27 July 1984

Meeting 50

Strengthening of the role of the Economic Commission for Africa as an executing agency

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 33/202 of 29 January 1979 on the restructuring of the economic and social sectors of the United Nations system, in which, inter alia, the Assembly decided that the regional commissions should have the status of executing agencies, in their own right, in respect of the categories of project described in and in conformity with paragraph 23 of the annex to its resolution 32/197 of 20 December 1977,

Recalling also the agreement signed on 1 March 1977 between the United Nations Development Programme and the Economic Commission for Africa, designating the Commission as a participating and executing agency for the inter-country projects of the United Nations Development Programme,

Noting with satisfaction the progress that has been achieved within a short space of time by the Commission acting as an executing agency for the inter-country projects of the United Nations Development Programme and other such projects, with the result that it is currently one of the largest executing agencies for the inter-country projects in Africa financed by the Programme,

Noting with concern the administrative difficulties being experienced by the Commission in the implementation of those projects, owing to the lack of differentiation between the rules and procedures that apply to its role as an executing agency and those that govern its regular budgetary activities, both in the recruitment of project personnel residing outside Africa and those above level L-5 and in the procurement of project equipment and supplies costing more than $20,000,

Noting with regret that the rate of implementation by the Commission of the inter-country projects of the United Nations Development Programme and other such projects has decreased substantially, owing to the above-mentioned constraints, which create unnecessary delays,

Bearing in mind the current critical economic situation in Africa and the expectation of member States that the secretariat of the Commission should play an increasing role in assisting them in the expeditious execution of operational projects funded from the resources of the United Nations system,

Requests the Secretary-General to consider the possibility of streamlining and, if necessary, relaxing the above-mentioned administrative constraints by aligning the rules and procedures of the Commission governing recruitment and procurement with those of other United Nations executing agencies so that the Commission will be able to execute projects promptly, thereby placing it on the same basis as the other executing agencies of the United Nations system.