Declaration has also been prepared and distributed by ECA. A book, containing an edited version of the papers of the Conference, is currently under preparation:
(dl At its eighth meeting, held at Geneva on 27 and 28 November 1988, the United Nations Inter-agency Task Force on the implementation of the UN-PAAERD at the regional level considered a plan of action for the implementation of the recommendations of the Khartoum Declaration, which will go into operation in 1989. Within the framework of this plan of action, a United Nations Inter- agency Task Force on Human Resources Development and Utilization in Africa has
E/ECA/CM.15/29 Page 2
been set up to ensure effective United Nations system-wide co-operation aqd co-ordination of activities in this important field;
(el The thirty-fifth session of the Governing Council of UNDP considered the Khartoum Declaration and adopted a resolution in which it, inter aliq, called on UNQP to support those aspects of the Declaration that are within its mandate;
,
( f ) ECA has already taken steps to implement recommendations of the Declara- tion and has also urged United Nations organizations and agencies to do t h e same.
Res. 634 (XXIII). Co-ooeration between ECA and Ula UNDP Reqional Bureau for Arab States and EuroDean Proqranmes (RBASEPL
3. The resolution was transmitted to UNDP and on its basis the Regional Bureau for Arab States and European Programmes reviewed five ECA proposals submitted to it. One of the proposals (PADIS
-
North Africa) has been approved and nego- tiations are still going on regarding the other four, i.e., Preferential Trade Area (PTA), Statistical Develop~gnt Programme for-Africa (SDPA), African Regional-
StandardiaatiE% Organization (@SO) and women's-activities in North Africa."
-
Res. 635 (XXIII). Drought and desertification
4. Resolution 635 (XXIII) on drought and desertification requested the Executive Secretary of ECA to explore the feasibility of setting in motion a co-operation process between all African countries as envisaged in the Regional Plan of Action to Combat the Impact of Drnught in Africa; to support the already established subregional organizations to combat more effectively and more efficiently the problems of drought and desertification; and to report to the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of Ministers on the implementation of the resolution.
5. Regarding the feasibility of setting in motion a co-operation process between all African countries as envisaged in theRagiona1 Plan of Action, the establish- ment of the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) will make this co-operation feasible. ACMAD will collect meteorological data, process and analyse the data received, make systematic and periodically regular information available to users for application to agricultural production, water resources management and other human activities that depend on the weather and climate. It will carry out:
(a) Monitoring of the weather over the continent and provision of fore- casts;
. ,.
i l(b) ~l~ssific,at$on oS ,cliihate - a n d defjnition of major- weather systems over the tropical, semi-arid and arid lands of Africa;
,. . .
(cj', ~ e v e l o ~ m e & of methods for the application of meteorological information
,. ,
for the improvement of agricultural production and weather-related human activi- ties a s w e l l as the development of new and renewable energy resources that depend on the weather and climate;
.
E/ECA/M.15/29 Page 3
(dl Training of African scientists and technicians through workshops, seminars and refresher courses in the techniques of handling the areas mentioned in (a) to (c) above:
(e) Undertaking of applied research in meteorology for the better under- standing of the atmospheric and climatic processes that cause weather and c l ' b t e - related hazards.
6. ACMAD will complement and support programme activities of existing sub- regional and regional intergovernmental organizations such as AGRHYMET in the Sahel, Hydroniger in the Niger and those being carried out by the Permanent Inter-State Ccmmittee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), the Intergovern- mental Authority on Drought and Desertification (IGADD) in Eastern Africa, and the southern African Development Co-ordination Conference (SADCC) in Southern Africa, all of which will promote the national, subregional and regional applicability of ACllAD products.
7. In addition to ACMAD, regional advisory services on combating drought and desertification are being carried out to mernher States and existing intergwern- mental organizations.
Res. 636 (XXIII). Preforential Trade Arca for North Africa
8. The resolutions of the Council of Plenipotentiaries of the North African MULPOC on the establishent of a Preffrential Trade l.rea (adopted since 1985) led to the commitment hy member States to establish a ?'XI. These resolutions were reiterated in resolution 593 (XXII) of the EC3 Conference of Ministers on the aaraement of governments in the subregion to create the PTA and on the need to define the measures to be taken torvards this end. The initial round of negotiations, held in November i'337, resulted from this commitment. It defined the terms of reference of the negotiating team, which decided to carry out g-ral and sectoral studies for the preparation of the draft treaty and protocols t o establish the PTA.
9. Resolution 636 (XXIII) of the ECA Conference of Ministers in 1988 endoraed the programme of negotiations proposed by the intergrvornmental negotiating team and called upon member States to provide all necessary data and information to assist ECA in the preparation of the studios called for. It also reiterated its request to UNDP to provide the financial support necessary for the establish- ment of the PTA and its secretariat. The implementation of this resolution resulted in the secretariat taking two courses of action
-
one in relation to member States and the other to UNDP.10. The measures taken with member States resulted in the designation by six countries in the subregion of national experts to collaborate in the studies and in the preparation of the draft treaty and protocols. Each country put forward one expert (except for Morocco which d e s i ~ a t e d two), whose services will be made frecly avaiiable to the ECAITangier MULPOC for the purposes of study preparation.
11. The i n i t i a t i v ~ t a k e n towards t h e f u n d i n ~ s o u r c e s had s e v o r a l a s p e c t s . On t h e one hand, a p r o j e c t s p e c i f i c a t i o n was drawn up and submitted t o UNDP f o r funding. I n t h e continued absence of any response from UNDP, ECA has t a k e n t h r e e measures. The f i r s t was d i r e c t e d towards member S t a t e s , t o encourage them t o l e n d s u p p o r t t o t h i s p r o j e c t d e s c r i p t i o n , e i t h e r by d i r e c t i n t e r v e n t i o n w i t h UNDP, by l e t t e r , o r through t h e i n t e r m e d i a r y of t h e Permanent Missions i n N e w York, s o a s t o s e c u r e UNDP's a p p r o v a l f o r t h e p r o j e c t , w i t h o u t f o r g e t t i n g t h e d i r e c t l i n ~ s i n t h e form of t h e Executive S a c r e t a r y ' s c o n t a c t w i t h t h e Deputy A d m i n i s t r a t o r of t h e UNDP Regional Bureau f o r Arab S t a t e s and European Programmes
(RBASEF)
.
12. The second npproach was d i r c c t e d towards a l t e r n a t i v e s o u r c e s of f i n a n c e , such a s t h e I s l a m i c Development Bank which h a s a c c e p t e d i n p r i n e i p l c t o c o n s i d a r t h e p r o j e c t and t o ~ x a m i n e t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of f i n a n c i n g it, an* t h e Saudi Develop- ment Fund.
13. The t h i r d measuzs involved m o b i l i z i n o ECPl's own r e s o u r c e s a n d - of u s i n g t h e b a l a n c e of t h e S u d a n ' s and P ~ n i s i a ' s z o n t r i k i t i o n s t o SNT?I,D. 1. p r o j e c t d o c w e n t ( l a t a r re-rised t o i n c l u d e a l l t h e mspen;: :m:ance! was drawn up and submitted t o t h e P r 0 4 ~ ; c t A n a l y s i s end i s 1 CornnitLee C . Although t h e t o t a l u n s p n t )??.lcncs ~s nuch Lower tnan t h e a c t u a l . needs f o r c a r r y i n g o u t t h e s t u d i u s an6 d r a w i r ~ g 'up ti;; d r a f t t r c c t y and ? r s t o c o l s , t h e p r o p o s a l i n q u e s t i o n r e t a i n s c n l y t h a c s s z n k i a l opc?rstions. ay t h i s means, t h e d a l a y which h a s a r i s e n i n comparison l.~i.:h t h e o r i q i n a i tima s c a l e e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e negoti3tinc-j t + a n , cn-?isic;ing Y7.2 ..ig?zova: of tk.2 d r ~ f t t r e a t y an< p r o t o c o l s and t h a s i g n i n ? of :he agreement i n 1390 s h o u l 3 b o p f u l l y ,..., h a reduced,
Res. 637 (XXIJI). Emisration from me~".b.x c o u i l t r i t ? ~ cf t h e 2i'orl;h A f r i c a n !IULPOC 14. R e ~ o l u t i o n 637 ( X X I I ~ ) of t h e ECA C o u f e r e n c ~ . of M i n i s t e r s r e i t e r a t e d r e s o l u - ti'on":i of t h e Council cf ~ i e n i p o t a n t i a r i e s of t h e ?!orth i ~ f r i c a n KgLPOC i n 1988..
.
1 t s implemuntation l e d t h e ' MULPOC and ECA t o w r i t e t o t h e r e g j o n a l and i n t e r - , n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s engaged i n s i m i l a r proqrammes. i n o r 9 e r t o c o - o r d i n a t e t h e i s a c t i v i t i e s oil emi;ration w i t h t h o s e of tht? ECr"r"/Taingier P1C'LPOC. I a a d d i t i o n , t h i c o ~ r e s p o n d e n c e reqw&ed. . . o r g a n i z a t j . o n s ( E E C , OECD; I ~ O , e t c . ) t o make a v a i l - . a b l e , , . ~ i b l i o g r a ~ h ~ pn d i f f & n t a s p e c t s of e m i g r a t i o n , i n p a r t i c u l a r m a t t e r s -.
concerning t h z s e c o n a g e w r a t i o n , t h e r e a d a p t a t i o n . and r e i n t e g r a t i o n of e m i g r a n t s
.
i n t o t h e labour, market and t h e impact on t h e crrploynentmarket. . . .
15. 8 i p r o j e c t propona!. h a s been prepared by t h e P o p u l a t i o n D i v i s i o n of ECE3..
T h r ~ e phases ar. ,=nvisaqod i n t h e implemontation of t h i s p r o j e c t . The f i r s t i n v o l v e s s t u d y p r e p a r a t i o n , t h e second, t h e h o l d i n g of a seminar and t h e t h i r d , advipory s e r v i c e s t o governnents. . .
16. Because of t h e p r o b a b l e d i f f i c u l t i e s i n f i r a n c i n q t h e p r o j e c t and i n con-.
f o r m i t y w i t h t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s of t h e Executive S e c x e t a r y t o fund some a c t i v i t i e s from t h e a d v i s o r y fund, i t was decided t o submit t h e t e r n s of r e f e r e n c e of t h o s t u d y t o be c a r r i e d o u t bv a c o n s u l t a n t . A r e q u e s t w i l l be subrritted t o t h a D i v i s i o n of A d m i n i s t r a t i o n t o r e l e a s e t h e n e c e s s a r y f u n d s f o r t h i s c o n s u l t a t i o n .
E/ECA/CM.15/29 Page 5
17. The study should be completed during the first part of 1989. The seminar will be held as soon as the finalized study has been distributed to member States.
The seminar will determine the type of advisory services to governments
-
thethird phase of the study.
Res. 638 (XXIII). DeveloDment of industry in North Africa
18. The resolution concerns UNIDO assistance on carrying out the Series of
..
activities and programmes in the industrial sector, the implementation of the sectoral study on industry and tho drawing up of the protocol, within the frame- work of the treaty setting up the North African PTA.19. The subregional follow-up meeting on intra-African industrial co-op6ration.
within the framework of the Industrial Development Decade for Africa, from 30 May to 3 June 1988 provided the opportunity for the different participating organizations to reiterate their desira to strengthen mutual co-operation, in order to promote subregional industrial integration in North Africa. If the proposals put forward are to succeed, a committee must be set up within U N I W to ensure the follow-up of industrial integration in the subregion. The develbp- ment of co-operation, particularly between UNIDO and the ECWMULWC could soon lead to U N I W contributing in the preparation of sectoral studies and protocols concerning the establishment of a PTA in North Africa. The Director-General of UNIDO has been approached to give his approval to this participation.
Res. 640 (XXIII). The promotion of tourism and the development of hotel manaqe- ment and human resources for thfftourism sector
20. It shoudl be noted that in the implementation of this resolution, the Executive Secretary of ECA, was requested to carry out a fair number of activities, within the limits of existing resources and using the extrabudgetary resources that may be mobilized. ECA's success depends on resources being available from outside. The following activities were undertaken:
To intensifv co-operation within international orsanizations, wrticularlv African intersovernmental orsanizations. with the view to assistins African countries in develo~ins their Drosrammes relatina to tourism as well as to mobilizins and co-ordinctins available resources in order to m a x h d z g their effects on the development of tourism in M r i c a
Action taken
21. The report of the meeting of the Conference of African Ministers of Tourism, held in Kinshasa, was sent to all African intergovernmental organizations, to some non-African organizations and to the participants.
22. As of July 1988, a letter was sent to ECOWAS and to CEAO stressing the decisions of the meeting on intra-African co-operation in tourism. The letter also announced the visit by the ECA staff member responsible for tourism, to
E/ECA/CM. 15/29 Page 6
examine the ways and means of African intergovernmental organizations co-opera- , tion. AS a result of the positive response from CEAO, the mission took place in September 1988. A report was written following the mission. At the request of CEAO for ECA collaboration, the following docunents were prepared by ECA:
(a) Terms of reference of a feasibility study' on inter-State circuits,
-
for the member States of CEAO;
(b) Note on professional training in tourism;
(c) A draft protocol on co-operation in tourism to be annexed to the treaty setting up CEAO;
(dl Report of the mission to CEAO.
23. Currently contacts are being made for a mission to other intergovernmental organizations early in 1989. The results of these missions will constitute the working document for the intergovernmental meeting to establish the basis for co-operation between the African intsrgovernmental organizations.
24. In addition, contacts have been established with the secretaziat of the Preferential Trade Area (PTA) in order to implement the dec$sions taken in Kinshasb. So far, this has resulted in the following:
(a) A study:-,on tourism in the subregion as a component of PTA trade, in which ECA made a significant contribution;
(b) A special meeting of the chambers of commerce in the PTA to establish PTA policy on tourism. while ECA could not attend this meeting, a message was sent to the meeting, defining the position of the Conference of African Ministers of Touri w
.
25. This activity is comparable with the one which resulted in the creation of a tourism section within the ECOWAS secretariat and with the creation of the West African Association of National Tourism Administrations (WAANTA). The planned mission will allow the outlines of the programmes of these bodies and of their co-operation with ECA to be defined more precisely.
26. The Economic C e ~ i t y of the Great Lakes countries (CEPGL), through the Gisenyi MULPOC, requested ECA to organize a seminar on inter-State circuits within the CEPGL. This project has not yet been financed. The CEPGL has been asked to finance ECA participation which would bc in the form of a technical contribution to the project.
~/EcA/CM.15/29 Page 7
Reauest I1
Undertake a study on the tourism activities of subreqional interaovernmental oraanizations in Africa. so as to reactivate such activities and provide . themwith a o ~ r o ~ r i a t e technical assistance
.
Action taken27. ECA is convinced that the intergovernmental orgenizations are a necessary means of implementing its programme at the continental level and that by assisting them, the secretariat can increase its efficiency on the ground. The missions listed a b w e will assist in the implementation of this resolve.
28. Already, within CEAO, the PTA and ECOWAS, solid results are noticeable.
Reauests XI* hid IV
. .
Establish subreaional p r w r a m e s and structures for ioint ~rauotion of inter-State tourism and tourism circuits; and
Undertake stuhies aimed at creatiliq inter-State circuits and assist member States to do so
Action taken
29. During the current year, a study is planned on the establishment of inter- state circuits to serve as a blueprint for this type of activity.
Requests V and VI
Establish the African association of tourism and take ao~rouriate measures to ensure its functioninq; and
Assist African States in setting up national professional tourism associa- tions and provide technical support to the existing associations involvad in tho promotion of tourism in Africa
Action taken
30. In the first phase, a survey will be carried out to identify the national professional tourism associations and to define their activities for which a questionnaire is'being prepared (November 1988).
31. Already, contacts made with the intergovernmental organizations anticipate the establishment of subregional associations, linked together by the creation of a regional association, in the manner suggested by the meeting of the Committee of Government Tourism Experts, held in Kinshasa, Zaire. To ensure a positive outcome, this activity must be very carefully considered and based on solid achievements such as the creation, promotion and exploitation of subregional inter-State circuits, professional trainizg, facilitation, etc. Thus particular
emphasis is accorded to the active participation of subregional intergovernmental organizations. The Tangier MULPOC has included in its work progranrme the setting up of a subregional committee on tourism.
Draw up, in collaboration with the United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations, the World Tourism Orqaization and the International Labour
~rqanisation, model manaqement or o~erations contracts for various t m e s of hotel infrastructure to be submitted as soon as ~ossible to member States for their appraisal, as well as Drovide effective technical assistance
..
to African States and Dromoters in the neqotiation and monitorins of the gxecution of the contracts s i m e d with hotel manaqement comorations,
Action taken
32. The project proposal for implementing this request has been drawn up in collaboration with the United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations.
Negotiations with UNDP and other bilateral sources of finance are wider way to secure funding. The project will be executed by the Centre and ECA in collaboration with ILO and the World Tourism Orqanization.
-
. .. ~ . . . , ., . . .-
..
3 3 . ~ublkcity activities have taken place in . i k e States with'natiotial tourism administrations to ensure their massive support for implementing the project. .. .
.
Reports so far are most en~og~aging.
.
. . .Reguest VIII
Establishment of subresional tourism and hotel educational institute Action taken
34. A survey was carried out which identified the means of professional training in tourism trades in Africa. The study, which was presented to the Conference of Ministers, defined the broad directions of professional tourism training.
In collaboration-with ILO, a draft proposal on the development of human resources was prepared and submitted to UNDP by the Technical Assistance Co-operation and Operations Office (TACOO).
35. Apart from this project, a note on training was prepared for CEAO, which aimed to establish a subregional structure for professional training.
36. Discussions are currently under way on the setting up of a high-level train- ing programme to be aarried out by the United States International University
-
Africa, based in Kenya. A first mission to Addis Ababa took place in July 1988. The final proposals, for submission to the Conference of African Ministers of Tourism, are still awaited.E/ECA/CM.15/29 Page 9
Develovment of traininq p r o q r a m e s for enhancinq and uvqradinq the tourism and hotel services at various levels
Action taken
37. The work pragramme of the ECA Tourism Unit includes two seminars for the
..
current year, one on statistics and the other on small- and medium-size enter- prises in tourism and on the participation of African women in the development of tourism.38. Project proposals for financing these projects have already been submitted.
A consultant will be recruited before the end of this year t o write a paper t o assist in the preparation of a "Method for conducting a visitor suNey".
The terms of reference on the study of women's participation in the development of African tourism and of the "Handbook on managing small- and medium-sized hotels" have already been prepared. The working documents could have been finished by the end of the first quarter of 1989, if the resources were available.
39. As a result of the Seminar on Tourism Statistics, a manual on the collection, processing and presentation of statistics on tourism has been prepared and will soon be published.
vvdatinq and publishins at reqular intervals of an African directory for educational and traininq facilitiss to ensure co-ordination and mutual co-o~eration in the fields of education an3 traininq
Action taken
40. The two directories are completed and are currently being typed with a view t o publication a s soon as possible.
Request XI
Orsanitation of veriodic African tourism events alonqside existinq conti- nenta'l. subreqional and national trade fair3
Action taken '
41. A circular was sent out t o the chambers of commerce and Association of African Chambers of Comkerce so that a "tourism" component could be included ,.
i n trade fairsi b o t h at regional, subregional and national levels. Copies of this letter were sent to the ~ i n i s t e r s o f
our ism,
t o the national tourish admi-. . nistrations and to the national tourism associations for follow-up.
42. Similar letters were sent to OAU and t o the African intergovernmental organizations.
E/ECA/c~.15/29 Page 1 0
43. L e t t e r s were a l s o s e n t t o t h e African, Caribbean and P a c i f i c c o u n t r i e s (ACP) and t h e European Economic community (EEC) s o t h a t t h e "African Tourism F a i r " copld be i n c l u d e d w i t h i n t h e framework of t h e Lome Convention 111. I f t h i s p r o j e c t i s a c c e p t e d , African p a r t i c i p a t i o n , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h a t of t h e European p a r t n e r s , w i l l be p a i d f o r by t h e EEC. These p a r t n e r s would a l s o meet i n A f r i c a , which i s t h e main o b j e c t i v e of t h e African Tourism F a i r .
R e s . 641 ( X X I I I ) . C a m ~ a i m a a a i n s t migrant l o c u s t s and urasshoDpers
44. R e s o l u t i o n 641 ( X X I I I ) was adopted a t ' a t i m e when a l a r g e p a r t of t h e African
.-
c o n t i n e n t was under s e r i o u s t h r e a t by l o c u s t s and grasshoppers. I t mandated t h e Executive S e c r e t a r y of ECA t o s t r e n g t h e n , i n co-operation w i t h FA0 and WMO, n a t i o n a l and s u b r e g i o n a l c o n t r o l c a p a b i l i t i e s i n c l u d i n g t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of an e a r l y warning system. It a l s o urged t h e Executive S e c r e t a r y t o m o b i l i z e r e s o u r c e s f o r t h e campaign a g a i n s t l o c u s t s and g r a s s h o p p e r s i n c l u d i n g t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of i n t e n s i v e r e s e a r c h programmes which would provide long-term s o l u t i o n t o t h e s e r i o u s t h r e a t of l o c u s t s and grasshoppers i n A f r i c a .
45. S i n c e A p r i l 1988 t h e s e c r e t a r i a t h a s looked i n t o t h e v a r i o u s d i m e n S i 0 n ~ of t h e r e s o l u t i o n and has e s t a b l i s h e d a p p r o p r i a t e i n s t i t u t i o n a l measures b o t h w i t h i n t h e s e c r e t a r i a t and o u t s i d e i n s e n s i t i z i n g governments and donors w i t h a view t o i n t e n s i f y i n g c o n t r o l measures whick a r e s t i l l vnder way i n many p a r t s of t h e c o n t i n e n t .
46. The s i t u a t i o n w i t h r e g a r d t o l o c u s t o u t b r e a k s , e e p e c i a l l y t h e d e s e r t l o c u s t , c o n t i n u e s t o be s e r i o u s . I t can fven be s a i d t h a t t h e o v e r a l l s i t u a t i o n may have d e t e r i o r a t e d s i q n i f i c a n t l y over t h e p a s t few months. Crop damage i n West A f r i c a , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n such c o u n t r i e s a s Senegal, t h e Gambia and Cape Verde, h a s been s e r i o u s w h i l e t h e o v e r a l l s i t u a t i o n i n c o u n t r i e s l i k e Mauritania h a s d e t e r i o r a t e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y . According t o t h e r e g u l a r FA0 B u l l e t i n , Emergency Centre f o r Locust Operations (ECLO:, l a r g e - s c a l e i n v a s i o n s of t h e d e s e r t l o c u s t should be expected i n t h e S a h e l i a n region i n t h e n e x t few months.
47. The o v e r a l l s i t u a t i o n i n E a s t A f r i c a i s no l e s s s e r i o u s . The s i t u a t i o n i n t h e Sudan s t i l l g i v e s s e r i o u s cause f o r concern. The extreme n o r t h of E t h i o p i a has a l s o been a s i t e both f o r breeding and o u t b r e a k s of t h e d e s e r t l o c u s t . T h i s p a r t of t h e Horn of A f r i c a i s s t i l l a c u t e l y v u l n e r a b l e and l a r g e - s c a l e b r e e d i n g and hopper formation i s expected t o c o n t i n u e , w i t h l a r g e number of swarms p o s s i b l y forming i n t h i s a r e a and subsequently m i g r a t i n g n o r t h towards t h e Middle E a s t . According t o t h e FAO/ECLO B u l l e t i n , w h i l e t h e r e i s s t i l l a moderate t o high r i s k of swarms i n v a d i n g Somalia, i t h a s a l s o been r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e r i s k of i n v a s i o n of Kenya i s a s s e s s e d t o be low.
48. I t can t h e r e f o r e be s a i d t h a t s i n c e t h e adoption of r e s o l u t i o n 641 (XXIII) t h e s i t u a t i o n with r e g a r d s t o b o t h b r e e d i n g and o u t b r e a k s may have d e t e r i o r a t e d , d e s p i t e enormous c o n t r o l measures undertaken by t h e c o u n t r i e s a f f e c t e d and d e s p i t e t h e generous a s s i s t a n c e provided by donor c o u n t r i e s d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d .
49. I n implementing r e s o l u t i o n 6 4 1 (XXIII) t h e s e c r e t a r i a t h a s worked v e r y c l o s e l y w i t h a l l t h e concerned a g e n c i e s , m u l t i l a t e r a l and b i l a t e r a l , p a r t i c u l a r l y
E/EC~/Cbl.15/29 Page 11
with FA0 which has overall responsibility for co-ordination at a global level matters relating to locusts and grasshoppers. However, as member countries are aware, a number of bilateral agencies have come t o the assistance of the countries that have been seriously victimized by locusts and grasshoppers. This
,
generous assistance will need to continue in 1989. According to FA0 estimates, resource requirements amount to St1S 250 million for control programmes during 1989. These are therefore even greater challenges ahead in acquiring substantial resources both from the countries affected and from external donors.5 5 0 , Following the recommendations of resoiution 641 (XXIII), one of the important
actions taken by ECA has been to provide appropriate institutional guidance for the various MULPOCs to w ~ r k closely with governments and donors concerned with locusts and grasshoppers. The heads of the MULPOC offices have regularly consulted the appropriate national institutions with a view to strengthening the control capabilities at the national level. This institutional capability will continue during the current year and thereafter until the threat of locusts and grasshoppers diminishes and comes to a halt.
51. The most important action which ECA has undertaken in implementing this resolution was the convening of an Inter-agency Consultative Meeting on Locusts and Grasshoppers in Africa. This meeting was attended by 11 agencies, including all the subregional organizations entrusted with the task of controlling locusts and grasshoppers. The inter-agency meeting was the first of its kind ever held in Africa and the participating agencies, especially the institutions from the region, complemented the initiatives taken by the secretariat to organize such a meeting. The meeting succeeded in agreeing on and recommending the establish- ment of a permanent task force, serviced hy the secretariat, to oversee all control programmes, including research, which are expected to be undertaken in the next two to three years. The important conclusions of the meeting, for which intensive follow-up is already under way include the following:
(a) The meeting noted the importance of strengthening, at country level, the capabilities for forecasting, monitoring and controlling locust breeding, Infestation and outbreaks;
(b) The meeting identified a series of shortcomings at country level, particularly the declining effectiveness of national institutions involved in the control of locusts and grasshoppers. These shortcomings are outlined in detail in the report. The secretariat is actively consulting multilateral agencies particularly FAO, and also bilateral donors with a view to strengthening, the control capabilities of national and subregional institutions in the immediate future. At the same time the secretariat is actively in touch with the sub- regional locust control organizations for strengthening subregional action on locusts and grasshoppers. In this respect the secretariat attended the meeting called by the Organisation commune de lutte antiacridienne et antiaviaire (OCLALAV) which was convened in N'Djamena from 10 to 16 December 1988 to consider the strengthening of OCLALAV in the light of the current serious infestation of locusts and grasshoppers in the subregion.
52. During the 1990-1991 biennium, the secretariat intends to organize three -40s workshops designed to identify the technical shortcomings of the countries
E/ECA/CM.15/29 Page 12
most affected by locusts and grasshoppers. It is expected that this process of technical and resource identification will be followed by a systemztic capacity building programme for national and subregional institutions.
53. The meeting also recommended the establishment, in the medium term of an early warning system organized, serviced and controlled by the region, eventually reinforcing FAO's ECLO programme in Africa. The practical implication of this 1
recommendation is that African disasters should be recorded, disseminated, dealt
.
with and remedies sought by African institutions. In order to realize this important objective, ECA has now recruited a consultant entrusted with developing the technical and institutional details on how such an early warning system could operate. It is expected that the early warning system will be made func- tional by the end of this year.
54. The long-term solution to finding alternative technologies for the control of locusts and grasshoppers, particularly the desert locust, is now a major concern of several agencies of the United Nations system. It is firmly recognized that an alternative technology has to be found to the use of toxic chemicals in the control for locusts and grasshoppars, primarily because these toxic chemi- cals have very harmful environmental effects. ECA had recognized this problem much earlier and has been in active contact with the International Centre for Insect Physiology (ICIPE), based in Nairobi, to encourage them to evolve a sound biological control programme, especially against the desert locust. In this regard, the secretariat participated in an international meeting convened by UNDP in Cairo from 12 to 14 December 1988. The main purpose of the meeting was to find a biological control measure as an alternative to toxic chemicals.
Undoubtedly this important direction in research will take a long time to materia- lize but the secretariat notes with satisfaction the decision taken in Cairo to establish an international network to co-ordinate and monitor this important research effort which, as expected, will be based at ICIPE in Nairobi. Financial colnnitments have already been made to make the network operational.
55. As the secretariat had not budgeted resources, it had to resort to extra- budgetary resources to resolution 641 (XXIII). The Conference of Ministers might wish to discuss how resources could be raised both within the countries affected and from outside, bearing in mind that ECA has virtually no resources for this important undertaking. The Conference might wish to discuss the moda- lities on how to organize a fund-raising mission whose primary task would be to visit countries with potential for providing resources to control the present plague. Such a mission could also visit important donor agencies that are likely to provide assistance.
Res. 642 (XXIII). African Institute for the Prevantjon of Crime and the Treatment of offenders
56. Resolution 642 (XXIII) requests the Executive Secretary of ECA to "submit a report to the Conference of Ministers at its fifteenth meeting on the implementation of this resolution". Operative paragraphs 4, 5, 6 and 8 are particularly relevant in this regard.
E/ECA/CM.15/29 Page 13
Operative paraqraph 4 requested the Governing Board of the Institute to submit for the consideration of the fifteenth meeting of the ECA
*b
Conference of Ministers appropriate recommendations concerning theP
budget of the Institute, the gross financial contribution of the host country as well as member States' contributions. For legal reasons however, the meeting of the Governing Board could not be convened.
before the Statute of the Institute has officially come into force.Article XVII of the Statute states: "The Statute shall cane into force upon its adoption by the Conference of Ministers and signature by 10 member States". The first condition of this article was met when the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of Ministers adopted the Statute. The second condition is yet to be fulfilled.
Operative paraqra~h 5 urged the Executive Secretary to finalize the hosting arrangement of the Institute. In this connection, the draft host country agreement was prepared and submitted to the Government of Uganda for comments. Suggestions for amendments were received by the secretariat and incorporated into the draft agreement, which was resubmitted to the Government for its final consideration and approval. Signature of the agreement will take place immediately following its approval by the Government.
Ooerative paraqra~h 6 urged member States to sign the Statute as soon as possible. So far six countries namely Uganda, Guinea, Nigeria, the United Republic of Tanzania, the Sudan and Somalia have signed the Statute of the Institute. Considerable efforts have been and are being made by the secretariat through both formal communication channels and informal c c ? s u l t a t i o n s to crge member States to sign the Statute. The Government of Uganda has also communicated with member States on the issue. Through its good offices, the Organization of African Unity has also sent an appeal to member States to respond expeditiously to the call to sign the Statute. Copies of the Statute were widely circulated to member States and to ali the embassies of member States in Addis .Ibaba.
merative ~ a r a q r a ~ h 8 appealed to UNDP to consider favourably the long-term funding for the Lnstitute. At the completion of. the initial phase of the project, the secretariat prepared a project document for long-term funding and submitted ic to LJNDP for consideration.
UNDP has responded stating that consideration of the project document is conditional upon the signing of the Statute by 10 member States, as a measure of their commitment to the objectives of the Institute.
Res. 645 (XXIII). SupDort to the countries of south-western Indian Ocean affected bv tropical cvclones and natural disasters
57. This resolution requested the Executive Secretary of ECA to co-ordinate the activities that other organizations are conducting in that subregion, working in co-operation with the Secretary-Genera1,of OAU and the United Nations Disaster Relief Office (UNDRO) to prepare a plan of action for coping with natural '
...
.'
. " ;
,.
E/ECA/CM.15/29 Page 14
disasters and limiting their adverse effects on the economic and social
I
development of Africa in general and of African least developed countries in
4'
particular and to report to the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of Ministers on the subject.
58. ECA has entered into contact with the United Nations specialized agencies
-
concerned, namely the World Meteorological Organization (WHO), UNDRO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as well as the League of Red Cross Societies (LICROSS) for an update of their activi- ties in the Indian Ocean zone and requesting them to implement the relevant sections of this resolution.
59. Furthermore, UNDRO, as the lead agency, has been requested to prepare a draft plan of action for coping with natutaq disasters and limiting their effects in the south-western Indian Ocean. This %raft plan will then be discussed by OAU, ECA and UNDRO for finalization and submission to the Conference of Ministers for consideration and adoption.
Res. 651 (XXIII). Resources for the African Centre of Meteoroloaical Applications for Development
60. This resolution requested the Executive Secretary of ECA, in consultation with the Secretary-General of WMO and the executive heads of other United Nations agencies concerned, to organize consultations with donors as soon as possible with a view to obtaining contributions towards making the Centre operational.
61. In implementing both the recommendations of the Board of Governors and resolution 651 (XXIII), the timetable suggested by the Board could not be strictly kept due to resource constraints and the difficulty in recruiting consultants to work on the programme document for the Centre. However, the following activi- ties were carried out:
A. Finalizina the draft of ACMAD proqramme document includinq the estimation of the resource requirements and the modalities for the mobilization of resources from rnenber states as well as the iob description.
and recruitnient of the Director-General
62. The final draft of the programme document is ready for submission to the next meeting of the Board of Governors for approval.
B. Economic benefits of ACMAD
63. At the first meeting with the donors at the technical level in February 1988, the need for a statement as to the economic benefits of ACMAD was expressed by the representatives of the funding agencies. This was conveyed to the Boars of Governors which also recognized this need as it would encourage investment in the Centre, both from member States and, particularly, the donors and funding agencies.
E/ECA/CM.15/29 Pase 15
64. With t h e a s s i s t a n c e of UNDP, c o n s u l t a n t s were h i r e d t o p u t t o g e t h e r a f i r s t d r a f t which would then h e reviewed by ECP,, WMO and FAG. Car-mcnts on t h o documenr:
)
were r e c e i v e d from t h e c o l l a b o r a t i p g a g e n c i e s and t h e docllment h a s been r e v i s e d f o r submission t o t h e aoard of Governors.C
C. Resources f o r makinq ACImD o ~ e r a t i o n a l
65. A s r e g a r d s t h e m o d a l i t i e s f o r m o b i l i z i n g r e s o u r c e s from rnGmber S t z t e s f o r ACMAD, 3 l e t t e r was s e n t r e q u e s t i n q them t o implement r e s o l u t i o n 651 (XXIII).
I t i s d e s i r a b l e t h a t member S t a t e s respond u r g e n t l y a s t h i s w i l l : l a ) I n f l u e n c e t h e r c c r u i t r n ~ n t of t h c :ircctor-i;enera2~
15) Demonstr3te t c p o t e n t i a l donors t h e c o r m i t n e n t of member s t a t z s t o t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of t h e Centre.
C. ? r e x i r a t i o n f o r t h c donors mcctinns
66. A s i n d i c a t e d s a r l i e r , --.uro n e 2 t i n q s x e r e Trc:,.raanei, one s t :ic technic:.l l e v e l and t i e o t h e r t h o 511 meeting.
67. Thc m o c t i ~ c ; 3 t t h r 'cachnical l e v e l i s t o prcpnro fu1l.y f o r th,: nnin Ponors meeting. T h i -
-
n e s t i n g i.ndicated a r e a s of i n t e r e s t by donors s o t l i a t p r o f e e t" f a c t s h e e t s " can i ~ i : pr.-p-ir;?d from t n c p r o q r a m e c?ccu??~!n"or t h e mzin donors n e e t i n q .
2. Joh di?scri,at:.oii and recruitment o: 'he D i r e : ~ : t o r . - G s m
68. TXc jo3 d e s c r i p t i o n f o r t h z L':.rector-r:cr~cral. of t h e Centre was f i n a l i z s d and t h e p o s t a d v e r t i s e d , i n accordance w i t h t h e s c a l e s i n t h e s t s f f r u l e s and r e g u l a t i o n s of .:CX;i3. i ~ s ap1,roved a t t h e l n s t Soard o; Go-lerriors meeting, tlre p o s t was t o bi. a d v e r t i s e d with immediate c f i z c t . . S h o r t - l i s t i n g w i l i be done immediately t h e r e a f t e r and p r e s e n t e d t o a selection committee t o be chosen by t h e Board from among i t s members. I t was f u r t h e r suggested t h a t 3oard members w i t h a ? ~ l i c a n t s from t h e i r c o u n t r i e s should n o t be members nf t h c s d l u c t i o n committee.
F . r ~ l l o w - l l p on t h e r e t i f i c a t i c n of t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n of A C m D
69. L e t t e r s v:ore s o n t t o menther S t a t e s concerning r e s o u r c e s f o r iiCMAD, r e ~ u e s . t i n g them t o implement ECL r e s o l u t i o n 651 ( X X I I I ! by r a t i f y i n g t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n , i f t h e y had n o t y e t done s c ?nd r o pay t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n s . The m a t t e r wcs f u l l y d i s c u s s e d by t h e J o i n t intergovernmental Regional Comnittc;e on Iiuman S e t t l e - ments and Envir0nmen.t a t i t s meeting i n February 1982.
