GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION ON PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT CONCLUDES AT HEADQUARTERS
Press Release
GA/9065
GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION ON PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT CONCLUDES AT HEADQUARTERS
19960419 Invites Governments to Strengthen Public Capacities, Requests Development of UN Strategies to Rebuild Post-Conflict AdministrationsThe General Assembly this afternoon invited governments to strengthen their public administrative and financial management capacities and encouraged the decentralization of public institutions, where appropriate, as it concluded its one-week session on the role of public administration in development.
Acting without a vote, the Assembly asked the United Nations to develop strategies, at the request of interested countries, for the rebuilding of public administration in post-conflict situations and invited the international community to consider providing adequate resources to assist national efforts in enhancing public administration in developing countries and economies in transition.
By other terms of the resolution, the Assembly recommended that the Secretary-General take measures to ensure maximum coordination of relevant activities within the United Nations system. It invited the Bretton Woods institutions and all relevant United Nations bodies to assist, at the request of States involved, in economic restructuring, to pursue policies aimed at improving the management of their human resources.
The United Nations should help facilitate the exchange of information and promote training and research at all levels, the resolution states. It was asked to focus on strengthening government capacity for policy development, improving public-sector performance, financial management, public-private interaction and social development. It was also asked to focus on infrastructure development and environmental protection, legal capacities of governments, post-conflict reconstruction of government machinery and management of development programmes.
The resolution (document A/50/L.69/Rev.1), was introduced by Messaoud Mansouri, Minister for Administrative Affairs of Morocco. It was sponsored by: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, El Salvador, Ghana, Mali, Malawi, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Togo and Zambia.
General Assembly Plenary - 2 - Press Release GA/9065 112th Meeting (PM) 19 April 1996
Following adoption of the resolution, speaking in explanation of position on behalf of the European Union, Giulio Terzi Di Sant'Agata (Italy) said the resumed session had allowed a constructive exchange of views and experiences, which recognized the strong link between public administration and development. They emphasized the improvement of governance and public administration through increased efficiency and responsiveness by governments, based on democracy, rule of law and human rights.
He said the resolution contained important indications regarding principles to be respected by governments and the international community in assessing the role of public administration in contributing to sustainable, people-centred development. However, it could have given a clear indication of the importance of establishing the legal framework for public and private activities, and a fair and reliable judicial system, of reinforcing the links between public and private sectors, and of encouraging networking of non- governmental institutions in the field of public administration.
He restated the Union's proposal that the Economic and Social Council devote one of it future coordination segments to public administration and development as a cross-sectoral theme.
During its one-week resumed session, the Assembly heard speakers from a wide range of economic and geographic backgrounds share their experiences in reforming governmental structures to make them more responsive to the needs of the people. The particular problems facing developing countries, transitional economies and States dealing with the aftermath of conflict came in for particular attention.
In general, public administration was one of the main means through which governments could respond to the wishes of their people, speakers said. However, government's role was now being redefined in view of the growing role of the private sector. Public administration had to be based on the rule of law and democracy, with transparency and accountability.
The view was stressed that public administration should be adapted, not only to meet economic demands, but to promote the ideals of peace, equity and social justice. The need for reform of public administrative structures and systems was seen as transcending all economic, national and regional boundaries.
Key features recommended for the reform of public administration included strengthening local government, decentralizing bureaucracies, promoting investment and enhancing the private sector. Many speakers stressed that the United Nations was uniquely situated to play an important role in the strengthening of public administration for development. That role should include promoting that process of information sharing, as well as in executing specific projects through its agencies, such as the United Nations Development Programme.
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