8 July 1987

36th plenary meeting

Cross-organizational review of the medium-term plans of the organizations of the United Nations system and programme analysis in the area of science and technology for development

The Economic and Social Council,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the cross-organizational review of the medium-term plans of the organizations of the United Nations system and programme analysis in the area of science and technology for development, and part one of the report of the Committee for Programme and Co-ordination on its twenty-seventh session,

1. Invites the Intergovernmental Committee on Science and Technology for Development to give due consideration at its ninth session to the cross-organizational review of the medium-term plans of the organizations of the United Nations system and programme analysis in the area of science and technology for development, as well as to the assessment and recommendations of the Commiittee for Programme and Co-ordination;

2. Urges the Intergovernmental Committee to exercise the co-ordinating role assigned to it under the Vienna Programme of Action on Science and Technology for Development and by the General Assembly in resolution 34/218 of 19 December 1979 and to consider co-ordination questions at each of its sessions;

3. Decides to strengthen its co-ordinating function in the field of science and technology to assist the organizations and organs of the United Nations system in harmonizing their efforts, taking into account the need to avoid overlap and duplication;

4. Also decides that the discharge of its functions with regard to co-ordination in the field of science and technology should be linked to its consideration of the substantive issues in that field;

5. Requests the Intergovernmental Committee and other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Co-ordination, to focus their activities in the field of science and technology on the need to develop practical forms of co-operation in specific areas, giving special attention to strengthening the scientific and technological capabilities of developing countries and taking note of the discussion at the second regular session of 1987 of the Council.