Introduction of the Arabic language as the third working language of the Economic Commission for Africa

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA

4 January 1978

INTRODUCTION OF THE ARABIC LANGUAGE AS THE THIRD WORKING LANGUAGE OF THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA

Following the decision "by the Third Conference of Ministers

(12th Session) of the Economic Commission for Africa, held in February 1975 in Nairobi and supported by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, the General Assembly approved in its Hesolution 319O(XXVIIl) the Arabic language as the third working language of the Commission. (Resolu tions annexed). Unfortunately, because of the severe constraints imposed by lack of resources in the United Nations system only a very limited number of posts have been provided to the Commission for the implementation of this

decision by the General Assembly.

At the Fourth Meeting of the Conference of Ministers of ECA

(13th Session) held at Kinshasa from 24 February to 3 March 1977, the dele

gations of the Arab member countries of the ECA expressed their concern at the fact that the documents for the conference were not available in the Arabic language. The Executive Secretary of the ECA promised to do his best to see that the Arabic language would be effectively used as a third working language of the Commission by the time the Fifth Conference of Ministers is

convened in 1979.

After thorough evaluation of this problem, it has been realized that in the light of the budgetary situation, it would >e very difficult for ECA to fully introduce the Arabic language as a third working language of ECA unless extra-budgetary resources are received to supplement the meagre re sources which ECA has for this purpose from the UN regular budget. For 1978/

1979 biennal budget period the ECA has been provided from the UN regular budget with two posts of Arabic translators and two posts of Arabic typists, which fall far short of the requirements for full and effective performance

of the Translation Unit of the ECA Secretariat. The attached working sheet

with the detailed calculations of the requirements for staffing of the Arabia

Translation Unit, as well as for purchase of dictionaries, reference books,

dictaphones, typewriters and the initial cost for travel of the newly recruited

candidates would amount to US$ 786,050 for 1978. The requirements for 1979 and

- 2 -

It would be advisable to recuirt the Arabic staff at least for three years fixed-term period in order to ensure continuity and a high stan dard of candidates for translators as well as for general service personnel.

The total amount of money required for the full staffing of the Arabic Trans lation Unit and its equipment would thus equal to US$ 2,130,975,

In addition the Executive Secretary was asked by the Fourth Confe rence of Ministers (l3th Session) in Resolution 294(ZIIl) to provide Language Training cervices and facilities for the staff of ECA so that they can be pro ficient in the Arabic language in addition to the French and English langua ges. To equip and staff ECA language laboratory properly for this will cost an additional sum of US$ 75,700 per annum. This adds up to US$ 227,100 for the three year period 1978-80.

The total resources to be covered from the extra-budgetary sources will equal to 786,0^0.

ESTIMATEDCOSTFORESTABLISHMENTWITHINECASECRETARIATOFARABUTRANSLATIONUNIT

EstimatedCostofPostsinUSt TotalCostperYearinUS$ ProvidedfromUNRegularbud-]getinUS$ TobecoveredfromExtra-budgetaryResourcesinUS$

;I.StaffReviser(P-4)

S Translators (P-3) Six

Sub-total-15postsCommorstaffcost(40f>)

Sub-total

"II.EstimatedcottofreproductionofECAtDocumentsinArabic

HIX,EstimatedcoetoftwoArabicInterpretersServicingECAMeetings

12Meetingsperyear

oIV.AcquisitionofDictionaries,ReferenceBocksandEquipment(a)DictionariesandReferenceBooksi(b)Dictaphones-twelve(c)Typewriters-four 33,00025,6005,0005,0005,000

Sub-total

VDInitialTravel

11candidate&x8,000

VI.ArabiclanguegeTrainingTeachers(tvo)1080h/yearat10US/hEquipmentardmaterials

Sub-total 66,000153,60020,0005,00010,000254,600101,840356,440298,86084,00010,0004,0002,70016,70088,000

10,80095,000

949,800 51,20010,00061,20024,80086,00040,000

5,0001,0001,350

7,350

5,40025,000

163,750 66jOOO102,40010,0005,00010,000

193,400

77,040

270,440

258,860

84,000

5,0003,0001,350

9,350

88,000

5,40070,000

786,050

For1978

For1979($786,©50less$9,350forDictionariesetc...,-less$88,000forinitialtravel,andless$70,000forequipment)

ForI960

Sub-Total

(Plus10focontingencies,includinginflationaryfactors)

TCTA1forthreeyears 786,050618,700618,700

2,023,450

202,345

2,225,795