21 July 1986

37th plenary meeting

Countries stricken by desertification and drought in Africa

The Economic and Social Council,

Noting the commitment of African Governments, as expressed in the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990 annexed to General Assembly resolution S-13/2 of 1 June 1986, to continue to undertake as soon as possible measures to combat drought and desertification, including massive afforestation and reafforestation, better management of water resources, the protection of ecosystems, the development of alternative sources of energy, the stabilization of sand dunes, measures to stop soil erosion, measures against salination, the improvement of drainage, and other measures to protect the environment,

Recalling General Assembly resolutions 39/208 of 17 December 1984 and 40/175 of 17 December 1985 on countries stricken by desertification and drought,

Recalling Council decision 1985/176 of 25 July 1985 on the preliminary report of the Secretary-General on countries stricken by desertification and drought,

Recalling also General Assembly resolution 40/209 of 17 December 1985 on rationalizing the consideration of drought and desertification issues in the United Nations,

Recalling further the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification adopted by the United Nations Conference on Desertification,

Noting also that, in addition to the efforts of African countries, the support of the international community, particularly the donor countries, will be required,

Recognizing that the priority areas covered by the Special Programme for Sub-Saharan African Countries Affected by Drought and Desertification of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, such as support for the development of drought-resistant traditional crops, support for small-scale water control schemes, and the adoption of measures to protect the environment, including agro-forestry and soil conservation, correspond to the priorities for combating drought and desertification of the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990,

Noting further that, in the United Nations Programme of Action, the donor countries have, inter alia, agreed to increase support, whenever possible, to the Special Programme of the International Fund for Agricultural Development,

Considering that the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its twenty-first ordinary session, held at Addis Ababa from 18 to 20 July 1985, adopted a recommendation urging the international community to provide substantial assistance to the International Fund for Agricultural Development to enable it to achieve the target of $300 million for its special programme for sub-Saharan Africa,

Bearing in mind that the Special Programme for Sub-Saharan African Countries Affected by Drought and Desertification was adopted unanimously by the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development at its ninth session, in January 1986,

Noting that the statutory conditions for the effectiveness of the Special Programme have been met as a result of the deposit of the instruments of contribution as required and that therefore the President of the Fund has declared the Programme effective as from 28 May 1986,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on countries stricken by desertification and drought,

1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on countries stricken by desertification and drought, as it represents an important step towards an integrated and unified approach to the distinct but interrelated problems of desertification and drought;

2. Commends the Secretary-General for the thoroughness and comprehensiveness of the report he has prepared, with the assistance of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office, synthesizing the existing information, experiences and proposals of organs, organizations and bodies both within and outside the United Nations system;

3. Takes note with satisfaction of the proposed specific action to be taken, as set out in the report of the Secretary-General, for linking up with the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economimc Recovery and Development 1986-1990 and the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification, and transmits it to the General Assembly at its forty-first session for consideration;

4. Expresses its appreciation for the role of the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office in helping, and in co-ordinating United Nations efforts to help, the States members of the Permanent Inter-State Committee on Drought Control in the Sahel and the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development in their programmes of recovery, rehabilitation and medium-term to long-term development, as well as desertification control;

5. Urges the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office to increase its assistance to the Sudano-Sahelian and adjacent regions in combating desertification and drought, paying attention to the most severely affected countries;

6. Appeals to all Governments to increase their support to the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office to enable it to respond more fully to the level of need of the countries of the Sudano-Sahelian region;

7. Urges the international community to adopt an integrated approach to desertification problems and to give its full support to and provide adequate resources for the implementation of the Plan of Action on Tropical Forests of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations;

8. Welcomes with satisfaction the establishment of the Special Programme for Sub-Saharan African Countries Affected by Drought and Desertification of the International Fund for Agricultural Development;

9. Expresses its appreciation to all donor countries that have deposited with the Fund their instruments of contribution or otherwise notified it of their intention to contribute to the Special Programme;

10. Appeals urgently to the international community, particularly donor countries, which have all supported the Special Programme of the Fund, to contribute effectively to the Programme so as to enable it to achieve its target of $300 million as a further tangible sign of their support for the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990.