M. E. ABDOUL (République centrafricaine): Je voudrais tout d'abord, au nom du Président de la République centrafricaine, au nom du gouvernement et du peuple centrafricain, présenter toutes nos condoléances au peuple colombien attristé.
Il convient de porter à votre connaissance que la République centrafricaine, pays enclavé, est à vocation essentiellement agricole: 80 pour cent de sa population vit en zone rurale. C'est pour vous dire que l'agriculture constitue la priorité des priorités. C'est à ce titre que nous voulons souligner que l'examen du Programme ordinaire rencontre pleinement nos préoccupations en matière d'activités intéressant les petits producteurs, les ruraux pauvres et les femmes rurales.
Nous nous félicitons, par ailleurs, que le Conseil ait mis l'accent sur le rêle catalytique que doit jouer la FAO dans les domaines de la santé animale, de la promotion des petits éleveurs et de la formulation de mesures tendant à renforcer la sécurité en matière d'alimentation des animaux. La solution d'une méthode d'approche du développement rural intégrée serait très souhaitable. La politique de création de piscicultures visant à diversifier les sources de.protéines animales nécessaires à une alimentation équilibrée s'avère raisonnable pour combattre la malnutrition, et nous 1'appuyons.
Ma délégation est satisfaite de constater que l'examen de ce programme a retracé certaines recommandations de la Conférence de Mexico sur le bois. Elle a réservé une grande attention au rôle que doit jouer la femme dans le processus de développement.
La dixième Conférence régionale de la FAO pour l'Afrique, la réunion préparatoire de la Conférence mondiale sur la réforme agraire et le développement rural et la Conférence elle-même ont largement souligné l'importance de la participation de la femme au processus de développement. Ma délégation estime que cette nouvelle décennie doit se pencher sérieusement sur ce problème car les femmes participent à plus de 55 pour cent à l'agriculture de mon pays.
En ce qui concerne le Programme de coopération technique, permettez-moi de dire très haut que ma délégation le soutient et l'appuie. Elle appuie également la déclaration du représentant du groupe des 77 qui est intervenu à la Commission.
Des élogieuses déclarations des éminents chefs d'Etat qui ont honoré cette Conférence, il convient de souligner, comme l'a déclaré le Président de la République française, que c'est de l'homme que
nous parlons, de la libération de l'homme de la faim et de la malnutrition. Par conséquent, tous nos efforts en vue d'une augmentation du PCT (Programme de Coopération technique) reçoivent le plein appui de la délégation centrafricaine.
DATO'ABU BAKAR MAHMUD (Malaysia): Mr.Chairman, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen: It is with deep feelings of remorse that my delegation would like to express our profound sympathy and condolences through you, Sir, to the Government and people of Colombia for the deep suffering that afflicted your people as a result of the volcanic eruptions.
Let me take this opportunity once again to compliment Mr Shah for having given a brillant introduction of the Review on behalf of the Secretariat.
The Review of the Regular Programme for 1984-85, as contained in document C 85/8, exhibits a vast improvement in terms of both format and content, with greater coverage of tables and discussion of programme results.
One special feature of the Review is that it gives particular attention to programmes serving the small farmers. Indeed the document provides a comprehensive source of information and analysis of activities and accomplishments of the Regular Programme of FAO and their links with the field programmes, both of which constitute major technical programmes of FAO.
My delegation does not wish to belabour the substantive details of the Regular Programme or even the TCP. More importantly, my delegation would like to express its satisfaction with the FAO Regular Programme activities covering agriculture, fisheries, forestry, technical cooperation and development support, livestock production, inland fisheries,-aquaculture and research activities.
On TCP my delegation reiterates its support that the Programme should continue to form part of the Regular budget of the FAO as it provides the Organization with a rapid response system in meeting emergencies and short-term technical assistance needs of developing .countries which otherwise could not be met by other financial resources or programmes or through prevailing democratic procedures.
My delegation feels that the TCP should maintain its basic characteristics with little need for additional criteria or additional forms of control for its application and operation. I am sure that the Director-General and his highly capable Secretariat will exercise high judgement and discretion in the programme of the TCP for the needs of developing member countries.
On the need to establish a new category (c) for TCP projects, my delegation has no objection as long as it serves to accelerate and catalyze inter-country cooperation, such as promoting technical cooperation among developing countries or TCDC.
In regard to the proposal to increase the limit of TCP frpm US$250 000 to US$400 000 my delegation wishes to register its support, which we did also in the Council recently. Our support is based on the fact that the inflation rate has gone up since the inception of TCP eight years ago. For example, we have to take into account the increasing costs of consultancies prevailing now as compared with eight years ago.
Finally, on the Review as a whole, my delegation wishes to concur fully with the conclusion of the Eighty-eighth Session of the Council as stated in paragraph 88 as: "one providing a reasoned assessment of activities implemented and an indication of the lessons, both positive and negative, to be applied for future programmes".
ZHANG ZHENPING (China): The Secretariat has provided us with a very comprehensive document and the previous speakers have expressed their views from different angles. These will certainly facilitate our full understanding of the activities under the Regular Programme of FAO and consideration of ways to further improve it. Now I wish to make a few remarks in three aspects:
First. We have noted that progress has been made in the activities under the Regular Programme of the current biennium, which is reflected mainly in the following three fields: one is the agrarian reform and the rural development; another is the dissemination of agricultural knowledge and the economic and technical cooperation among developing countries; the other is the activities at the national level. As the Regular Programme of the Organization covers a wide range of activities, we believe that strengthening activities in the above-mentioned areas is in line with the character of the Regular Programme and serves as a medium for broad objectives. Therefore, it is
appropriate to direct efforts for the development of these three fields.
Second. The first chapter of the document: Agriculture, that is Major Programme 2.1,accounts for 78 percent of the regular budget and is responsible for the management of the annual field delivery of approximately US$240 million. This constitutes the core of the Regular Programme. As paragraph 1.138 of the document points out, "The most important issues which continued to confront the Major Programme were the mobilization of assistance and the need to ensure maximum effective use of FAO's limited resources". We think that this has hit the nail on the head. And it is just for the attainment of these two purposes that the Secretariat made its efforts. This can be testified by the fact that even with the reduction of UNDP resources FAO's Trust Fund is steadily going up. Regarding the need to ensure maximum economic benefit, nobody can deny the fact that since the last session of the Conference, the Organization, with a budget of a close-to-zero growth, has conducted a greater number of economic and technical projects with more tangible effects than during the previous biennium. This shows that FAO programme management has improved and raised its working efficiency. For this, we wish to commend FAO and hope that it will continue its efforts in this direction in formulating and implementing its future programme.
Third. Regarding the reviewing period, we think that the most desirable approach is to confirm the biannual programme with the budget cycle. For instance, we are reviewing the activities in the 1984-85 biennium, while in the document a number of references are made to those carried out in 1983-84. Besides, it only'contains a general summary of what has happened since 1980 without reviewing the activities in the biennial order. Though we know that the activities have their continuity and sometimes go beyond one biennium, it is therefore undesirable to separate them artificially or dogmatically since we still believe that there is room for improvement. In this way it will be convenient for the Member Nations to compare and analyze the activities under the Regular Programme. Nevertheless, we still consider that this is a valuable document with substantial information. We appreciate the work done by the Secretariat in this regard.
Finally, as for the Technical Cooperation Programme, the Eighty-eighth Session of the Council has considered it in depth. I reiterate our support for raising the limit of US$250 000 for a TCP project to US$400 000. At the same time we are in favour of adding a new category under TCP.
S. SARRAF(Liban) (langue originale arabe): Je voudrais une fois de plus remercier M. Shah pour l'excellente présentation de ce document de travail dont nous sommes saisis.
La délégation libanaise a déjà appuyé globalement et totalement le Programme ordinaire au cours de la dernière session du Conseil. Il n'est donc pas nécessaire de répéter ce que nous avions dit alors.
En ce qui concerne la position de certains pays qui s'opposent à quelques-uns des points figurant dans le Programme de coopération technique, je me dois de faire quelques observations. L'opposition qui se manifeste ne tient pas au coeur du problème, et nous aimerions remercier le délégué du Canada qui n'a pas proposé d'annuler ce programme, peut-être parce qu'il a compris qu'il était tout à fait inutile de faire une proposition de ce genre. L'opposition a donc trait à la source de financement, et au passage du plafond de 250 000 dollars à 400 000 dollars.
Pour ce qui est des sources de financement, la délégation libanaise voudrait insister sur le financement du Programme de coopération technique par le biais du Programme ordinaire, afin de garantir la continuité de ce Programme ainsi que son indépendance. Ceci est extrêmement important, étant donné que ce Programme est un Programme d'urgence qui n'est pas planifié à l'avance.
Bien entendu, nous appuyons toute source de financement extérieure qui pourrait se présenter. Cependant, nous devons être sûrs que nous sommes en mesure de satisfaire les multiples demandes qui nous arrivent quel que soit le financement disponible,fût-il extérieur ou non.
Voilà pourquoi nous appuyons le Programme de coopération au sein du Programme de travail et budget et dont la part s'élève à 13,7 pour cent.
Quand au relèvement du plafond de financement de 250 000 à 400 000 dollars, il nous semble que cette demande est formulée pour faire face à des conditions et à des circonstances exceptionnelles, permettant de donner davantage de souplesse à l'Organisation. Il n'y a donc rien à craindre parce que l'Organisation et son Directeur général ont prouvé qu'ils sont capables de gérer ces fonds de manière adéquate. L'évaluation de la "Mission Indépendance" l'a bien prouvé et les bénéficiaires qui sont nombreux l'ont prouvé également. Par conséquent, nous appuyons l'augmentation du plafond du Programme de coopération technique.
Enfin, nous voudrions qu'une grande partie des crédits du Programme de coopération technique soit affectée à la promotion de la coopération économique et technique entre pays en développement.
Nous appuyons également le projet de création d'une nouvelle catégorie de projets en mesure.de renforcer la coopération économique et technique entre les pays en développement.
Mme M. de LOURDES DUARTE (Cap-Vert): La délégation du Cap-Vert voudrait -tout d'abord féliciter M. Shah pour la présentation du Programme ordinaire 1984-85 ainsi que le Secrétariat pour la qualité du document.
Nous nous réjouissons de pouvoir examiner ce document car il constitue une bonne source d'information et d'analyse concernant les activités et les réalisations du Programme ordinaire. En particulier, le Programme ordinaire a mis l'accent sur les activités intéressant les ruraux pauvres, les petits producteurs et les femmes rurales.
Nous souscrivons à la déclaration du Président du Groupe des 77 et aussi à la déclaration de la délégation malgache.
Ma délégation, appuyant les orateurs de Panama et de la Suède, souligne elle aussi l'importance de la formation des femmes rurales pour qu'elles puissent participer au processus de décision.
La coopération économique et technique entre pays en développement mérite tout notre appui.
De même, comme nous l'avons déjà exprimé dans d'autres instances, nous réaffirmons notre ferme appui au Programme de coopération technique qui, depuis sa création, apporte une importante contribution au développement alimentaire et agricole des pays en développement.
Pour terminer, ma délégation fait sienne la proposition autrichienne qui fait confiance au Directeur général. Nous recommandons d'appuyer les propositions faites par notre Directeur général et leur concrétisation et nous appuyons donc l'augmentation du plafond des projets du PCT à 400 000 dollars, ainsi que la mesure visant la nouvelle catégorie de projets destinés à catalyser
la CTPD.
W. DENNEY (United StatesofAmerica): The documentbefore us and itsintroductionby MrShahprovidesauseful basis for reviewing the effectiveness and efficiency of Regular Programme activities. In our view the document maintains the standard of quality achieved in the last review and contains an impressive amount of information on FAO's wide range of activities. Let me briefly mention a few of those which the United States believes are particularly important. These include the Global Information and Early Warning System, involvement in Africa,soil conservation and irrigation activities, Codex Alimentarius work on crop potentials, numerous training activities, focus on small farmer requirements, emphasis on women's role in producing food, agricultural price policies, forestry programmes and recent improvements in data collection and processing. Despite
our overall praise of FAO's programmes, we believe there is too much emphasis in the document on initial allocation and commitment of resources and too little on actual expenditure levels. We also agree with what Canada and others have stated regarding the necessity of including more information on the effects various programmes have on recipients' needs and how this information is used to develop new and/or adjust existing FAO programmes.
The document in Part Two provides a good picture of the projects and problems in only selected activities, as well as a general flavour of the range and depth of FAO's efforts. We believe nonetheless that the number of programmes and sub-programmes covered should be larger than it is in the review. The United States delegation encourages the recent emphasis FAO has made in the evaluation area and would like to see even more analyses or summaries of evaluations in subsequent reviews.
I would like to turn now to what we consider the most important part of the Regular Programme in that it has a direct impact on recipients. I of course refer to the Technical Cooperation Programme. TCP has received considerable attention during the past few days and I would like to describe some of my Government's views on TCP. First, there can be no doubt as to that Programme's value for meeting short-term requirements of beneficiary countries. In this context we think that the TCP focus should remain short-term and in response to urgent needs that cannot be met from already existing and efficient sources of technical assistance, such as UNDP. Additionally we believe that all technical assistance in the UN System should be funded voluntarily rather than from assessed funds and that the appropriate source for such funding is the United Nations Development Programme. UNDP, as we all know}was created as the UN central funding source for technical assistance. The United States, however, recognizes TCP as a fact of life and as a generally sound programme, but believes that it has grown beyond the ability of the Organization to use its funds effectively. Difficulties experienced by FAO in using monies already allocated to TCP illustrate the problems. For it to grow further may well result in a distortion of FAO's other important Regular Programmes. In this context we would like to request that Mr Shah provide the Commission with a detailed explanation of FAO's management structure in this Headquarters used to administer and support TCP in the design, review and implementation phases of projects. We also would like to know what criteria projects need to fulfil in order to secure funding of proposals. Is there, for example, a need for proposals to explain how projects fit in the context of overall agricultural and food policy or production objectives? Other factors also concern us. Why, for instance, is training being funded from TCP funds? Such use runs counter to the expected short-term emergency nature of the Programme and it is therefore unjustified in our view. We support FAO's role in training and believe that training is critically important. TCP, however, was not created for this purpose. These are some observations on this document we wanted to share with you and with the Commission. Again, we recognize the significant progress this document represents and wish to support the Secretariat's efforts in this regard.
J.M.TRAVERS (France): La délégationfrançaise souhaiterait féliciter M. Shah pour sa présentation du sujet et remercier aussi le Secrétariat pour la richesse du document C85/8.Ce document nous fournit de nombreuses données actuelles sur les activités de l'Organisation. Nous notons en particulier le grand nombre de renseignements statistiques présentés.
Comme ma délégation l'avait déjà indiqué lors de réunions précédentes, elle est persuadée que l'effort d'analyse que traduit ce document, en particulier dans sa deuxième partie, sera encore approfondi dans l'avenir de manière à nous mettre encore mieux en mesure d'évaluer sur le plan qualitatif l'état d'avancement des différents programmes en fonction des principales priorités de 1'Organisation.
Comme elle l'avait déjà fait, la délégation française souhaiterait manifester à nouveau sa satisfaction de voir l'Organisation montrer sa volonté de concentrer ses activités sur quelques domaines clés. Les orientations retenues, qu'il s'agisse du choix de thèmes sectoriels comme les politiques de prix ou l'étude du potentiel des terres agricoles, ou qu'il s'agisse encore de priorités géographiques - et je pense ici à la priorité en faveur du continent africain - nous paraissent tout à fait justifiées. Nous nous réjouissons que l'Organisation mette désormais l'accent sur l'emploi de techniques nécessitant de faibles apports de capitaux, de devises, comme la petite irrigation, la traction animale et les engrais organiques.
Nous nous félicitons du soutien qu'elle apporte au développement des productions qui sont le fait des paysans pauvres comme les cultures légumières et les autres cultures improprement appelées secondaires.
Nous appuyons ses efforts visant à favoriser les économies d'énergie et en particulier les actions qu'elle a entreprises dans le domaine du bois de feu.
En ce qui concerne le programme de coopération technique, la délégation française tient tout d'abord à remercier le Directeur général d'avoir pris l'initiative de faire évaluer les activités de ce programme. Une telle évaluation, après huit années d'activité, traduit une volonté de rigueur et de transparence que nous appuyons vivement et nous espérons qu'elle pourra être répétée à intervalle régulier.
En relation avec le Comité du programme de notre Organisation, cette évaluation permettra de déterminer les moyens d'améliorer encore le fonctionnement et l'efficacité du programme.
Ma délégation est consciente de la primauté qui doit être conservée en ce qui concerne le financement des opérations de terrain par les ressources extra-budgétaires. Elle n'en considère pas moins que le programme de coopération technique, seul programme permettant à l'OAA de répondre rapidement et de manière souple à des besoins non prévisibles des pays membres, a une utilité qui ne peut pas être contestée; non seulement son existence, mais aussi ses caractéristiques essentielles doivent être à nos yeux soigneusement préservées.
La proposition de relever le plafond des projets de 250 000 à 400 000 dollars, compte tenu de 1'inflation accumulée pendant les 9 années d'existence du programme, ne nous paraît pas déraisonnable et ne suscite pas d'objection de notre part.
Nous avons noté avec satisfaction que la part de l'Afrique dans le montant du projet du PCT s'élève à 40 pour cent et nous espérons que cette priorité sera maintenue dans les années à venir. Nous approuvons la création d'une nouvelle catégorie de projets destinés à catalyser la coopération entre pays en développement et tout spécialement les réseaux coopératifs de recherche qui constituent un moyen efficace et peu coûteux de renforcer les capacités de ces pays dans ces domaines.
Parmi les mesures déjà prises ou prévues par le Directeur général, je tiens à relever particulièrement celles qui donnent instruction aux représentants dans les pays de mettre au courant des projets les représentants des autres organismes d'aide et des pays donateurs, ainsi que d'établir tous les six mois un catalogue de tous les projets en cours ou achevés.
Une telle mesure nous paraît essentielle pour renforcer de manière concrète et non pas théorique la concertation entre les organismes de financement de l'aide et éviter les risques de double emploi.
Je voudrais enfin en conclusion de cette intervention dire quelques mots à propos des bureaux régionaux. Depuis 10 ans, dans les activités de ces bureaux, la priorité aux actions de caractère technique et économique s'est nettement accentuée. C'est une évolution dont nous nous réjouissons. En revanche, des progrès nous paraissent encore souhaitables sur deux points: d'abord la répartition des responsabilités entre le siège et les bureaux régionaux devrait être définie sur des bases plus claires, notamment en ce qui concerne les projets régionaux. Par ailleurs, nous constatons que dans les domaines pour lesquels les bureaux régionaux réalisent une part importante des activités de l'Organisation, la formation par exemple, des disparités existent entre les différentes régions et plus spécialement au détriment de l'Afrique. Nous ne méconnaissons pas les contraintes auxquelles on doit faire face et notamment auxquelles doit faire face le bureau régional pour l'Afrique. Nous pensons cependant que compte tenu des besoins qu'il doit satisfaire et de l'importance des moyens qui lui sont alloués, ce bureau devrait pouvoir renforcer son efficacité.
K.M. EJAZUL HUQ (Bangladesh):The views of theBangladesh delegationonthe Regular Programme have been stated at the Eighty-seventh and Eighty-eighth Council sessions as well as during debate on agenda item 12, Programme of Work and Budget for the biennium 1986-87. On the Review of the 1984-1985 Regular Programme, therefore, we shall concentrate on a few points of prime interest for us.
I feel it necessary to make a general comment, though its theme is not new, before I focus my intervention on specific points. As its members, what we primarily look for in FAO is its recognition of the member countries' needs and its ability to respond to those; we also look for initiative, imagination, realism and dynamism. My delegation finds these qualities reflected in the fourth Review of the Regular Programme. This Review, without doubt, is an improvement over its predecessors: it clearly states objectives, directions and the main contents of each major and sub-programme.
Further, the fact that there is no hint of complacence satisfies us, and that in the Director-General's foreword the need and scope for constant improvement is prominently recognized, reassures us that our trust is rightly placed. Of course, with wide variation in exigencies of nations, and consequently in perceptions, understandably this Review, as any other , is unlikely to meet the equal approval by all. What, however, must be recognized is the expression of satisfaction with it by the majority and the undoubted improvement acknowledged by all. Almost nothing is perfect, nor will it ever be so.
My few but comprehensive points are based on our own experience and that of other developing countries to which we have had the opportunity to be exposed. My first point relates to TCP projects. Within their approval criteria, these have, in our context, served an array of objectives: some assisted crop rehabilitation in the wake of natural disasters; some have led to investment projects; and some have given us signals of structural adjustments. The benefits derived from them in the manner that we have, were unquestionably possible because of the quick-response and unprogrammed features of the TCP. Approval of these projects is not only short at the FAO level, but also at the national level. Very recently, my Government approved a TCP project in five days. In our experience, TCP projects have catalyzed investments and bridged other on-going projects.
These arguments and experiences, seen with the decline and uncertainty of Trust Fund availability, are persuasive reasons to endorse the proposal to raise project ceiling from US$ 250 000 to 400 000. Anyone dealing with statistics should be aware of the pitfalls of placing blind faith on averages. However, going by the 'average' arguments clearly, the US $ 70 000 average cost is an indication of the judiciousness that is applied when approving TCP projects, and does not, in our view, argue against raising the ceiling to the proposed level.
We wholeheartedly support the proposal for establishment of category (c) for projects to boost ECDC/TCDC activities. This will be an invaluable mechanism in assisting the developing countries to install their much needed appropriate technology base, which is a crucial necessity in placing them on a self-sustaining development path.
A final point on this subject: expenditure of all allocations must be monitored as a matter of budgetary discipline. In this connection, we take this opportunity to commend the Director-General for having requested an external audit of the TCP.
My second point relates to Fisheries, i.e. Major Programme 2.2. While the socio-economic development and general direction of the programme meets our approval, we would wish to see sharper emphasis laid on inland fisheries and acquaculture. In many developing countries, including mine, inland fisheries constitute an integral part of a farming systems approach, especially situations where strong consumer preferences for sweet water fish exist. This is doubly important when inland fisheries and spawning grounds are severely threatened by the spread of high technology, of which chemical fertilizers and pesticides are an integral part. In this context we recognize with appreciation FAO assistance in the recent preparation of a two-year fisheries management plan for our country where, as in many other countries, inland fisheries development confronts formidable social obstacles.
Although, in our view, greater attention is called for in this respect, we express satisfaction that FAO underscores thè need for multi-disciplinary planning, as reflected in paragraph 8.28 of document C 85/8, wherein we believe lies the solution of the problem.
Thirdly, while we endorse the Forestry Programme approach, under Major Programme 2.3 and Fuelwood, Sub-programme 2.3.4.3, we wish to point out that in very densely populated countries, such as mine, it will be increasingly difficult to protect and conserve natural and custodial forests. Consequently, supply of forestry products as sources of industrial raw material, and timber for energy
will rapidly decline. While efforts must continue to protect and.conserve natural forests from indiscriminate deforestation, depredation and degradation, social, farm and homestead forestry must be rapidly promoted as a fall-back and as an alternative. This will not only help augment supplies of timber and fuelwood but also will generate rural income, directly or indirectly. Arduous research is required in this field to constantly refine strategies for implementation of projects in the relatively uncharted area of social or community forestry.
Fourthly, in livestock development, joining our voice with previous speakers, we underscore the need to promote breeding and production of water-buffaloes. Their value is great as a source of strong draught-power, especially in farm-power short countries. With high forage efficiency, their value is even greater in countries where paucity of land puts food and fodder production in ruthless competition.
I should be failing in my duty if I do not mention our appreciation for the FAOR Scheme, its effectiveness and efficacy. FAOR has worked indeed extremely well in assisting countries to. help implement projects and in coordinating efforts between other donors. We are unhappy that this Scheme has been frozen to a fixed budgetary limit.
Finally, in summary, we fully endorse and value the Review. We would have liked to react to it in greater detail had time permitted us. However, we wish to make a small suggestion for presentational improvement.
In our view the sub-programmes should have followed the relevant major programmes to heighten the logical sequence. I confess I do not know the rationale for the current presentational format, perhaps the Secretariat will tell me if I have failed to see the logic behind this.
N. SRISURAK (Thailand): May I begin by expressing my delegation's appreciation to Mr Shah for his presentation which was both lucid and comprehensive. We would also like to thank the Secretariat for preparing the document C 85/8, Review of the Regular Programme 1984-1985. To save time, my delegation would like to make a very short comment as follows.
First, as a member of the FAO Council, my delegation would like to reiterate our support for the decision made at the Eighty-eighth session of the Council, and give our full support for the Technical Cooperation Programmes as shown in paragraphs 91, 92 and 93 of documentC85/LIM/17.
Secondly, from our experience as a recipient country of these three sources of funds, namely the Trust Fund, the UNDP and the TCP, my delegation is of the view that there is no duplication among these three sources. In fact, they are complementary.
Thirdly, although we have the Trust Fund and the UNDP fund, my delegation would like to stress that there is still a need for developing countries to receive technical assistance from FAO. We believe that the proper use of these sources of funds reflects a quick and timely response to our needs. In this connection, my delegation would like to urge this Commission, to consider keeping the TCP in the Regular Programme, as has already been successfully done during the last decade.
Last but not least, my delegation would like to point out that for our part we see no harm or no reason why the TCP should not be included in our Regular Programme since in reality it could be considered as a single source of funds where developing countries can be proud because they also can contribute something to help themselves. So why do some of the "advanced countries" wish to take this TCP from us? This is even though my delegation strongly believes that to some extent TCP would also benefit them indirectly.
We would also like to reiterate that the FAO Regional Office should pay more attention to the FAO Regional Regular Programme than in the past. More effective cooperation between the Head Office and the Regional Office should be recognized.
A. EL SARKY (Egypt) (original language Arabic): I would like to express my deep gratitude and thanks for the efforts undertaken in preparing this document and for the continued efforts in the field of the review and evaluation of the Regular Programme by FAO. This provides us with a clear indication of the negative and positive aspects of the programmes and their impact on development. I would like to join others who have expressed their views as to the difficulty of undertaking an assessment. This fourth review is a source of satisfaction and gratitude for the notable improvement in this document as compared with previous years. My country believes that the Regular Programme is the basis on which the Organization bases the ways and means to fulfil its role in servicing countries since the Regular Programme helps the Organization to determine the minimum input re-quired for development programmes. My country's delegation, after having examined this document, wishes to express its full satisfaction for the achievements of the agriculture programme and its sub-programmes, the more so as it has concentrated on serving the small farmer, by providing him with the appropriate technology, by linking research and extension, by expanding the activities of the genetic resources programmes, by increasing the distribution of seeds, and by protecting plants from diseases and pests.
We also appreciate the efforts undertaken to raise the standards of women in the rural areas, as we are all agreed regarding the vital role women undertake in social life and in increasing agricultural production.
We wish to express our satisfaction for the notable improvements achieved by the livestock improvement programme, and more specifically in combatting rinderpest and foot and mouth diseases.
The reviews dealing with the research and economic cooperation between developing countries has highlighted the constructive role played by FAO in research capabilities. This has greatly improved development and productivity in this field.
My country wishes further to stress the importance of exchanging experience and knowhow between developing countries for their mutual benefit. Therefore, we here wish to endorse the efforts of FAO in the fields of technical and economic cooperation. 'We also fully support the statements indicating the importance of technical cooperation programmes, due to their flexibility and the speed with which they respond to the emergency., needs of countries. The aid extended within this Programme to Egypt had a positive impact on overcoming several problems impeding development in my country. We wish to stress two major points in this field. First, we support the share of the Technical Cooperation Programmes in the budget, namely 13.7 percent. Secondly, we support calls to increase the maximum funds of the Technical Cooperation Programmes to US$400,000. We agree with what was said before regarding the need to establish a new category within the framework of these programmes to support economic and technical cooperation between developing countries.
Finally, I would reiterate what I said earlier, namely that benefit from the activities of the Organization depends, to a great extent, on the support and follow-up by beneficiary countries.
J.F. NGUEMA-NZE (Gabon) :M. le Président,la Délégation gabonaise, comme tant d'autres, voudrait féliciter M. Shah de la présentation du document. En effet, nous avons constaté avec satisfaction que le Secrétariat a apporté une grande amélioration tant au fond qu'à la forme de ce document Effectivement, les objectifs globaux ont été arrêtés, les secteurs vers lesquels l'action doit être orientée ont été sélectionnés avec soin, les priorités reconnues et les cibles mieux définies. C'est pourquoi, comme nous l'avons dit, nous avons pensé qu'il était effectivement de notre devoir d'en féliciter le Secrétariat.
Mon pays se félicite également de l'attention particulière accordée à la femme rurale, notamment dans la production et la commercialisation des produits vivriers, rôle qui a été rappelé avec éloquence par la délégation de la Suède il y a quelques jours.
Le Gabon, tout comme le Congo, souhaite le renforcement des moyens accordés aux bureaux régionaux, notamment à la dynamisation et au renforcement du Bureau régional pour l'Afrique qui, à notre avis, a été certainement le moins actif par rapport à d'autres - il faut le dire.
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Mon pays est persuadé qu'une coopération économique et technique accrue entre pays en développement peut constituer un accélérateur du développement de ces pays. Nous sommes aussi convaincus que le PCT a unrôle de catalyseur ; et pour ce faire, il doit être beaucoup plus utile dans le renforcement de la coopération sud-sud.
Nous sommes préoccupés de la diminution des allocations du PNUD et nous pensons que cette diminution des allocations du PNUD n'a pas pour cause essentielle le manque de définition des priorités dans les programmes des pays en voie de développement. Nous connaissons des cas où l'enveloppe des programmes acceptés par le PNUD a subi des abattements considérables allant jusqu'à30pour cent en cours d'exécution. Du reste, la préparation en cours d" chiffre indicatif de programmation par pays laisse peu d'espoir d'annuler la proposition du Directeur général d'augmenter le plafond des projets jets du PCT de 250 000 à 400 000 dollars.
En raison de ce qui précède, le Gouvernement gabonais approuve toutes les propositions du Secrétariat de la FAO contenues dans le document à l'examen.
N.P. MAGANDE(Zambia): My delegation extends its deepest sympathies and condolences to the Colombian people, through you, Mr Chairman, on the tragedy which has befallen your country.
Going through the Review of the Regular Programme 1984-85, I found the data and details presented most uuseful. Although most of this information might have already been available to member countries, the Director-General must be congratulated on the format of the presentation. I also wish to extend these congratulations to Mr Shah for explaining some of the points raised in the Review.
The Review presents us with the status of achievement of various programmes and then presents the future outlook and issues still to be tackled. On agriculture, the Review reminds us that planning, awareness, efficiency and the technologies all still need to be improved. On supporting services, there is still the need to maintain high recruitment standards and the continuation of training programmes for the field staff.
On women, the Review indentifies the need for policies which would reflect the important role of women in agricultural production and rural development. On fuelwood, the major focus should be on training and extension, and indeed the list of issues is long and my delegation fully supports the priorities and emphasis identified by the Director-General.
It is this Commission which will determine the capacity of the Secretariat to tackle these issues. This Commission has to make decisions on the financial proposals.
Having listened to the discussions last week and this morning, it would seem that many of us do agree with the priorities and the problems identified by the Director-General and his Secretariat. It therefore surprises me that at the same time there is such lack of faith in the same Secretariat as to propose even management structure changes. Indeed, the debate on the Technical Cooperation Programme sometimes attains such a level of inconsistency as to imply that the Secretariat and we, the beneficiaries of the TCP, are misusing the funds under the Programme. We are aware of our poverty and I wish we were accredited with the ability to solve them. The attitude of appearing to know other people's problems better has in the past led to mis-application of so-called development assistance. Indeed, it is a testimony that it has taken Mr Amin, an African, to present the Ethiopian famine and indeed the African famine tragedy to the world for the world to understand.
The Director-General has to be congratulated for having instituted an independent evaluation of the TCP. It is Member Nations who identify their major problems and request the Director-General for urgent assistance. Many recipients have indicated the effectiveness of this Programme. Zambia can testify to having benefited from the TCP by, for example, procuring empty grain bags at short notice. So why should someone question this self-admission of satisfaction? Where does inefficient administration come in? Which economist and indeed accountant would put Zambia's benefit in figures? To us the effectiveness of the Programme was in providing the number of empty grain bags which we needed and when we needed them.
FAO hasacatalytic role. With the divergency of interests of Member Nations and the diverse nature of problems it would be meaningless if not futile to try to evolve a hardline system for the effectiveness of FAO's activities. The testimony of those affected should be the acid test. My delegation fully supports all the proposals on the future operations of the TCP.
We must make decisions which will continue to reflect the dynamism of the FAO whose impact is felt at the field level.
S.JELLOULI(Tunisie):Je voudrais adresser mes compliments à M. Shah pour son excellent exposé de présentation du point13 de notre ordre du jour. En ce qui concerne le Programme de coopération technique, il serait superflu d'énoncer et de répéter ce qui a déjà été dit concernant son importance et son utilité. D'ailleurs l'évaluation des projets qui en ont bénéficié a mis en relief l'impact positif du Programme de coopération technique sur le développement et lerôle catalyseur qu'il peut jouer dans la coopération technique entre pays pour la promotion des investissements agricoles des gouvernements et des organismes de financement.
De par sa conception et son fonctionnement, le Programme de coopération technique fait partie intégrante du Programme de travail et budget de la FAO tel que mentionné au paragraphe 10 du chapitre 4 du document C 85/3, document que ma Délégation a approuvé dans sa forme complète lors de l'examen du point 12 de l'ordre du jour de la présente Commission.
L'efficacité des programmes de la FAO en matière de développement agricole mérite d'etre soulignée et les résultats obtenus en Indonésie constituent un exemple. Son Excellence M. Soeharto a lui-même affirmé que l'Indonésie qui, jadis, importait du riz, a atteint actuellement son auto-suffisance pour nourrir plus de 165 millions d'habitants et serait capable d'exporter un surplus.
Ces succès enregistrés par les programmes entrepris par la FAO méritent d'être pleinement encouragés. Aussi la Délégation tunisienne tient-elle à réaffirmer son soutien au Programme de coopération technique. Nous approuvons dans ce sens les déclarations du Directeur général telles qu'elles figurent aux paragraphes 93 et 94 du document CL 88/8.
Ma Délégation appuie également la déclaration faite par le Délégué du Mexique en sa qualité de Président du groupe des 77, en ce qui concerne le Programme de coopération technique, la coopération économique entre pays en développement et la coopération technique entre pays en développement.
Mrs M.PIOTROWSKA(Poland): My delegation is impressed by the wide variety of activities carried out by FAO as described in document C 85/8. It is difficult to comment on individual items and we are therefore glad to see the very comprehensive and precise special chapters dealing in depth with Reviews of FAO's activities in livestock and plant production, the one on the role of women, and the chapters on research activities and FAO's support of TCDC and ECDC.
The Polish delegation is a supporter of the concept of the TCP programme and believes it is fulfilling a very important function in assisting Member States. Nevertheless my delegation has observed in many of the statements made in this Commission the express concern of the growth of the TCP as part of the Regular budget. We wonder if the Director-General considers a solution which is followed by some other Organizations in funding of Field Programmes. Instead of funding the TCP out of an assessed Regular Programme of Work and Budget, the TCP funds could be established instead by voluntary contributions whereby each Member State would be allocated a target figure for its contributions if it so desired. We are convinced that this arrangement in the long run would not reduce the funds available for carrying out a TCP programme and would not result in such differences of opinion as we are hearing now.
My delegation is very pleased with the objectives and strategies outlined in the chapter on livestock and production and with the way the support programme for the control of animaltripanosomiasishas been managed. We have further noted the encouraging results for controlling or eradicating the tsetse fly from Africa in integrated campaigns of control, including the use of sterilized insects. We are pleased to see the active role FAO has taken to follow up recommended
actions by WCARRD to improve the role of women in rural communities and in the food production cycle. We especially support the FAO's approach in taking the role of women into account at the design stage of projects.
With reference to Chapter Ten of document C 85/8, my delegation has always been of the opinion that FAO should play a leading role in agriculural research. We are pleased to see in this excellent review of FAO's role in research that the new programme of research and development is spending 76 per cent of its research expenditures on support of research, including assistance for networks.
In our part of the world, Europe, we are very pleased to see the very successful implementation of the European research networks. Coordinating research programmes carried out by the joint FAO/IAO Division could serve as a model for other sectors of the Organization in promoting research and research coordination in the developing countries and in encouraging north/south cooperation in research.
My delegation would like to commend the Director-General for the quick and decisive action he took to organize an Emergency Assistance Programme for the famine-stricken areas of the Ethiopians in the Sudan. We are particularly pleased that the FAO's approach was to strengthen the agricultural infrastructure and the irrigation systems, in building a sound basis for the future development of stable food production in the area. We are also pleased that the Organization succeeded in completing the preparation of a Commission on Plant Genetic Resources and an International Code on Distribution and Use of Pesticides which we hope will be endorsed by this Conference.
While we are welcoming the Director-General's emphasis for technical support to agricultural development in Africa we would urge the Organization not to neglect serious problems of agricultural production in other parts of the world. We are particularly thinking about Latin America where animal productivity is low and grassland utilization for animal production is sub-optimal.
H. ÖGÜT(Turkey): In view of the time I will be selective in my comments. First I would remark on the review of the TCP activities as this topic has become a central issue in our debate in the review of the Regular Programme. It is encouraging to note that activities carried out under TCP continued in the last biennium to contribute to the achievement of FAO's objective in having great-er impact at the Council level. Speaking from our experience, the support provided to member countries by TCP is very valuable and very well utilized by the recipient governments in meeting their unseen urgent technical assistance requirements in agriculture. There is no doubt that TCP project proposals are carefully selected by recipient countries who are aware that these projects require recipient governments' expenditures from their scarce resources. Therefore, every single dollar allocated to the TCP under the Programme of Work and Budget has great cost-effectiveness.
As to the recommendation contained in the evaluation mission's report regarding the TCP, we encourage the Organization to enhance the role already played by the TCP in promoting the technical cooperation among developing countries through the implementation of inter-country projects. In this connection while we were endorsing the establishment of a new category of projects to this effect we also agree to the raising of the ceiling of the allocation for individual projects to US$ 400 000. In this way, as stressed by the Representative of India, we think that the Programme will be better able to meet the requirement of large-scale projects such as TCDC and ECDC.
I will now take up the functioning of Regional Offices. My delegation observes that these offices have continued, during the last biennium,to operate as extended arms of the Headquarters. The information given under various chapters of the document under Duties of Regional Offices are found by my delegation to be very useful and indicative of the important role of these offices. We would, however, wish to have some explanation as to the ways in which the Regional Programme implementations are integrated into the overall programme of the Organization. In our opinion the practice of matching priorities should not be the only way to ensure such an integration. Although it is not mentioned in the document, we are sure that FAO makes use of better practices for this purpose.
On the research activities carried out under the Regular Programme, presented in Part Three of the document, I would once again point to the fact that the cooperative research networks are effective means of promoting research collaboration among national institutions. In our opinion FAO'scatalyzing role in this field can be further increased if other regional research networks are set up through trust funding arrangements.
Let me now offer our general opinion on the Review since my Government accords great importance to reviewing Regular Programme implementation at the Conference sessions. We are pleased to note that the review of the last programme implementation continued to be based on the information collected in remonitoring activities. Having said this, permit me to make a small suggestion. I am wondering whether FAO's biennial programmes could not be monitored and assessed against its medium-term objectives. After all, these objectives will, as stipulated in the 1986-87 budget, be maintained as guiding principles for some time to come in the preparation and implementation of FAO's programmes. We believe that in this way the relevance of programme performances in various sub-programme areas or the effectiveness of programme outputs in achieving medium-term objectives could be more easily reviewed and necessary corrections could be made programme objectives or resources by FAO and by the governing bodies as applicable. I believe that in the context of such a review the role of various special action programmes, integration of Headquarters and regional offices activities, as well as linkages between regular and field programmes of the Organization could better be reflected. We are also convinced that the catalytic role of the TCP could be more effectively demonstrated when the review is conducted in light of the medium-term objectives of the Organization.
A.L. TANIS(Haïti): Nous commenceronstoutd'abordparprésenter nos vives félicitations à M. Shah pour la compétence et la maîtrise avec lesquelles il a su, comme toujours, présenter l'examen du Programme ordinaire. Nous félicitons aussi le Secrétariat pour la qualité du document C85/8.Ce document donne une claire vision des objectifs du Programme, de l'efficacité de son exécution et de l'impact positif qu'il aura.
Le critère d'efficacité prend une importance accrue à une époque où, d'une part, l'Organisation doit faire face à une austérité obligée, et, d'autre part, la promotion du développement agricole et rural devient une question de survie pour nombre de pays du tiers monde.
La délégation d'Haïti note avec satisfaction que la structure et la nature du Programme ont subi de sensibles amendements. Il s'agit d'amendements fondés sur les résultats des projets de terrain. Il contient aussi des suggestions positives formulées par les participants à la dernière session de la Conférence et à la réunion du Conseil indépendant.
L'examen du Programme montre que la FAO a cherché à résoudre les problèmes des Etats Membres dans les domaines suivants: méthodes et moyens à suivre pour faire progresser la participation des pauvres ruraux et des femmes au développement rural, amélioration de la planification en vue d'utiliser au mieux les ressources et de maintenir l'équilibre biologique, sensibilisation croissante à l'équilibre fragile entre la population, la consommation, la nutrition et le bien-être rural, renforcement de la sécurité alimentaire, utilisation des techniques à faibles capitaux et à haute intensité de main-d'oeuvre, réduction de l'écart entre la recherche et l'accès des agriculteurs à la technologie.
Toutefois, la délégation d'Haïti aurait voulu y ajouter les commentaires suivants dans trois domaines qu'elle considère prioritaires.
D'abord lespeches.De nouveaux progrès ont été accomplis en ce qui concerne l'exploitation et l'utilisation des pêches, en particulier l'évaluation des ressources et l'augmentation des prises. Toutefois, il convient de mentionner que des habitants vivant sur de nombreuses îles souffrent de malnutrition protéique, alors qu'une simple couverture technique appropriée pourrait redresser cette situation dramatique et augmenter sensiblement la production de poissons en eaux douces.
Le deuxième commentaire concerne la forêt. Nous savons tous les efforts méritoires accomplis par les responsables du tiers monde et de la FAO en vue de préserver les forêts par une exploitation rationnelle, plus particulièrement dans le programme de la forêt au service du développement rural. Les
premiers résultats des études sur la foresterie sociale seront utilisés dans les domaines prioritaires tels que l'étude des systèmes agro-forestiers comme moyen d'améliorer la culture itinérante et de créer de nouveaux emplois, et, partant, des revenus, grâce à l'exploitation de la forêt.
Toutefois, il y a un mois de cela, il m'est tombé sous les yeux un document traitant de la disparition des forêts, particulièrement des forêts dans les zones tropicales. L'auteur de cet article appuyait sa déclaration sur des statistiques précises qui ont été publiées par la FAO ainsi que par différentes entreprises privées s'occupant de l'exploitation des forêts. Ces chiffres sont alarmants sur le double plan de la destruction sauvage des forêts en fonction de l'approvisionnement en bois pour les années à venir, et du rôle régulateur de la forêt dans l'équilibre biologique de là planète.
La délégation d'Haïti suggérerait que la FAO prenne en sérieuse considération la question évoquée, étant donné que le bois reste un matériau précieux de construction et la principale source d'énergie dans les zones rurales de la plupart dés pays en développement", notamment pour la cuisson.
La forêt est exploitée beaucoup plus vite qu'elle ne peut se renouveler. Si l'on ne prend pas des mesures appropriées - je parle des responsables des Etats Membres aidés par la FAO - un milliard de personnes pourraient, d'ici la fin du siècle, vivre dans des zones où manque le bois.
Le troisième commentaire concerne l'élevage. Nous pensons que le Programme tel qu'il est présenté est en-dessous du minimum que l'on peut contempler si l'on tient compte du fait qu'on n'a pas pu, exception faite de l'expérience réalisée en Jamaïque relative à la création d'une race laitière pouvant s'adapter aux conditions tropicales, empêcher que les pays en développement continuent d'importer pour leur consommation intérieure des produits laitiers pour des montants se chiffrant à des millions de dollars. Nous pensons que ces devises pourraient être utilisées dans des domaines plus importants en ce qui concerne le développement.
Ma délégation, tout en reconnaissant la faiblesse de certaines parties du projet relevée par plusieurs Òrateurs qui se sont succédés,mais rien n'est parfait, rend hommage à la FAO pour le programme présenté et l'appuie pleinement.
En ce qui concerne le PCT, étant donné l'importance spéciale que les Etats Membres de la FAO attachent au PCT, ma délégation est heureuse de vous dire que le Gouvernement haïtien suit avec intérêt l'évolution de ce Programme destiné à libérer des fonds pour les interventions d'urgence et toute activité ponctuelle appelée à redresser une situation critique ou à augmenter la productivité des petits exploitants agricoles. Le Programme a été évalué par un organisme extérieur à l'Organisation, et les conclusions de l'évaluation montrent d'une façon éloquente qu'il faut procéder à son maintien et élargir son budget en vue de lui permettre de satisfaire les besoins sans cesse croissants exprimés par les Etats Membres. Toutefois, cela ne signifie nullement qu'il faille renoncer aux moyens de l'améliorer à l'avenir.
Ma délégation plaide en faveur de cette thèse car tout programme peut et doit s'efforcer sans relâche d'accroître son impact, son économie, sa célérité et son efficacité.
A la lumière de cette considération, Le Gouvernement de la République d'Haïti appuie le Programmė du PCT ainsi que le budget nécessaire à son exécution.
H.CARRION MCDONOUGH (Nicaragua):Señor Presidente, nuestra delegación desea remitirse inicialmente al documento C 85/LIM/17 que contiene un extracto del Informe del88°Período de Sesiones del Consejo, reunido a principios de noviembre del año en curso.
El párrafo81del Informe mencionado expresa que el Consejo consideró el examen del programa ordinario de1984-85eindicó su satisfacción con la estructura, formato y presentación del documento. Las nuevas mejoras introducidas en él respondían a sugerencias anteriores del Consejo y de la Conferencia, y el examen era un elemento esencial del sistema más amplio de seguimiento y evaluación de la FAO.
El párrafo82,por otro lado, expresa que el Consejo consideró que el examen era una fuente completa de información y análisis sobre las actividades y realizaciones del programa ordinario. Elogió a la Secretaría por la profundidad analítica y la objetividad del documento y le instó a que continuara aplicando el mismo criterio.
Las conclusiones eran francas y ponían de relieve los resultados y las limitaciones encontradas. En consecuencia, los resultados de esa evaluación global sólo podrán redundar en beneficio de los órganos rectores y de la gestión de la FAO.
Por último, el párrafo88menciona que, en conclusión, el Consejo consideró que el examen era en sí mismo un documento muy satisfactorio y también un complemento valioso del Programa de Labores y Presupuesto de la Organización porque ofrecía una evaluación razonada de las actividades realizadas y una indicación de las enseñanzas, tanto positivas como negativas, que deberían tenerse en cuenta en futuros programas.
Nuestra delegación concuerda con el contenido de los párrafos referidos y suscribe plenamente el documento C ŚP85/8,examen del Programa Ordinario1984-85,particularmente los capítulos1, 4, 10y11,es decir agricultura, cooperación técnica y apoyo al desarrollo, actividades de investigación y examen de las actividades de la FAO en apoyo de la cooperación económica y técnica entre países en desarrollo.
Específicamente nuestra delegación reitera su apoyo al Programa de Cooperación Técnica, el nivel que ocupa en el Programa de Labores y Presupuesto para .el bienio1986-87el aumento de 250 000a 400 000dólares por proyecto y la creación de una nueva categoría de proyectos del PCT que sirva de catalizadora de las CEPD y CTPD. El Programa de Cooperación Técnica ha demostrado ser un instrumento muy útil para los países en desarrollo, lo que se desprende de la propia experiencia de los países beneficiarios así como de la evaluación independiente del PCT solicitada por el Director General de la FAO y sometida a Consejo en su período88 mencionado anteriormente.
Es todo lo que deseo mencionar, espero que haya cumplido con su solicitud de ser breve.
MSC. AMARATUNGA (Sri Lanka): We consider the Review of the Regular Programme 1984-85 a very useful document as it enables us to review FAO'sactivities and achievements periodically. We have been told that this is the-fourth such Review carried out during.the last ten years.
It is needless to say that the scope of a Review of this nature could be very vast as it would cover the whole spectrum of FAO'sRegular Programme activities. We' therefore appreciate the approach adopt-ed by the Director-General in selecting major programmes such as agriculture, forestry and fisheries and special topics under sub-programmes for the present review.
Mr Chairman, the Review on the major programmes, apart from being specific,helps us to focus our attention particularly on the critical needs of small farmers, fishermen and rural artisans and enables us to identify the constraints encountered in implementing programmes designed to improve their living and working conditions.
I do not propose to go into details of the Review as many delegates have already referred at length to most of the activities. I would like, however, to comment on two points referred to in Parts One and Two of the document.
We are interested in FAO's activities relating to the role of women in rural development. May I say that while the principles of WCAARD clearly spell out the areas where FAO and national governments should assist rural women, the activities of women's involvement in food production and rural development, we agree with the comments made by the distinguished delegate of India, that more attention should be paid to eradicate illiteracy among rural women. They should be organized at the rural level to participate more actively and effectively in all programmes relating to their betterment and they should be encouraged to actively participate in the national programmes as well.
The second point I wish to emphasize is the need to encourage additional inter-country cooperation in extending economic and technical assistance among developing countries themselves. The ECDC and TCDC programmes coujd cover a wide range of activities. In fact, what is required is the careful selection of activities for promoting further inter-country cooperation. Obviously, training of skills is the most important ingredient in ECDC/TCDC. Information on the availability of skills and expertise should be easily available to those who may need them. The necessary focal points should be strengthened further. In this regard we would join those members who firmly support the recommendation by the TCP evaluation team to create a new category for TCP projects intended to act as a catalyst for inter-country projects.
Mr Chairman, during the debate on the TCP Evaluation Report there were some proposals to establish a monitoring system for the Technical Cooperation Programme by one or two delegations. It is not clear as to precisely what it is hoped xo achieve by doing so. We feel that if. the intention is to subject the approval and implementation to closer scrutiny by another inter-governmental group, such action,apart from causing extra expenditure and also delays, would destroy the very principle underlying the concept of TCP of providing quick assistance for small projects. It is our view that the TCP is already subject to the same evaluation and financial controls, auditing, as any other programme within the FAO'sRegular Programme.
The external evaluators' report refers to one aspect which we would also like to emphasize. This is the strengthening of the feedback from governments on completed projects. After all, the TCP projects are not initiated by the FAO but by individual governments. In our view, such reports Would indicate the intermediate or immediate impact of such projects in the recipient countries. While we agree to obtain this vital feedback on performance of TCP projects we would not support the proposal to establish a monitoring system as suggested by some.
There was also a suggestion that unforeseen or emergency projects should be funded from extra-budgetary resources. I think there is some confusion here - the concepts of emergency and unforeseen projects are being deliberately misrepresented. In the present Evaluation Report which we think is an excellent assessment of the Technical Cooperation Programme, carried so.far by a team of external consultants, there is ample evidence through the research they have performed, on the need to continue the TCP by using the existing criteria, as well as on the basis' of additional criteria which they have placed before us for consideration. We see that while 25 percent of the total approved projects had been for emergencies, almost 75 percent of total projects approved had been for technical assistance.
My delegation would also support the recommendations by the team which fall into three parts, namely: the improvement and changes which could be implemented by the Director-General himself; those which require the Council's approval and that of the Conference; and the third, the recommendations which have been placed for consideration of member governments. My delegation would wish to support all these proposals to be adopted without any change.
ALI B. ZWAIK (Libya) (original language Arabic): Mr Chairman, dear colleagues. I will not go into the matter at any great length because the Chairman has requested brevity,but we do have a certain number of comments we would like to make. First of all, our delegation supports the Programme which is put before the Committee for study. We consider that this contains a number of very valuable suggestions. Also our delegation is very much in favour of the Technical Cooperation Programme before us and would like to make the following comments. First of all,we feel it important to stress the need for this Programme and also for the TCDC,particularly the exchange of experience among developing countries in which similar conditions obtain. We similarly think it necessary for us to lend our full support to the Organization so it encourages developments of this kind. We would like to endorse the Technical Cooperation Programme, the TCDC. This is not to encourage their isolation but our delegation believes that it is very much a stimulus towards self-sufficiency and helps these countries by promoting their potential.
The Libyan Jamahiriya has been working with this Organization for many years, particularly with regard to the TCP. Let me just quote an example. The level of expenditure has gone above the US$50 million level spent through the Organization over the past ten years on TCP. Our delegation
would like to thank the Organization for the way in which it has used these funds, which have been of great assistance to the Jamahiriya.
Our delegation would also like to say how important we consider hydrological research to be, as well as the fight against desertification and the development of research programmes to this end.
Our final comment is that some of the colleagues who have taken the floor before me have referred to the role of women and the development of women in developing societies. They have mentioned that women are an important part of the rural environment and that efforts should be devoted to development projects for them. Our delegation indeed reiterates and asserts how important the role of women is in our society and is recognized as such by our country, and we would like to say how important it is that we use the expression "development of rural societies" rather than "development of women" because it is development of rural societies that we are talking about here since underdeveloped women live in a society where men are also underdeveloped. Therefore, I think we should talk about development of human resources or development of human resources or development of rural societies in developing countries.
EL PRESIDENTE: La distinguida delegacióndeKenyaanunció el envío de un texto; agradecemos su actitud constructiva y ese texto se incorporará a las actas.
H. MORA (Ecuador): El papel de la mujer en la agricultura nos merece especial atención; a nadie escapa el hecho de su importante y silenciosa contribución, especialmente en los países en vías de desarrollo en la producción de alimentos.
MosesMUKOLWE (Kenya): My delegation as before would like to commend the Secretariat for improved work and also echo the Director-General's remarks - " there must always be room for improvement".
The presentation of this Review is filled with indepth analysis, but still covers a very wide field and it is not easy to attempt to satisfy everyone.
In our case we support this document in full as an adequate assessment of the situation and activities, with minor suggestions here and there. We are however conscious of the challenges that face the Organization in demand of resources and in the austerity that affects stringent control of the limited financial resources at its disposal. Monitoring and evaluation are both indispensable tools to gauge progress and carry out desirable adjustments for optimal development. Running through the outlined programmes, I wish to note the major programme: Agriculture -2.1, Part One where training continues to be emphasized and the African food crisis given the attention that it deserves. It is unfortunate that signals have been given in the past till the real "crossroads" were reached, culminating in misery and disaster - this could probably have been avoided.
It is hoped that the international community will not only give "first aid" and end there,without curing the disease. We are grateful to all who have provided - and continue to provide resources. As it has been suggested in some quarters an "African Marshall Plan" is inevitable and opportune. In our national motto "Harambee" (lets pull together) should be the international aim for the coming 10-15 years in order to contain the situation as in the case in the Asian region. Piecemeal approaches to the situation are bound to fail and aggravate the matter even further. Non-governmental organizations should be involved on the spot to augment governments' efforts so that while food production is emphasized, resource base conservation is not destroyed and so that farming systems that are suistainable may play a major role by using applied research in generating new farming technologies.
Women and youth are the target groups because of the role they play and will continue to play in food production, agriculture and rural development. Having S'een women descend on Nairobi last July, I cannot help to support the distinguished delegate from Sweden and others who have spoken on the subject. Their activities need very close monitoring. They shoulder the greatest responsibilities in Africa.
On Fisheries - Major Programme 2.2 -aquacultureand even inland and deep sea-fishing by groups of small scale fishermen should be pursued by making it possible to own vessels and landing facilities. IFAD type of credit lending could bring such poor farmers into stronger organizations.
Forestry, Major Programme 2.3 is extremely important. The arid and semiarid land area that stretches across Africa is colossal and environmentally fragile with increased population and pressure on land for increased food production. Woodlots, catchment area afforestation and protection, agro-forestry, watershed planning and management are all subjects that concern us. I know Finland is very interested in these activities,and most Scandinavian countries agree that they must be supported and monitored. We must save the disappearing genetic germplasm and also alleviate food, fuel and timber requirements and, in so doing, recycle plant nutrients as nature has done over years. The work done by a non-UN agency - the International Council for Research in Agro-Forestry with its Headquarters in Nairobi should also be noted. Some good work is in progress in Burundi and other States.
Since water is a limiting factor, its conservation and utilization are of immense importance to Africa's arid and semi-arid areas. Agro-metereology and hydrology should be fully understood through monitoring under the Early Warning System.
On Information and Documentation (Major Programme 5.1), we are grateful that publications were focused on the African food crisis and FAO has produced many more booklets for circulation. Probably the FAO Representative's office could do much in contacting local schools and institutions to widen circulation and highten awareness.
Mr Chairman, in my previous intervention I commended the importance of TCP and it is fair that it be given the necessary increase from US $250 000 to US $ 400 000 in funding levels. If there is any doubt, an independent outside evaluation can be carried out for those interested (lost-effect) -with the purpose of evaluating it and of seeing how it is responding to the needs of those requesting it, rather than attempting to limit it.
Finally, Mr Chairman, massive investments are needed in the African continent as we all realize. Quick action intervention, as carried out under TCP, with possible increased funding for those areas found feasible should be pursued. Such consultancy can be carried out by local institutions and with local personnel with FAO guidance. Much more information is likely to be unearthed in assisting to draw up more realistic programmes on a long-term development basis.
We should avoid forcing projects on the people. Let us walk with them and understand their priorities so as to prescribe the right antidotes.1/,
EL PRESIDENTE:El representantedeKenyadesea agregar algunas palabras a su declaración escrita.
M.MUKOLWE(Kenya): I have already delivered my statement in full and it will be reflected in the record, but I just wish to add that the question of food crisis in Africa, on which we are placing great attention, was signalled very early on,but it has taken us a very long time to come to it. However I am glad that this is going to receive the attention it requires. But again, if the food crisis in Africa is going to be tackled piecemeal,it is not going to help the situation. We would rather see a long-term tackling, say about ten to fifteen years, a sort of Marshall Plan for Africa as some quarters normally moot.
Women can be a burden and yet they do a lot in Africa. Their work can be great and yet we still feel that they have to produce food in the African States. I wish we could better understand them through various studies that can alleviate their situation as far as food and fuel are concerned, as well as with other items that relate to the home'and rural development. I do not dwell on this point.
1/ Statement inserted in the verbatin records on request.
E. MARTENS (Belgium): We welcome particularly the analytical depth and objectivity of the document. I would like to stress the usefulness it has as a feedback for future planning. In this context I was somewhat lost when looking at the timetable of our agenda items. In our logic we would have started with discussing the review of the current biennium before starting the examination of the future Programme of Work and Budget. However there may have been some more important reasons, which I have not been able to trace, to keep it the way it was.
Now I would like to refer to the Technical Cooperation Programme on which I want to state our general appreciation. The evaluation summary as presented in document CL 88/8 has retained our full attention and I intend to limit my remarks to only one aspect. As a matter of fact my delegation has serious doubts about the justification for raising the ceiling from US$250 000 to US$400 000 and because of the following reasons. The first one: out of Table 1 on page 4 we learn that the average project cost does not exceed USI$45 000; another reason is the outcome of the Assessment Qf Field Projects where it is stated in the summary on page 12 "TCP projects were rated higher in terms of overall efficiency than larger projects supported by UNDP and Trust Funds". This seems to me reason enough to keep it small.
H. MORA (Ecuador):Señor Presidente,en vistade su pedido voy a ser muy breve en mi intervención.
Luego de agradecer al señor Shahpor su clara introducción, debo manifestar que hemos efectuado una atenta revisión del Examen del Programa Ordinario contenido en el documento C 85/8y nos parece un instrumento muy útil por la abundante y calificada información que contiene.
Es claro además que han sido recogidas en él las recomendaciones hechas por los países miembros en el seno de la FAO a lo largo de todo el período.
Queremos destacar la importancia de la atención queda la FAO a la acuicultura y a la pesca. En este campo mi país ha tenido valiosas experiencias. La implementación del sistema de información computalizado pa.ra la pesca nos pa.rece muy valioso y práctico, esperamos po.der aprovecharlo eficientemente.
El papel de la mujer en la agricultura nos merece especial atención; a nadie escapa el hecho de su importante y silenciosa contribución, especialmente en los países en vías de desarrollo y en la pro-ducción de alimentos.
La producción pecuaria es otro aspecto que se destaca en el documento y que para mi país tiene igualmente gran significado, en especial por el rol que juega el trabajo de los pequeños ganaderos en la economía nacional.
El Programa de Cooperación Técnica creemos que es un valioso instrumento para el desarrollo de nuestros países, por lo tanto mantenemos el criterio de que sus fondos deben ser incrementados a 400 000dólares.
La evaluación externa del PCT solicitada por el Director General ha puesto de manifiesto su eficiencia y potencialidad.
No queremos dejar de referirnos a la silvicultura, ya que el manejo racional de la explotación de los bosques puede ser no sólo fuente permanente de riqueza, sino un importante factor de protección ecológica.
Por último, creemos que el CEPD y el CTPD deben ser fortalecidos y el intercambio de experiencias entre los países en desarrollo ser intensificado.
M.Balla SY(Sénégal): La délégation sénégalaise tient à féliciter M. Shah pour la brillante introduction faite au document C85 8relatif au Programme ordinaire1984-1985.La recherche et la cohérence des précisions et informations contenues dans cette étude constituent pour nous de réels motifs de satisfaction, sans préjudice de quelques améliorations, à notre avis assez importantes.
C'est ainsi que le renforcement des programmes visant la maîtrise de l'eau, la formation, la recherche scientifique et agricole, les activités de pêche, les activités agro-pastorales et les activités agro-forestières s'avère indispensable, compte tenu de l'impact de ces secteurs sur la sécurité alimentaire mondiae.
S'agissant du Programme de coopération technique, ma délégation voudrait témoigner ici de son efficacité.11 est même heureux que, d'une manière générale, aucune délégation n'ait pris le risque de contester l'utilité de ce Programme. Les seules questions de divergence souvent enregistrées sont relatives à son financement et à ses règles de fonctionnement.
A ce propos, ma délégation souhaiterait faire quelques observations. Premièrement, à notre sens, vouloir financer le PCT par des contributions volontaires signifierait limiter ses activités pour progressivement les placer dans la même situation que celle actuellement connue par le FIDA, l'IDA ou le PNUD. Ces institutions,' bien que très efficaces et utiles, connaissent cependant des difficultés pour disposer des ressources.nécessaires. Aussi devons-nous, en ce moment où les crises économiques et alimentaires se succèdent, et souvent dans des conditions imprévisibles appelant des solutions immédiates et urgentes, éviter de placer, en tout cas, le PCT dans des conditions qui l'empêcheraient de continuer à répondre promptement aux requêtes urgentes.
Ma délégation est persuadée, en plus, que la raison finira par l'emporter de manière à ce qu'une fois fournies les réponses aux questions posées, le PCT soit maintenu dans le Programme ordinaire.
Deuxièmement, il convient de préciser que les projets financés par le PCT ne sont pas des projets préparés ou imposés par la FAO aux pays bénéficiaires. Au contraire, ce sont ces derniers qui présentent des requêtes en apportant la preuve que celles-ci s'intègrent parfaitement dans les programmes et stratégies nationaux préalablement définis. Il s'agit là d'une question de souveraineté que nous devons continuer à reconnaître aux pays bénéficiaires, notrerôledevant être de les aider suivant leurs propres besoins et non pas de sélectionner à leur place les domaines d'intervention.
Le relèvement du plafond des projets individuels de PCT de 250 000 à 400 000 dollars reçoit tout l'appui de ma délégation pour la raison essentielle que les besoins d'urgence dans les pays du tiers monde, et singulièrement en Afrique, se sont multipliés considérablement. En outre,au moment où, dans d'autres structures - et en particulier dans le programme alimentaire mondial - la liberté d'approbation des projets est laissée jusqu'à un montant d'environ 2 millions de dollars, comment refuser à la FAO un relèvement aussi peu significatif? Je n'en vois vraiment pas de raison objective, d'autant que, s'il y a un programme de coopération inter-gouvernement qui donne le plus de satisfaction aux pays bénéficiaires, c'est très justement le PCT. Les pays donateurs, sur la solidarité desquels. les pays du tiers monde compte beaucoup, ne peuvent pas ignorer, à mon sens, les souhaits de ces derniers. S'écarter d'une telle attitude pourrait être perçu comme une volonté d'abandonner l'esprit de coopération devant animer tous nos Etats au profit d'une assistance organisée et visant à soumettre les plus faibles aux plus grands, qui leur distribueraient de l'aide selon leur bonne conduite et leur degré d'allégeance.
Je suis persuadé qu'aucun pays n'entend orienter la coopération multilatérale dans une telle direction, laquelle ne risque pas de nous conduire vers la fin des maux dont souffre l'humanité.
Aussi voudrais-je appuyer la déclaration faite par le Président du Groupe des 77, avec l'espoir que, de nos débats emprunts de franchise et d'objectivité, nous arriverons à un consensus: celui de maintenir le PCT dans le Programme ordinaire avec le relèvement proposé du plafond des projets de 250 000 à 400 000 dollars.
A.J.M. OOMEN(Netherlands): Regarding the Review of the Regular Programme item, my delegation can be brief as far as our views which reflect overall frames of the Programme are concerned. We think the document presented by the Secretariat is a good one, and our general support to FAO concerns also the Regular Programme. But as you will surely know, certain developments in fact have larger spin-offs than originally thought, and that is why my delegation would like to make the following remarks in relation to the Review of, especially, the TCP and the subsequent amendments regarding the Programme which were adopted by the Council.
Firstof all, we wish to welcome the evaluation of the TCP as presented to the Eighty-eighth session of the Council, although we are still missing a Conference document in this respect. For several reasons, we considered that evaluation as highly necessary. In the first place, because theun-programmed nature of TCP makes review of activities by the governing bodies at certain intervals indispensable; and secondly, because the great number of projects approved each year cannot but generate considerable constraints for the FAO's supports units. During the Twenty-second Conference, my delegation stated in relation to TCP: "TCP'sby their nature cannot and should not replace UNDP and Trust Funds financed projects. The relatively simple and direct way through which TCP projects are approved can be justified only in our view because of the specific objectives which the TCP project aims for.
The Netherlands, as a traditional major donor of UNDP, still holds the opinion that the financing of technical cooperation projects within United Nations System should first and foremost be channelled through that Programme. That was what it was set up for, and what was recognized by the General Assembly in the so-called Consensus of 1970. It might be useful to note that FAO has for a long time been by far the largest recipient of UNDP funds. Notwithstanding this principal attitude, the Netherlands has always understood the financial restrictions of the central funding concept for the various executing agencies, therefore we have over the years. supplemented the United Nations' funds with voluntary bilateral financing through Trust Fund projects. Nonetheless, FAO considers it necessary to be more flexible in its technical cooperation activities, which led in the 1970's to the establishment of the TCP. As I stated before, we supported the idea because we recognize FAO's needs, and we agreed with the restricted criteria for the Programme and the limited constraints" on the Regular Programme. However, increasing the share of TCP in the budget would mean an indefinite departure from its restricted setup, and would be in defiance of the meaning and purpose of the Regular budget. "Moreover, we fully share the views expressed by other delegations in this respect regarding the unprogrammed character of the funds in question,and the highly limited policy guidance and review possibilities of the FAO governing bodies.
In this light my delegation welcomes the evaluation of the Programme presented to this Conference, and considers it a serious effort to review the multitude of projects, their effectiveness, and their frame of reference,although one may wonder how the conclusion can be drawn that the project results were generally excellent, while at the same time it is admitted that feedback from governments on completed projects indicating their immediate effect as well as medium-term impact was often not forthcoming.
However, especially regarding the frame of reference, the criteria for the Programme, we are disappointed by the incongruity between the evaluation itself and its conclusion. TCP criteria, the Report states, "have proved valid and useful", and page 3 it continues, "Neither limits on duration nor those on cost have created problems, except where emergency projects were concerned. Here the mission felt that the ceiling somewhat constrained adequate meeting of the demand." An instruction for this somewhat vague conclusion is, however, not to be found. In the assessment of emergency projects in paragraphs 1.2.6 - pages 21 to 23, nothing of the sort is mentioned; yet in the main conclusions the mission recommends raising - in fact, almost doubling - the present limit for all TCP projects, be it technical assistance or emergency, from US$ 250 000 to 400 000.
My delegation wishes to remind the Commission of the exact wording of the original ceiling - "be limited in cost, not exceeding the upward limit of US$250 000 per project, and preferably much lower, and involve the most effective and least costly methods of execution."
Against the background of this stipulation and the practice of average projects, for project costs, which lay far below the original ceiling, the Netherlands delegation finds no justification whatsoever, certainly not the one of calculating inflation, for any increase.
At the same time, my delegation is hesitant to accept the conclusion of the mission that the TCP could play an active role at an inter-country and regional level, not because it could not, but rather because we feel it should not. Allow me to quote the fourth criterion of the TCP: "to complement, without duplicating, other development activities, fill a critical gap and where possible as a catalyst for a larger scale activity". With this criterion in mind, we have to recognize the predominant role of the UNDP in the field of inter-country and regional programmes. In fact, the sector of UNDP activities is widely considered as one of the most effective ones and therefore we do not consider it appropriate for FAO to embark on it at the expense of its limited
regularresources. Moreover, my delegation does not believe that even catalytic projects in the field of inter-country and regional cooperation could be effectively executed, since by their nature they could hardly be related to another criterion of the TCP, namely that financing requests must "be limited in duration, preferably from one to three months, and in no case should the overall duration of project activities exceed twenty-four months".
In conclusion, the Netherlands delegation deems it necessary to express the greatest possible concern about the two recommendations by the evaluation mission which our delegation cannot support.
DHATEMWA (Uganda): We thank the Secretariat for this comprehensive and detailed document. At this stage of the discussions I will try to be brief.
On the section on agriculture we endorse the Director-General's view on the need for more effective international action in the area of food production and food security, and we very much support the study which is described in paragraph 1.4, to define better the policy initiatives required to overcome the food crisis in Africa.
On livestock, paragraph 1.62, grassland forage and feed resources, we would support more emphasis being given to the programmes which promote better pasture managementvis-à-vis'pasture species, and stimulating seed management.
In paragraph 1.65, we welcome FAO's efforts to mobilize resources for the Pan-African Rinderpest Campaign, though regrettably it has failed to take off and yet more outbreaks are being reported every now and then.
With regard to the role of women in development, we need to make more tangible approaches to enable them to be on a more equal footing with men. We have to educate the rural women, mobilize them and make them a force in the rural sector.
On inland fisheries andaquaculture,my delegation endorses the strategies adopted by the World Fisheries Conference. The socio-economic aspects of fishery development require careful studies, particularly with regard to inland waters, where fishing is mainly on a subsistence level. The introduction of advance techniques is bound to affect small fishing communities.
Aquacultureas such should be coordinated and schemes should be studied for commercialaquaculture.With regard to the production of the aquatic environment, the FAO efforts in assisting inland countries to set up.facilities for monitoring pollution are welcome.
With regard to forestry, my delegation is of the view that we should, for the rural community, refocus our forestry programmes which give an annual return to the people so that their participation can be maintained and incentives provided.
Planting of tree species which mature in ten or more years could be undertaken by the state. In many countries, where arable land is very limited, agro-forestry is the answer. The declaration of 1985 as an International Year of the Forest by FAO is very encouraging.
Lastly, we support programmes orientated to small farmers because they present the very nub of production in developing countries, and we would also like to welcome FAO's efforts to promote and develop research at national, regional and international levels.
We greatly appreciate the catalytic role played by the Technical Cooperation Programme. Regarding C 85/LIM/17, we wish to reiterate our support for the Director-General's proposals regarding the TCP which are to increase the limits from the maximum cost of US$250 000 to US$400 000. We also support the establishment of a new category (c) for projects to promote ECDC and TCDC. As we have stated before, we feel the TCP's share of the Regular Programme is still too low to cater to the increasing demands.
H. ZANNETIS(Cyprus): Let me first express to you, Mr Chairman, our deep sadness at the catastrophe that has struck your country. May we extend our sympathy to you, wishing that your people will have the force and resistance and that the international community will assist in overcoming the consequences of this catastrophe.
We find the Review of the Regular Programme quite analytical and informative and we would particularly like to thank the Secretariat for its preparation and Mr Shah for his presentation.
While supporting the activities of the Organization as outlined in the present Review, I would like to limit my comments only in relation to the TCP, since this Programme has become the central theme of our deliberations. This Programme has proved to be vital to the Organization. It has been evaluated twice since its inception in 1976 and both evaluations have indicated very positive results. Only a few days ago, during the Eighty-eighth session of the Council which preceded the present Conference, the second evaluation of the programme was 'reviewed and members had the opportunity to praise the way the Programme is operating.
Considering the fall in resources of the UNDP and the lack of agreement on the second replenishment of IFAD, the allocation to the TCP from FAO's budget cannot be considered excessive. We welcome the proposal for the establishment of a new category for projects catalysing inter-country cooperation, ECDC and TCDC. Technical and economic cooperation among developing countries is very important but it cannot be promoted by simply stressing the important role it can play in furthering agricultural development in these countries.
This cooperation needs to be supported, assisted materially and financially by the international organizations which were instituted for this purpose. With the establishment of the new category this necessity will be fulfilled most appropriately.
The proposal for the increase in the ceiling for TCP project posts from US$250 000 to US$400 000 meets with our approval. This increase does not mean that all TCP projects will reach this limit, but if the need arises action should be possible.
H.M. CARANDANG (Philippines): First of all, Mr Chairman, I should like to convey through you the sincerest condolences of the Philippine delegation to the Governemnt and people of Colombia on account of the recent tragedy that has struck your country and has taken an enormous toll in terms of human life and property.
The Philippine delgation,being among the last speakers,does not have to repeat what otherdele gations, particularly the.eminent representatives of the.Group of 77, have stated in their support for the evaluation of theRegular Programme. I can thusbe brief; indeed I shall limit mycomments to the TCP.
The Philippine delegation has already expressed its views regarding the TCP during the last session of the Council. Now we just wish to reiterate that we would have wished that a greater allocation for the TCP would have been possible. We also reiterate our support for the new category and for the new ceiling proposed.
We do not believe that FAO's capabilities are being strained because of TCP projects. We believe that FAO can handle the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of more projects, higher than the present level, including TCP projects, especially in view of the decline in UNDP and other sources of funding. Indeed, we believe that the need for TCP will increase because of the greater difficulties that are being experienced by developing countries. Because of these increasing economic difficulties, developing countries will find it more difficult to provide for contingencies for emergencies. Because of the scarcity of resources on the part of governments, there will be more gaps which will have to be filled, and more emergencies and contingencies which cannot be planned for.
Therefore, we believe that there will be a greater need for TCP. That is why we expressed a wish that more funds could have been possible for TCP in the last Council, which we reiterate now.
We beleive also that training can be short-term, and therefore can be faced by TCP projects. An example of such training could be a study tour by technicians or high level officials to another country to learn a technology or a packet of technologies that are already being applied in the field; for example biogas technology, the use of compost, the cycling of organic matter, small water lifting devices, and so forth. This could be learned by trained technicians in a very short period of time. Of course, the TCP should not be used to train technicians through a regular academic course of a PS, MS or Ph.D, but certainly these funds could be used to allow trained technicians to learn a technology that has been applied successfully in another area with similar conditions.
The other examples of short-term training projects and training-connected projects are quoted in documentCL88/INF/10, in paragraph 1.2. Webelieve that the TCP should indeed be givengreater flexibility to respond to the needs of the developing countries,as indicated in its terms of reference, since these developing countries are experiencing unprecedented difficulties for reasons that have already been pointed out very eloquently and in a detailed manner in the discussion on the situation in the State of Food and Agriculture in the developing countries. Particularly because of these unprecedented difficulties, we believe that the TCP should be given greater flexibility to respond to these needs of the developing countries.
A-ELSHEIK (Sudan) (original language Arabic): I would like to exprese my.delegation's appreciation for the efforts undertaken by the Secretariat so far in preparing the document for the Review of the Regular Programme 1984-85, We believe that the document reflects in an analytical manner the activities undertaken over the past two years The programme, generally speaking, has had a positive effect on agriculture.
We would like to express our support for TCP. This programme has been effectively used in my country over the past two years to face the negative impact of the drought which befell Sudan, as well as to rehabilitate other drought-striken countries and to provide emergency aid to combat a certain number of animal diseases. For this,reason, we wish to express our support for TCP and for an increase in financial allocations, providing that this is undertaken through the Organization's Regular budget and not from voluntary contributions, so that we may guarantee the stability and continuity of this Programme.
My country allocates a special importance to cooperation between developing countries in the exchange of economic and technical experience, so that these countries may individually and collectively serve their common goals. Therefore, we support the efforts of the Organization in supporting the ECDC between developing countries. We therefore also support programmes aimed at strengthening regional and national FAO offices, because experience has shown that these offices are in a better position to evaluate the needs of the countries concerned and cooperate with them in successfully implementing the programmes of the Organization.
Walid ABDRABU (Jordan): I shall be very brief as most of the points I wish to raise have been in fact taken up by several colleagues. Therefore I shall simply support those statements made by my colleague from the Lebanese delegation and the very valuable comment made by the representative of France, especially the one concerning the TCP.
I wish simply to add here one comment on those views expressed by a certain number of speakers, namely that it would have been better for the Organization to have requested the JIU of theUnited Nations to undertake a study of the evaluation of the TCP rather than request an outside team to do so. The views of some of our colleagues in fact implicitly refer to the inefficiency of the outside team. This contradicts the truth, as we all know that the team of experts and its Chairman were highly experienced and qualified men of sound views and independent opinions. They undertook their task in an excellent manner. As for the JIU and its efficiency, this, in our opinion,is subject to some debate. A close fair look at the reports of the JIU would in fact not need any further comments. Therefore we do not agree with what was said by a few colleagues on this matter and we believe that the outside team was a sound choice and the study undertaken a highly appreciated one by all the countries of the Organization.
The Jordanian delegation fully supports the recommendations made by the Council as to TCP and more so as far as the increase of maximum costs to US$400 000 is concerned, and despite the fact that this increase is a simple precaution and nothing else. We also support the same recommendation, namely to add a new category to the Programme to support the economic and technical cooperation between developing countries.
J.D. AITKEN (United Kingdom): Thank you for granting the United Kingdom the privilege of speaking for the second time in this debate. In this intervention I will refer solely to the Technical Cooperation Programme.
In Council we have already spoken in detail on the evaluation study. We said the study was to be welcomed because we considered it provided some useful information on Programme management. We remain of this view and my following remarks should be taken within the context of that view. In this statement on the evaluation study, I would like to re-emphasize the comments we made in Council on the less satisfactory aspects of the study and in this respect I would like to associate our delegation with the criticism and improvements suggested by other delegates, in particular the delegate of the Netherlands. We remain of the view that there is a need for a truly independent evaluation of the impact of a representative selection of the Technical Cooperation Programme projects. We do not agree with the suggestion made by the DirectorGeneral at Council that it is not possible to assess the impact and achievements of small projects of the type funded under TCP. In our experience it has been possible to do this on similar bilateral programmes.The rise in the maximum ceiling for project funding makes it all the more urgent to have better information on the quality of the Programme so we may learn from its successes and see whether there is scope to improve project design and execution.
The United Kingdom has already referred to what appears to be a very high level of overhead costs on the operational programme. This also has a relevance here when we speak of evaluation. We consider that the time has come when there must be greater transparency in the presentation of TCP to Council and Conference, greater vigour in the assessment of its resource, and a greater willingness on the part of the Secretariat to share with us relevant information about the Programme.
The United Kingdom has already stated our general support for the principle of the Technical Cooperation Programme. In doing so, we have confidently placed considerable reliance on the Secretariat to formulate and manage a Programme which makes an effective impact.
We look forward to seeing the results of independent evaluation, which we are sure will vindicate the confidence we have placed in FAO.
R.C. GUPTA (India): In some of the interventions in which certain objections have been made against the TCP or certain questions have been asked or certain criticism has been voiced, we found that the main emphasis was on lack of accountability, and lack of transparency. Some suggestions were made that this kind of activity should be funded from extra-budgetary resources, but we do not find any detailed methodology being spelled out by anybody as to how the accountabilityor transparency of this programme is to improve. We would have liked these delegations to specify in what format, in what details they would like the Organization to inform its governing bodies regarding the activities of TCP. The only suggestion we heard was independent evaluation. Now, this certainly casts certain doubts on the integrity of the consultants who were engaged by the Organization, by the Director-General,to evaluate this particular Programme. Their credentials are impeccable and without giving any reasons for this kind of demand, it casts reflection on them.
Just one more point I wanted to refer to was the Regional Offices of FAO. In my earlier intervention I could not include that. We would like to place on record our deep appreciation and support for the work of the Regional Office. As a member of the Programme Committee, my delegation had the opportunity of having a detailed review of the working of Regional Offices and of listening to the Regional Representatives. We were fully satisfied with their work in terms of their support to the country projects, in terms of their effective backstopping of the regional projects and in furthering the objectives and medium- and long-term programmes of the Organization. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.
M. MOMBOULI (Congo): Dans sa déclaration d'il y a quelques jours sur le point13de l'ordre du jour, la délégation congolaise s'était déjà prononcée sur cet examen du Programme ordinaire1984-85.Nous ne pensions pas qu'il serait nécessaire d'intervenir à nouveau sur ce même point. Mais face au tournant actuel pris par les travaux, nous ne pouvons pas rester indifférents, surtout après l'audition de certaines interventions de nature à perturber l'ordre habituel des choses.
Pour cette deuxième intervention, nous espérons être brefs, mais clairs.
Bien que nous soyons absorbés les uns et les autres par les importants travaux de notre Commission, permettez-moi de rappeler à tous les membres de notre Commission que nous sommes une émanation de l'Assemblée plénière qui a été honorée par d'importants discours dont il faut peut-être nous rappeler.
Souvenons-nous que cette vingt-troisième session de notre Conférence coïncide heureusement avec un anniversaire, et pas n'importe lequel, puisqu'il s'agit du qưarantième anniversaire de la FAO, cette Organisation à laquelle d'éminentes personnalités ont consacré beaucoup de leur énergie.
Un anniversaire, c'est bien sûr un moment de réflexion pour faire le point du chemin parcouru, et esquisser à la lumière du passé les grands axes de. l'action à venir. Mais un anniversaire c'est aussi une fête, et c'est précisément parce que nous tenons au respect de l'esprit de ceux qui .ont tant fait pour la FAO que nous ne voulons pas que l'on tente délibérément de transformer cet anniversaire en une sorte de veillée funèbre. Que l'on se souvienne que de nouveaux membres viennent de faire leur entrée dans le concert des nations membres de notre Organisation, les Iles Salomon et les Iles Cook, portant ainsi le nombre des Etats membres qui était à l'origine de 45 à 158 aujourd' hui. C'est vous dire que la FAO est un organisme vivant et sujet à une certaine dynamique quotidienne. A son exemple, nous devons à notre tour adopter une attitude dynamique et non pas nous cantonner, comme le souhaitent certains d'entre nous, dans un immobilisme malsain.
Des éléments fondamentaux ont considérablement rehaussé l'image de la FAO auprès des paysans. Il s'agit des activités dans le cadre du PCT et l'impact créé par sa politique de décentralisation. Souhaitons-nous que la' FAO soit, à l'occasion de son quarantième anniversaire, ravalée à sa simple expression et réduite à la dimension d'une simple académie des sciences agronomiques?
Bien qu'une certaine unanimité se soit dégagée pour le maintien du PCT, c'est avec une très vive préoccupation que nous avons enregistré les interventions, d'abord timides puis plus fortes, de certaines délégations exigeant davantage d'évaluations et d'analyses des structures de la FAO chargées de gérer le PCT, et la révision des critères de celui-ci.
Nous nous opposons et nous refusons la tendance visant à faire financer le PCT uniquement par des contributions fiduciaires volontaires du PNUD. Nous exigeons que le PCT continue à être financé sur les ressources ordinaires, et non sur des ressources volontaires, aléatoires, et sujettes à des pressions politiques. Au moment où la part des projets FAO financés par le PNUD connaît une grave contraction, nous ne saurions accepter qu'un Programme aussi vital que le PCT soit relégué au second plan pour être financé par des ressources volontaires.
Sans que cela ait été explicitement dit, nous avons sincèrement été touchés et vexés des allégations émanant de certaines délégations qui nous ont laissé l'impression que le PCT était ou bien mal géré par le Secrétariat, ou que nous, les bénéficiaires, n'en avions pas besoin. Si tel est réellement le cas, qu'on le dise clairement et que l'on fournisse en même temps les preuves de ces allégations.
En terminant, nous voudrions noter qu'une bonne majorité de notre commission a appuyé le PCT et les propositions d'amélioration proposées ce sujet par l'équipe d'évaluation externe et par le Secrétariat. C'est une poignée de pays, certes puissants mais minoritaires, qui s'y opposent.
Enfin, comme nous ne sommes pas au Conseil de l'entente où s'exerce le principe de superpuissance ou de droit de veto, nous devons noter que,dans sa majorité, notre Commission a appuyé le PCT et les améliorations proposées, et a exigé la poursuite de son financement suivant les modalités et les ressources en vigueur.
Abukar Sheikh HUSSEIN (Somalia): On behalf of the Somalia delegation, I would like to express our support for the Regular Programme as a whole, especially the TCP which showed great efficiency in the promotion of plant production and in controlling infectious diseases affecting animal health in Africa, like rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease. The Somalia delegation suggests that the budget of the TCP programme be increased.
Ms F.H. JAWHAR HAYAT(Kuwait) (original language Arabic): Thank you, Mr Chairman, for having given me the opportunity to speak today
I would like to express my general support for the Regular Programme and for the contents of the documents submitted to us. My country insists that the TCP be financed through the Regular Programme to ensure its continuity and independence.
I request that a large share of TCP credits be allocated for the encouragement of EC and TCP between developing countries. I support the creation of a new category of programmes financed by TCP. This is as far as TCP is concerned now.
As for the contents of the documents referring to the role of rural women, I believe that my colleague from Sweden adequately and appropriately dealt with this subject, and I support everything that she said on the subject last Friday. As a woman and in accordance with the dictates of my conscience, and after having attended the Nairobi Women's Conference,I urge one and all to help support and increase the role of women and urge FAO to seek to highlight their role, because we know that the economy of developing countries does not depend entirely, but to a large extent, on the work undertaken by women.
L. ARIZA HIDALGO (Cuba):Quiero primeramente expresarle a usted, señor Presidente, que en función de la división del trabajo en mi delegación no me había sido posible participar en la Comisión con usted y quiero que reciba mi felicitación por su designación como Presidente de esta Comisión. Además, queremos expresar fundamentalmente. que hemos ido escuchando en estos días enPlenarialas declaraciones de los ministros. En ese sentido creemos que la distinguida representación del Congo ha planteado una cosa muy pertinente y es que estas comisiones son el producto de las declaraciones de nuestros ministros, porque no podemos estar aquí representando otra cosa que la línea de nuestro país.
En ese sentido quiero recordar que el Programa de Cooperación Técnica ha sido aprobado, apoyado y potenciado enla Plenariapor los ministros representantes en esta Conferencia.
No queremos utilizar mucho tiempo, creemos que se ha discutido bastante este tema, tenemos información de que la inmensa mayoría de la Comisión se ha referido a la necesidad de mantener el Programa de Cooperación Técnica dentro del Programa de Labores y Presupuesto de la Organización, y:de que la evaluación que se ha propuesto y que se ha presentado es. una evaluación legítima; nosotros creemos que no debemos complicar la situación. Los PCT constituyen un pequeño motor, como dijo nuestro compañero Nieto aquí en su anterior intervención; es un pequeño motor que actúa rompiendo una inercia, la inercia, que a veces no se entiende de los grandes centros financieros y de los grandes centros bancarios, y el PCT constituye este pequeño motor para romper la posibilidad de adquirir la transferencia tecnológica rápida, para adquirir una transferencia tecnológica en función de nuestras reales necesidades como países. No es'una transferencia tecnológica inducida para vender los productos ni para vender los equipos, sino para que esté dentro del marco de nuestros planes nacionales de desarrollo. Por lo tanto, esa evaluación es una evaluación entre la FAO y los organismos receptores. La FAO tiene todo un bagaje, una experiencia que no creo que pueda ser puesta en discusión; el bagaje y la experiencia de FAO como organismo especializado no se pueden poner en discusión por una simple palabra de transparencia, ni por una simple palabra de dependencia, ni por una simple palabra de independencia. ¿Qué quiere decir evaluación independiente? ¿Hasta dónde vamos a llegar con esa condición de desconfianza dentro de organismos de Naciones Unidas? ¿Por qué independencia? ¿De la Luna, de Marte, o de Venus?, porque cualquier ciudadano de este mundo es un ciudadano de un país, tiene un pasaporte; yo no creo que esa independencia abstracta pueda poner en tela de juicio 40años que estamos celebrando de ejecución de una Organización hacia los países en desarrollo; eso sí, ciertamente los estamos celebrando con gusto. Ahora, si se quiere detener esa línea hacia los países en desarrollo y se quiere poner algunas trabajas a esta posición de la FAO que estamos elebrando, es posible que podamos entrar a discutir alguna de esas posiciones, si no, no la entendemos.
Nuestra representación quiere unirse a la gran mayoría de ministros que lo han expresado en la Plenaria,a la gran mayoría de delegados que lo han expresado aquí de que los Programas de Cooperación Técnica mantengan sus líneas de actuación como ahora y pueda repetirse dentro de un par de años otra evaluación, pero esta misma que ha hecho la FAO con3representantes, que creo que son tres funcionarios muy respetables y que cada uno tiene una nacionalidad distinta; más independencia no se puede pedir.
EL PRESIDENTE: Gracias. Distinguidos colegas y amigos: hemos sobrepasado un poco el tiempo a nuestra disposición; se cierra así sobre este tema la lista de oradores, que han sido60.Ahora vamos a levantar la sesión, nos reuniremos de nuevo aquí a las 14,30;una vez más les ruego que sean puntuales, y oiremos la respuesta del señorShah a las numerosas preguntas. que se han planteado. El Comité de Redacción se reunirá esta noche; hay sólo cuatro párrafos pendientes sobre el tema12.He notado la ácrividad de nuestro Presidente del Comité de Redacción, señorJennings,de los Estados Unidos, y de otros miembros que espero conduzca a una fácil solución y a un acuerdo constructivo.
Confío en que la intensa labor llevada a cabo por el Comité de Redacción sea utilizada por esta Comisión para adoptar rápidamente los resultados del Comité de Redacción y así continuar cuanto antes la discusión del tema14,que deberá concluir mañana en la tarde.
The meeting rose at 12.40 hours
La séance est levée à12h40
Selevantalasesióna las12.40horas
