HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE ON TCDC URGES UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM TO IMPLEMENT NEW DIRECTIONS STRATEGY, CONCLUDES 1997 SESSION
Press Release
DEV/2154
HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE ON TCDC URGES UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM TO IMPLEMENT "NEW DIRECTIONS" STRATEGY, CONCLUDES 1997 SESSION
19970512 Calls on System To Promote Closer Integration Of Economic and Technical Cooperation among Developing CountriesThe High-level Committee on the Review of Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC), meeting on Friday evening, 9 May, urged the United Nations development system to implement its 1995 recommendations on new directions for TCDC, and called for international support of innovative national, regional and interregional programmes, as it concluded the work of its current session and adopted its report.
Citing the importance of economic cooperation among developing countries (ECDC), the Committee called on the United Nations development system to promote a closer operational integration between ECDC and TCDC, by one of two decisions adopted without a vote, as orally revised. It called for the implementation of strategies on new funding arrangements, expanding TCDC, identifying pivotal countries, and promoting triangular cooperation.
The Committee called on the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to maintain the separate identity of its Special Unit for TCDC and to mobilize greater donor support for ECDC and TCDC activities. It asked the organizations of the United Nations system to incorporate TCDC in their programmes and to mainstream the TCDC modality in the development activities of the United Nations system. It also called on them to assist the developing countries to utilize TCDC for the promotion of small- and medium-sized enterprises.
The Committee also recommended that it hold a special one-day session in 1998 to mark the twentieth anniversary of the Plan of Action which emerged from the 1988 Buenos Aires Conference on TCDC. The Committee, which was established following that Conference, meets every two years. It makes recommendations on implementing the Conference's Plan of Action and monitors all TCDC activities of the United Nations system.
Committee on Review of TCDC - 2 - Press Release DEV/2154 6th Meeting (Night) 12 May 1997
By a second decision, the Committee urged the UNDP to ensure that its Special Unit on TCDC was adequately staffed and equipped, stressing the need to mobilize additional financing for the Unit. It also asked the Executive Board of UNDP to review the impact of the TCDC modality on implementation of its programme.
The decisions, which were proposed by the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, were introduced by Committee Vice-President and Working Group Chairman, Patricia Durant (Jamaica). She said the Working Group, in discussing the format for the Committee's next session, suggested an interactive plenary meeting with short, focused interventions, as well as presentation of a limited number of representative case studies.
The "new directions" for TCDC originated in a request of the General Assembly that the Committee endorsed recommendations for such a strategy. They called for a more strategic orientation towards such TCDC, with priority given to the trade and investment, debt, the environment, poverty alleviation, production and employment, macro-economic policy coordination, education, health, the transfer of technology, and rural development.
The next session of the High-level Committee will be held in 1999.
Closing Statements
Momodu Kebba Jallow (Gambia), Committee President, said that during the current session, a determination had emerged to ensure that South-South and South-North cooperation were implemented within all aspects of international cooperation. The Committee's work had been revitalized, with a focus on identifying achievable targets, structures and organs, in order to achieve success. The decisions adopted today would go a long way in putting into practice the desire to see TCDC practised in as wide a spectrum as possible.
Rafeeuddin Ahmed, Associate Administrator of UNDP, said the innovations identified by the Committee, including the decision to focus in future on thematic issues, would contribute to a more constructive discussion. The UNDP would work with the Committee to continue improving its effectiveness in promoting and monitoring TCDC throughout the United Nations system. He was encouraged that TCDC would be an important part of the United Nations in the twenty-first century and pledged UNDP's continued support.
Dennis Benn, Director of the Special Unit for TCDC, said the Unit was dedicated to assisting in the implementation of TCDC. Closing statements were also made by the representatives of the United Republic of Tanzania (for the "Group of 77" and China) and by the United Kingdom (for the European Union). The Committee's report on the current session was introduced by its Rapporteur, Sandagdorj Erdenebileg (Mongolia).
Committee on Review of TCDC - 3 - Press Release DEV/2154 6th Meeting (Night) 12 May 1997
Highlights of Session
During its current session, which began on 5 May, the Committee heard a wide range of views on TCDC issues. Some delegations commended the Special Unit for TCDC for its catalytic financial support in many priority areas. It was encouraged to continue its efforts to expand the information capacities of developing countries through the TCDC Information Referral System (INRES), as well as through the planned development of a multidimensional TCDC database.
Several speakers supported the greater integration of TCDC and ECDC within a programme in the Special Unit. There was also a call for greater support for the TCDC Trust Fund to ensure the availability of adequate resources on a predictable basis. Other delegations said TCDC should not be treated as a separate programme but should be integrated in the overall work of the United Nations development system.
Greater efforts should be made to increase awareness of the TCDC modality and to highlight its cost-effectiveness, several speakers said. Structural and cultural rigidities and, most importantly, the lack of financial resources, had adversely affected progress in use of the TCDC modality. The United Nations development system, from Headquarters to the field level, had a long way to go in its role of promoting TCDC. Lack of awareness and deliberate scepticism within that system regarding the efficacy of the TCDC modality contributed to its marginalization.
If the TCDC process was truly to take root, it would need a broad base of support and participation, other speakers said. The private sector, in particular, was an increasingly vital contributor to the economic development of developing countries. The important roles played by non-governmental organizations and the mass media in promoting TCDC should also be recognized and encouraged.
Another factor in this year's debate stemmed from an invitation by the Special Unit to a number of countries and intergovernmental organizations to present case studies on their experiences in implementing TCDC. Accordingly, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, China, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Republic of Tanzania and the Latin American Economic System (SELA) made presentations of their experiences.
Decisions Adopted
By its decision on progress made in implementing TCDC initiatives in the Buenos Aires Plan of Action, the Committee's own decisions and the recommendations of the South Commission (document TCDC/10/L.4), the Committee called on the Administrator of UNDP to mobilize greater donor support for the Perez-Guerrero Trust Fund, which supports ECDC and TCDC activities, as well as support for the South Centre.
Committee on Review of TCDC - 4 - Press Release DEV/2154 6th Meeting (Night) 12 May 1997
[A 1990 report by the South Commission advanced a framework for action to help the countries of the South maintain their political and economic independence and to improve the lives and living conditions of their people. The South Centre, successor to the South Commission, publishes and distributes to countries of the South information, strategic analyses and recommendations on international economic, social and political matters.]
The Committee called on organizations of the United Nations system, particularly the UNDP, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), to assist the developing countries to utilize TCDC for the promotion of small- and medium-sized enterprises. It asked organizations of the United Nations system, including the regional commissions, to facilitate the incorporation of TCDC in their programmes, and to intensify efforts to mainstream the TCDC modality in the development activities of the United Nations system.
Noting that 1998 will mark the twentieth anniversary of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action, the text also recommends the convening in 1998 of a one-day special session of the High-Level Committee at the ministerial level, to commemorate the occasion.
By the text on the progress made in implementing the new directions strategy for TCDC (document TCDC/10.L.5), the Committee urged the United Nations development system to promote a closer operational integration between TCDC and ECDC, and to implement other elements of the strategy. Those included its recommendations on new funding arrangements, the expansion of TCDC, the Information Referral System (INRES), identifying pivotal countries, promoting triangular cooperation, and disseminating the best TCDC practices. It called on the UNDP Administrator to maintain the separate identity of its Special Unit for TCDC. It decided to review periodically the impact and functioning of the Unit in promoting, monitoring and coordinating TCDC system-wide.
The Committee called on developing and developed countries, the United Nations system, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to support fully the effective implementation of the TCDC framework. That would include support for innovative national, regional and interregional programmes and projects, as well as expanded use of the TCDC modality in the operational activities for development of the United Nations system.
Prior to adoption, these two decisions were combined as a single text.
Committee on Review of TCDC - 5 - Press Release DEV/2154 6th Meeting (Night) 12 May 1997
By its decision on an overall framework for promoting and applying TCDC (document TCDC/10/L.6), the Committee asked the Administrator of the UNDP to ensure that the Special Unit was adequately staffed and equipped to carry out its responsibilities effectively. It stressed the need to mobilize additional financial resources to assist the Unit in implementing the new directions strategy. The Committee also asked the Executive Board of UNDP to review the quality and impact of the TCDC modality on the implementation of its programme.
Officers and Membership
All United Nations Member States and its specialized agencies are represented in the High-level Committee. Representatives of non-governmental organizations and United Nations intergovernmental bodies attend as observers.
Its officers are: Momodu Kebba Jallow (Gambia), President; Patricia Durant (Jamaica) and Helen Browne (Ireland), Vice-Presidents; Sandagdorj Erdenebileg (Mongolia) was Rapporteur. The Vice-President representing Eastern Europe was not elected.
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