Draft terms of reference for the joint conference of African planners, staticians and deomographers

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UNITED NATIONS

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

ECONOI'IIC OJMMISSION FOil AFilICA

First session of the Joint Conference of African Planners, Statisticians and Demographers

Addis Ababa,

24

March - 2 April 1980

Distr.

Lll"ITED

E!CN• l.4!PSD.l!l 7 November 1979 Original: ENGLISH

DRAFT TERi.iS OF REFERENCE FOR THE JOINT CONFERENCE OF AFRICAN PLANNERZ, STATISTICIANS AND DEl,DGRAPHERS

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INTaOlJUCTION

As the Joint Conference has only just been established, it seems

inappropriate to suggest detailed terms of reference. It is better that the work of the Conference _sho~ld develop in a natural manner on the basis of

opera~i0n~1experience.

" The folloHing draft therefo~e attempts to identi:t:y the main fWlctions of the Conference in general terms and to specify escential organizational arransc"

me~ts as simply as possible.

Iciere detailed. tcrms of reference can be established in the future if the Conference considers th~n necessary.

DilAFT TERti,S OF REFt;RENCE

1. The Joint Conference of African Planners, Statisticians and Demographers, acting within the framework of the policies and procedures of the United Nations and subject to the general supervision of the Economic Commission for Africa, shall, provided that the Conference takes no action with respect to any country without the agreement of the Government of that country:

(a) serve as a forum for examining progress and problems in the fields of African planning, statistics and population and take action to ensure their development in the light of the general principles of self-reliance and technical co-operation among countries of the region;

(b) establish arrangaaents for the improvement of all aspects of methodology in the three fields under African conditions;

(c) ensure training of the necessary African personnel in planning, statistics and demography

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(d) COllaborate with the secretariat in evaluating economic, social and demographic conditions in the region to assist in formulating appropriate strategies and monitoring their implementation;

(e) conduct its operations in collaboration with other relevant bodies and international agencies.

2. The members of the Conference shall be the government officials in charge of the national planning, statistical and population aGencies of the member States of the Economic Comaission for Africa, or their representatives.

Representation of all other Governments and bodies shall follow the same rules as for sessions of the Economic Commission for Africa.

3.

The Conference shall meet once every hID years, with its first session being held in

1980,

and shall report on its sescions to the Conference of Ministers of the Economic Commission for Africa.

4.

Work at sessions of the Conference shall be organized in plenary meetings and in three Committees of Planners, Statisticians and Demographers. A joint report on plenary and committee meetings shall be agreed at a final plenary meeting of each session of the Conference.

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This includes the functions requested in the statutes of the African Institute for _~onomic Development and Planning (IDEP) which shall be exercised by the Comm1ttee of Planners established in paragraph

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of the Terms of Reference.

5. At the beginning of each session, the Conference shall elect a Chairman, two Vi.ce-Chainnen and a rtapporteur. At the beginning of ite meeting each Committee shall appoint its Chairman, two Vice-Chairmen and a Rapporteur.

6. Member States and agencies shall bear the cost of their attendance at the sessions of the Conference.

7. Except as provided for herein, tb,e Rules of Procedure of the Economic Commission for Africa shaLL, where relevant, apply to the sessions of the Conference.

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