26 July 1985

52nd plenary meeting

Measures to ensure the effective and accelerated implementation of the Substantial New Programme of Action in the African least developed countries during the second half of the l980s

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolutions 37/224 of 20 December l982, 38/l95 of 20 December l983 and 39/l74 of l7 December l984 on the implementation of the Substantial New Programme of Action for the l980s for the Least Developed Countries,

Recalling also resolution 397 (XV) of l2 April l980 of the Conference of Ministers of the Economic Commission for Africa, by which the Conference of Ministers entrusted the Conference of Ministers of African Least Developed Countries with the responsibility for ensuring the co-ordination of efforts, establishing priorities, monitoring and evaluating progress under the Comprehensive New Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries in African least developed countries, and Conference of Ministers resolution 503 (XIX) of 26 May l984 on measures for the effective implementation of the Substantial New Programme of Action in African least developed countries,

Deeply concerned about the continued serious deterioration in the economic and social conditions of the African least developed countries exacerbated by the severe drought which has spread across the African region creating enormous imbalances in food supply and consequently widespread famine in many countries,

Recognizing that there is therefore a need to assist the African least developed countries to effect the necessary structural changes and that they will need increased aid from donors in order to achieve this objective,

Noting with satisfaction the results of the Conference on the Emergency Situation in Africa, convened at Geneva in March l985 by the Secretary-General, which was aimed at mobilizing the international community to provide the necessary financial and technical assistance in favour of African countries, especially the least developed among them,

Expressing deep concern and disappointment at the painfully slow pace in the implementation of the Substantial New Programme of Action in the least developed countries, twenty-six of which are located in Africa, since its adoption in September l98l, and at the negative results of the negotiations on the resolution concerning the implementation of the Substantial New Programme of Action at the sixth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held at Belgrade from 6 June to 2 July l983,

Recognizing that primary responsibility for their development rests with the least developed countries themselves,

Noting the tremendous efforts made by the African least developed countries in the organization of their respective country review meetings, especially in devising strategies and policies aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of their national development plans and public investment programmes and projects,

1. Strongly urges the African least developed countries to prepare themselves adequately, with the assistance of the Economic Commission for Africa, for the mid-term global review of the implementation of the Substantial New Programme of Action for the 1980s for the Least Developed Countries, to be carried out in September/October 1985, in order to make practical proposals for the readjustment of the Substantial New Programme of Action, as appropriate, to take into consideration their special circumstances and expedite its implementation during the second half of the 1980s;

2. Urges all countries, multilateral financing institutions, United Nations organizations and other concerned intergovernmental, non-governmental and international organizations to be represented at a high level at the meeting on the mid-term global review and to take appropriate measures to put the Substantial New Programme of Action into its proper perspective in order to ensure its effective implementation during the second half of the 1980s;

3. Urges the African least developed countries to intensify their efforts towards increased agricultural production, especially of food, as a means of reducing their ever-increasing dependence on external sources for food, and calls upon the international community to provide the necessary technical and financial assistance for agricultural and rural development in the African least developed countries;

4. Urges:

(a) The developed countries to reaffirm the commitments they undertook under the International Development Strategy for the Third United Nations Development Decade with respect to the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product as official development assistance and to the achievement of that goal by 1985, and in any case not later than in the second half of the Decade;

(b) Donor countries, within the overall context of the Substantial New Programme of Action for the 1980s for the Least Developed Countries, as adopted, and of progress towards the 0.7 per cent target, to attain 0.15 per cent of their gross national product as official development assistance or to double their official development assistance to the least developed countries by 1985 or as soon as possible thereafter;

5. Calls upon the General Assembly to consider increasing the human and financial resources at the disposal of the programme for the African least developed countries of the Economic Commission for Africa so that those countries can be given more effective assistance.