text: 68.Areasonfrequently advanced bytheorganizations oftheUnitedNations systemtoexplain theirlimited TCDCinitiatives hastodowiththeresource constraintsexperienced bytheUnitedNations development system. Thereportfinds, however,thattheorganizations havenotmade ~enuine efforts eithertoeconomize onscarcedevelopment resources through theapplication ofdemonstrably lesscostlymodalities oftechnical co-operation, suchasTCDC,government execution, increaseduseofnational expertise etc.,ortoexplore andmobilize additional sources forfinancing TCDCprojects asrecommended bythePlanofAction. 69.Thegeneral conclusion thatemerges isthattheorganizations' support forTCDCisuncertain, uneven andlagsfarbehind whatisreported periodically tothegoverning bodiesofthesystem. TCDChasscarcely beguntobeusedasamodalityforstretching thelimited technical co-operation resources oftheUnitedNationsdevelopment system. 70.Inordertoovercome thepresent impasse andgiveimpetus tooperational TCDCactivities andprojects, thereportoffersseveral recommendations thatmaybesummarized asfollows: (a)thePlanofActionshould beconsidered asabindinglegislative framework forTCDCactivities; (b)TCDCandECDCshould beaddressedseparately inresolutions aswellasinreporting andaccountability requirements;(clintheirsupport forTCDC,theorganizations should beguided bythethree -20-following documents, TCDCacti useofgov systemorg }.'arties t arrangemen offoreign thecost0 organizati theTCDCp progrmmes, upgraded; souldbeg supported TCDCandu directly 0 Nations sy co-operati introduced oftechnic 71.Ther foraction 72.Thee communicatJ istheEcol concerns a haveinvob proclaim a gravity of consequent developmen 73.TheU operation. ofthefir toexamine lessons fr similar op 74.Accor machinery organizati duringthe individual financial communicat" hampered tfollowing typical TCDCelements: (i)anagreement, tobereflected inproject documents, invalving twoormoredeveloping country Governments participatinq ina TCDCactivity andhighlighting specific TCDCtechniques tobeemployed, (ii)the useofgovernment execution arrangements withtheparticipation ofUnitedNations systemorganizations limited totheidentification ofTCDCsolutions, bringing ~arties together andprovision ofproject elements notavailable underTCDC arrangements, and(iii)provision bytheorganizations oflimited financial support offoreign exchange components suchastravelexpenses outside thehostcountry and thecostofforeign equipment andsuppliesJ (d)theTCDCfocalpointsofthe organizations shouldbestrengthened andgivenexplicit authority todisseminate theTCDCprinciple throughout theorganizations' substantive andoperational progrmmes, (e)thestaffing strength oftheUNDPSpecial UnitforTCDCshould be upgraded, (f)thecountry, regional, interregional andglobal programmes ofUNDP souldbegivenanenhanced TCDCorientation, (g)inter-country institutions supported bytheorganizations should betransformed intoeffective instruments of TCDCandusedincreasingly asexecuting agentsofinter-country activities either directly orthrough sub-contract arrangements withorganizations oftheUnited Nations systemJ and(h)atleast10percentoftheorganizations' technical co-operation resources should beearmarked forTCDC,whichshould beexpressly introduced inmedium-term plansandprogramme budqets asaseparate sub-programme oftechnical co-operation. 71.Thereport wasSEnton12June1985toallparticipating organizations ofJIU foraction. I.Report ontheTransport andCommunications Decade inAfrica (JIU/REP/85/4) 72.Theendof1983markedtheconclusion ofthefirstphaseoftheTransport and Communications Decadein~frica (1978-1988). TheDecade, forwhichtheleadagency istheEconomic Commission forAfrica (ECA),isaunique experimen~ inthatit concerns asingleregion, whereas previous UnitedNations "years" and"decades" haveinvolved theinternational community asawhole. Intakinqthedecision to proclaim adecadeforasingleregion, theGeneral Assembly wishedtoemphasize the gravity ofthetransport andcommunications situation inAfrica andofthe consequent constraints that that situation imposes ontheeconomic andsocial development ofAfrican countries andtheirregional integration.
analysis: The text appears to be discussing the effectiveness of the United Nations development system in implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) initiatives. It highlights the limitations and resource constraints faced by the organizations, as well as the need for more genuine efforts to economize on development resources and explore additional sources of financing. The report also emphasizes the importance of strengthening the focal points of the organizations and upgrading the staffing strength of the UNDP Special Unit for TCDC. Given the focus on international development cooperation and the United Nations development system, it seems likely that the category would be related to economic development and international cooperation.