22 July 1986

38th plenary meeting

Transport and Communications Decade in Africa

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling resolution 291 (XIII) of 26 February 1977 of the Conference of Ministers of the Economic Commission for Africa, Economic and Social 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 487 (XIX) of 26 May 1984 of the Conference of Ministers of the Economic Commission for Africa, by which the Conference of Ministers endorsed the programme for the second phase of the Decade, and resolution 544 (XX) of 29 April 1985 of the Conference of Ministers, by which the Secretary-General was requested to provide the Commission with resources to enable it to organize the fifth session of the Conference of African Ministers of Transport, Communications and Planning, as well as meetings on co-financing arrangements,

Referring to Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/68 of 27 July 1984 and General Assembly resolutions 38/150 of 19 December 1983 and 39/230 of 18 December 1984 on the Transport and Communications Decade in Africa,

Referring also to the report of the Secretary-General on the Transport and Communications Decade in Africa submitted to the Economic and Social Council at its second regular session of 1985 and to the General Assembly at its fortieth session,

Noting the annual reports for 1984 and 1985 on the implementation of the programme for the Decade, the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on the Decade and the report of the Inter-Agency Co-ordinating Committee on the Regional African Satellite Communications System,

Appreciating the efforts made by the Executive Secretary of the Commission to mobilize resources and to secure international assistance for implementing the second phase of the programme,

Noting that financial resources have been allocated by the General Assembly for the activities envisaged in its resolutions 38/150 and 39/230, including studies on harmonization and co-ordination of the various modes of transport and on manpower and training needs in transport and communications,

Noting with satisfaction that certain projects related to trans-African axes included in the programme for the Transport and Communications Decade in Africa have been implemented using national resources of African countries members of the Economic Commission for Africa,

1. Endorses the report and the resolutions adopted by the Conference of African Ministers of Transport, Communications and Planning at its fifth session, held at Harare on 10 and 11 March 1986;

2. Notes with satisfaction the achievements by all African countries in the implementation of all the resolutions previously adopted by the Conference of African Ministers of Transport, Communications and Planning within the framework of the Decade, which achievements shall be included among the accomplishments of the Decade;

3. Welcomes the role played by the Inter-Agency Co-ordinating Committee on the Regional African Satellite Communications System, under the Economic Commission for Africa as the lead agency, in co-ordinating activities towards the attainment of the objectives of the Decade;

4. Appreciates the continued financial support of Member States for the activities of the Transport and Communications Decade in Africa;

5. Expresses its appreciation to the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme for his continuing support of the Decade through the financing of the Decade Co-ordination Unit and other Decade activities, and requests him to continue to provide funds to the Commission during the programme's fourth programing cycle (1987-1991) for the realization of the development process which was accepted during the Decade;

6. Expresses its thanks to donor countries and financing institutions for the financial assistance provided for the implementation of the programme for the Decade, and urges them to continue and intensify their support for the programme and for the strengthening of the Co-ordinating Committee for the Decade;

7. Requests the General Assembly to allocate, within the limits of available resources, the necessary means to enable the Commission:

(a) To carry out an in-depth evaluation of the programme for the Decade in accordance with the recommendations contained in the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on the Decade;

(b) To organize and service meetings of the Technical Committee on Air Transport;

8. Requests the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa to draw the attention of the member States to the recommendations contained in the present resolution, taking into account the views expressed in the Economic and Social Council on the subject, and to report to the Commission, as soon as possible on the matter.