28 May 1987

17th plenary meeting

Public administration and finance for development

The Economic and Social Council,

Reiterating the importance of flexible, effective and responsive public administration systems for economic and social development and of improving the productivity and effectiveness of development administration structures,

Welcoming the Special Action Programme in Public Administration and Management for Africa,

Noting with appreciation the establishment of the trust fund of the United Nations Development Programme to enhance public administration, planning and management in Africa,

1. Takes note of the report of the Eighth Meeting of Experts on the United Nations Programme in Public Administration and Finance, held in New York from 11 to 20 March 1987, and the report of the Secretary-General thereon;

2. Emphasizes the catalytic role of the United Nations programme in public administration and finance in the improvement of systems of public administration and finance for development, in particular of developing countries;

3. Invites all organizations of the United Nations system and the international community to follow up the diagnoses made within the Special Action Programme in Public Administration and Management for Africa by intensifying and implementing programmes and projects to help solve the problems identified;

4. Invites also the United Nations Development Programme and donor countries to provide adequate funds to implement the Special Action Programme in Public Administration and Management for Africa, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Economic and Social Council, in 1988, on developments in this regard and on activities undertaken to improve public administration and finance systems in Africa;

5. Decides to consider the question of public administration and finance further at its second regular session of 1987.