| United Nations | A/48/334 |
General Assembly
Distr. GENERAL
22 September 1993
ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH
Forty-eighth session
Item 24 of the provisional agenda*
* A/48/150 and Corr.1.
UNITED NATIONS NEW AGENDA FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF AFRICA IN THE 1990s
Report of the Secretary-General
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
I. INTRODUCTION ......................................... 1 - 7 3
II. GLOBAL FACTORS RELEVANT TO THE SUCCESSFUL
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS NEW AGENDA FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA IN THE 1990s ............... 8 - 23 5
1. The world economy ................................ 8 - 11 5
2. The commodity issue .............................. 12 - 13 5
3. Trends in international cooperation for
development ...................................... 14 - 17 6
4. The Uruguay Round and international trade
relations ........................................ 18 - 22 7
5. South/South cooperation .......................... 23 8
III. MAJOR ACTIONS IN SUPPORT OF AFRICAN SOCIO-ECONOMIC
RECOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT ............................. 24 - 51 8
1. Promoting the implementation of the New Agenda ... 24 - 29 8
2. Promoting economic growth, environmental
management and supporting poverty alleviation
programmes ....................................... 30 - 44 9
3. Promoting subregional and regional economic
cooperation and integration ...................... 45 - 48 12
4. Addressing emergencies ........................... 49 - 51 13
IV. SPECIFIC ELEMENTS OF CONCERN WITHIN THE AFRICAN REGION 52 - 78 13
1. Overall economic situation and outlook ........... 52 - 56 13
2. Population pressures ............................. 57 - 60 14
3. The weak human resource base ..................... 61 - 69 16
4. Resource gap in financing Africa's economic
recovery and development ......................... 69 - 72 17
5. African socio-political transition ............... 73 - 78 18
V. REINFORCING THE BASIS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
NEW AGENDA ........................................... 79 - 89 20
1. At the African national and regional levels ...... 79 - 89 20
2. At the level of the international community ...... 90 - 94 22
3. At the level of the United Nations ............... 95 23
4. Coordination and harmonization for enhanced
cooperation in the implementation of the New
Agenda ........................................... 96 - 99 23
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The economic and social crisis confronting Africa throughout the 1980s
has continued into the 1990s and has been compounded by emergencies brought
about by severe droughts and social turmoil. Among the adverse factors that
impaired the actions taken by both African countries and the international
community for the continent's socio-economic recovery are: structural
handicaps including the excessive fragmentation of the continent in terms of
political and economic units; the heavy dependence of the African economies on
few primary export commodities; inadequate human resources and weak
institutional capacities to support and sustain the development process from
within; the unfavourable international environment and more especially the
deteriorating terms of trade, the burden of debt servicing and the stagnating
flow of external resources; and the continuing high rate of population growth.
Moreover, most African countries also entered the decade of the 1990s
confronted by multiple environmental crises. These, among other factors, have
led to a marked reduction in the current capacity of the land, as well as
destruction of its biological potential. The social consequences have been,
inter alia, increasingly skewed income distribution, rising open and disguised
unemployment and widespread poverty.
2. It was against this background that the African countries, collectively
and together with the international community, adopted plans and strategies
aimed at arresting the trend of socio-economic decline experienced by many of
them. Specifically, during the 1980s, many countries embarked on
Stabilization and Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs), largely supported
by the international donor community led by the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and the World Bank. In addition, the United Nations Programme of Action
for African Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990 was unanimously
adopted by the General Assembly at its thirteenth special session (resolution
S/13-2 of 1 June 1986).
3. In its assessment of the implementation of the Programme of Action the
General Assembly, at its forty-sixth session, concluded that the results
achieved fell short of the expectations of both African countries and the
international community. The circumstances that had led to its adoption still
prevailed. The General Assembly, therefore, adopted a new initiative, the
United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s
(resolution 46/151 of 18 December 1991, annex, part II). The New Agenda
constitutes a renewed commitment to African development based on the principle
of shared responsibility and full partnership between Africa and the
international community. African Governments and people reiterated their
primary responsibility for their development and the international community
expressed its commitment to give "full and tangible support to the African
effort".
4. The Agenda clearly defines the respective responsibilities of African
countries, of the international community at large and of the United Nations
system as follows:
(a) African countries, individually and collectively, should aim at
achieving the economic reforms necessary for sustainable growth and
development, promoting subregional and regional cooperation and integration;
intensifying the democratization process and giving due consideration to key
elements such as the human dimension, population, environment, agriculture and
food security; and revitalizing South/South cooperation and the role of
non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
(b) Actions expected from the international community at large include
the search for a solution to the debt problem, the provision of additional
resources and the support of African efforts towards economic diversification
and integration;
(c) The United Nations system is expected to play a major role,
especially through implementing specific programmes consistent with the
objectives of the Agenda and mobilizing and devoting adequate resources for
their implementation.
5. A major difference from the earlier programme is that the New Agenda has
set specific targets to be achieved in the 1990s. These include a desirable
average annual growth rate of GDP of at least 6 per cent per annum and a
minimum of US$ 30 billion in net Official Development Assistance (ODA) in
1992, after which GDP would need to grow at an average rate of 4 per cent
per annum.
6. The broad objectives of the New Agenda are shared by other international
and regional action programmes, including the Cartagena Commitment adopted by
the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at its eighth
session, Agenda 21 on Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development, the Programme of Action for the
Least Developed Countries for the 1990s, the World Bank Special Programme of
Assistance for Africa, the United Nations Population Fund Strategy of
Assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa, the African Capacity-Building Initiative
(ACBI), the United Nations Transport and Communications Decade for Africa, the
Industrial Development Decade for Africa, the Priority Africa Programme of the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and
the Abuja Treaty establishing the African Economic Community (AEC). Actions
towards the successful implementation of the New Agenda and those programmes
are therefore mutually reinforcing.
7. In conformity with the established follow-up machinery, the present
report is the first of a series provided for in paragraph 43 of the New
Agenda. As a preliminary assessment, two years after its adoption, the report
focuses on an overview of the global factors relevant to the successful
implementation of the Agenda; a review of major actions taken in support of
African socio-economic recovery and development; the analysis of elements of
concern within the Africa region; and actions required for reinforcing the
basis for the implementation of the Agenda, in addition to the activities
already initiated and contributions made by various development agencies and
organizations, especially in the United Nations system.
II. GLOBAL FACTORS RELEVANT TO THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE NEW AGENDA
1. The world economy
8. The international economic environment will remain in the 1990s an
important factor for growth and development in developing countries, including
Africa. Specifically, such aspects as the expansion of world trade, the
prices of primary commodities, and the flow of external resources will play an
important role in the economic performance of the African region. The trends
of these factors are not easy to predict.
9. The outlook with respect to the world economy in the 1990s is mixed.
The general forecast is that economic activity in the countries of the
Organization for Cooperation and Development (OECD) over the next 10 years
will result in a relatively slow growth. In 1992, economic growth in the
seven major industrialized countries was in the range of 1 to 2 per cent, and
is projected at about 2.7 per cent per annum for the 1992-2002 period. This
is not encouraging for Africa.
10. Indeed, if the trends of lower growth rates in the industrial world and
further declines in commodity prices continue, they will carry very troubling
implications for this region and the prospect will be one of negative growth
of per capita GDP and consumption.
11. The volume of world trade is expected to grow at an average annual rate
of about 5.8 per cent in the 1990s, compared to 3.7 per cent during the 1980s.
However, the expected expansion will relate to manufactures and services and
to a lesser extent to primary commodities, which form the bulk of Africa's
exports. Similarly, trade links will be closely associated with development
capital. The new pattern of development finance will be an increased share of
foreign direct investment, mainly in fast-growing developing countries. For
the Africa region, foreign direct investment will still be directed to
selected mineral and oil-exporting countries. It is therefore likely that the
majority of African countries will continue to rely on concessional loans or
grants from official sources.
2. The commodity issue
12. The prospects of the commodity sector will have direct implications for
African economic recovery in the 1990s, since primary commodities still
account for 90 per cent of Africa's exports. While the reasons behind this
are several, it is clear from comparison of national experiences in recent
years that those countries with a relatively high GNP growth have had fewer
problems in diversification. Moreover, in those countries where commodity
dependency is high, diversification seems to take place when traditional
commodity sectors are strong, rather than when these sectors are in decline.
The success stories of commodity-related export diversification in high- and
middle-income developing countries demonstrate that it has usually resulted
from a combination of various favourable basic indigenous factors and external
and domestic factors and conditions.
13. The latest forecast by the World Bank for the period 1992-2000 indicates
that commodity prices are expected to remain volatile, though the downward
trends observed during the past two decades might end. While oil price
remained constant in nominal terms, its protected index in real terms shows a
decline from 76.2 in 1992 to 73.3 in 1995 (1990=100); the index of non-fuel
(also in real terms) is expected to increase slightly, from 85.3 in 1993 to
96.1 in 2000. The price of agricultural commodities could rise substantially
if the production of perennial crops continues to decline in some countries
and if world demand expands as a result of sustained economic activity in the
reforming former socialist countries.
3. Trends in international cooperation for development
14. The post-cold war international cooperation for development has gone
through fundamental changes. The major emerging features for the 1990s are
outlined below.
(a) Slowly expanding supply of development assistance
15. Official Development Assistance (ODA), comprising grants and
concessional loans, accounted for a third of total resource flows to
developing countries in 1992. For Africa, this category of resources
accounted for about two thirds of total flows and will continue to be dominant
in the forthcoming years. In view of the past trend, it is unlikely that the
level of ODA to Africa will grow substantially during the 1990s, in view of
the slow growth in the aid budgets of donor countries. Available data show
that, as a percentage of GNP in the countries of the OECD Development
Assistance Committee (DAC), ODA averaged 0.32 in 1978-1982, 0.33 in 1983-1987
and 0.33 for 1991. Indeed, the most likely scenario among the various
alternatives envisaged by the OECD countries is that ODA flows in the 1990s
are likely to resemble those of the 1980s.
(b) Increased competition among countries and regions for capital
16. For Africa, competition in attracting capital will inevitably be more
difficult, given the demand from the reforming countries of Eastern Europe and
the former Soviet Union. Hence, unless donors take steps to ensure that
resources allocated to new claimants are additional, the diversion of
available assistance will be of great concern to traditional recipients,
African countries in particular. In addition, the growing "compassion
fatigue" and the widespread opinion among taxpayers of donor countries
concerning wastage of aid, corruption and capital flight associated with it
and highlighted by the media could be a justification for the further
reduction of non-emergency aid to Africa or its diversion to other regions.
(c) New priorities of the major donor countries and multilateral financial
institutions
17. Aid allocation is increasingly determined on the basis of new
priorities. Prominent among these are economic reform and structural
adjustment programmes, efficient management, environmental protection and
management, poverty alleviation, human resources development, private
enterprise development, good governance and observance of human rights and the
rule of law. In particular the growing appreciation of the global nature of
environmental problems and their implications has led to a new and more
serious approach to localized environmental issues. The international
community at large has displayed a greater willingness to address
environmental threats on a global basis as was demonstrated at the Earth
Summit in June 1992 by the signing of important conventions in the areas of
climate change and biodiversity.
4. The Uruguay Round and international trade relations
18. One matter of concern to developing countries and especially to Africa
in the 1990s is the outcome of the Uruguay Round Negotiations. If not
concluded successfully, the result could be, inter alia, the emergence of
regionalism and trading blocs and increased protectionism. Even if the
negotiations are concluded on the basis of existing terms, they would be of
only limited short-term benefit to Africa because the bulk of the region's
exports already face relatively low tariffs.
19. The overriding and most challenging task for African countries is how to
respond to the changing market conditions, particularly with regard to major
structural obstacles aggravated by technological backwardness that remains to
be overcome. The potential benefits for those countries expected to be
beneficiaries from multilateral trade liberalization must be seen in this
context. There is a danger that unless the special needs of those countries
are addressed in a broader context, trade liberalization by itself - its
virtue notwithstanding - may slow rather than facilitate economic reforms.
20. Moreover, African participants in the Uruguay Round express genuine
concerns over the likely erosion of preferential tariff margins that they
currently enjoy, particularly those within the frameworks of the Most Favoured
Nations tariff (MFN) and the Lome' Convention.
21. As net food importers, most African countries are likely to be adversely
affected by the agricultural trade liberalization process, which is expected
to result in high world food prices, particularly for highly protected
temperate zone agricultural products. These countries have called for
appropriate and adequate compensatory measures to minimize such possible
adverse impacts.
22. There is therefore no doubt that one of the special needs of African
countries in the post-Uruguay Round period will be to strengthen and enhance
their capacity to compete in the global market, as well as to promote
intra-African trade. Irrespective of the outcome of the Round, innovative
ways to upgrade their technological skills, improve their service
infrastructure for the support of production and trade, as well as transfer of
technology, will be crucial in this regard. The new international regime of
the protection of intellectual property rights should tend to provide new
opportunities for developing countries with regard to the access and diffusion
of technologies, rather than strengthen the monopolistic privileges favoured
by multinational firms. The new system should seek to strike a balance
between the need to encourage innovation and technological progress and the
access and diffusion of technologies to developing countries.
5. South/South cooperation
23. The potential of South/South cooperation for Africa is immense.
However, important tasks remain to be performed to forge solid links among
developing countries, including the improvement of communication networks, and
the realization of effective economic integration of the various developing
regions. Africa could benefit greatly from the experiences of other
developing countries, especially in East Asia and other newly industrialized
countries.
III. MAJOR ACTIONS IN SUPPORT OF AFRICAN SOCIO-ECONOMIC
RECOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT
1. Promoting the implementation of the New Agenda
24. Following the adoption of the New Agenda, a number of initiatives were
taken, especially with respect to the mobilization and streamlining of the
efforts of the international community at large in support of Africa's social
and economic recovery. Efforts have also been made to establish the necessary
machinery for coordination, follow-up and monitoring. In 1992 the Secretary-
General established a Panel of High-level Personalities on African
Development, and a Special Coordinator for Africa and the least developed
countries was appointed in the Department of Policy Coordination and
Sustainable Development.
25. With the primary objective of providing regular advice to the Secretary-
General on strategies and practical options for speeding up the implementation
of the New Agenda the Panel of eminent African and non-African personalities
and high-level officials from the United Nations system held its first meeting
in December 1992, in Geneva, and provided the opportunity to launch the New
Agenda officially. A second meeting was held in May 1993 in Rome. During the
meetings, the Panel reviewed key factors related to the successful
implementation of the New Agenda, including the diversification of African
economies, the debt issue, and the coordination of the activities of
non-governmental organizations with those of national Governments and the
United Nations system.
26. It should also be recalled that during the final review and appraisal of
the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and
Development by the General Assembly, the Government of Japan offered to
organize the Tokyo Conference on African Development. Subsequently, in
collaboration with the United Nations and the Global Coalition for Africa,
preparatory meetings were held in Tokyo, New York and Arusha, culminating in
the Conference itself in October 1993 and the adoption of the Tokyo
Declaration.
27. Raising global awareness and widely disseminating information on
Africa's critical social and economic situation is essential to the successful
implementation of the New Agenda for African Development. Africa Recovery,
edited by the Department of Public Information, remains a valuable tool for
this purpose. Its coverage now includes democratic changes, as well as peace-
keeping operations in Africa.
28. With a view to strengthening the coordination, follow-up and monitoring
of the implementation of the New Agenda for African Development, the United
Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on African Economic Recovery and Development,
which includes all organizations of the United Nations system, the
Organization of African Unity (OAU), the African Development Bank (ADB), the
GCA and the NGO liaison organs for non-governmental organizations, has been
revitalized. In order to involve African countries in the follow-up and
monitoring process, a regional network to support the process has been
established with the support of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
29. In addition, before the adoption of the New Agenda, the General Assembly
had decided that a System-Wide Plan of Action for African Economic Recovery
and Development should be prepared to strengthen the impact of the United
Nations system on African development. The Plan was subsequently formulated
with the inputs of all bodies of the system, and adopted by the General
Assembly at its forty-seventh session. It has thus become a major
contribution of the United Nations system to the New Agenda. As the
contributing bodies periodically review and revise their respective plans and
programmes to take into account the changing circumstances in Africa, the
System-Wide Plan of Action is updated accordingly.
2. Promoting economic growth, environmental management and
supporting poverty alleviation programmes
30. As indicated in paragraph 2 above, more than 30 African countries are
currently implementing macroeconomic stabilization and structural adjustment
programmes initiated in the mid-1980s with the support of the IMF and the
World Bank. Such programmes emphasize reducing budget deficits, maintaining
moderate inflation, adopting realistic exchange rates and disengaging the
State from some economic activities. In the productive sectors, reforms are
directed to price and market liberalization and the introduction of various
incentives, especially in the agricultural sector. It has been reported that
countries implementing adjustment programmes with determination have generally
recorded higher growth performance than those that have not undertaken such
measures.
31. Although the international community has consistently expressed its full
support for economic reforms in Africa that support has not been translated
into adequate financial assistance. Bilateral financial assistance to Africa,
consisting mainly of ODA in the form of grants and concessional loans fell
from $12 billion in 1990 to $10.7 billion in 1991. However, several bilateral
creditors have provided debt relief to many African countries, generally
through cancellation at a larger scale, especially for the least developed.
32. With respect to multilateral financial assistance, the main sources for
African countries are the World Bank Group, IMF, ADB, the International Fund
for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the European Community. Through its
lending programme, the World Bank Group committed $3.9 billion to Sub-Saharan
Africa in 1990 and $3.4 billion in 1991; the share of concessional lending
from the International Development Agency (IDA) rose from 72 per cent to
80 per cent. Total IMF credit and loans outstanding to Africa amounted to
SDRs 5,750 in 1990, SDRs 5,883 in 1991, and SDRs 5,741 in 1992. In view of
the fact that several poor countries were unable to meet their obligations,
the Fund introduced a concessional lending programme for them.
33. For its Third Five-Year Operational Programme (1992-1996), the ADB Group
increased concessional resources, especially for projects and programmes in
the agricultural and social sectors. Total disbursements of the ADB Group
increased by 13.5 per cent between 1990 and 1991. In 1992, ADB Group
disbursements totalled $2.2 billion, an increase of 1.7 per cent from the
previous year. In addition, about 60 per cent of total disbursements came
from the African Development Fund (ADF) on very soft terms.
34. IFAD's cumulative assistance to the African region under the regular
programme amounted to $988 million by the end of 1992, consisting of
approximately $980 million in loans and $7.4 million in grants. In addition,
the Fund's Special Programme for Sub-Saharan African countries affected by
drought and desertification contributed approximately $28.2 million to
specific projects. The disbursements of the European Community stagnated in
current terms, with $1.6 billion in 1990 and $1.7 billion in 1991.
35. Efforts to improve food security in Africa have been supported by the
work of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on
disaster preparedness, including over 20 national and subregional early
warning and food information projects, the development of comprehensive food
security programmes and the promotion of sustainable productivity increase in
fragile areas. Poverty and environmental degradation often interact to create
a downward spiral of poverty and food insecurity that leads to further
environmental damage.
36. In response to a request by the General Assembly, FAO has undertaken, on
behalf of the Secretary-General, a study on the need for and feasibility of
the establishment of a diversification fund for African commodities. The
report, which is submitted to the General Assembly for its consideration,
recommends that a Diversification Facility for African Commodities be set up
in the African Development Bank for an initial period of three to four years
with resources of $50-75 million. It also recommends the establishment of
National Diversification Councils at the national level, comprising
representatives of Government, the private sector (including NGOs), the
scientific community and multilateral organizations, to generate a stream of
project proposals that fit into national diversification programmes and
priorities.
37. Past efforts by African countries in the development of human resources
have undoubtedly yielded substantial results. The region achieved a
significant reduction in adult illiteracy, as well as dramatic improvements in
such crucial areas as health, education, nutrition and shelter. However,
because of lack of adequate resources, such efforts have not been sustained,
and the situation deteriorated in the 1980s. The ILO has supported education
and training as preconditions for achieving economic growth and as vital
ingredients for the success of adjustment programmes. The share of Africa in
ILO global technical cooperation continues to exceed 50 per cent of the total.
The support of the international community, which has been so important, needs
to be increased and expanded.
38. The recently established framework of the African Capacity-Building
Initiative will promote a fundamental change in international attitudes with
respect to technical assistance and the development of endogenous capacities.
Practical support for this initiative has started with the Capacity-Building
Foundation established by the ADB, UNDP and the World Bank with the support of
the donor community. Based on the programme initiated by these organizations,
UNESCO has organized multidisciplinary training workshops in many African
countries for the identification, preparation and evaluation of development
projects, taking into account educational, cultural and scientific factors.
39. In the context of the implementation of the Global Strategy for Shelter
to the Year 2000, and in support of the capacity-building objectives of the
New Agenda, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), in
1992, assisted several African countries in development of national shelter
strategies. In addition, in 1992 the Centre had 124 technical cooperation
projects under execution in 29 countries in Africa, with a total budget of
$58.6 million.
40. Firmly determined to implement the recommendations of the 1992 Earth
Summit, African countries have promoted environmental protection, individually
or collectively, by the control of deforestation, the management of natural
resources and the introduction of environment laws in the mining and
industrial sectors. Issues, priorities and goals of the African environment
programme are embodied in the African Common Position on Environment and
Development, which was endorsed by the OAU and noted in the recommendations of
the Summit.
41. The programmes and activities of many development agencies, including
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as the United
Nations system, have incorporated elements related to environmental
sustainability. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has taken a
leading role in this area and has continued to assist African countries in
reinforcing their national institutions dealing with environmental management,
in the formulation of environmental legislation, as well as in training and
public information and awareness. Networking activities are being developed
in major natural resources subject areas, including environmental monitoring,
energy, water resources, biodiversity, climatology and soils and fertilizers.
42. The actions taken by the United Nations system for the protection of the
environment, combating desertification and preserving biodiversity in Africa
have been strengthened in recent years. In this regard, the adoption of
Agenda 21 and its chapter 12 on Land Degradation and Desertification in
particular, the establishment of the Commission on Sustainable Development,
the ongoing negotiations of the Intergovernmental Committee for international
convention on desertification and, finally, the decision to address land
degradation and desertification within the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
as they relate to its priority areas are important initiatives for the
implementation of the New Agenda.
43. The Third African Population Conference, held in 1992, provided the
opportunity to assess the efforts made by African Governments towards the
implementation of the Kilimanjaro Programme of Action for African Population
and Self-reliant Development. In the resulting Dakar/Ngor Declaration on
Population, Family and Sustainable Development, the Governments proclaimed
their unanimous commitment to address population issues as an integral part of
the socio-economic development process. It is encouraging to note that almost
all African countries have incorporated population variables into their
development plans or structural adjustment programmes, and that 18 countries
have officially adopted population policies. The Fourth United Nations
Conference on Population will provide the opportunity to take stock of further
achievements.
44. In support of African national and regional population programmes, the
international community at large, largely through the United Nations
Population Fund, provided both technical and financial assistance to improve
knowledge of the demographic situation in Africa, for analysis and research,
for the formulation and implementation of population policies and for training
programmes. UNFPA total assistance to Africa amounted to $32 million in 1992,
of which about $13.5 million was earmarked for support of training programmes.
3. Promoting subregional and regional economic cooperation
and integration
45. The signing of the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community
(AEC) in June 1991, in Abuja, Nigeria, constituted a renewed commitment by
African countries to making the integration process a reality. The General
Secretariat of OAU, in cooperation with ECA, the ADB, the Subregional Economic
Communities and other organizations of the United Nations system, and with the
financial support of UNDP, has been providing assistance to African countries
for the preparation of the protocols.
46. At the subregional level, the Heads of State and Government of the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have adopted guidelines for
the free movements of goods and people, including the participation of
nationals of member countries in sharing the capital of intra-community
businesses. In Southern Africa, the Heads of State and Government have
established the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to replace the
Southern Africa Development Coordination Conference (SADCC). Efforts are also
under way, in the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa, to
establish a Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
Multisectoral and sectoral programmes are also being promoted by ECA, in West
Africa, Central Africa, and North Africa within the framework of the Arab
Maghreb Union.
47. As the New Agenda emphasizes, the support of the international community
to the integration process in Africa is essential. In this regard, some donor
countries and organizations have already taken steps to adapt their aid
programmes to include the regional dimension. The United Nations system has
also assumed a greater role in supporting the process of economic cooperation
and integration in Africa. The specialized agencies have expanded their
regional programmes in support of the activities of African intergovernmental
organizations, and ECA has continued to play a leading role in promoting both
global and sectoral strategies in this area. It should, however, be stressed
that the initiatives of the international community in supporting economic
cooperation and integration in Africa, should be consistent with Africa's own
efforts in the context of the implementation of the Abuja Treaty.
48. It must also be noted that the Trade and Development Board of UNCTAD, at
its thirty-ninth session in March 1993, discussed UNCTAD's contribution to the
implementation of the New Agenda, in particular the issues of regional
cooperation in Africa and UNCTAD's technical cooperation activities on that
continent. The Board endorsed the recommendations on regional integration,
with a particular emphasis on support for transport and communications
infrastructures, transit facilities and structural adjustment. It was
suggested that other subregional groupings, such as ECOWAS and the Maghreb
Arab Union, consider establishing forums for dialogue with their development
partners along the lines developed by the SADC countries.
4. Addressing emergencies
49. The United Nations system has been in the forefront of emergency
operations in Africa, not only in providing and coordinating assistance, but
also in devising short-, medium- and long-term strategies for preventing or
minimizing the occurrence of emergencies. In this regard, the specialized
agencies, programmes and funds have contributed substantial resources to
disaster management and mitigation in Africa.
50. The region is currently experiencing several prolonged conflicts,
especially in Angola, Liberia and Somalia. It is encouraging to note that
efforts are under way to establish, within the framework of the OAU, a
regional mechanism for conflict management and resolution. Such an initiative
would no doubt effectively complement the efforts of the United Nations in
these and other existing and potential conflict areas.
51. In addition to the United Nations peace-keeping operations, the various
responses of the system have involved several of its bodies, especially the
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World
Food Programme (WFP), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in
close cooperation with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
In addition, UNESCO is implementing the Agenda for Peace through various
activities based on the concept of the culture of peace, such as Islands of
Education for Peace in Somalia and assistance to a variety of emergency
efforts to continue or restore educational facilities in other countries in
conflict. Moreover, the coordinating role of the United Nations Department of
Humanitarian Affairs has been instrumental in the organization and delivery of
emergency assistance.
IV. SPECIFIC ELEMENTS OF CONCERN WITHIN THE AFRICAN REGION
1. Overall economic situation and outlook
52. To varying degrees, as they did in the 1980s, African countries have
entered the 1990s with multifaceted crises in such major areas as food
security, population, housing, public health, education, energy, industrial
production, trade, debt and environment. During the first three years of the
present decade, the GDP of the region as a whole grew, on average, by a mere
2.1 per cent per annum. With output growing on average far less than
population, per capita income fell by more than 15 per cent from 1980 to 1992.
The average growth rate for the region was one half to one third of the
average for developing countries as a whole, whose growth rate, according to
the UNCTAD Trade and Development Report for 1993, since the beginning of the
decade, has been close to 4.5 per cent per annum or an increase in per capita
income of more than 2 per cent.
53. As the African region is vast and diverse, economic performance has
varied from one subregion to another. The growth rate was above average in
North Africa (3.8 per cent) and in West Africa (2.4 per cent). By contrast,
the Eastern and Southern Africa and the Central Africa subregions showed GDP
growth rates of less than 1 per cent and 1.2 per cent respectively.
54. The situation of the food and agricultural sector, the backbone of the
economies of most African countries, has not improved significantly. Food
production remained a cause for concern, especially with the severe drought
that affected the Eastern and Southern Africa subregion during the early
1990s. The level of self-sufficiency of the continent in major basic food
commodities stagnated where it did not deteriorate. Consequently, food
imports continued to rise, amounting to $12.2 billion in 1990/91; food-aid
amounted to 5.4 million metric tons.
55. The export of commodities from sub-Saharan Africa declined by almost
15 per cent during 1990-1992 and the value of exports hardly exceeded its 1990
level of about $80 billion. By contrast, imports rose from $77 billion in
1990 to $83 billion in 1992, a situation that further increased the current
account deficit, estimated at approximately $10 billion in 1992.
56. While the overall economic situation remains troubling, not all African
countries are in decline. For example, countries implementing economic and
social reforms with determination have generally recorded satisfactory growth
performance, while the countries confronted by emergencies brought about by
man-made or natural disasters and/or by severe indebtedness performed at a
lower level.
2. Population pressures
57. In general, Africa's economic development has not kept pace with its
population growth rate. These rates exceeded economic growth rates in 32
African countries during the 1980s. Only in eight countries was economic
growth consistently higher. Rapid population growth therefore represents a
challenge to African countries, as the following demographic indicators
demonstrate:
(a) Africa's annual population growth rate averaged 3 per cent (1985-
1990) in comparison with averages for Asia and Latin America, which are 1.9
and 2.1 per cent respectively. By the end of this century, Africa is
projected to have a population of 867 million (almost four times that of 1950)
and, by 2025, nearly 1.6 billion, or more than seven times that of 1950 and
more than twice its increase from the 1993 level;
(b) Africa's urban population is expected to grow by more than 700
million between 1990 and 2025, a figure larger than the current population of
the entire continent;
(c) By 2025, Africa's labour force will total about 650 million, more
than the estimated number of workers in all the developed countries combined.
58. On average, an African woman will give birth to six or more children, as
compared to four in Latin America, three in Asia and only two in developed
countries.
59. The world, as well as Africa, is confronted with a daunting challenge:
the urgent necessity of bringing human numbers and growing needs into better
balance with available resources, while limiting the pace of environmental
destruction. For Africa the following characteristics need to be stressed:
(a) Arable land: It is estimated that during the mid-1980s, some
40 per cent of the African land area lost more than 10 per cent of its
productive potential, while 17 per cent of the land area lost more than
50 per cent of its yield potential;
(b) Water: In 1982, only six African countries, with a total population
of 65 million, faced water stress or scarcity. By the year 2025, however, the
number of countries affected may rise to 21, with 1.1 billion people (two
thirds of the population of the continent);
(c) Air pollution: Population growth is a major contributor to
greenhouse gases and thus to global warming, which brings with it the prospect
of rising sealevels, reduced food security and increased loss of species.
Population growth accounted for 68 per cent of the increase in sub-Saharan
Africa's carbon dioxide output between 1980 and 1988;
(d) Biodiversity: According to a recent international study, there is a
clear statistical link between population density and wildlife habitat loss in
many countries in Africa and Asia. Africa is thought to have lost almost
30 per cent of its original wetland area since 1900 due to drainage for
agriculture and clearance for forestry, urban and tourist development.
60. Environmental degradation and resource depletion are closely linked to
population trends and non-sustainable agricultural production systems. The
actual pressure, associated with low farming productivity and shifting
cultivation, is severely degrading African ecosystems. The result is that
forests are shrinking and water tables falling and, in consequence, there is
escalating desertification and increased frequency and intensity of droughts.
If current trends continue, sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for almost the
totality of the continent's woodlands, has less than 75 years before
irreparable damage to forests, water supplies, plant and animal species
occurs. Soil degradation and the subsequent fall of crop yields is a real
threat to Africa's survival. It has also been established that a total of 6
million hectares of land is reduced yearly to near or complete infertility and
that about 17 million hectares of Africa's total cultivable land area of 790
million hectares could be lost in the long run if the present trend in soil
degradation is not arrested.
3. The weak human resource base
61. Africa has made tremendous efforts in promoting human resource
development programmes with positive effects on health and education.
However, these efforts were mainly focused on the urban areas at the expense
of the rural populations, most of which are engaged in the production of food
and agricultural commodities. Thus the pillar of the economies of most
countries still suffers from backwardness, largely as a result of the neglect
of the human dimension of development in the rural sector.
62. While considerable efforts have been directed to the expansion of
education and training infrastructures, the results have been relatively
limited, since women have had little or no access to schooling. Actually, it
is the general view that the situation of women in Africa is far more critical
than that of their male counterparts. The structural discrimination against
women, who represent at least half of the total population, is a major reason
for Africa's underdevelopment.
63. One important aspect of skill development in Africa is the problem of
the emigration of a large number of graduates and senior staff who have been
trained in industrialized countries. The brain drain issue, emphasized in the
Lagos Plan of Action, in the New Agenda and in the annual Human Development
Report published by UNDP, is still unresolved.
64. In spite of substantial investments in the development of roads, ports,
telecommunications and power infrastructures, based on the objectives of the
first United Nations Transport and Communications Decade in Africa (UNTACDA),
underdevelopment in these areas remains a major constraint on development in
general. If the programme for the second UNTACDA is not fully implemented,
the integration of the region will be delayed further.
65. There are also serious institutional weaknesses in African countries;
many administrations can hardly cope with their basic tasks. Bureaucracies
are overstaffed with poorly qualified personnel. Their inefficient
administration and lack of reliability continue to undermine the functioning
of the public sector. Consequently, institutional ability to devise policies
conducive to the creation of an enabling environment for the development of
dynamic, responsive and competitive economies falls far short of need.
66. Another consequence of the underdevelopment of human and institutional
capacities is Africa's failure to industrialize during the past three decades.
The region has remained the least industrialized in the world. While it
accounts for over 11 per cent of the world total population, its share of the
world industrial output is less than 1 per cent. The main problems
confronting industrial development of the region continue to be lack of intra-
and intersectoral linkages, especially between agriculture and industry,
little emphasis on capital and intermediate goods industries, overemphasis on
import substitution industries relative to the size of domestic demand;
concentration on medium- and large-scale capital intensive industries and
neglect of small-scale and labour intensive industries; heavy dependence on
external inputs; lack of technological know-how to adopt, adapt and develop
required techniques, as well as lack of skills to manage and maintain
industrial facilities; inadequacy of incentive policies and the excesses of
misapplication of business regulations. The programme of the Second United
Nations Industrial Development Decade for Africa, 1993-2002, is intended to
address these problems.
67. In spite of existing potentials, energy deficiencies also continue to
constrain economic activity in general and industrial development in
particular. These constraints, if not removed, will seriously affect the
diversification of economic activity, especially exports, employment creation
and improving the living standards.
68. It should be stressed that poor economic performance does not adequately
convey the most critical feature of African social conditions. Poverty,
malnutrition, poor health conditions, illiteracy, low life expectancy and high
maternal and child mortality rates are greater in Africa than in any other
developing region. It has been established that the number of people living
in absolute poverty, which was 85 million in 1985, could reach 265 million by
the year 2000. The number of malnourished people increased from 80 million in
1970 to 142 million in 1983-1985, and may be as high as 250 million at the end
of the century. Open and disguised unemployment in sub-Saharan Africa
increased by one sixth between 1980 and 1988. At this rate, even if the 6 per
cent average annual growth rate were to be achieved, most African countries
would still require 25 years to reach an acceptable level of unemployment.
4. Resource gap in financing Africa's economic
recovery and development
69. While foreign direct investment has supplemented domestic resources in
other developing regions that recorded high economic growth rates during the
1970s and 1980s, the share of Africa has been so far negligible. Africa is
generally viewed as having an unfavourable investment climate. Specifically,
African economies are characterized by a low level of per capita income, high
marginal propensity to consume and low gross domestic saving (GDS) rates in
proportion to national income. In the majority of African countries over the
last three decades, the public saving rate has hardly exceeded 5 per cent of
GDP. Thus, domestic investment has been minimal. For the Least Developed
Countries (LDCs) as a group, over the 1980s, the share of Gross Domestic
Investment (GDI) in GDP averaged 15.3 per cent against only 3.8 per cent for
GDS. As domestic financing barely covered 25 per cent of capital investment
requirements, these countries depended heavily on external financial resources
whose share averaged 11.5 per cent of GDP.
70. For the attainment of the objectives of the New Agenda, especially the
GDP/growth target of 6 per cent per annum, attempts to project key components
of resources required from both domestic and external sources have been made
by the World Bank, ADB and ECA. The institutions concerned have used
different base years, country groupings and assumptions regarding the growth
trends over the years. The following represent a broad convergence of
conclusions of their respective results:
(a) The resource gap for the region as a whole can only be filled with a
combination of stronger domestic resource mobilization and rising flows of
ODA, foreign direct investment and other external financial resources;
(b) Debt servicing will continue to absorb a substantial part of
external resources under the prevailing rescheduling schemes;
(c) Far-reaching reforms must be implemented by African countries to
increase domestic savings and attract more foreign direct investment.
71. There is a great concern that international support for Africa's
economic recovery may not be forthcoming. Net transfers to Africa fell from
$14.4 billion in 1990 to about $12.6 billion in 1991. Additionally, the terms
of trade losses for Africa as a whole were estimated at $5.6 billion in 1991,
or between 1.5 to 2 per cent of GDP.
72. There is now common agreement that Africa's debt issue cannot be
dissociated from that of the resources necessary for the economic recovery and
development of the region. In spite of substantial efforts made by bilateral
donors for debt cancellation and debt rescheduling under the Toronto and
enhanced Toronto terms, Africa's debt problem remains critical. The total
indebtedness of the region had risen to about 93 per cent of GDP in 1992, and
debt service now consumes about 32 per cent of Africa's exports of goods and
services. It should be stressed that this average debt service ratio for the
region as a whole conceals wide disparities. In 1991, debt service ratio was
well above 40 per cent in a number of countries. Therefore, although the
actual debt reduction schemes provided some relief to a sizeable number of
low-income countries, the debt problem is such that it still represents a
serious obstacle to sustained growth and development in a significant number
of countries.
5. African socio-political transition
73. The issue of democracy has become the dominant feature of the African
political scene. However, the transition towards democratic systems of
governance is still fragile and its consolidation requires efforts by both
African countries and their development partners to the following ends:
(a) Alleviating the existing widespread poverty and addressing the
problem of high population growth rates by providing for basic human needs,
such as decent nutrition, health care, including maternal and child
health/family planning services, housing and education to the majority of
African populations;
(b) Strengthening the still weak political and administrative structures
that prevent most African Governments from establishing a national consensus;
and
(c) Substantially reducing the disproportionate share of military
expenditures in some national budgets, as well as the massive flow of arms to
Africa.
74. The consolidation of the political transition process will also require
broad popular participation in the decision-making process, as well as in the
implementation of the necessary changes. This requirement is particularly
important for women.
75. Other issues of great concern for Africa are the frequency of disasters,
natural and man-made, poor health conditions, increasing drug abuse and
trafficking, and the disregard of human rights. With respect to natural
disasters, African countries lack the minimum safety net and the necessary
mechanisms for crisis management. The high frequency of drought and
subsequent crop failures increases the likelihood of populations being left
destitute. There is a corresponding tendency to slow down overall economic
activity so as to divert scarce resources to emergency operations.
76. Diseases that have been eradicated in other developing regions through
preventive measures and the improvement of living conditions are still endemic
in Africa. The incidence of malaria, cholera, meningitis and other tropical
diseases remains intolerable. Among communicable diseases, acquired immune
deficiency syndrome (AIDS) will have the greatest socio-economic consequences
on Africa; in "AIDS in the World", 1993, WHO estimated that the infection will
spread faster in Africa than in other regions, affecting from about
5.4 million people in 1990 to 33.6 million by the year 2000. UNICEF has also
reported that the child mortality rate, which had been substantially reduced
during the past decade because of successful immunization efforts, is again
rising to the 1980 level because of childhood deaths from AIDS. Further, the
World Bank indicated that while the impact of AIDS on population growth will
be moderate, the disease could produce approximately 10 million orphaned poor
children by the end of this decade.
77. Drug abuse and trafficking is a phenomenon that emerged during the 1980s
throughout Africa and is rapidly spreading in the region, already posing a
serious threat to economic recovery. Illicit drug trafficking by African
nationals or involving major African ports and airports has increased
substantially in recent years, as indicated by reported seizures and the
arrest and prosecution of greater numbers of persons for drug-related
offences. Equally serious, abuse is occurring with greater frequency in
countries along transit routes, while illicit traffic in cocaine is spreading
to hitherto untouched parts of the African continent. African Governments,
with their limited means, do not have the capabilities to reverse these
trends, which have also serious world impact. A concerted approach is
therefore called for.
78. For many years the African political scene was markedly dominated by
systems of governance that have often led to abuses, violations of human
rights and gross injustices. In some cases, Governments have continued to
oppress opponents and resisted popular demands for freedom of speech and
association. The problem of refugees and displaced persons has been
exacerbated by the lack of respect for freedom and the beliefs of individuals
and groups. While the mounting democratization wave is associated with
widespread freedom and respect for human rights, there is an overwhelming need
to improve further the systems of governance vital to maintaining peace and
stability, as well as governance that promotes development.
V. REINFORCING THE BASIS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE NEW AGENDA
1. At the African national and regional levels
79. African countries have realized that their economies are characterized
by structural handicaps that must be corrected. The social and the economic
reforms being implemented are clear testimony of their commitment to bring
about the necessary fundamental changes. These efforts need to be further
nurtured and sustained by a combination of far-sighted political leadership,
the creation of an enabling environment for both the effective participation
of the people and the mobilization of domestic resources, and for attracting
foreign direct investment.
80. However, as pointed out in the 1993 Trade and Development Report of
UNCTAD, of the countries that carried out SAPs during the 1980s, only one
ended its adjustment programme as a result of improved economic conditions.
While it is true that adjustment takes time, this situation does not meet the
original expectation of structural adjustment. In addition, the social costs
of adjustment remains an issue to be examined.
81. To implement the New Agenda successfully, most of the necessary
resources will have to be mobilized domestically. Therefore the domestic
saving rates must be raised considerably. Specifically, private saving should
be increased largely through an appropriate structure of incentives, while
government expenditures should be restrained and tax collection systems
improved in order to raise public savings. It will also require African
countries to promote the establishment of efficient financial mediating
institutions for mobilizing resources and channelling them to productive
sectors.
82. African countries should also continue their efforts to ensure that the
State functions to foster an environment conducive to sustained economic
growth and social progress and provide the requisite physical and
institutional infrastructures, as well as essential goods and services.
Another important aspect of the redefinition of the role of the State would
involve the decentralization of decision-making functions, improved
accountability and facilitating initiatives of grass-roots and community-based
organizations.
83. The underdevelopment of human resources in Africa is still an overriding
impediment to development efforts. Hence, investing in human capital,
improving public administration and basic social services and creating an
environment in which the private sector can play an essential role in the
economic transformation are of paramount importance. In particular,
restructuring public expenditures in favour of rural and basic social services
development should be given priority.
84. Despite laudable efforts, the high population growth rate in Africa is
still of great concern. In this respect, African Governments must step up the
implementation and delivery of their population programmes, especially in
strengthening and expanding maternal and child health and family planning
services. It is therefore essential to meet the set target of reducing
maternal and infant mortality and total fertility in Africa by 50 per cent by
the year 2015.
85. It has been pointed out earlier that Africa is faced with critical
environmental problems. Bringing about a sustained improvement in the
people's living standard will necessitate mitigating, circumventing and
overcoming these problems and vulnerabilities. The major implication for
African countries individually and collectively is to devise innovative
strategies to integrate poverty alleviation and environmental concerns fully
with a particular focus on agricultural development, drought and
desertification control and the conservation and rational use of natural
resources.
86. The concept of sustainable development requires that African countries
devise development programmes that maximize the rate of economic growth and
have positive impact on poverty alleviation, while preserving the environment.
It will be necessary for African countries to strengthen further the
institutions responsible for environmental matters, update and implement
environmental legislation, support and promote non-governmental organizations
as well as youth/women's organizations involved in environmental conservation
and incorporate environmental concerns into school curricula.
87. Regional cooperation should aim at the optimal use of natural resources
and the establishment of viable industrial infrastructures, appropriate
administrative structures and research and training institutions that cannot
otherwise be achieved in most individual countries. African countries should
therefore boldly show their commitment to subregional and regional cooperation
by the removal of the existing constraints and restrictions that stem from the
political and economic fragmentation of the region. Thus, there is a need for
Africa to achieve some key interrelated objectives, particularly integrating
transport and communications infrastructures, production facilities and
national markets; creating an environment that guarantees security, freedom
and rights, and the promoting of cross-national initiatives and enterprises.
88. In this connection, while the subregional economic groupings are as
viable today in the integration process as they were at the time of their
creation in spite of some shortcomings, African Governments should now
emphasize making these institutions effective instruments for forging the
process of integration. In this respect, there is a need for the
harmonization of their mandates, functions and operations with those of the
Abuja Treaty, which is the blueprint for this process. The Treaty should
remain a major agenda of Action for Africa in the 1990s, and its early entry
into force will represent a decisive step towards regional integration.
89. Since the political environment in which the New Agenda can be
successfully implemented is of paramount importance, African countries must
pursue vigorous efforts in consolidating democracy and further adhering to the
principles of good governance and the catalytic role of the State. The rising
tide of democratic movement in Africa is a sign that a new era for political
change is emerging within the region as the demand for a pluralistic system,
accountability and freedom of speech is spreading fast over many countries.
It is hoped that this movement will lead to social organization that is
compatible with the efforts and sacrifices required for sustained development.
There is also a dire need for African countries, individually or collectively,
to establish a broad social consensus that will safeguard the region from
devastating ethnic, racial or religious conflicts.
2. At the level of the international community
90. The challenges that Africa faces in the 1990s are enormous in view of
the economic and political changes that confront the region. While many
countries have adopted far-reaching measures often advocated by their
development partners, their achievements cannot be sustained without adequate
support from the international community. The international community must
therefore demonstrate consistency and provide support commensurate with the
magnitude of the reform undertaken. It should be emphasized that economic
reform programmes, if made consistent with adequately funded long-term
structural economic and social transformation programmes, will lead to
improvements in the quality of life of the African people.
91. In endorsing the New Agenda, the international community has committed
itself to supporting the efforts of African countries for economic recovery
and development. The broad areas of international support for Africa's
development have been identified in the various international programmes and
African regional initiatives. They include mainly increasing resource flows,
especially ODA and foreign direct investment; improving the external
environment, particularly as it relates to commodity prices and market access;
devising new initiatives with respect to Africa's external debt through
further debt cancellation, the conversion of debt stock and debt service
reduction for all categories of debtor countries.
92. With regard to the debt issue, it is noteworthy that a group of leading
British parliamentarians has called for new measures on the part of the Group
of Seven to reduce Africa's estimated $183 billion debt. The Group stated
that "... the debt burden, more than any other issue, is undermining new
opportunities for recovery ...". The Group also suggested a significant
write-off of Africa's debt, and argued that "... what is needed is the
adoption of the full Trinidad terms, reducing debt stock by two-thirds instead
of the Enhanced Toronto terms of 50 per cent ...".
93. The technical assistance provided by Africa's development partners could
be substantially improved if made more coherent and relevant to the actual
needs of recipient countries. Technical assistance would have a sizeable
impact if it contributed to the development of recipient countries' capacities
to further design and implement their own development programmes. Thus,
capacity-building should be the ultimate priority of technical assistance in
the framework of the New Agenda. What is required is a comprehensive
programme for building human capacities, including entrepreneurial skills,
coupled with the development of a domestic base for scientific and
technological progress and investment in the rehabilitation and expansion of
physical infrastructures.
94. Emergencies brought about by drought, poor rains, environmental
degradation, civil wars or other internal conflicts exacerbated the African
crisis and prevented several countries from concentrating on efforts for
economic recovery and development. While the traditional assistance of the
international community, in the forms of provision of food and other essential
commodities and services, has helped to save lives and alleviate mass
suffering, it must go beyond purely humanitarian considerations, and also
encompass rehabilitation and development in order to ensure sustainability and
achieve long-term results.
3. At the level of the United Nations
95. The International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations
Development Decade, which currently represents the broad framework for the
policies and programmes of the international community, encompasses the
objectives of the New Agenda. The United Nations system should therefore play
an important role in its implementation. To this end, there is a need for
greater coordination among various policies and programmes within the system,
especially in Africa, so as to increase efficiency. Thus, on the basis of the
comparative advantage of various agencies, some activities may be terminated,
so that resources be directed primarily to poverty alleviation, social
development and environmental protection.
4. Coordination and harmonization for enhanced cooperation
in the implementation of the New Agenda
96. It is essential to consolidate the harmonization and coordination of the
implementation of the New Agenda. In this regard, actions are required both
within and outside the Africa region.
(a) At the international level
97. The multiplicity of action programmes are no doubt evidence of the
continued concern of the international community about Africa's plight.
However, it may lead to lack of focus and to excessive demand on the same
international partners. It is therefore necessary to establish a framework
for coordination and harmonization of actions that is widely accepted by all
concerned parties. This is a major objective of the Panel of High-level
Personalities on African Development.
(b) At the level of the United Nations
98. During recent years, system-wide cooperation and coordination within the
United Nations system have been subject to extensive exchanges of views. The
existing machinery of the Administrative Committee on Coordination has
provided ample opportunities for close consultations among United Nations
bodies. Further improvement for harmonization includes:
(a) The strengthening of cooperation between the Bretton Woods institutions
and the other bodies of the system that provide technical assistance and
implement projects and programmes supported by multilateral concessional ODA
or grants;
(b) The reform of the performance reporting system to induce cross-
organizational activities and to reflect the effectiveness and impact at the
system-wide level rather than that of its individual components.
(c) At the African regional level
99. It is essential that national policies be incorporated in the relevant
elements of the global agreements that favour Africa. Hence, well-established
operational mechanisms at the national level are of particular importance for
efficient delivery of international assistance. In this regard, African
countries should establish a consultation mechanism among relevant ministries,
and develop a unified decision-making process for international cooperation.
In addition, so that the international community will increasingly support
regional integration, African countries should harmonize and coordinate their
policies with respect to cross-national projects and programmes.
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