29 July 1983

Transport and Communications Decade in Africa

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling resolution 291 (XIII) adopted on 26 February 1977 by the Conference of Ministers of the Economic Commission for Africa, Council resolution 2097 (LXIII) of 29 July 1977 and General Assembly resolution 32/160 of 19 December 1977, proclaiming the Transport and Communications Decade in Africa,

Recalling also resolution 435 (XVII) adopted on 30 April 1982 by the Conference of Ministers of the Economic Commission for Africa,

Referring to Council resolution 1982/54 of 29 July 1982 and General Assembly resolution 37/140 of 17 December 1982,

Considering that the programme for the Decade requires constant adjustment during the remaining period of the Decade,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the Transport and Communications Decade in Africa and the report of the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa on the preparation of the plan of action for the second phase (1984-1988) of the Decade,

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General and the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme for the financial support they have provided for the organization of the fifth consultative technical meeting, to be held from 6 to 8 March 1984, and the preparation of the plan of action for the second phase of the Transport and Communications Decade in Africa;

2. Appeals to donor countries and financial institutions to participate fully and positively in the fifth consultative technical meeting;

3. Appeals once more to the donor countries and financial institutions to lend their substantial financial support to the projects of the Decade and to accord particular attention to the programming, financing and implementation of transport and communications projects of special importance to the land-locked developing countries in Africa;

4. Recommends that, in view of the success of the consultative technical meetings organized for the mobilization of resources for financing the programme for the first phase, other consultative technical meetings should be organized as soon as possible after the launching of the second phase of the Decade in 1984 and, in any event, not later than the middle of 1985, for the following subsectors of transprt and communications:

(a) Broadcasting;

(b) Postal services;

(c) Air transport;

(d) Railways and rail transport;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to make available to the Economic Commission for Africa, by redeploying regular resources of the United Nations, adequate financial resources to enable it:

(a) To organize the four consultative technical meetings referred to in paragraph 4 above;

(b) To undertake studies on the harmonization and co-ordination of the various modes of transport and communication;

(c) To prepare, in collaboration with the relevant organizations of the United Nations system, a study of the manpower needs of all African countries for all modes of transport and communication;

(d) To draw up urgently programmes on transport and communications of special importance to the land-locked developing countries in Africa;

(e) To organize, in January 1984, the fourth session of the Conference of African Ministers of Transport, Communications and Planning;

6. Requests the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa to ensure the implementation of the present resolution and to submit regularly to the Economic and Social Council a progress report on the implementation of the programme for the Decade.