| United Nations | A/50/664 |
General Assembly
Distr. GENERAL
23 October 1995
ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH
Fiftieth session
Agenda item 97 (b)
OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT: ECONOMIC AND
TECHNICAL COOPERATION AMONG DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Cooperation between the United Nations and the
Southern African Development Community
Report of the Secretary-General
CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
I. INTRODUCTION ......................................... 1 - 32
II. COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY ............... 4 - 792
A. Action taken by Member States ................... 4 - 312
B. Action taken by the United Nations system ....... 32 - 798
95-32158 (E) 021195/...
*9532158*
I. INTRODUCTION
1. In its resolution 48/173 of 21 December 1993, the General Assembly
welcomed the transformation of the Southern African Development
Coordination Conference (SADCC) into the Southern African Development
Community (SADC), aimed at deepening and expanding the process of economic
integration and cooperation in the region and the economic and political
reforms under way within the Community, which are intended to better
address the challenges of regional cooperation and integration in the
1990s.
2. The General Assembly commended the Member States and organs,
organizations and bodies of the United Nations system that had maintained,
enhanced and initiated development cooperation with the Community and
called upon the Member States and organs, organizations and bodies of the
United Nations system that had not yet established contact and
relationships with the Community to explore the possibility of doing so.
3. The General Assembly requested the Secretary-General, in consultation
with the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community,
to continue to intensify contacts aimed at promoting and harmonizing
cooperation between the United Nations and the Community; and also
requested the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its
fiftieth session on the implementation of the same resolution.
II. COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
A. Action taken by Member States
1. Denmark
4. In its implementation of General Assembly resolution 48/173, Denmark
has been channelling Danish assistance for regional cooperation in southern
Africa in line with the development priorities of SADC. The sectoral
orientation of the assistance has been determined through consultations
with the SADC countries on the basis of the SADC Programme of Action. In
1994, Danish support to SADC-related projects and programmes amounted to
140 million Danish kroner (DKr).
5. Subsequent to the entry into force of the new SADC treaty, in 1991, the
focus of Danish assistance has gradually shifted from supporting physical
investments towards institutional capacity-building. The shift has
involved support to a number of sector coordination units of SADC and to
projects within them, including the Southern African Transport and
Communications Commission (SATCC). In the area of private sector
development, Denmark has provided funds for the Nordic/SADC (NORSAD) fund
established with a view to facilitating trade and investments between
private businesses in the SADC countries and in the Nordic countries.
6. Within the overall objective of supporting democracy at all levels and
creating conditions for enhanced gender equality, Denmark is providing
financial and technical support for a research and educational trust
entitled Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA). Finally, during the
severe drought in southern Africa in 1992/93, Denmark responded to the SADC
appeal for emergency assistance to the region by making available more than
DKr 50 million to individual SADC countries for emergency purposes.
2. Finland
7. Within its overall development cooperation programme, Finland has
supported the following SADC programmes: a regional development project
for forestry training colleges, the SADC gene bank (Nordic project) and the
SADC consultancy fund (Nordic project).
3. Greece
8. In order to assist the southern African region to fully implement its
Programme of Action, and acting both as a Member State of the United
Nations and of the European Union, Greece has undertaken various
initiatives in the region. In 1994, it contributed 50 million drachmas (Dr)
(approximately US$ 230,000) to the biannual Zambian programme for the
construction of a hospital in the town of Mkusi. The programme is being
assisted both by the Government of Greece and by the Greek Section of the
non-governmental organization Medecins sans frontieres. In Malawi, the
Greek Section of Medecins sans frontieres participated in 1994 in the
rehabilitation of 150,000 Mozambican refugees. The Government of Greece
contributed Dr 13 million (approximately $60,000) to this programme.
During the Mozambican general elections, in October 1994, 10 Greek
electoral observers were part of the European Observer Mission which worked
in cooperation with the United Nations Operation in Mozambique.
4. Italy
9. At the Conference of Rome on Mozambique, in December 1992, which
followed the signing of the Peace Agreement, in October 1992, Italy pledged
162 billion lire towards programmes to be implemented during the period
1993-1995 for the social reintegration of displaced persons, refugees and
demobilized soldiers, and to finance the elections and electoral activities
of Mozambican political parties.
10. In 1994, Italy contributed 15 billion lire to the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) Trust Fund for the financing of the elections;
3 billion lire to the new United Nations Trust Fund to assist political
parties to meet their election expenses and a further 8 billion lire to the
United Nations Trust Fund to assist the Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana
(RENAMO) to transform itself into a political party. In addition, Italy
contributed 5 billion lire to the UNDP Trust Fund for the social
reintegration of demobilized soldiers, 10 billion lire to the Department of
Humanitarian Affairs Trust Fund, and 3 billion lire to the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
11. During the past two years, Italy has been assisting in the
implementation of a number of projects in Angola. At the end of 1993, 2
billion lire was allocated for a nutritional programme to help children at
risk (six months to five years of age). Thirty-four nutritional centres
were set up to help more than 6,600 children, in part through collaboration
with the World Food Programme (WFP). Food aid valued at 10 billion lire
has been distributed through the programme. In addition, Italy has
contributed 1 billion lire to an education programme for school-age
children implemented by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
12. Italy has allocated 2 billion lire to United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF) programmes, providing health and nutritional assistance to high-
risk populations. A programme on mine awareness will entail a contribution
of 1 billion lire to UNICEF. Italy has also contributed 1 billion lire
towards a World Health Organization (WHO) project establishing a team at
Luanda to serve as a coordination centre for emergency activities in health
care. Finally, 6 billion lire is earmarked for 1995 for programmes to
assist demobilized soldiers and their families, in cooperation with
relevant United Nations agencies.
13. Cooperation activities in South Africa that had been initiated before
the establishment of the new democratic Government are continuing and have
reached an amount of approximately 30 billion lire. Funds are currently
being set aside for a new cooperation programme in the context of the
Reconstruction and Development Plan of the South African Government. In
the meantime, 1.6 billion lire will be earmarked for the United Nations
Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa (UNETPSA).
5. Japan
14. During the five-year period 1990-1994, Japan provided a total of US$
1.37 billion in assistance to the SADC countries. Its development aid to
those countries increased from $167.17 million (21.1 per cent of total
official development assistance (ODA) to sub-Saharan Africa) in 1990 to
$401.97 million (35.1 per cent) in 1994. The following table gives a
breakdown of Japanese bilateral ODA to individual SADC countries for 1993
and 1994.
__________________________________________________________
1993 1994
(In millions
Countries of United States dollars)
__________________________________________________________
Angola0.100.11
Botswana1.683.04
Lesotho0.131.38
Malawi24.13100.26
Mozambique18.9243.32
Namibia14.289.78
Swaziland3.307.13
United Republic
of Tanzania88.83104.65
Zambia90.86106.71
Zimbabwe28.2025.59
Total270.43401.97
__________________________________________________________
15. In July 1994, Japan pledged US$ 1.3 billion in financial assistance to
South Africa over the next two years. The pledge includes a $500 million
line of credit and an equal amount in trade and overseas investment
insurance, and $300 million in assistance financed through the Export-
Import Bank of Japan. In January and April 1995, the Bank also approved a
$300 million loan for the South African electric authority Electricity
Supply Commission (ESKOM) and a $100 million loan for the Southern Africa
Development Bank, respectively.
16. On 25 August 1995, on the occasion of the SADC summit held at
Johannesburg, the Government of Japan announced that it would contribute
$200,000 to SADC projects in the areas of regional integration and human
resources development, particularly in the agricultural sector, to be
implemented by the Southern African Centre for Cooperation in Agricultural
Research. In November 1994, the Secretary-General of SADC held talks with
Japanese officials in Tokyo with regard to experts from the Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) visiting the SADC secretariat to
discuss issues related to aid coordination with SADC officials.
17. During 1993, Japan contributed $20,000 to the United Nations Trust
Fund for South Africa, $10,000 to the United Nations Trust Fund for
Publicity against Apartheid, and $660,000 and $700,000 to UNETPSA in 1993
and 1994, respectively. In addition, Japan contributed $500,000 towards
UNHCR projects for the settlement of South African political refugees and
$360,000 for International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) projects in
South Africa during 1993. Japan contributed $7.5 million towards
vocational training for black South Africans under the Japan-European Union
joint programme during 1993-1994, $1.5 million in grant assistance for
grass-roots activities and $2.7 million for the participation of black
South Africans in JICA seminars on the development of vocational and
agricultural skills.
6. Luxembourg
18. During the period under review, Luxembourg's emergency assistance to
Angola included a contribution of 5 million francs in food aid and medical
projects implemented by ICRC, and 380,000 francs in food aid for children
in Huambo during 1994. In 1995, Luxembourg contributed 6 million francs in
food aid projects implemented by WFP and 4 million francs to the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for its agricultural
rehabilitation programme in Angola.
19. During 1994, Luxembourg contributed 4 million francs in food and
health projects for Mozambican refugees. It also provided 10 million
francs in emergency assistance and 5 million francs in food aid and
development assistance to Namibia. Luxembourg and Namibia have concluded a
number of agreements regarding the financing of seven projects to be
implemented over the next two to three years and costing 135 million
francs.
7. Netherlands
20. In 1995, cooperation of the Netherlands with SADC will be maintained
at the current disbursement level of approximately 350 million guilders
(f.) to the region as a whole. The main emphasis is on structural
development, through cooperation in food security, rural development,
development of human resources and the transport sector, and protection of
the environment.
21. Since the inception of the then SADCC, the Government of the
Netherlands has recognized the crucial importance of the development of the
Beira Corridor Transport System. Therefore, the larger part of its support
to SADC has been allocated to the transport sector. Over the past 15
years, accumulated support to the port of Beira has reached f. 100 million.
22. From the annually disbursed f. 350 million, about f. 12 million is
disbursed to regional projects. For instance, the Government of the
Netherlands has contributed and still contributes annually approximately f.
1 million to the SADC early warning system and will start financing an SADC
programme in energy services for small-scale users. The Netherlands is
also providing f. 10 million annually to support regional emancipatory,
energy, research, health and veterinary programmes.
8. Sweden
23. Swedish cooperation with SADC has been mainly directed at supporting
the two areas considered to be priority sectors by the SADC countries, that
is, infrastructure and transport and communications. Support has also been
given to the energy sector. About two thirds of Sweden's disbursements of
1.7 billion Swedish kronor (SKr) since 1981/82 has been allocated for the
rehabilitation of the transport system in Mozambique, Zambia and the United
Republic of Tanzania, and the Beira and Dar es Salaam corridors.
24. Within the telecommunications sector, Sweden, together with Norway,
is financing four microwave links between Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe;
between Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe; between Namibia and Botswana and
between Malawi and the United Republic of Tanzania. Additional support is
being given for the installation of an international telecommunication
switchboard in Mozambique.
25. With regard to the railway system, equipment for telecommunication and
signal systems has been delivered to Botswana, while railway cars, produced
by a factory in Zimbabwe, have been delivered to the Tanzania-Zambia
Railway Authority (TAZARA). Large rehabilitation schemes, including
activities related to harbours, railway tracks, embankments and roads, are
under way in Dar es Salaam and Beira. Activities are also planned for the
Lobito corridor.
26. In the energy sector, studies have been financed on the power
distribution between Malawi and Mozambique. Power distribution from Cabora
Bassa in Mozambique to Harare is also an important part of the Swedish
contribution. Swedish support has also been given for the reconstruction of
the power plant Kafue Gorge in Zambia and to training activities linked to
this project.
27. With regard to natural resources, Sweden has financed, among other
activities, the creation of a regional gene bank and has provided technical
support to the SADC secretariat for environment and soil conservation at
Maseru. A consultancy fund has also been established for the SADC
secretariat at Gaborone.
9. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
28. The United Kingdom has supported SADC over many years, particularly in
the area of transport infrastructure, including capital aid. The aim of
many of the projects has been to reduce the dependency of SADC on the
transport routes through South Africa. During the period 1991 to 1995,
United Kingdom aid was as follows:
_____________________________________________________________
Year Financial aid Technical cooperation Total
(In thousands of pounds)
_____________________________________________________________
1991/923 9885 1139 101
1992/931 7604 2416 001
1993/941 2393 1804 419
1994/953 000 a/
Total6 98712 53422 521
_____________________________________________________________
a/ Estimate.
29. United Kingdom funding of SADC has steadily declined from its peak in
1991/92, with an estimated expenditure for 1995/96 of L2.5 million. This
reflects the changing role of SADC within southern Africa, and particularly
the entry into SADC of the Republic of South Africa. The United Kingdom
believes that SADC is changing from a channel for donor funds for
infrastructure projects to an organization committed to enhancing regional
cooperation. It is up to SADC member States, not donors, to determine the
pace and priorities of integration and cooperation.
30. The United Kingdom considers SADC as one of a number of possible
conduits for regional activities and United Kingdom aid to southern Africa.
Future United Kingdom assistance will be based entirely on technical
cooperation grants, and no new financial aid projects are being considered.
The United Kingdom will seek to support projects that can deliver genuine
short-term benefits from regional cooperation and that cannot be achieved
more effectively through national-level support.
31. Nevertheless, the United Kingdom remains a strong supporter of SADC.
The United Kingdom played a positive role in the 1994 European Union/SADC
Conference in Berlin, which was attended by the Minister of Overseas
Development. The United Kingdom remains willing to consider support for
practical, actionoriented programmes identified by SADC.
B. Action taken by the United Nations system
1. Department for Development Support and Management
Services of the United Nations Secretariat
32. At the present time, the Department has 118 ongoing development
cooperation projects in the SADC countries. These activities cover public
administration and governance, electoral assistance, support to aid
coordination, development programming, energy, water and natural resources
for development. The focus of the projects is on human resources
development and institution-building.
2. United Nations Children's Fund
33. In October 1994, UNICEF and SADC held a joint symposium on national
programmes of action and goals for children, at which ministers and senior
officials from 10 of the 11 SADC countries discussed progress in the
implementation of their respective national programmes of action for
children and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Resolutions
adopted at the meeting called upon SADC to play a major role in southern
Africa in monitoring the progress of national programmes and advocacy for
children, facilitating multi-country action in key areas such as pandemic
disease control, product standardization and regulating the iodization of
traded salt. In addition, salt producing and importing countries held a
follow-up meeting in late 1994, under the auspices of the Preferential
Trade Agreement (PTA), with the participation of SADC.
34. Although the SADC Council of Ministers did not decide to establish a
sector programme on children, it welcomed the initiative by the SADC
secretariat and UNICEF to facilitate a review of progress towards child
goals on an inter-country basis. A symposium is under discussion for 1996,
with possible focus on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. During
1995, the UNICEF Regional Office continued to work with the secretariat in
developing analytical materials on major issues affecting southern African
children, including human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (HIV/AIDS), and is exploring possible collaboration with the human
resource development sector in the area of basic education. UNICEF country
offices in the region have been assisting Governments in the assessment of
health, nutrition and water needs arising from the 1994/95 drought and in
preparation for the launching of a regional drought programme and
consolidated appeal by SADC during 1995.
3. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
35. During the period under review, the secretariat of the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) assisted in drawing up the
SADC draft protocol on trade cooperation, which is currently being reviewed
by member countries, and provided advisory services at the 1995 SADC annual
consultative conference on matters related to rules of origin, enterprise
cooperation and institutions.
36. In 1994, UNCTAD completed activities in Mozambique in the field of
multimodal transport and trade facilitation. These activities were part of
the "Intermodal Transport and Customs Facilitation Programme" component of
the World Bank Road and Coastal Shipping (ROCS) project. The objective of
the programme was to foster sustainable growth of Mozambican foreign trade
by correcting the inefficiencies of the transport and trade system. The
programme compiled, reviewed and implemented measures to facilitate trade
flows, promote national transport activities, increase awareness of
efficient commercial practices in international trade, and modernize the
customs administration.
4. United Nations Development Programme
37. Since 1982, the United Nations Development Programme has provided
assistance to SADC for a total value of US$ 16,415,636 in support of
various sectors, especially transport, petroleum, mining, food security and
education. These projects were designed to complement the Community's main
objectives during those years.
38. In support of private sector activities in southern Africa, UNDP has
recently launched new initiatives through various channels. In 1994, the
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) published a
study entitled "Industry in southern Africa: the impact of change".
Similarly, UNDP and the African Business Round Table organized a
subregional African executive forum in Botswana in June 1995.
5. United Nations Environment Programme
39. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is involved in a
number of joint activities with the Environment and Land Management Unit of
SADC. Nearly all member countries of SADC suffer from critical
environmental problems that continue to undermine development efforts.
UNEP has responded to these concerns by strengthening its partnership with
the Community.
40. UNEP support for the implementation of the Kalahari-Namib
Desertification Control Action Plan complements the Community's land
management efforts. UNEP is also providing assistance for the
implementation of the Integrated Development Action Plan on the Zambezi
River. In the area of environmental monitoring, assessment and reporting,
UNEP is assisting in expanding the Community's environmental networks and
establishing geographical/environmental information systems, in
strengthening environmental impact assessment practices and in developing
guidelines and methodologies to integrate environmental preservation and
development. UNEP is providing substantial assistance in developing
national environmental legislation and in strengthening the Community's
capacity to negotiate and implement international agreements, as well as in
the training of personnel through its fellowship programme.
6. World Food Programme
41. The value of WFP food aid to SADC countries in 1994 amounted to US$
226 million. Assistance to agricultural, rural and human resources
development absorbed $23 million and emergencies and displaced persons
operations absorbed $203 million. An additional $39 million was channelled
through WFP for extrabudgetary expenditures.
42. In response to the devastating crop failure in several SADC countries
in 1992, WFP committed approximately $350 million for commodities and
transport for the relief effort. Although the 1994/95 crop season started
poorly in many SADC countries, the overall drought was less severe than in
1992. WFP has committed $49 million for commodities and transport in five
of the most seriously affected countries. WFP is building mitigation and
recovery mechanisms into emergency operations and development activities as
drought conditions seem to recur with frequency in the SADC region.
43. In Mozambique, a major portion of the displaced population returned to
their places of origin during 1994. WFP and other United Nations agencies
worked closely with Governments in the region and the international
community to provide food assistance in support of reintegration
programmes. WFP continues to provide the displaced population with food
assistance in Angola and is working with the Government in support of the
peace process and in reintegration programmes. WFP is assisting the United
Republic of Tanzania in providing food for Rwandan refugees and supporting
logistics projects that will have a long-term development impact on the
country's transport infrastructure.
44. WFP also procures cereals and other commodities in the region for use
in feeding operations in the region and elsewhere. From January 1994 to
June 1995, WFP purchased commodities worth $108 million from the region.
7. United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat)
45. In 1995, the Centre's missions to Angola undertook human settlements
analyses and proposed a community-based rehabilitation programme, screened
project proposals and finalized them for consideration at the round table
held at Brussels in September 1995. The Centre also fielded missions to
South Africa to assess the priorities of the new Government and to assist
in formulating an effective housing finance system.
46. The Sustainable Dar es Salaam Project (SDP) supports the City Council
in developing sustainable solutions to priority environmental issues such
as solid waste, servicing urban land, air quality, surface water, coastal
area resources, recreational and tourism resources and urban agricultural
production. The Centre also assisted the United Republic of Tanzania in
conducting a human settlements review and needs assessment, which formed
the basis for the national programme for human settlements development.
Similarly, the Centre has provided technical assistance to the Government
of Mozambique in the formulation of a long-term programme of support to the
housing and urban development sector. The Centre also participated with
UNDP in the formulation of an area-based integrated approach to
rehabilitation in war-torn areas.
47. The Centre is helping to execute the UNDP National Shelter Strategy
and Implementation of a National Housing Programme for Namibia, which won
the Habitat Award for 1993. Several projects focusing on helping poor
urban communities to improve their living environment have been implemented
in Zambia with support from UNDP and the Government of Denmark. In
Zimbabwe, the Centre has participated in developing the public works
programme component of the National Poverty Alleviation Action Plan, using
sectoral support funds.
8. International Trade Centre (UNCTAD/GATT)
48. The International Trade Centre (ITC) has maintained close
collaboration with the SADC secretariat. In 1988, ITC initiated two
interrelated projects for the SADC subregion: RAF/26/50 Direct Assistance
in Export Packaging (financed by the Government of Finland); and RAF/37/06
Development of Effective Quality Control Standards and Testing Services for
export products and packaging (financed by the Government of Italy). These
two projects were completed by early 1994.
9. International Labour Organization
49. Until February 1995, SADC had no activities in the areas of employment
and labour, as those areas were the domain of the Southern African Labour
Commission (SALC). The International Labour Organization (ILO) has
maintained close links with SALC since 1980, when the Commission was
established. ILO, together with the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA),
has provided secretariat services for SALC, pending the establishment of an
independent secretariat. During the same period, SALC cooperated closely
with SADC.
50. The SADC Council of Ministers, meeting at Lilongwe in January 1995,
decided to establish a new Employment and Labour Sector and to absorb SALC
in the SADC Human Resources Development Sector. Zambia is to provide
permanent and full-time secretariat services to the Sector. ILO will
continue its cooperation with the new Employment and Labour Sector.
51. Over the years, ILO has provided assistance to the SADC countries and
to liberation movements through technical cooperation projects and research
and advisory services. These have included employment planning and the
creation of jobs and infrastructure through labour-intensive public works,
vocational training and rehabilitation, migrant labour questions, workers
education, management development and cooperatives. These initiatives are
expected to continue.
52. At the February 1995 meeting of SALC at Maseru, ILO was asked to
prepare a study on the application of national and international labour
standards in the export processing zones from a subregional perspective by
1995/96. ILO was also asked to formulate a subregional code of conduct on
HIV/AIDS in the workplace. Reports on these two issues are to be submitted
at the next meeting of the new Sector. ILO was also requested to carry out
studies on child labour in member States. An ILO study on labour market
issues in southern Africa in the 1990s and beyond was also discussed. The
study will cover migrant labour, mobility of high-level manpower and
development of human resources as the highest priority for the formulation
of future SADC policies on labour markets.
10. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
53. FAO maintains regular contact with the SADC Food Security Technical
and Administrative Unit at Harare. In consultation with the Unit, FAO is
reducing its direct technical support to the SADC Regional Early Warning
System for Food Security (REWS) after capacity-building support to SADC
member States at both the national and the regional levels.
54. Through its Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS), FAO
fielded, jointly with the World Food Programme, a series of crop and food
supply assessment missions to the drought-affected countries of southern
Africa. These missions were conducted in cooperation with the regional and
national early warning units in the SADC region. The findings of these
missions have been disseminated to the international community through
special reports. In addition, GIEWS has cooperated closely with the SADC
Regional Early Warning Unit (REWU) on the establishment of a cereal
supply/demand monitoring module and on plans to transfer the GIEWS computer
workstation software and databases to the SADC early warning systems.
55. At the end of 1993, FAO started the implementation of the second phase
of a project entitled "Remote Sensing Component to the SADC Regional Early
Warning System", financed by the Government of the Netherlands, for a
period of three years. Cooperation between FAO and SADC has also continued
in the area of health and nutrition. A subregional workshop on the control
of mycotoxins other than aflatoxins in foods was held at Gaborone, from 12
to 16 December 1993. Sixteen participants from eight SADC countries
attended the workshop. A quality assurance sample programme is being
organized in cooperation with the University of Botswana and will cover all
mycotoxin laboratories in the SADC countries.
56. The SADC Regional Training Centre for Middle-level Personnel for the
Control of African Animal Trypanosomiasis, supported by FAO, continues to
function effectively. Various country-based courses provided support to
institutional strengthening and trypanosomiasis control programmes in the
region.
57. In addition to projects assisting the development of the seed sector
in almost all SADC countries, FAO organized a regional workshop on improved
on-farm seed production for the SADC countries, at Mbabane, from 22 to 26
November 1993, with financial support provided by the Government of
Austria.
58. FAO participated in the 1994 consultative conference at Gaborone and
presented a paper on "Promoting cooperation and integration in southern
Africa". FAO also participated in the 1995 consultative conference at
Lilongwe and contributed to developing SADC programmes for the
implementation of its agricultural integration strategy for 1995. FAO
participated in a joint SADC/UNICEF symposium on national programmes of
action and goals for children, held in August 1994.
59. FAO assisted SADC to set up and operate a technical cooperation
network on plant quarantine. Assistance included the provision of a
computer and an electronic database to each national plant quarantine
service in the SADC area in order to facilitate the exchange of information
on all aspects of plant protection and quarantine and the eventual
harmonization of related legislation, inspection procedures and control
measures.
60. Aquaculture for Local Community Development (ALCOM) is an
interregional programme funded by Sweden, Belgium and FAO, which aims at
improving the standard of living of rural smallholders in the SADC area
through fish production from small water bodies and through aquaculture.
The programme is officially included in the SADC Programme of Action,
although it is not an SADC-operated project. The third phase of the
programme is expected to end in December 1996.
11. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
61. Through its field offices in the SADC region, UNESCO has carried out
regional and subregional programmes in several areas reflecting regional
priorities. In December 1994, a field office was also established in South
Africa following the establishment of the new Government.
62. In accordance with General Assembly resolutions, and at the request of
SADC member States represented on its Executive Board, UNESCO has taken
steps to formalize its relations with SADC. In October 1994, the SADC
Executive Secretary made his first official visit to UNESCO. In February
1995, UNESCO was represented for the first time at the annual SADC
consultative conference, held in Malawi. A focal point for SADC relations
and coordination has been appointed in the Directorate attached to the
Office of the Director-General. Missions and contacts take place regularly
between UNESCO and the SADC secretariat.
63. UNESCO and SADC officials are working on a draft memorandum of
understanding, which is expected to be ready for signature after approval
by the Executive Board at its 147th session, in October 1995. The
agreement will define broad areas of cooperation and set down modalities
for joint action and regular consultation between the two organizations in
areas of common interest.
64. In support of the SADC draft agreement for shared watercourse systems
in the southern African region, which was to be discussed at the SADC
Summit held in South Africa in August 1995, UNESCO has been designing a
regional programme for training and research in the area of water use
management in collaboration with the Government of South Africa for the
benefit of all SADC member States.
12. World Health Organization
65. In 1995, WHO and SADC discussed the possible establishment of a
health, population and social welfare sector at the regional level.
Together with other agencies and the donor community, WHO attended an SADC
appeal conference at Geneva in June 1995. An intercountry workshop
organized by WHO called for the setting up of an SADC health learning
materials resource and training centre in 1996.
66. At a country level, WHO continues to support the formulation and
implementation of health policies of SADC member States, including
consultations with the chief nursing officers of several SADC countries and
national workshops on human resource development and health sector reform,
as well as emergency and rehabilitation assistance to Angola and
Mozambique. WHO also collaborates with governmental and non-governmental
organizations in South Africa on substance abuse prevention.
13. World Bank
67. The World Bank's total commitments to SADC member countries for the
period 1991-1995 were US$ 4.5 billion (International Development
Association: $4.1 billion). Of this, $1.9 billion was in the form of fast-
disbursing assistance to support structural adjustment programmes in those
countries. Apart from structural adjustment, lending priorities include the
following: private sector development, poverty alleviation, and development
of human resources and physical infrastructure.
68. The World Bank is currently assisting in the implementation of
structural adjustment programmes in Malawi, Mozambique, the United Republic
of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. As Angola resumes its normal economic
life, the World Bank will re-engage itself in the rehabilitation of
shattered infrastructure and promote accelerated capital investment. Aid
coordination to these countries is being provided through consultative
groups chaired by the World Bank. For Lesotho, aid coordination is
provided through United Nations-sponsored roundtable meetings. Although
lending activities to South Africa have not yet taken place, necessary
preparations have been completed to permit swift response to possible
government requests for assistance in areas such as human resources,
housing, infrastructure, and small enterprise development. A change is
imminent in the nature and volume of World Bank assistance to Namibia. The
Government has recently requested assistance in the restructuring and
privatization of a large parastatal and in the development of
infrastructure for its export processing zone around Walvis Bay.
69. The World Bank has for many years been engaged in activities related
to economic integration. Projects have included major infrastructure
development and execution of regional studies with significant investment
and efficiency implications. Studies in progress cover hydrological
management, indigenous knowledge systems in agriculture and forestry, and
environmental management. Direct technical assistance has been provided to
SADC headquarters to enhance its professional capacity.
70. The Cross-Border Initiative (CBI) is a significant programme co-
sponsored with the European Union, the African Development Bank and the
International Monetary Fund. CBI is aimed at creating a policy and
institutional framework for facilitating cross-border private investment,
as well as direct foreign investment, through reforms in the trade regime,
exchange and payments systems, investment promotion and financial sector
reforms, and relaxation of crossborder labour movements. CBI has received
wide support among the SADC member States and is currently in various
stages of preparation and implementation in Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland,
Zambia and Zimbabwe.
14. International Monetary Fund
71. Consistent with the present focus of SADC on market integration, the
policy work carried out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in SADC
countries has focused on opening their economies to the advantages of
larger markets, regionally and globally. In the context of the Fund's
country work on surveillance and structural adjustment programmes,
important reforms, notably those relating to the liberalization of trade
and exchange systems and the financial sectors, are aimed at fostering
market integration.
72. In this regard, IMF has sought to address the regional dimension of
reforms relating to trade, investment and payments through the Cross-Border
Initiative (CBI), which is being sponsored by IMF, the African Development
Bank, the World Bank and the Commission of the European Union. In helping
the participating countries to develop their CBI policy, IMF has tried to
harmonize the scope and pace of reforms among countries. Malawi, Namibia,
Swaziland, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe are already
participating in CBI and other SADC member countries are welcome to join in
the initiative.
73. With regard to institutional links between SADC and IMF, the SADC
secretariat is undertaking a review of areas in which IMF assistance could
be beneficial.
15. Universal Postal Union
74. For the period 1990-1994, SADC countries benefited from the technical
assistance programme provided by the Universal Postal Union (UPU). Multi-
year integrated projects for postal development were funded by UPU to
provide fellowships and consultants to Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi,
Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
75. UPU implemented a UNDP-funded project in the United Republic of
Tanzania and has recently drawn up a postal development project for Angola
which will be submitted for funding. UPU has also awarded individual
fellowships to Angolans in the past few years.
16. World Meteorological Organization
76. Cooperation between the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and
SADC has been conducted mostly through the Southern African Transport and
Communications Commission, which is responsible for the coordinated
development of meteorological services within the SADC region. The major
development efforts include the following:
(a) The Finnish International Development Agency (FINNIDA)/SATCC/WMO
Meteorology Project, started in 1987 and ended in 1995. Funds for the
project amounting to approximately US$ 15 million were provided by the
Finnish Government through its development agency, FINNIDA. These funds
were used for fellowship training of SADC nationals in various specialized
fields of meteorology for the purchase and installation of meteorological
instruments and equipment and for field experts and consultants;
(b) WMO contributed to the establishment of institutions that foster
regional integration, particularly in support of the various socio-economic
development initiatives. The Drought Monitoring Centre (DMC) at Harare was
established in 1991 with UNDP support and provides early warnings to the
SADC countries on the occurrences of drought and other adverse weather
conditions. Other institutions in southern Africa that are part of WMO
centres are the Regional Telecommunication Hub (RTH) at Lusaka, the RTH at
Pretoria and the Regional Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Centre at
Gaborone.
17. World Intellectual Property Organization
77. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) provides various
advisory services and training to the region.
78. In July 1993, in cooperation with the Government of Namibia and with
the assistance of the Government of Sweden, WIPO organized a regional
general introductory course on industrial property. During the period
under review, WIPO granted training fellowships to government officials
from all 11 SADC countries.
18. United Nations Industrial Development Organization
79. While the United Nations Industrial Development Organization was not
in a position to take major initiatives at the subregional level, its
technical assistance services to SADC member countries at the national
level has been significant.
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