Development issues of the Least Developed African countries

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UNITED NATIONS

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

Diatr.t GENERAL

E/GK.H/699 E/CN.H/ECO/159 1 December 1978

Original* ENGLISH

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA

Fourteenth session/

Fifth meeting of the Conference of Ministers

Rabat. 20-28 March 1979

CONFERENCE DOCUMENT

AGENDA ITEM 7(b)

yearsof

ansau

Service to Africa de VAfrique

DEVELOPMENT ISSUES OP THE LEAST DEVELOPED AFRICAN OOWTMES

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Distre LOTTED

4 October 1978 Original: ENGLISH

"ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA - - - Executive Committee . "■'■ '"

Nineteenth mooting

Arusha, 23-25 October 1978

DEVELOPMENT ISSUES OF OHE LEAST DEVELOPED AFRICAN COUNTRIES

A Note tar tho. Secretariat

!• It was at its twenty-sixth session in 1971 that tho General Assembly adopted resolution 2768(XXVI) which established the list of tho least devclopod among tho developing .countries* Tho list which.had carlior boon recommended by the United . Nations. Committee for Development Planning at its seventh session in Iferch/April .1971 was based on tho indicators of gross domestic product per capitat tho level of industrialisation and literacy rate* With UNCTAD resolutions 62(111) and

98(IV) and ECOSOC resolution 2124(LXIIl), spocial measures to bo implemented in

favour of this group of countries were established.

2« From 1971 to date tho number has increased from 25 to 31 and the number of Afrioan.countrios among them has increased from 16 to 20» Thus 20 out of tho 49 member States of tho African region are classified as least developed.. Together, they, account for about 31o4 per cent of tho estimated mid-1976 population and about 41,3 per cent of tho land surface*

3« Depopulation size, luey are distributed as follows in mid-1976: one country had over 20,million people; 3 had between 10 and 19 million people; 4 had botweon 5 and 9 million people, and the remaining 11 had populations which ranged betweon 0.3 million and 4*7 million? The pattern of population distribution among least developed countries is therefore not dissimilar from the population distribution pattern of tho Region as a whole, with similar implications^

4» As regards their geographical situation,11 countries aro land-lockod with tho usual poor transport and communications links with neighbouring countries and 2

arc island countries*

5. Least developed countries of the Region therefore constitute a substantial part of tho preoccupations -of the ECAO So far, to quote from a recent report of the Secrotary-Cfonoraiy ."while muoh has been done to conceptualize and olarify the nature of the problems and structural difficulties facing the least developed countries, and while much has been dono in the way of tho adoption of resolutions

1/ ScoiteviGw of Progress in the Implementation of Special Jfoasures in Favour of

tho Least Developed Among tho Developing Countries - Report of the Secrotary-

Gonoral - Document E/I978/86 (Parts I and II).

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calling on the international community to address itself to -these problems v progress towaMs^ solution remains painfully slow. Indeed, many of ihe calls in these

resolutions for "special attention" in trado policy matters and in other fields have so far led to only very limited actions or have not boon implemented at allo On the other hand, with respect to financial and technical assistance, there has boon a significant improvement in the flow of real resources to the least developed countries and evidence of improvements in policies regarding the terms, criteria and conditions governing such flows* However, even here the gains in real resource flows have been insufficient to overcome the declines in the real purchasing power of exports for most of those countries during the past decade.. In fact, 11 of the least developed countries have recorded actual declines in pox capita income during the 1970s, while the group as a whole has shown virtually no increase* Only four of these countrios have boon ablo to grow at the minimum target rate for tho poorest countries of 3»5 per cent per capita» as called for in the International Development Stratogy for the Second United Nations Development Docade."-'

6. Tho main object of this note is, therefore, to reconsider the relevance and

adequacy of the analysis of the problems of least developed countrios in Africa, to quostion the appropriateness of tho traditional cures recommonded and to propose

of the Mbw International Economic Order in Africa 1976—1981-1986'**' the historical causes

of the lag could be credited to two factors: that former colonial powers perceived in those countries which wore under their sovereignty few opportunities for

diversified economic production for export;' and "that they woro by and large riot considered suitable for European settlement, a factor not wholly independent of the first. These factors are no longer, in however attenuated or disguised a form,

meaningful and, in any case, are inconsistent with the known resources and

development potentials of the least developed countries.. As will be argued below the chief difficulty is to escape from a framework of post—colonial'thinking,about the dynamics of development and growthiabout resources, resource use, development and economic growth possibilities and international ocononic relations.

8« It is %he secretariat's view that the term least developed must >o taken to

moan what it says: much less developed than other member States of. the region of comparable potential for development, in effect, the term does not imply a lack of potential for development and economic growth. Indeed, in the light of the history of dependent economies, tho composition and location of natural resources in relation to demand in the technologically advanced countrios and to ruling cost and price parameters, has favoured.the exploitation of certain.resources in certain

Xoeafctens and countries over others. It is not difficult to point" to the growing number of countrios which, but for ohanges in what is euphemistically called

'world domand1 and in price and cost parameters, would today bo included among the least developed group of countries.

9. Moreover, the characteristic*pf being least developed is not to be measured simply by high or.low.gross domestic product per oapttt butljy the degree of, ..:

development or spcio^econpniic <shahgd."tliat is going on* Tho process of identifying faotor inputs, 'reshaping :them and improving their quality; "of removing or modifying

enclaves and semi-enclaves and other d,isfunctional relations within the socio-economic structure, of re-designing institutions and of improving infrasiructure in a much wider sense than that conventionally defined; the instilling of a sense of 'self-

reliance (including the. re-orientation of, the content, methods and objectives of

2/ E/l978/86,Part I,op« oit., par.4.

y EGA Document E/cN.14/ECO/9O/Rev.3» par.65.

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education and training); and steps taken to inhibit the development 6f excessive Bkevnesp in income distribution, to integrate the domestic market and contain the growth of production or imports of luxury: goods for the tetter off may all be far more comprehensive and advanced than in many other countries not at present

considered to "be le-st developed. In other words, least developed countries are in a position to establish p more substantial and relevant basis for accelerated

development and diversified growth in the long run than others now considered mope fortunate. The difficulty lies in inadequate perceptions of the nature of the process of socio-economic change on which self-reliant and self-sustaining development and economic growth should rest. 1Mb raises the question of the adequacy or relevance of indicators of development and economic growth conventionally applied to

developing countries.

10. -Prom this point of view, the principal challenges facing least developed countries in Africa and those who undertake to help them.may be summarized as

follows:

(i) to develop as a matter of urgency a profounder grasp of the nature ' and dynamics of the processes of socio-economic change whioh will

lead to accelerated self-reliant and self-sustaining development economic growth. This will not be easy because of the very great intellectual pressures to conform to conventional notions

characteristic of the age of high finance capitalism, because of aid offered on thosr terms and because of the risk of social a»d

political instability;

(ii) to build up inventories of resources - natural, human and

institutional and to press on with their qualitative improvements

■^making the fullest use of bilateral and multilateral aid;

(iii) to build up a body of competent and perceptive planners, programmers,

project design and management teams as well as capability in

negotiating the exploration, extraction and exploitation of natural

resources especially for export;

(iv) to develop capabilities for identifying new development and economic growth potentials and for harnessing resources for their exploitation and for establishing new economic relations. There is little likelihood that tho problems of least developed countries can be resolved within the historically determined pattern of economic relations - with its extreme reliance on the accodental interest of transnationals operating global strategies in the extractive industries - or on the widely

accepted theory that development and economic growth oome mostly from

outside the system. '

11. In the light of the preceding arguments, it is clear that what tho least developed African countries need are alternative strategies, policies and instrumentation in relation to their (in some cases) special geographical position, their natural resources base, population characteristics and •

capability to identify problems, analyse them and oome up with viable solutions.

In effect, the least developed African countries are confronted with tlie. major

problem of capacity to take and implement autonomous decisions at an earlier

stage of planned socio-economic development:than has been the case with other .

countries where initiatives were mainly! ?.of external origin.

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12V--3oi3e illustrations'" rrould lielp* 'The first relates to the accidental ■ . :;r character of natural resources development for.export* The principal features of this jriode of development may "be described aB follows: ' -.

"(i)*: reliance on the Jd-volopraent of interest in search for an discovery ■'

■r- : • of exploitable natural resduroes by foreign private enterprises ■- '<■

'- ■■ (increasingly organized as transnational )a But to arouse such

"■'-'• interest such natural-resources must promise to be of considerable

"-'■■ '•■ bulk and1 sometimes higher quality-Relative to similar resources

v,.-.v ; -. ■■ elsewhere; ■ ' . ... ■ . :-

(ii) the expectation of shifts in cost and price parameters that will" ;

justify investment of the often very large financial resources

- required not only for the actual processes of extraction and first- >

stage processing but for on-site and off-site infrastructure required : for such extraction, transportation to port and shipping to markets; ana (iit)'" <the-determination and entry into terns and conditions for

-exploration, evaluation, extraction and processing which not only

■ permit increments to public" revenue and foreign-exchange of

' ": 'resources- of the host bountry but. provides for the whole complex of

activities'o serve: as a development and economic growth catalyst, i" HoW" far this" becomes possible'depends' on the host countrys ■:

1 *■ perceptions of real (manpower development, linkages, technology transfer: income generation and spread,, etc) as distinct :from

financial benefits.

B» Iti^riil be: obsepved. that the main charactoristios .of- the aftovrc' mod;p of development are; tho undertaking of the main1.'activities- including planning,

financing and marketing by the foreign partner and tho sharing in benefits "by

the* hrostveut '

14* TJnde'rlying these elements^ is the .asBumptidrt of conxinuotisly growing world demand for raw materials related to tho natural resource" endowments, of the countries concerned. There are two elements in world demand which affect such expectations. - The first is that the growth in world demand for raw material*

will .increasingly .be determined by the- rate and. direction of advance of; the TOiiird World in general: and the industrializing countries in'particularo This would include member" States Within the Region but the. general movement is likely to be "marked -^by th© traditional pattern of economic relations under whioh

industrial raw mate-rials are esportod by one member State for processing either in advanced1 and semi-advanced countries or in ^export platform^ countries and re-exported to the' same or other member States. An exe:ellentMllustration is the exploitation of the Region's forest resources for export, processing and re-export

to the Region.

15. The second-element is that the rapid advance in the .science a^i'technology-. ■■

of materials with; its widening scope for raw materials substitution ~ of which- v '-.

the petro-chemical industry is1 -Wig iito'st dutstanding example.« t'snds^o shift the ..

ge-ographical ■in^a'ct of external demand '£roa region to region.-dr couhtry to country

or oven from one "part tcs another withiw^tho same, country0. : ■ '■ / ■ '

16. It Is, of oour'seV "not unlikely that a^ least developed country may be endowed

with natural resources >suitablQ~ for exploitation for important doinestib useor^for

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export to "neighboring' countries "but lack the capability .to extract and market such

resources' or even to'search for such markets. In such circumstances, the practical solution would seem to "be the building up of multinational capabilities for under taking these ^asks and the determined use of bilateral and multilateral aid for these purposes. This is closely related to the ECA's efforts, to establish^ sub- -

regional mineral resouroes development oentres, specialized centres for servioes

in surveying and mapping and for training and user service in oar4;1', resources

telecommunications satelite (remote sensing techniques!);.to encourage the ■,-, ■

strengthening of-legislation machinery and negotiating capabilities in the field of mineral resources, the establishment of multinational mining and industrial. . development banks and generally to promote intra-regional trade in industrial raw materials.

17* The second illustration relates to another much admired mode of development and economic growth. Under the Lome Convention and other Generalized Systems of.

■Preference! advanced countries reduce import duties to permit developing countries to undertake higher levels of processing selected raw materials locally before export*- If the many qualifications to this picture are left aside, we can go on to note that many associated States, unable to undertake such processing themselves, are o'bliged to invite foreign enterprise to do it with the consequence that the .

financial gains which might' have accrued to the exporting country are absorbed in out-payments for imported factor inputs (including interest and profits). Indeed it is not unlikely that suoh outpayments may exceed the., presumed financial gains from domestic processing© The growth of outpayraents for such purposes, under the invisibles acoount, reduces the foreign exchange available for capital, formation, and the absence of even elementary forms of the capital goods industries. (eogo

foundriesi forges, other metal working establishments and policies and institutional

devices for promoting the local manufactures of parts, components and. accessories)

completes the picture of arrested development and growth

18* Yet, the benefits likely to accrue permanently to the exporting country lie

mainly in the effective transference.of managerial, technological and marketing

know-how and operative skills in such a way that these lib. be used either for later indigenous replication of processing units or for application elsewhere0 The

petroleum industry in at least one major oil-exporting country was, for example, used as a training ground, for nationals, who were later transferred to establish and

operate enterprises not only in such associated areas as petrochemicals but in

metals, engineering, textiles and the likec It was found that a surprising range of

know-how and skills in the oil industry wore directly-applicable to other areas or

could be made so with additional training and orientationc

19» In terms of cost/benefit analysis, the outpayments represent the oost,.of

acquiring these real benefits* Two closely related steps may be taken to reduce

such costs. Th& first is to regard the earliest plants ae training ground for the development of indigenous capabilities and .the second isi to restrict" , '.

replication to indigenously owned and Organized plants. It is not necessary to

permit the establishment of: half a dozen-foreign owne& textile plants in order to develop indigenous oapability in' the establishment and management of such plants.

20. Here again the effectiveness of this mode of development and economic growth depends on the perceptions of policy makers and planners, the firmness of policies and competence of institutions and the uses to which bilateral and multilateral

aid is put.

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21. Unlike the case of accidental discovery and exploitation for export of some natural resources, the present case is one of negotiated advantages which are

ill-understood and poorly exploitedo . .

22« The third illustration cor*ofcs.rns developing island countries scattered along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Africao Here, as elsewhere, the chief difficulty appears to lie not in the lack of development and economic growth potential "but in the powerful habit of examing comparative advantage in terms of traditional

economic activities,. African developing island countries stand in the-midst of

enormous resources of fish and Crustacea c-urrently being extensively exploited by

fishing fleets from several advanced countries*. Imports of fish and Crustacea into sixteen countries in the region, for which consistent infornaticn 1b available-,-hare

risen be,twean .1970 and 1975 frcrc $US52 million to $USl89 million. It-is not

unreasonable to suggest that these island States could become, within eoonomic „ co-operation arrangements with neighbouring coastal and even inland States*; major centres for the fishing industry equipped with facilities for storage, processing, handling, repairs and maintenance and marine biological researcho Repair^.and, maintenance traditionally provide the basis for establishing industries for..the,-.- manufacture of parts, components and accessories,, It is even conceivable that richer mainland States can provide investment finance for developments of this kind on a mutually satisfactory basis which will promote that complementarity ■;

of development so markedly missing in the Begionc ■■■..-

23« An important role could also be played by island countries in providing the physical base for monitoring and other activities of nearby main]and States connected with the discharge of responsibilities arising from the Law of = the Sea

convention when finally agreed upon. ,

24* The particular case of land-locked least developed countries calls for some ■ comment* As is well known, there are many highly developed land-looked oountries in many of the world's continents* Their achievement has in the main been due to a vigilant and continuous reappraisal and exploitation of the advantages of their position. They have contrived to make themselves interi. -tional transport cross

roads.; establish strong economic links with their neighbours and to seve as a ■

platform for national and international business to reach surrounding markets without difficulty. They have been able to reach beyond tbe. sea through the

development of air transport particularly for cargo freight*...,

25« Land-locked least developed countries therefore have considerable interest in the development of a regional inter-modal surface transport network such as is .

envisaged in the Transport and Communications Decade Plan for Africa, in the

multinational development of civil, aviation, particularly of air-freighting and ,in transport and trade facilitation.* Some of these land--loeked least developed- ■.

countries are also capable of considerable expansion of food production for export

not only to neighbouring countries but even to distant member States utilizing air

freighting. They should thus constitute a,powerful pressure, group for the detailed

spelling, out and implementation of the■Regional Pood Plan for. Africa, Teohnical

assistance would thus be sought to appraise both their potential for production

and available markets both within and without the Regiom

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26.';;t ^e'preceding arguments are intended to Establish a framework for and fresh perBpe^'td.V'Bs in considering not only "baaio structural issues such as self—reliance) seiftMustainment, the greater integration of national socio-economic systems,

international economic relations "but also to re-examine the principal technical factors affecting production awi distribution* viz» manpower» natural resources

(including soils and water),'technblogyt finance, capital "goods and services,

markets (domestic, multinational, regional and extra-Afrioan) and marketing as well

as a broad concept of infra-structure, i.e0 the set of physical and institutional

facilities essential for take-off into self-sustaining development and economic

growth* _ . :■'...■''■

27. It is not intended to examine these issues in great detail here — the intention

is to emphasize that, in the secretariat's view the considerations which determine

the definition of problems and the formulation of solutions in these areas in regard to £hto Region as a whole take on a particular colour in relation to least developed

member States. This applies for example to the subject of manpower development, education and training philosophies and methods, as related not only to the cost of education but to increases in tho: out-of-schopl population and to drop-outs.

Similarly, one of the crucial questions in the transfer of technology - the supply,

'sgctcasaardistribution, quality and orientation of the potential recipients, users

.: and a#$,pters - and of what measures could be taken (e.g* business support

institutions) to enable.them to function-adequately assumes greater complexity and

urgency. This would also apply, to the range, quality and functions of public utilities and other public enterprises©

28. Again the role of standardization and bulk purchasing in mobilizing homogeneous

demand to encourage complementary production acquires more precise and more urgent vStudy and application. The concept of international trade- not as a means of

gaining access to foreign markets or to acquire larger supplies of foreign exchange but as: the mechanism for securing ownership or user rights over those components of

development and eoonomic growth processes (as visualized and planned) which are not

available within the system for import-and combination with those that aref acquires greater,and more immediate significance for capabilities in national planning,

programming,, project design, planning and managementr negotiating international trade and other agreements*, ISy implication it affects not only planning and programming techniques but also the way in which planners, programmers, members of project design teams, and project managers are educated and trained.

29* Two points will have become obvious from preceding paragraphs: first that

. far:greater demands will be placed on leaders, policy-makers, planners and

advisers of least developed countries for imaginative and innovative thinking in regard:to material and social technology than may be required elsewhere; secondly, least developed countries will have,to work harder at ths underlying rationale and mechanics: of intra^-rcgional co-operation than other member States. In

particular, they.will need.to define the operational implications and identify -

if not quantify -the substance of net .benefits to be shared among co-operating partners, and to set realistic limits to the problem of quantification. Again, both in respect of national economic policy and of economic co-operation

■arrangements, least developed countries need particular sophistication and vigilance regarding tho aims and operations of foreign transnationals.

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30. Enough has now, "been said to convey some sense of the extent to whioh the secretariat of the EGA diverges from conventional studies and analyses of the problems of least developed countries in Africa«■ The most striking differences may "be said to be in:

(i) the emphasis on increasing self-sustainment and increasing

self-reliance;1 .

(it) the. orientation towards intra-African co-operation;.

(iii) the conviction that least developed countries still have the

opportunity to avoid the sometimes traumatic mistakes of other countries and that there are resources and opportunities whioh : conventional patterns of thinking effectively conceal and which

makes counsel: of despair irrelevant and dangerous; and

(iv) the emphasis on the relevance rather than the sheer volume of aid*

Conclusions and Recommendations

31 • '• The weight of. the least developed African countries both in the group of all

the. world least developed and in that of African countries has been clearly indi#ated

in the preoeeding sections. The fact that other African countries may still t>e

added to the list further highlights the urgency of the attention which the

Commission needs to devote to the problems of these countrieso In this coanexioni the secretariat should like to recommend the following measures for consideration by the committee*

32. First| the problems of the least developed African countries should receive a concentrated attention during the Third United Hations Development Decade* Towards this end, it is suggested that at every meeting of the Conference of Ministers the problems of the least developed. African countries should always be one of the

items of the agenda, and that for the purpose, of preparing a review of the problems

and the measures taken to solve them for consideration by the Ministers, a meeting of the representatives of the least developed African countries should always be held shortly before the meeting of the Conference of Ministers.

33. Secondly, and as the first step in institutionalizing the meetings of the respresentatives of the least developed African countries, it is suggested that a

well-planned1high level meeting of the representatives of the least developed

African countries be held in 1979* For obvious reasons, the issued raised in this paper cannot be sufficiently dealt with here now since they call for serious and deep considerations as basis for action-oriented programmes. Therefore the high

level meeting being'suggested here will consider broad strategic issues and propose

suggestions for common approaches to the problems of the land-locked least.developed,

island least developed and other least developed African countries. Organizations and donor countries which have been providing assistance to the least developed countries, will also be invited to attend such meetings*,

34. One other reason for such a meeting, is that it will provide opportunity ■for

the least developed countries of the region to come together for the first time

to discuss matters of mutual interest.

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35. This meeting will, it is expected, be followed by -others at a technical l»vel to spell out and if possible quantify, in concrete terms, forms-and kinds of

technical assistance which will constitute an important part of the negotiations of Lom£ II and other international consultations and negotiations that are bound to come up in the framework of the Third United Nations Development Deoade, 36. Finally, in view of the heavy and continuous technical work and monitoring activities that are required in connection with the development problems of the least developed African countries during the Third United Hations Development Decade, the time has now come for the secretariat of the Commission to be designated as the monitoring agency in the African region. Such a role will not only be in agreement with the decision of the General Assembly in its resolution 32/197 that "the regional commissions should be enabled fully to play their role under the authority of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council as the main general and economic and social development oentres within the United Nations system for their respective regions, having due regard to the responsibilities of the specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies in specific sectoral fields and the coordination role of the the United Nations Development Programme (UHDP) in respect of technical cooperation activities" but also with the role that is envisaged for the

^°^ri context of international negotiationso In this connexion.

ft tt + t T+?B&Tl f°r thS CofflffiiBSion *o request the Secretary-General of

the United Nations to provide resources for the establishment of a small unit in the secretariat to be responsible for this teohnioal and monitoring

activities. Such a unit will also service all the Commission's meetings connected with the problems of the least developed African countries.

37. Annexed are extracts from ECA work programme and priorities which

1st ^tion8^? **»« ihQ strategies *nd Policies outlined in this pape

ECA ongoing activities m respect of the least developed African countries.

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Annex LMEX

ECA Assistance to the Least Developed African countries.

Introduction ■

r l«.-.v-T9OAr.activities in re&peut; of i.hj least developed African countries are of two 1ypes:: activities which are carried out within the framework of programmes and projects, designed for the members States as a whole, ahd activities specifically designed.for the least developed countries alone• Urifortunately, not muoh has teen

■ done in the area of the latter group of activxtieso

General Activities involving the Least Developed African countries - ' ''■■ Economic Cooperation and Integration '

2. One main activities "being implemented under economic cooperation and integration are centred around the programmes of work and priorities of the MJLPOCs -(ECA

Multinational Programming and Operating Centres).

3« 'In the eastern and southern African snbregion, activities are now going on on the establishment of a preferential trade area and clearing and payment arrangements

among its seventeen member States: Angola, Botswana* Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Ifalawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Swaziland, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Jfedagascar, I&uritius, Ccmorcs, Seychelles and Zambia of which eight are least

developed African countries^

4« .So-far the ministers of trade, planning, finance and transport and communications have met to arrive at a declaration of intent and the intergovernmental negotiating team had met to-decide -on the need for two protocols: one on roles of origin and the other on transport and communications which the secretariat is now drafting,

5« ■ The .secretariat has also assisted the secretariat of ECOWAS in its ongoing activities connected "with'studies as basis for planning in the ECOWAS region of which seven are least developed African "-ountries.

International Trade and Finance

6» Under the UHDP financed project « Multilateral trade negotiations (lOT) which is being implemented in collaboration with UNCTAD, a systematic effort has been made to, identify all the non-tariff barriers facing the exports of the least

developed countries and to assist in pressing for their removal o*: lowering in the context of. the MEff# Special missions were mounted to least developed-countries in the Southern African subregion with a view to gathering information <mproblems faced by them in the 3OT and to determining their assistance needso Particular attention was also given to these problems in the two Regional African Seminars

organized within the framework of the projects :

7o Activities conducted under the project on the problems, of transit trade with

special reference to the land-locked countries included a major study financed by

the Federal Swiss Government on transit trade problems faced by the Eastern and

Central African States followed by a meeting of representatives of these States in

197°« There are nine least developed countries in the groupo

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Annex Page 2

Water Resources Development

8. Advisory Services were provided to the Central African Etapire on the

reorganization of its hydrogeological service, the strengthening of the governmental services dealing with water and the organization of a programme for collection and evaluation of hydrological datao Advisory services were provided to Gambia on the promotion of the application of modern techniques in drilling and a' number of ground water projects were also proposed. Advisory services were also provided to Somalia

on the establishment of a hydrogeological service. Other least developed African countries to which advice was given on hydrogeological services are Tfelawi

and Uganda. ■ ' ■

9» Survey and study missions on ground water resources were also carried out in Niger, Central African Empire and Somalia.

■ Mineral Resources Development

10. The major activities under mineral resources development which benefit the least developed, and other African countries are the establishment of mineral •.

resources development centres and the remote sensing satellite ground receiving

and data processing centreee ' \ '

11» The most advanced mineral resources development centre is.that for the eastern and southern Afrioan region situated in Dodoma, Tanzania. The Inaugural Jfeetiag of the Governing Council was held in Dar-es-Salaam in September 1977, when the basie documents constituting the legal framework for the activities of the Centret its objectives, programmes and budgets were approved^ The Governing Council meeting was..immediately followed by a meeting of potential donors,-, Important

contributions were pledged by the Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Federal Republic of Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. A contribution from UNDP amounting to US$1,200,000 during the period 197&-1981 had been-obtained, apart

from the funds for the preliminary phase (mid 1978 - mid .1979). of the project.

12. The Director General and the Chief Technical Adviser of the Centre have assumed their duties during the first quarter of I9780

13» In respect of remote sensing techniques, the training and user assistance centre in Ouagadougou is now in operation. By December 19771 two staff members were on board and the first batch of students have started their training. For the next five years, three donor countries namely USA, iFrance and. Canada have agreed in principle to alocate the following sums of money: USA, $US4i324jOO0,

Prance, $US2,O63»OO0 and Canada $US5,383,000o

14* With respect to establishment of the training and user assistance centre in Nairobi, arrangements have already been made with the Regional Centre for Services in Surveying and Mapping, Nairobi. The United States Government through AID has agreed to donate $US2,44O,OOO for the next three years. The Director for the Centre, and three other staff members are already in post .and arrangements are in hand to recruit the rest. Equipment has already arrived in Nairobi.

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Cartography

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15. The projects in the field of cartography are geared to assisting the least developed countries of the region to develop capability to carry out tasks in surveying and mapping of their own states which are essential for development strategy; In order to achieve this objective, a regional centre for training in aerial surveys was established at Ile-Ifef Nigeria. The founder participating

states are: Benin, Ghana* Nigeria and Senegal and very soon more countries, members

" of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will join. So far

"s-tfuderits at this bilingual Centre, taking courses in photogrammetry and photo-

' interpretation have come from 11 African countries namely: Algeria, Benin, Burundi,

""■"Central African Empire, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia j- Sudan and

Zaire„ ECA continues to assist the Centre through acquiring bilateral technical

■ assistance both for teaohing staff as well as equipment.

16m The Regional Centre for Services in Surveying and Ifepping at Nairobi, Kenya was established to enable the countries in the East African subregion to carry out

specialized surveys and produce maps for their countries at a manageable cost rather

than to rely on foreign contractors who in most cases charge excessively'beyond the

ability1 of these African countries. The Centre can now be said to be firmly

established with the participation of: Kenya, Malawi, Somalia, Tanzania; and Uganda, It is hoped countries such as Burundi, Ethiopia and others will join*

-'■ "" ' ■ Population Problems

17» The first part of the project on studies on the types, volume and trends in migratory movement in Africa is now being implemented in 9 West African countries including Ifoli, Niger and Upper Volta. Tfte main objectives o_f the studies are to examine the various casual factors of migration in the countries and to examine critically the pattern and level of movement associated with the drought. The results of the studies will be made available to the countries concerned.

Civil Aviation ■ ■

18, Under the project on investigations into air freight aspects of trade : development among developing countries, preliminaiy investigations have been

carried out in Botswana, Burundi, Kenya, 'Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda,

Sudan, Zaire and Zambia, with emphasis on the exploitation of foreign markets

■' capable of absorbing African agricultural, horticultural, mineral and certain finished products.

Integrated Rural Development

19, A prefeasibility study on the ongoing rural reconstruction programmes in the Mbeya region of Tanzania and the Northern Province of Zambia was carried out in 1977 with a view to (i) identifying the resource base and other factors which

! might be relevant in deciding on the location of specific rural settlements and

related agricultural projects in these areas; (ii) evaluating the ongoing*

programmes in the project areas in order to facilitate the formulation of future

projects; (iii) identifying possible sources of domestic and external resources;

(iv) ascertaining the possibility of exchanging experiences between the two

countries, and (v) assisting the Governments of the two countries in the

preparation and implementation of complementary multinational integrated rural

development programmes aimed at creating viable rural settlements in the project area.

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Page 4 .

20* On "behalf of the member States of CUSS, an investigation was carried out in 1977 into the strategy of preservation, utilization and development of human resources taking into account the needs and constraints of modern economic and social.

development* ,

21* In 1976, assistance was given to the government of Ethiopia in evaluating the ,

Agri-service/Ethiopia programme in Wolayta (Sidamo region).

22. In the past few years, case studies and comparative evaluation of the policy, - planning, organisation} administration and financing of rural development programme

as well as the examination of current models (package systems, 'ujaama1 villages,

'self-reliant* zonal development systems? "growth poles", etc*) adopted "by African countries have been carried out in the following countries - Mali (Upper Valley of Niger 'Operation1), Burundi (integrated rural development project of Mosso - Cankuzo), Sudan (social development in Ghezira), and Malawi (Shire Valley agricultural

development). These studies were carried out in collaboration with such governments

and agencies as the French Government, ISABU, HCR, ILO, IADR, USAID and UEDP*

23» In 1976, in collaboration with the Pan-African Institute of Development (PAID)

of Cameroon,' a workshop on the methodology and practice of integrated rural development was organized in which Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius., Somalia,Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia participated*

24» In 1977» also in collaboration with PAID, a national seminar; for district level personnel and researchers in the methodology and practice of integrated rural

development was organized for Rwanda.

Integration of Women .in Development.

25« In August 1977V and at the request of the ministry of (Local Government and

Lands of Botswana, assistance was given in the programmes on (i) Day-care Centres and (ii) Vocational Training for women and girlso As a result, a project proposal

for a day—care centre programme was prepared and submitted to UHICEF whioh has accepted to fund it*

26 . An expert in village technology fr-om the African Training and Research Centre

for Women (ECA): has begun a pilot project on appropriate technology through the

introduction of post-harvesting equipment to the Gambia*' ECA will .purohase the equipment for. installation in the Gambia where its impact will-be evaluated with a view to identifying possibilities for extending its use in, o*fcher places. A full description of the project is contained in the publication "Appropriate

Technology for Women", 1978* Funds for the projeot have been provided "by UBICEF*

27 • An expert in :tie-dye was sent to Lesotho in 197&-77 to give a course to

Lesotho women, under the African Women's. Development Task Force* The Expert worked with more than 2,000 trainees, and follow-up projeots emerged in the member State, including the plans made by the Lesotho National Development Corporation to help

women to start a tie—dye co-operative shop* The aim of the Task .Force is to

encourage TCDC by sharing the underutilized skills and capacities. of women in the Region* Funding for this project was provided by

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28. ; A "Schsultancy service on Commissions and Bureaux for the integration of women in develojSmenT'Was provided to the Government of Lesotho in August 1978« '■-:

29. A project on the extraction of salt has been started in Niger with a view tov providing appropriate technology for women who have "been using laborious methods to perform this task. UNICEF has provided financial assistance and-the Intermediate Technology Development Group is providing consultation and technical assistance©

30. With funds from UNICEF, hand-operated grinding mills have been sent to 32 villages in Upper-Volta to improve the productivity of women engaged in milling

activities and' to alleviate their onerous work. An evaluation study will follow

the introduction of the mills with a view to assessing their suitability and the • possibilities of introducing them to other countrieso

31« With funds from UUICEF, a study on the socio-economic impact of new water

supplies upon women in the Gurage area of Ethiopia was carried out in 1976* A

national was used as a consultant for the project.

32. Under a grant from the government of Belgium) a survey on women's handicrafts is now being carried out in Mali.

33.\ Under a grant from ILO and SIDA to establish a handicrafts and small-scale industries Unit at ECA| arrangements have been made to undertake a feasibility survey and inventory of women employment in Jfeli. A similar study supported by USA£D has been carried out in Sudan in connection with the activities of'the Soba Centre, near Khartoum, an institution for the training of women for wag6 and self- employment; These studies and similar ones which are being oarried out in other African countries sometimes by national consultants are expected to provide data base for the expansion of income-generating activities for women in Afrioao

34* There is an acute shortage of information on national bibliographies on African women and development To redress this situation, a research project to prepare

bibliographies of publications on women and development in Africa has now been mounted*

Work is-already going on in the least developed African countries of Malawi and the

United Republic of "Tanzania. The Ford Foundation is funding the project* .

35* - A similar project which is also being sponsored by the Ford Foundation is the study on statistical indicators on the integration of women in development* This project has arisen from the current feeling and realization that existing measures of development do not reflect acurately the contributions of women to socio-

economic aspects" of life. Work is going on iii the least developed African countries of Ife-li and the United Republic of Tanzania. :

36. As part Of the general activities on the integration of women in development, a series of seminars on national machineries for the integration of women in development has been organized and is being organized for African oountrieso The least developed African countries that have benefited from such seminars are Benin, Burundi, Gambia, Lesotho, Rwanda and Sudan. The seminars are being financed by USAH).

37- Similarly, itinerant training programme workshops to improve the conditions of

rural life have been mounted. Countries that have benefited from suoh workshops

include Somalia (with financial assistance from FAO and the Government of the

Netherlands), Rwanda (with financial assistance from FAO, UHICEF and the Government

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Annex Page 6 .

of ihe Federal Republic of Genrany), United Republic of Tanzania (witi financial assistance from UMCEF and FAO)S Upper Vol'ca (with financial assistance from FAO»

UNICEF and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany), Gambia (with

financial assistance from FAO and the Lovernment of the Zederal Republic of

Germany), Benin (with financial assistance from FAO, UNICEF and IPPF), Ifeli (with financial assistance from PAO and the Belgiv.n Government) and Central African Empire (with financial assistance from FAO, the Government of the

Federal Republic of Germany and UMICEF)o . . .

38* With financial assistance from the Government of the Federal Republic of

Germany) Carnagie Foundation and the International Cooperative Alliance, a workshop

on the promotion of handicrafts and small-scale industries through cooperatives was held in Kenya in 1977 * The least developed African countries which participated in the workshop were Ethiopia and Lesotho. A simiar workshop which was organized in Cameroon also in 1977 was attended by Burundi and Ghadu

39* Under cooperative arrangements with UUICEF, a workshop on Day—care was held in Kenya in 1977 and the following African least developed countries participated:

Botswana, Gambia, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda*

40. A study tour entitled "Voyage d'etude au Kenya", to study the Programme for

Better Family Living (PBFL) and other programmes and projects related to women and

development in Kenya was organized in March 1977o Least developed African countries which participated in the tour were Burundi, Comorosj United Republic of Tanzania- - and Uganda. The tour which is part of the women centred sponsored tours for ' participants from EGA member States to visit model projects particularly related to better family living and income-generating activities in other African countries was assisted financially by UUFPA, FAO and UEtfCEF,

41* As part of the activities of the African Women's Development Task Force, a tie-dye course was held in' Cameroon in 1977 at which Jfeli and Upper Volta

participatedo . . '' . .

42* One other type of assistance iliat ,:a.s given bo the Eoba Centre for training women, near Khartoum in 1976 was a workshop for trainers of rural women leaders.

FAO and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany gave financial assistance.

43* A workshop on food preservation and storage was held in Kibahas Tanzania in 1976» The workshop which was financially assisted by UHICEF and FAO taught wotnen participants innovative methods of food preservation and storage to reduce post- harvest wastage and increase food stores^ Participants took part in the building of appropriate devices in the course of the workshop*

44« Witb assistance from the Voluntary Fund for the Decade for Women, a workshop on the preparation and implementation of project proposals for women involved in

programme planning was organized in Tanzafiia in .1978?

45. An itinerant training workshop on population sud"- family life is scheduled for late 1978 in Benin in cooperation with International Planned Parenthood Federation^

This part of the itinerant training''Workshop programme wa3 initiated in 1973 in response to requests by member States for assistance in in-service training :of personnel for planning, implementing and supervising training of middle level trainers. The present series is based on specialized topics at the request of member States of 3CAO

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IMPORTS OP FISH, FISH PREPARATIONS AMD CRUSTACEA OF SIXTEEN DEVELOPING AFRICAN COUNTRIES FOR WHICH CONSISTENT

INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. 1970 and 1975 (Thousands of U«S« dollars)

1Q70

1975

Country

Central African Empire

Congo Egypt Ethiopia Gabon Ghana

Ivory Coast Liberia Malawi Nigeria Togo Uganda

United Republic of Cameroon United Republic

of Tanzania Zaire

Zambia

Fisfc fresh

& simply prepared

(incl»crustacea and

niolluses)

111 2012 178

56

466

1257 2319

189 143

3528 1247

50

1713

299

12538 3227

Fish in air tight contai ners & fish preparations

(inclecrus-

tacea and

nolluses)

306 440 730 220

575 12325 997

522 120

564 198

32

783 249 3975

778

Total

417

2452 908

276

1041 13582 3316

711 263

4092

1445

82

2496

548 16513

4005

Fish fresh