chapter v regional economic and social activities

967

Chapter V

Regional economic and social activities

In 2010, the five UN regional commissions con-tinued to provide technical cooperation, including advisory services, to their member States, promote programmes and projects, and provide training to enhance national capacity-building in various sec-tors. Four of them held regular sessions during the year—the Economic Commission for Africa (eca), the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (escap), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (eclac), and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (escwa). The Economic Commission for Europe did not meet in 2010. The Executive Secretaries of the commissions continued to hold periodic meetings to exchange views and coordinate activities and posi-tions on major development issues.

Eca organized its annual session as part of the joint meetings of the African Union Conference of Minis-ters of Economy and Finance and the eca Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Eco-nomic Development. The session met in March and adopted a ministerial statement by which Ministers committed to implement plans for economic trans-formation, job creation and poverty eradication by ensuring a food-secure Africa within five years.

In May, escap adopted the Incheon Declaration emphasizing the need for stronger regional coopera-tion for more resilience in future crises and to bolster the capacity of countries in reaching the Millennium Development Goals. The Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pa-cific (Astana, Kazakhstan, 27 September–2 October) adopted the Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific, 2010; the Regional Implementation Plan for Sustainable Devel-opment, 2011–2015; and the Astana “Green Bridge” Initiative: Europe-Asia-Pacific Partnership for the Implementation of “Green Growth”.

Eclac, during its thirty-third session, adopted the Brasilia resolution, in which it asked the Executive Secretary to conduct studies and formulate policy proposals to build national economic and social de-velopment capacities. The Commission also asked the Executive Secretary to develop indicators for measur-ing the social and economic impact of South-South cooperation.

At its May session, escwa held two round tables: the first on national youth policies within the frame-work of the World Programme of Action for Youth to

the Year 2000 and Beyond and the second on human and institutional capacity-building. It called for the holding of an Arab Internet Governance Forum and adopted a statute establishing the escwa Technology Centre, which was endorsed by the Economic and Social Council in July.

Regional cooperation

In 2010, the United Nations continued to strengthen cooperation among its regional commis-sions, between them and other UN entities, and with regional and international organizations.

On 28 April (decision 2010/207), the Economic and Social Council decided that the theme for the regional cooperation item of its 2010 substantive ses-sion would be “Gender equality and empowerment of women in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (mdgs): regional perspectives”. The Council held an interactive dialogue with the Executive Secretaries of the regional commissions on that subject on 2 July.

Meetings of Executive Secretaries. The Execu-tive Secretaries held three regular meetings during the year: in January (Beirut); and at the margins of both the Economic and Social Council session in July and of their dialogue with the Second (Economic and Financial) Committee of the General Assembly in November (New York) [E/2010/15, E/2011/15]. They focused on the regional commissions’ support to UN system-wide coherence at the regional and global lev-els; regional perspectives and contributions towards achieving the mdgs; promotion of policies leading to greater inclusion and equity; regional contributions to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20 process) (see p. 802), and re-gional cooperation as a tool for development. In ad-dition, two joint side events were organized: one at the Assembly’s High-level Plenary Meeting on the mdgs (New York, 20–22 September) (see p. 813), during which the Executive Secretaries highlighted the regional perspectives on the achievement of the mdgs, and the role of regional cooperation in ad-dressing key challenges in that regard and the other at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference (Cancún, Mexico, 29 November–10 December) (see p. 1019).

968 Part Three: Economic and social questions

Review and reform of regional commissions

In a June report [E/2010/15], the Secretary-General updated actions taken by the regional commissions to implement the guidance given by Economic and Social Council resolution 1998/46 [YUN 1998, p. 1262] on mainstreaming regional dimensions into the work of the United Nations and enhancing the coherence of UN activities at the regional level. The report ex-amined the progress by different regions in achieving the mdgs and the lessons learned from the global eco-nomic and financial crisis to address fallbacks and ac-celerate achievement of the mdgs. It also highlighted how South-South cooperation, strongly supported by the regional commissions, was being used to advance the development agenda and the efforts and progress in promoting the agenda of gender equality and empower-ment of women. The report also covered developments in selected areas of regional and interregional coopera-tion, including other policy matters addressed during the regional commission ministerial sessions, further efforts to promote coherence at the regional level, in-cluding through the Regional Coordination Mecha-nism convened by the regional commissions, as well as interregional cooperation among the commissions.

An addendum to the report [E/2010/15/Add.1] con-tained the texts of resolutions and decisions adopted at recent meetings of the regional commissions calling for the Council’s action.

In July, the Council adopted resolutions on the venue for the thirty-fourth session of eclac (see p. 993), and on the establishment of the escwa Tech-nology Centre (see p. 995). It also adopted decisions on upgrading the escwa Section for Emerging and Conflict-Related Issues and the escwa Centre for Women to a division (see p. 998).

Africa

The Economic Commission for Africa (eca) or-ganized its 2010 annual session as part of the joint meetings of the African Union (au) Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance and the eca Con-ference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, in accordance with Eco-nomic and Social Council resolution 2007/4 [YUN 2007, p. 1014]. Eca held its forty-third session/Third Joint Annual Meetings of the au and eca Confer-ence of Ministers (Lilongwe, Malawi, 29–30 March) [E/ECA/CM/43/4] under the theme “Promoting high-level sustainable growth to reduce unemployment and poverty”. It had before it an issues paper prepared by the eca secretariat on the theme [E/ECA/COE/29/3] and the report of the twenty-ninth meeting of the

Committee of Experts of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Devel-opment (Lilongwe, 25–28 March) [E/ECA/COE/29/7].

The session adopted a ministerial statement [E/ECA/ CM/43/4], in which Ministers noted the progress in Af-rica towards the achievement of the mdgs and recog-nized the need for strengthening their policy responses, including those aimed at achieving food security and reducing unemployment. Ministers committed to im-plement plans for economic transformation, job crea-tion and poverty eradication by ensuring a food-secure Africa within five years; support African least developed countries (ldcs) and those emerging from conflict to re-duce unemployment, build capacity and provide policy support; accelerate regional integration as a strategy for achieving sustainable socio-economic development; ad-dress the impact of climate change through its integra-tion in growth, employment and poverty eradication strategies; combat illicit financial flows by addressing its impact on the development process and request fur-ther analytical work on the subject and the preparation of a declaration for consideration at the next ministerial conference; establish pan-African financial institutions: the African Investment Bank, the African Central Bank and the African Monetary Fund; leverage support of key partners for Africa’s development agenda; and mobilise additional support among African member States, the UN system, and international development partners for the further enhancement of the role of the African Institute of Economic Planning in building and renew-ing capacities for economic management and develop-ment planning.

Economic trends

In 2010, African economies continued to recover from the financial and economic crisis with a growth in gross domestic product (gdp) of 4.7 per cent, up from to 2.3 per cent in 2009 [E/2011/17]. Key growth factors included rising commodity prices and exports, sustained by countercyclical fiscal and monetary poli-cies and increasing domestic demand, and more diver-sified exports. While most economies recovered from the loss in 2009, the pace of the recovery varied across countries and subregions. Oil-exporting countries ex-panded by 5.4 per cent, while oil-importing countries expanded by 3.9 per cent. East Africa, with a growth rate of 6.8 per cent and West Africa, with a growth rate of 6 per cent were the best performing of the five subregions, followed by North Africa, the main oil-producing subregion at 4.7 per cent, Central Africa at 4.3 per cent and Southern Africa at 3.3 per cent. The recovery was also helped by a notable increase in private capital. Foreign direct investment rebounded through growing interest in the mineral, services and manufacturing sectors, amounting to about 7 per cent of Africa’s gdp. Aid flows also grew by 4 per cent,

Chapter V: Regional economic and social activities 969

despite economic difficulties faced by many donor countries, while some African countries continued to benefit from debt relief. Growth was largely jobless, however, and progress towards reducing poverty and achieving other mdgs remained slow, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Economic Report on Africa [Sales No. E.10.II.K.l], a joint publication of eca and the au, devoted its 2010 edition to the theme “Promoting high-level sustain-able growth to reduce unemployment in Africa”, and advised that in the aftermath of the global economic crisis African countries should pursue policies that countered the effects of the recession and laid the foundation for long-term, high-level, sustainable and employment-focused growth.

Activities

Eca activities in 2010 were organized under ten subprogrammes: macroeconomic analysis, finance and economic development; food security and sustainable development; governance and public ad-ministration; information and science and technology for development; trade, economic cooperation and regional integration; gender and women in develop-ment; supporting subregional activities for develop-ment; development planning and administration; statistics; and social development [E/ECA/COE/30/17]. Eca also continued to support the au and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (nepad) [YUN 2001, p. 900].

Trade, economic cooperation and regional integration

Eca continued to strengthen regional integration in Africa through enhanced intra-African trade and physical integration, with particular emphasis on in-frastructure and natural resources development. A key accomplishment in support of policy development and harmonization was the publication in May of Assessing Regional Integration in Africa, which focused on the theme “Enhancing intra-African trade”, providing policy recommendations to reverse the low level of intra-African trade. Three regional workshops and study tours were organized in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, Accra, Ghana, and Mombasa, Kenya, which enabled stakeholders to share and learn from experiences and best practices in trade facilitation, port operations and corridor management across Africa. On interna-tional trade, activities were undertaken to strengthen the capacity of African countries for effective partici-pation in international trade negotiations and arrange-ments, particularly the Economic Partnership Agree-ments (epas), Aid for Trade and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (agoa). Eca, in partnership with the African Union Commission (auc), developed proposals

and policy options for consideration by African coun-tries when existing agoa preferences ended in 2015. The options were endorsed by the sixth ordinary session of the au Ministers of Trade (Kigali, Rwanda, November), and led to the adoption of the Declaration on a Strategic Framework for Strengthening US-African Trade Rela-tions 2010 and Beyond. Eca also provided technical inputs to two coordination meetings regarding epas, which resulted in a position paper on the subject. On the Aid for Trade initiative, the Commission carried out a number of activities designed to enhance the awareness, knowledge and capacity of member States and regional economic communities (recs) to take advantage of its opportunities. In that regard, the study “Surmounting Africa’s Trade Capacity Constraints: An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Aid for Trade” was prepared to help member States and recs participate effectively in the third Global Review of Aid for Trade.

In the area of transport, eca continued to work with other partners in the sub-Saharan Africa Trans-port Policy Programme, which aimed to build policy development and implementation capacity in the transport sector. With regard to natural resources, eca and auc completed the draft Framework Report of the International Study Group on Africa’s mineral regimes, which formed part of the African Mining Vision 2050 [YUN 2009, p. 971]. An Action Plan was being developed to implement the Vision.

New Partnership for Africa’s Development

As the coordinator of UN agencies and organiza-tions working in Africa in support of nepad, a pro-gramme for the continent’s development initiated by African leaders in 2001 [YUN 2001, p. 899], eca, together with the au, undertook joint activities to deepen the nature and scope of support for its im-plementation in the context of the Regional Coor-dination Mechanism. The activities encompassed technical assistance and capacity-building for insti-tutional development, project development, resource mobilization and advocacy. Eca provided analytical work and technical assistance, with particular focus on socio-economic development and political gover-nance issues.

In February [E/ECA/COE/29/16], eca submitted a report on UN system-wide support to the au and nepad in the context of the Regional Coordination Mechanism.

(For information on nepad, see p. 908).

Food security and sustainable development

Eca continued to strengthen the capacity of States to formulate and implement policies, strate-gies and programmes for achieving food security and sustainable development in Africa. It participated in


the eighteenth session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (New York, May) (see p. 801), providing technical support to African States through facilitation of the African regional discus-sions and effective participation in the thematic discussions. In collaboration with other partners, eca organized a High-level Conference on African Agribusiness and Agro-Industries (Abuja, Nigeria, March). The Conference Declaration called for con-certed efforts to accelerate agribusiness development. As a follow-up, eca and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations developed an analytical framework to assess the national devel-opment context, trends and policies influencing the need for public-private partnership in agribusiness, and to draw lessons from the challenges and specific issues that needed to be considered. In the area of water resources development and management, eca responded to several requests for assistance from States for urgent policy-related advice by servicing the Regional Forum on “Agricultural Water” (Accra, Ghana, May); the Zambezi coordination meeting and the twenty-first Southern African Development Community (sadc) Water Sector Regional Group Meeting (Gaborone, Botswana, June); and the Joint Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Climate Change Workshop (Nairobi, March).

Climate change

A March eca secretariat report [E/ECA/COE/29/5] on climate change and development updated progress made by auc and eca, in collaboration with other partners, in support of Africa’s climate change and development agenda. Among the recommendations contained in the paper were for Africa to take advan-tage of the opportunities for green growth and green jobs provided by the international climate change re-gime; continue pushing for more reforms in the gover-nance system for climate change financing, and for quick operationalization of the Copenhagen Green Climate Fund to ensure ready access to much-needed funds; and make concerted efforts to better integrate Africa into global carbon markets. It also recom-mended that the Climdev-Africa Programme and its entities should be fully operationalized to ensure that African negotiators and policymakers at all levels could articulate and defend the continent’s concerns and interests; and that a subprogramme on climate change and development be established at eca to en-sure sustainability of ongoing interventions aimed at addressing the issue in Africa.

The seventh African Development Forum (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 10–15 October), had as its theme “Acting on Climate Change for Sustainable Devel-opment in Africa”. The Forum adopted a Consensus Statement intended to help strengthen Africa’s partic-

ipation in international climate change negotiations and inform the continent’s common position at the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (Cancún, 29 November–10 December) (see p. 1019). It would also help raise awareness and build consensus among stakeholders on Africa’s concerns and priori-ties in a post-2012 international climate change re-gime, and form the basis for the preparation of an African Action Plan on Climate Change.

Governance and public administration

Eca’s objective under the governance and pub-lic administration subprogramme was to enhance the capacity of States to promote good governance practices to achieve major development objectives, including the mdgs and nepad priorities. Activi-ties were undertaken to support the promotion of good governance in Africa, with particular focus on strengthening public administration and public sector management for effective service delivery, pro-mote private sector development, enhance the role and capacity of civil society and support the Afri-can Peer Review Mechanism process to strengthen governance practices in Africa. The Commission worked with the United Nations Development Pro-gramme (undp) on the third edition of the African Governance Report, which would have as its theme “Elections and the Management of Diversity in Af-rica”, enhancing the capacity of States to manage elections more effectively as instruments for manag-ing diversity, while retaining the democratic ideals of credibility, transparency and fairness. The Report on Mutual Review of Development Effectiveness, jointly prepared by eca and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (oecd), was pre-sented to the nepad Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee at their twenty-third sum-mit (Kampala, Uganda, July). The Summit called on eca and oecd to continue the Mutual Review pro-cess, which should serve as the main mutual account-ability mechanism for monitoring and assessing the delivery of commitments made by both the African countries and their development partners relative to the African economic development agenda. A pub-lication entitled The Role of Parliaments in Promot-ing Best Practices in Governance assessed the capacity and efficiency of national parliaments in Africa, their operational modalities, the level of autonomy they enjoyed, their funding, and their relationship with the executive arm of government and the judiciary. A study to help improve public financial management and domestic resource mobilization was presented to an ad hoc expert group meeting (Banjul, Gambia, November). Eca also organized a side event at the Joint Annual Meetings of the au and eca Confer-


ence of Ministers (Lilongwe, March), that drew the attention of policy makers to critical issues of illicit financial flows from Africa and their effect on the continent’s development. An expert group meeting on strengthening popular participation and good governance took place (Addis Ababa, March) in prep-aration for the Fourth UN Conference on ldcs to be held in 2011 (see p. 846). Also in preparation for that Conference, eca submitted, in March, the Outcome of the Africa Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Fourth United Nations Conference on ldcs (Addis Ababa, 8–9 March) [E/ECA/COE/29/21]. The meeting noted the progress made in the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action for the ldcs for the Decade 2001-2010 [YUN 2001, p. 770] and proposed a new programme of action.

Information, science and technology for development

Eca continued to focus on improving the capac-ity to formulate, implement and evaluate strategies and policies in the area of information for devel-opment. It assisted Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Mali and the Niger to com-plete implementation of their national and sectoral information and communication technology (ict) infrastructure plans and policies in the health, ag-riculture, education, commerce and government sectors. Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Rwanda final-ized their national and sectoral ict policies and plans. Eca support to States in the implementation of the African Cyber Security Strategy programme harmonizing cyber legislation in Africa resulted in the development of a draft regional conven-tion on cyber legislation. Another major initiative was the establishment of the Knowledge Network of African Community Telecentres to empower poor and disadvantaged communities through the transformation of existing ict access points. Through the Information Technology Centre for Africa, eca delivered training on “ict Essentials for Government Leaders” to Parliamentarians in Swaziland and sadc. Also, in collaboration with auc and other partners, eca organized the second Science with Africa Conference (Addis Ababa, 22–25 June) on the theme “Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurship”, which enabled the launch of the African Science, Technology and Innovation Endowment Fund, designed to support individu-als, as well as research and development institu-tions in bringing their research outputs to markets, and the first African Technology Development and Transfer Network for generating economic and so-cial value from research and development outputs by facilitating technology adaptation and commer-cialization.

Macroeconomic analysis, finance and economic development

Eca continued to strengthen the capacity of mem-ber States to design and implement policies to achieve sustained economic growth for poverty reduction, in line with the priorities of the mdgs [YUN 2000, p. 49] and nepad. Its work under the subprogramme was aimed at achieving higher and sustained economic growth through enhanced capacity for macroeco-nomic and sectoral policy analysis, international trade and finance. In the area of macroeconomic policy analysis, the secretariat undertook policy research and analysis, and prepared a number of reports, including the Economic Report on Africa, and the Overview of Economic and Social Conditions in Africa, 2010, which reviewed Africa’s economic performance and assessed significant macroeconomic trends at all levels. Eca, the African Development Bank (afdb), undp and the Development Bank of South Africa jointly organized the fifth African Economic Conference (Tunis, Tuni-sia, 27–29 October) on the theme “Setting the Agenda for Africa’s Economic Recovery and Long-term Growth”. The Conference, which brought together finance ministers, central bank governors, researchers, economists and development experts, shared views on key challenges facing Africa, underscoring the impor-tance of good governance, infrastructure and private sector development and domestic resource mobiliza-tion in addressing them.

In February, eca submitted a report [E/ECA/COE/29/11] entitled “Financing for development: a progress report on the implementation of the Mon-terrey Consensus”, adopted at the 2002 International Conference on Financing for Development [YUN 2002, p. 953]. The report stated that progress was limited in realizing the objectives of the Monterrey Consensus. Whereas substantial progress was made in international resources mobilization and debt re-lief, domestic resource mobilization, foreign aid and international trade were disappointing. Accordingly, there was an urgent need for a more proactive role in implementing the Monterrey Consensus by, among other actions, strengthening the institutional frame-work; increasing Africa’s voice and representation in global financial and economic governance; and har-monizing national, regional and international efforts and initiatives to ensure policy coherence.

Transport and communications

Eca continued to work with other partners in the context of the sub-Saharan African Transport Policy Programme (ssatp), an international partnership for building policy development and implementation capacity in the transport sector. The ssatp annual meeting was held in Kampala, Uganda, in October


and the Regional Economic Community–Transport Coordination Committee meeting in Nairobi, in May. Together with ssatp and auc, eca also organ-ized a training workshop on “Legal Instruments on Transport and Trade Facilitation” (Addis Ababa, No-vember), which agreed to prepare a compendium of all such instruments.

Gender and women in development

Eca continued to support member States to achieve gender equality through gender mainstreaming and the empowerment of women. Eca developed a Bei-jing+15 Follow-up Strategy, on the recommendation of the Eighth Africa Regional Conference on Women (Beijing+15) [YUN 2009, p. 972], to assist States and other stakeholders to implement the Banjul Decla-ration [ibid.] and the Africa-relevant outcomes of the fifty-fourth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (see p. 1177). The Strategy provided indicators for helping member States and stakeholders measure performance on the agreed priority areas over the next five years. Eca played a key role in strengthening the capacity of member States for collecting and analysing gender-aggregated data on emerging issues, such as un-paid work, violence against women and women’s po-litical participation. In that regard, a training manual was developed and tested in Ghana and would be rep-licated in other countries. A Compendium of Emerging Good Practices in Gender Mainstreaming was prepared, addressing gender issues in peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction initiatives.

Significant results were achieved in capacity-build-ing for gender mainstreaming in national develop-ment policies and programmes. Advisory services and technical assistance were provided to member States and regional organizations, particularly to the Gender Unit of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (cemac), which enabled the adoption of a strategy to mainstream gender in cemac policies and programmes.

Subregional development activities

The five eca subregional offices (sros), located in Central Africa (Yaoundé, Cameroon), East Africa (Kigali, Rwanda), North Africa (Rabat, Morocco), Southern Africa (Lusaka, Zambia) and West Africa (Niamey, Niger), continued to promote and accelerate the process of regional integration by spearheading the delivery of operational activities targeted at the specific priorities of each subregion. Sros continued to enhance their support to States and regional economic communities (recs) in strengthening their capacity to formulate and implement harmonised macroeconomic and sectoral policies and programmes in trade, infrastructure, human capacity development, gender mainstreaming, agriculture and food security.

In March [E/ECA/COE/29/12], the Independent External Evaluation of eca subregional offices re-ported that substantial progress had been made in the strengthening of sros, initiated in 2006 [YUN 2006, p. 1151], yet a number of issues needed further attention in order to sustain their operationality and impact. Recommendations were made to deepen the process of strengthening the sros, including that eca should deploy at least half of the regional advisory resources to enable them to leverage more regional and international resources to support the develop-ment of recs. Each sro should also be provided with a rapid response fund under eca regional advisory and extrabudgetary resources, and UN Headquarters should, under the regular budget, provide sros with additional staff posts and non-staff resources.

Development, planning and administration

In 2010, the African Institute for Economic De-velopment and Planning completed its repositioning, which was outlined in 2009 [YUN 2009, p. 973], result-ing in a complete overhaul of its capacity-development and training programmes, enhancement of its allied policy research and dissemination work, re-design of the content of courses offered, and attention paid to the urgent need to scale-up training activities and tap all opportunities for decentralizing the delivery of ser-vices. The Institute expanded its training courses, as well as the number of participants and beneficiaries. It also decentralized the implementation of activities for enhancing its presence beyond its headquarters in Dakar, Senegal; organized a series of policy dialogues; and re-launched its policy research activities and its online programmes. The Institute also registered ma-jor success both in growth of its regular budget and in its extrabudgetary resources; contributions from member States reached a new peak and the number of countries contributing funds and countries without arrears were the highest ever recorded.

Eca submitted a report [E/ECA/COE/29/15] on assessing progress in Africa towards the mdgs, 2010, in preparation for the high-level meeting at UN Headquarters in September (see p. 813) to evaluate progress made by countries worldwide towards the mdg targets.

Statistics

The objective of eca work under the statistics sub-programme was to improve the production, dissemi-nation and use of key demographic, social, economic and environmental statistics, including mdg indica-tors, in accordance with internationally agreed stand-ards and best practices. Priority activities included promoting, coordinating and advocating for statisti-cal activities in Africa; building a data hub at eca for


the provision of development data on Africa; imple-menting the 1993 System of National Accounts [YUN 1993, p. 1112] in Africa; supporting statistical training programmes; establishing a regional programme for population and housing censuses; improving the sta-tus of civil registration and vital statistics (crvs) in Africa; and providing technical assistance.

Eca organized the sixth Africa Symposium on Statistical Development (Cairo, Egypt, 31 October– 2 November) on the theme “Data Analysis and Use in the 2010 Round of Population and Housing Cen-suses”. The Symposium addressed a number of key issues, including the need to strengthen crvs sys-tems; the role of statistical training institutions in enhancing the capacity of stakeholders in census data analysis; revival of the African Statistical Association; implementation of the International Comparison Programme; capacity reinforcement of countries in post-enumeration surveys, sharing household survey data of African countries; and harmonization of pop-ulation projections in inter-census periods.

The fifth meeting of the African Statistical Coor-dination Committee (Lilongwe, March) discussed the mechanisms for achieving greater synergy among regional institutions, and coordinating statistical pro-grammes with a view to enhancing and sustaining the effectiveness of statistical support to African countries. The Ministerial Conference endorsed the report on implementation of the African Charter on Statistics and the Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa. To facilitate the production and use of the har-monized data series, a repository of data from African countries was established under the aegis of the Af-rican Statistical Coordination Committee, with data aggregated at the continental, subregional and national levels. Based on joint data collection mechanisms es-tablished by eca, afdb and auc, the second edition of the joint African Statistical Yearbook was produced, as well as the first joint Statistical Pocketbook containing the main indicators on social, economic and environ-mental conditions in Africa.

Social development

Eca work enhanced national and regional capacity to design, implement and monitor social policies and programmes. States were assisted in monitoring and tracking progress in implementing international and regional social development commitments. Results were achieved on a wide range of social development issues, including youth development, ageing, disabil-ity, maternal health, social protection, and interna-tional migration.

Eca produced the African Youth Report 2010: Addressing the Youth, Education and Employment Nexus in the New Global Economy to support mem-ber States in education and youth development, draw

attention to challenges faced by African youth, and contribute to the knowledge base on youth issues and guide the formulation and implementation of youth policies. To promote awareness and understanding of issues relating to social protection systems, eca began preparation of nine country reports and case studies to examine the range of social protection regimes in Af-rica and their impact on reducing gender disparities in selected areas. Eca also provided technical assistance on international migration issues to help identify gaps in mainstreaming disability and increasing awareness of disability issues in international development and the poverty reduction agenda. It assisted auc to draft the modalities and terms of reference for establishing the Advisory Council on Ageing in Africa.

Programme and organizational questions

Programme performance, 2008–2009

The twenty-ninth meeting of the Committee of Ex-perts (Lilongwe, 25–28 March) had before it the first eca programme performance report for 2008–2009 [E/ECA/COE/29/9], which showed that the Commis-sion achieved significant results in its main service lines of knowledge generation, sharing and network-ing, advocacy and consensus-building, and advisory services and technical cooperation. Knowledge gen-eration made up 43 per cent of eca outputs, with 37 per cent and 20 per cent for advisory services and technical cooperation, and advocacy and consensus-building, respectively. A total of 538 outputs were programmed compared with 444 in the 2006–2007 biennium, due to the creation of new subprogrammes on statistics and social development, which increased the number of programmes from 8 to 10. It also re-flected new project initiatives and increased opera-tional involvement in implementing the agendas of auc, nepad and recs. The total implementation rate for 2008–2009 was 92 per cent. The report concluded that eca needed to continue to build its capacity to report performance targets comprehensively to ensure that essential information was available and complete for evidence-based planning.

Strategic Framework for 2012–2013

The Conference of Ministers had before it the eca proposed strategic framework for the 2012–2013 biennium [E/ECA/COE/29/10], which stated that the overall strategy of the eca programme would continue to be organized around two main pillars: promoting regional integration in support of the au vision and priorities; and meeting Africa’s special needs and emerging global challenges.


Organizational changes

In a March note [E/ECA/COE/29/14], the Executive Secretary reported on a review of the eca reform pro-gramme, initiated in 2006, to allow the Commission to reposition itself to serve Africa better. The review found that several challenges remained, including fragmentation of responsibility for some key areas of work, such as trade and the environment, as well as for important development frameworks such as nepad, the mdgs and the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries. The knowledge management initiative had not lived up to its poten-tial, while the functioning of management support processes was patchy. Bottlenecks were identified in many parts of the system, such as planning, budget-ing, using resources and recruiting staff, all of which impacted negatively on programme delivery. In the light of the recommendations, some organizational changes were effected.

Construction of ECA office facilities

In April, an Ethiopian construction firm was awarded the contract to build the eca new office facilities on the land granted by the Government of Ethiopia and another local company was confirmed as project consultant. The work, which would provide accommodation for 600 staff from various UN Agen-cies, was scheduled for completion in February 2012.

(For information on the construction of eca office facilities, see p. 1465.)

Regional cooperation

Cooperation with regional organizations

The Secretary-General, in his consolidated report on UN cooperation with regional and other organiza-tions [A/65/382], described cooperation activities be-tween the UN system and the Economic Community of Central African States (eccas) and the Southern African Development Community (sadc).

On 24 December, the General Assembly decided that the items on cooperation between the United Nations and eccas and sadc would remain for con-sideration during its resumed sixty-fifth (2011) session (decision 65/544).

Asia and the Pacific

The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (escap) held its sixty-sixth session (Incheon, Republic of Korea) [E/2010/39], in two parts:

the senior officials segment from 13 to 15 May; and the ministerial segment from 17 to 19 May, under the topic “Addressing challenges in the achievement of the mdgs: promoting a stable and supportive financial system; and green growth or environmentally sustain-able economic growth, including through technology and financing”.

In the Incheon Declaration, adopted on 19 May [E/2010/39 (res. 66/1)], the Commission emphasized the need for stronger regional cooperation to make the region more resilient to future crises and bolster the capacity of countries in reaching the mdgs. Escap requested the Executive Secretary to assist members to achieve the mdgs; facilitate the reinforcement of regional partnerships; coordinate with multilateral funding agencies with a view to enhancing financial and technological flows for the development and de-ployment of clean technologies in developing coun-tries; facilitate the exchange of information among members and associate members regarding national strategies and best practices in support of green growth, and further assist in developing national strategies in that regard; and report to the Commis-sion on implementation of the resolution at its sixty-eight (2012) session.

The Commission also discussed issues pertinent to the Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Coun-tries; the Commission’s subsidiary structure; manage-ment issues; activities of the Advisory Committee of Permanent Representatives and Other Representa-tives Designated by Members of the Commission [E/ESCAP/66/23 & Corr.1]; and the dates, venue and theme of the Commission’s sixty-seventh session.

Economic trendsAccording to the summary of the Economic and

Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific, 2011 [E/2011/18], in 2010, the region witnessed a dramatic “V-shaped” recovery in growth. For the economies most affected, following the initial critical support to growth through massive fiscal stimulus packages, the key driver of pri-vate-sector recovery was renewed strength in exports. Exporting economies began their recoveries in part through intraregional sales to the large robust econo-mies in the region, and eventually to the developed economies that saw improved demand. The region achieved a growth rate of 8.8 per cent, however, that number was projected to fall back to 7.3 per cent in 2011, as the region faced fresh challenges, including the return of food and fuel crises, sluggish recovery in advanced economies and a large number of short-term capital flows, a build-up of asset bubbles, and appreciation of exchange rates. The region’s ldcs were not able to enjoy the emerging opportunities offered by expanding markets and strengthened connectivity owing to their lack of productive capacity.


Policy issues

Over and above the immediate risk in the recovery process, a complex set of policy challenges lay ahead. A key threat to the sustainability of regional growth was the return of inflationary pressures as the recovery gathered steam. Countries had to balance the risk of setting off an inflationary spiral with long-term nega-tive growth against the risk of halting the short-term growth recovery trend. A critical decision for each economy was when and how to turn off fiscal stimulus and tighten monetary policy. Other than increases in demand-side inflationary pressures, a key factor be-hind rising prices was the return of supply-side pres-sure from commodity price volatility. A return to high food prices could follow and required close monitor-ing, as it would seriously affect the poorest people of the region, impacting poverty, exacerbating inequal-ity and worsening health conditions. Asset bubbles were another source of concern for the recovery pro-cess. Abundant foreign capital, provided via the fiscal stimulus packages and buoyed by liquidity support to financial institutions in developed countries, had been attracted to the region because of its relatively strong growth prospects. Governments might con-sider moderating the inflows of short-term capital flows through various types of controls in order to maintain financial stability. Consensus was growing on the relevance of such measures as a part of the policy tool kit, especially in the context of the huge expansion of liquidity in the world economy that was finding an outlet in the Asia-Pacific region.

At its 2010 session, the Commission considered the Economic and Social Survey, 2010 [Sales No. E.10.II.F.2], and Financing an Inclusive and Green Future: A Supportive Financial System and Green Growth for Achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific [Sales No. E.10.II.F.4].

ActivitiesMacroeconomic policy, poverty reduction and development

The Commission had before it documents on re-cent macroeconomic developments and other issues to be raised at the first session of the Committee on Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty Reduction and In-clusive Development [E/ESCAP/66/5]; the Asia-Pacific regional review of the Brussels Programme of Action for the ldcs for the Decade 2001–2010: Dhaka Out-come Document [E/ESCAP/66/6]; and the report of the Governing Council of the Centre for Alleviation of Poverty through Secondary Crops Development in Asia and the Pacific (capsa) [E/ESCAP/66/7].

The Commission, while noting a request to donor countries to deliver official development assistance

commitments in a timely manner, encouraged all countries to take primary responsibility and owner-ship of their development and to explore options for mobilizing financial resources. It noted the work of the Centre for Alleviation of Poverty through Second-ary Crops Development in Asia and Pacific. Given the Centre’s central role in promoting agricultural development and poverty alleviation, the Commis-sion encouraged member countries to contribute to its funding. It also supported the recommendation of the Centre’s Governing Council to change its name to the Centre for Alleviation of Poverty through Sustainable Agriculture, retaining the same acronym.

Trade and investment

The Commission considered the reports of the Committee on Trade and Investment on its first ses-sion [E/ESCAP/66/8]; the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology [E/ESCAP/66/9]: and the United Nations Asian and Pacific Centre for Agricul-tural Engineering and Machinery [E/ESCAP/66/10]. The Commission noted the need to adhere to market access commitments and refrain from protectionism, which would delay rather than help the recovery from the global economic crisis. It expressed its commitment to the primacy of a rule-based, equitable and transpar-ent multilateral trading system in promoting global trade and development, and noted the importance of concluding multilateral trade negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda [YUN 2001, p. 1432]. The Commission called for needs-based technical assis-tance activities to strengthen the private sector, with a focus on capacity-building for small and medium-sized enterprises. It also called for stronger synergies between domestic and foreign investment, in particu-lar through the coordination of national development and investment policies and strategies, and noted a request that the secretariat further study the design of effective public-private partnerships for the promotion of large-scale investments to meet local development needs.

Transport

The Commission endorsed the report of the Forum of Asian Ministers of Transport on its first session [YUN 2009, p. 976]. It adopted a resolution [E/2010/39 (res. 66/4)] inviting members and associate members to develop and implement transport policies at the national, subregional and regional levels. The Com-mission requested the Executive Secretary to continue to accord priority to the implementation of the Bu-san Declaration on Transport Development in Asia and the Pacific [YUN 2006, p. 1161] and the Regional Action Programme for Transport Development in Asia and the Pacific, phase I (2007–2011), especially


to develop the Asian Highway Network, the Trans-Asian Railway Network and intermodal transport infrastructure; and to bring about connectivity and the integration of those networks and other transport modes by developing an intergovernmental agreement on dry ports. The Executive Secretary should convene a ministerial conference on transport in 2011 to as-sess and evaluate the implementation of the Bangkok Declaration on Transport Development in Asia [YUN 2009, p. 977] and the Regional Action Programme for Transport Development in Asia and the Pacific, phase I (2007–2011), and to consider a regional action programme for phase II (2012–2016).

The Commission, in a resolution on improving road safety in Asia and the Pacific [res. 66/6], requested the Executive Secretary, in cooperation with the World Health Organization and other UN commissions, to prepare an implementation plan for the Asia-Pacific region, as an input to the Decade of Action for Road Safety [YUN 2009, p. 1230]; to develop regional goals, targets and indicators to be achieved by 2020 in order to assess and evaluate road safety progress, and to sub-mit a progress report at its sixty-eighth (2012) session.

The Commission also noted the successful conclu-sion of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Public-Private Partnerships for Infrastructure Devel-opment (Jakarta, Indonesia, 14–17 April), and the Jakarta Declaration on Public-Private Partnerships for Infrastructure Development in Asia and the Pa-cific [E/ESCAP/66/CRP.17]. On 19 May [res.66/5], the Commission asked the Executive Secretary to assist members and associate members with their capacity-building programmes, including public-private part-nership policy framework formulation, legislative and regulatory reform, and administrative arrangements for public-private partnerships; provide technical support to help increase their public-private partner-ship readiness; establish a task force to elaborate the elements of a regional financial architecture to assist the region with increased capital availability for in-frastructure development, as well as an Asia-Pacific network of public-private partnership units and pro-grammes; undertake a periodic review of the progress made in infrastructure development through public-private partnerships; and report to the Commission at its seventy-first (2015) session.

The second session of the Committee of Transport (Bangkok, Thailand, 1–3 November) [E/ESCAP/67/7] reviewed major issues and challenges in transport related to promoting regional connectivity, namely, transport policy, infrastructure, facilitation and logis-tics, and discussed measures needed to address them. The Committee also reiterated the importance of the Busan Declaration on Transport Development in Asia and the Pacific and phase I of the Regional Action Programme for Transport Development (2007–2011),

and endorsed the thematic areas and actions at the re-gional and national levels for planning future activities under phase II (2012–2016) of the Regional Action Programme. It also requested the secretariat to proceed with the development of a draft intergovernmental agreement on dry ports, for consideration by further subregional and regional meetings; and preparations for the ministerial Conference on Transport in 2011.

Environment and development

The Commission considered the report of the Committee on Environment and Development on its first session [YUN 2009, p. 977]; the report of the Co-ordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia [E/ESCAP/66/INF/3]; and the report of the Mekong River Commission [E/ESCAP/66/INF/4]. The Commission recognized the relevance of the work of the Mekong River Commis-sion at its first summit (Hua Hin, Thailand, April), and its role as a regional platform for dialogue and information exchange on transboundary water re-sources management. The Commission called for increased collaboration among various subregional mechanisms and frameworks for increased efficiency.

The Commission [res. 66/7] requested the Executive Secretary, in cooperation with UN-Habitat and other UN entities, to continue to support Pacific members and associate members in implementing the Pacific Urban Agenda and Regional Action Framework; and in assessing progress in that regard, to convene a sub-regional workshop in the 2010–2011 biennium, and to report to the Commission at its sixty-eighth (2012) session.

The Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific (Astana, Ka-zakhstan, 27 September–2 October) [E/ESCAP/67/8] adopted three major outcome documents: the Min-isterial Declaration on Environment and Develop-ment in Asia and the Pacific, 2010; the Regional Implementation Plan for Sustainable Development, 2011–2015; and the Astana “Green Bridge” Initiative: Europe-Asia-Pacific Partnership for the Implementa-tion of “Green Growth”.

Information and communication technology

The Commission had before it the report of the Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (apcict) [E/ESCAP/66/13]. At the fourth session of its Governing Council, members praised the range of valuable and innovative services that it had delivered in terms of ict human capacity-building and bridg-ing the digital divide in escap members and associate members. The Council unanimously recommended to the Commission that apcict continue beyond


2011. The Commission also considered reports on the evaluation of apcict [E/ESCAP/66/18 & Add.1].

Regarding Pacific connectivity, the Commission was informed that the Pacific Islands Forum Lead-ers had requested a review of the Pacific Plan Digital Strategy and an update of the ict development frame-work for the Pacific subregion. The Meeting of Pacific ict Officials and Ministers (Tonga, 16–18 June) con-sidered a new five-year ict Strategy for the Pacific.

On 19 May [res. 66/14], the Commission noted the reports on apcict and decided that the Centre should continue to operate beyond 2011. It requested the Executive Secretary to report on the implementation of the resolution at its sixty-eighth (2012) session.

Disaster risk reduction

The Commission had before it two information documents: the report of the Typhoon Committee [E/ESCAP/66/INF/5]; and the report of the Panel on Tropical Cyclones [E/ESCAP/66/INF/6]. The Commis-sion noted the work of the secretariat in facilitating the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Ac-tion 2005–2015, and its initiatives, such as the devel-opment of the Asia-Pacific gateway for disaster risk reduction and the Asia-Pacific disaster report. The Commission was informed that the Asia-Pacific Re-gional Space Agency Forum, at its sixteenth session (Bangkok, January), expressed the desire to see Senti-nel Asia—a collaborative initiative between space and disaster management agencies—increasingly used by disaster management organizations supported by escap and other relevant organizations in the region. Escap should work closely with the World Meteoro-logical Organization towards disaster risk reduction. The Commission stressed the need to promote space-based applications for disaster risk management.

On 19 May [res. 66/8], the Commission adopted a resolution on the review of the proposal for the estab-lishment of the Asian and Pacific centre for informa-tion, communication and space technology-enabled disaster management in the Islamic Republic of Iran inviting that country to provide the supplementary information requested in Commission resolution 64/10 [YUN 2008, p. 1111], and to take into account the outcome of the review requested in that resolution for submission in 2011.

Social development

The Commission had before it the report of the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting to Review Regional Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action [YUN 1995, p. 1170] and its Regional and Global Outcomes [E/ESCAP/66/14 & Corr.1]. The Commis-sion, in resolution [res. 66/9], endorsed the report of

the Bangkok Declaration on Beijing+15 [YUN 2009, p. 978]; commended the Executive Secretary for re-establishing the Thematic Working Group on Gen-der Equality and Empowerment of Women, which contributed to enhanced coordination and coher-ence among regional UN partners in the advance-ment of women and gender equality, and asked him to: strengthen the Commission’s role in supporting members and associate members in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action, as well as the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly; take the actions set out in the Bangkok Declaration on Beijing+15; and ensure that gender di-mensions were mainstreamed into the Commission’s programme of work.

In resolution [res. 66/10] on a regional call for action to achieve universal access to hiv prevention, treat-ment, care and support in Asia and the Pacific, the Commission asked the Executive Secretary to con-vene a high-level intergovernmental review for the region to assess progress against commitments in the Political Declaration on hiv/aids and the mdgs and efforts to ensure universal access; identify areas for regional cooperation, in particular in identifying and removing policy and legal barriers to universal access and promoting dialogue between health and other sectors, including justice, law and order and drug control; and bring the resolution to the attention of the General Assembly aids Review (see p. 1219), with a view to presenting issues of concern to the Asian and Pacific region.

The Commission decided [res. 66/11] that the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 2003–2012 [YUN 2003, p. 1014], should be held in the Republic of Korea in 2012.

The Commission noted [res. 66/12] the Declaration on Population and Development: Fifteen Years after Cairo, adopted at the Asia-Pacific High-level Forum on the International Conference on Population and Development (icpd) at 15: Accelerating Progress to-wards the icpd and mdgs [YUN 2009, p. 976], in which the delegates reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the icpd Programme of Action [YUN 1994, p. 955] by 2014. It requested the Executive Secretary, in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund and other UN system organizations, to convene the sixth Asian and Pacific Population Conference in Bangkok in 2012; and to report to the Commission’s sixty-ninth (2013) session.

Statistics

The Commission, having considered the report of the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (siap) [E/ESCAP/66/15], emphasized the importance of sta-tistics development in the region through methodo-


logical work and technical cooperation on increasing capacity for collecting data, and producing, analysing and disseminating statistics and indicators in support of evidence based policy formulation, the analysis of development trends, and the monitoring of progress in achieving development goals. It expressed support for the new directions incorporated into the Institute’s work programme for the academic years 2010–2014, endorsed by the Governing Council at its fifth session [YUN 2009, p. 978] emphasizing skills-based training and the further development of the e-learning mode for the delivery of training. The Commission also noted that some States had increased their cash contributions to siap.

In other developments, the second session of the Committee on Statistics (Bangkok, 15–17 December) [E/ESCAP/67/12] agreed on a strategic plan to develop national capacities in the region by 2020, to generate a basic range of population, economic, social and en-vironmental statistics, and create a more adaptive and cost-effective information management environment for national statistical offices. The Committee estab-lished steering and advisory groups to direct and guide further work on its decisions and recommendations.

Least developed, landlocked and small island developing countries

The Commission had before it the Port Vila Out-come Statement [E/ESCAP/66/1], adopted at the Pa-cific High-level Dialogue on the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation (Port Vila, Vanuatu, 8–9 Febru-ary), and an information note “Outcome of the Pa-cific Conference on the Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis” [E/ESCAP/66/INF/7]. The Commis-sion endorsed the Port Vila Outcome Statement as the Asia-Pacific regional input for the global review of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Devel-opment of Small Island Developing States [YUN 2005, p. 946] (see p. 850), and supported renaming the escap Pacific Operations Centre as the escap Subregional Office for the Pacific. The Commission [res. 66/2] in-vited members and associate members to support the Port Vila Outcome Statement, and requested the Ex-ecutive Secretary to submit it to the General Assembly and the Pacific Islands Forum. In other action, the Commission noted that, in accordance with resolu-tion 64/1 [YUN 2008, p. 1114] on the restructuring of the Commission, the Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries met for the first time.

On 19 May [res. 66/3], the Commission noted the Dhaka Outcome Document on the Brussels Pro-gramme of Action for the ldcs [YUN 2001, p. 770], adopted at the High-level Asia-Pacific Policy Dia-logue on the Brussels Programme of Action for the

ldcs (Dhaka, Bangladesh, 18–20 January) [E/ESCAP/ 66/6], and asked the Executive Secretary to assist in forwarding it as the regional input to the Fourth United Nations Conference on the ldcs in Turkey in 2011, and to assist them in its implementation and in building capacity to make policy responses to miti-gate the effects of the economic crisis, restore growth and achieve the mdgs.

Economic and technical cooperation

The Commission had before it an overview of escap technical cooperation activities and extrabudgetary contributions in 2009 [E/ESCAP/66/22]. Total contri-butions received by the secretariat for technical coop-eration activities in 2009, from the regular budget, as well as voluntary sources, amounted to $15.8 million, a 30 per cent increase over 2008. Of that amount, $4.3 million (27.3 per cent) was received from the UN system and $8.3 million (53 per cent) from donors and participating developing countries. Other intergovern-mental organizations and non-governmental organiza-tions (ngos) provided $3.1 million (20 per cent). In addition to cash contributions, one ngo also provided, on a non-reimbursable loan basis, a total of 116 work-months of the services of experts in various disciplines.

Programme and organizational questionsProgramme performance, 2008–2009

In a February note [E/ESCAP/66/4], the secretar-iat submitted the escap programme performance for the 2008–2009 biennium. At the end of 2009, 91 per cent of the planned outputs had been deliv-ered. Regular budget delivery (above 100 per cent) was also on target. The major challenge faced during the period was the urgent and continuous need for timely, effective and coherent responses by the region to multiple development crises related to food, fuel, fi-nance and climate change. In March [E/ESCAP/66/3], the secretariat provided a summary of progress in the implementation of Commission resolutions, and in April [E/ESCAP/66/2], in a subprogramme overview, it presented the issues and challenges related to inclusive and sustainable economic and social developments in Asia and the Pacific in the eight subprogrammes and highlighted support to member countries.

Monitoring and evaluation

The Commission had before it the report on escap evaluation activities during the 2008–2009 biennium [E/ESCAP/66/17 & Corr.1], the report on the evaluation of apcict [E/ESCAP/66/18], the management response to that evaluation [E/ESCAP/66/18/Add.1], and the report on the evaluation of siap [E/ESCAP/66/19 & Add.1].


On 19 May [E/2010/39 (res 66/15)], the Commission noted the reports on escap evaluation activities and those of its regional institutions, and requested the Executive Secretary to submit a plan of evaluations to its sixty-seventh (2011) session.

Proposed programme of work, 2010–2011

The Commission had before it a secretariat note [E/ESCAP/66/20] containing the proposed changes to the programme of work for the 2010–2011 bien-nium. The proposed changes addressed new man-dates adopted after the Commission had endorsed the programme of work [YUN 2009, p. 980]; further consolidated the escap publications programme; and strengthened the programmatic approach in escap capacity-building activities.

The Commission endorsed the proposed changes to the 2010–2011 programme of work.

Draft Strategic Framework, 2012–2013

In a March note [E/ESCAP/66/21], the secretar-iat presented the draft strategic framework for the 2012–2013 biennium, which comprised the overall programme orientation and the objectives, expected accomplishments, indicators of achievement and strategies for each of the eight subprogrammes: mac-roeconomic policy and inclusive development; trade and investment; transport; environment and devel-opment; information and communication technol-ogy and disaster risk reduction; social development; statistics; and subregional activities for development.

The Commission endorsed the draft strategic framework for the 2012–2013 biennium, as modified.

ESCAP subregional offices

The Commission had before it the report of the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Meeting on the New escap Subregional Offices for East and North-East Asia, North and Central Asia, and the South and South-West Asia (Bangkok, 2–4 March) [E/ESCAP/66/16].

In a 19 May resolution [E/2010/39 (res. 66/13)], the Commission welcomed the outcomes of the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Meeting on the New escap Sub-regional Offices, and requested the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly to endorse it and encourage global support for its implementa-tion. It asked the Executive Secretary to ensure that the subregional offices were fully supported through the proposed budget for the 2012–2013 biennium.

ESCAP sixty-seventh session

The Commission, having considered the secretariat note on the proposed dates, venue and theme for its

sixty-seventh (2011) session [E/ESCAP/66/24], decided that the next session would be held in Bangkok, in April/May 2011, and that the theme topic for the session would be “Beyond the crises: long-term per-spectives on social protection and development”.

Cooperation with regional bodies

In a consolidated report on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organi-zations [A/65/382-S/2010/490], the Secretary-General described the modalities of cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Association of South East Asian Nations, and the Pacific Islands Forum.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION

On 13 December [meeting 64], the General Assembly adopted resolution 65/129 [draft: A/65/L.40 & Add.1] without vote [agenda item 122 ( j)].

Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolution 48/2 of 13 October 1993, by

which it granted observer status to the Economic Coopera-tion Organization,

Recalling also its previous resolutions on cooperation be-tween the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization, in which it invited various specialized agen-cies as well as other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system and relevant financial institutions to join in the efforts towards realizing the goals and objec-tives of the Economic Cooperation Organization,

Welcoming the efforts of the Economic Cooperation Organization to strengthen its relations with the United Nations system and with relevant international and re-gional organizations for the development and implementa-tion of projects and programmes in all priority areas,

Expressing its satisfaction at the efforts of the United Na-tions system and the relevant international and regional or-ganizations to extend technical and financial assistance to the Economic Cooperation Organization for its economic programmes and projects, and encouraging them to con-tinue their support,

1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 63/144 of 15 December 2008, and expresses satisfaction at the growing cooperation between the two organizations;

2. Takes note of the Tehran Declaration, issued at the tenth Economic Cooperation Organization summit meet-ing of Heads of State and/or Government of the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, held on 11 March 2009 in Tehran, following the eighteenth meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization on 9 March 2009, in which the Heads of State and/or Govern-ment, inter alia, reaffirmed their commitment to the goals and objectives of the Economic Cooperation Organization envisaged in the Treaty of Izmir, “ECO Vision 2015” and other basic documents, as well as the declarations of the previous summit meetings;


3. Appreciates the continued cooperation between the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Economic Cooperation Organization, especially in the field of trade capacity-building of member States, and expresses satisfaction at the successful conclusion of the second phase of their joint programmes aimed at enhanc-ing the capacity of member States in strengthening their Standards, Metrology, Testing and Quality infrastructure;

4. Encourages cooperation between the Economic Cooperation Organization and the United Nations Indus-trial Development Organization in streamlining rules and regulations and strengthening institutions of the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization to meet the requirements pertaining to the Technical Barri-ers to Trade, in the adoption of appropriate sanitary and phytosanitary measures and in strengthening private sector cooperation, in line with the plans of the Economic Co-operation Organization to establish trade associations at the regional level and encouraging women entrepreneurs, professionals/resource persons/consultants, marketing advisory firms, and others;

5. Takes note of the possibilities for cooperation be-tween the Economic Cooperation Organization and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in the field of investment, especially to assist member States in designing their investment policies, identifying potential sectors, attracting foreign direct investment and in the estab-lishment of a database to monitor the impact of investment;

6. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World Trade Organization and the International Trade Centre to develop strategies for Eco-nomic Cooperation Organization member States in their trade liberalization processes that could lead to the regional and global integration of their economies, as appropriate;

7. Welcomes the signing, during the tenth Economic Cooperation Organization summit meeting, of a trilateral memorandum of understanding between the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Islamic Development Bank and the United Nations Economic and Social Com-mission for Asia and the Pacific on the development of a transport network in the region, appreciates the efforts of the Economic Cooperation Organization to sign a similar memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the Islamic Devel-opment Bank, and encourages a quadrilateral arrangement among these institutions for the development and facilita-tion of transit transport in the region;

8. Also welcomes the initiatives of the Economic Co-operation Organization for implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Land-locked and Transit Developing Countries through the promotion of cooperation among landlocked and transit countries in the region, and invites the United Nations agencies, in particular the Office of the High Representa-tive for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked De-veloping Countries and Small Island Developing States, to assist in securing technical and financial assistance of international funding agencies and donors to initiate a re-gional study on the possibility of providing concessional services for landlocked countries in selected ports of transit countries of the region;

9. Notes the importance of the Green Card as an in-ternational third-party liability insurance system in facilita-tion of transit transport by road, and requests the Economic Commission for Europe to assist in expanding the system to the Economic Cooperation Organization region;

10. Recognizes the need for a unified railway law on international freight and passenger traffic by rail, appreci-ates the readiness of the Economic Cooperation Organi-zation to promote such legal systems in the region, and requests the relevant United Nations agencies and institu-tions, particularly the Economic Commission for Europe, to enhance cooperation with the Economic Cooperation Organization in this regard;

11. Takes note with appreciation of the initiatives of the Economic Cooperation Organization to launch regu-lar train operations along such important corridors in the region as Almaty-Istanbul, Almaty-Bandar Abbas and Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul, especially in regard to devel-oping transit corridors for landlocked developing countries;

12. Appreciates the joint initiatives of the Economic Cooperation Organization and the International Road Transport Union for the revitalization of the Silk Road by launching the Economic Cooperation Organization Silk Road Truck Caravan and organizing in Tehran in 2010 the international seminar on the Silk Road, and invites relevant United Nations agencies and institutions to support these initiatives;

13. Notes with satisfaction the enforcement of the Economic Cooperation Organization Transit Transport Framework Agreement, and appreciates the approach adopted in the Agreement to support and implement the United Nations conventions and agreements on transport and transit facilitation, particularly the Customs Conven-tion on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of tir Carnets (tir Convention);

14. Welcomes the establishment of the Economic Cooperation Organization Coordination Group in Geneva alongside the relevant Economic Commission for Europe Working Parties, and requests the Commission to extend the necessary assistance for convening the meetings of the Coordination Group, as appropriate;

15. Appreciates the successful completion of the first phase of the Technical Cooperation Programme of the Eco-nomic Cooperation Organization and the Food and Agri-culture Organization of the United Nations on strengthen-ing seed supply in the Economic Cooperation Organization region, notes the proposal of the Organizations to initiate the second phase of the Programme, and invites relevant international institutions and donors to support this initia-tive;

16. Notes the establishment of the Economic Coop-eration Organization Seed Association in Turkey, and ap-preciates the successful holding by Turkey of its first Inter-national Seed Trade Conference in cooperation with the Economic Cooperation Organization secretariat, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Seed Association and the International Centre for Agricul-tural Research in Dry Areas, from 2 to 4 December 2009 in Antalya, Turkey;

17. Welcomes the initiative of the Economic Coopera-tion Organization and the proposal of Turkey to establish the Regional Coordination Unit for the Economic Coop-eration Organization Regional Programme for Food Secu-


rity in Turkey, and requests the relevant United Nations agencies, especially the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to support the work of the Unit, as appropriate;

18. Takes note of the decision to initiate the Economic Cooperation Organization-Food and Agriculture Organi-zation of the United Nations/Subregional Office for Cen-tral Asia project on seed sector development in the region within the scope of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations-Turkey Partnership Programme;

19. Invites the support of relevant United Nations agencies, especially the World Meteorological Organiza-tion, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and other institutions and organizations to provide financial and technical support for Economic Cooperation Organization regional projects related to drought manage-ment, and to support the programmes of its Regional Cen-tre for Risk Management of Natural Disasters, established in Mashad in September 2007;

20. Welcomes the initiative of the Food and Agricul-ture Organization of the United Nations and the Eco-nomic Cooperation Organization for preparing a technical assistance project proposal on the implementation of the Regional Programme for Food Security under the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme of the World Bank, and invites the World Bank to extend technical and financial support for the implementation of the Regional Programme, as appropriate;

21. Invites the United Nations specialized agencies and the United Nations Environment Programme to expand cooperation in the area of the environment with the Eco-nomic Cooperation Organization and to extend financial and technical assistance for feasibility studies of projects, consultancy services, training courses, workshops and expert and high-level group meetings in this regard;

22. Takes note with appreciation of the adoption of the plan of action on cooperation among the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization in the field of ecotourism for the period 2009–2013, aimed at achieving, with the assistance of the relevant United Nations bodies, a greater understanding of opportunities and threats as well as a greater awareness of the management mechanisms that are necessary to ensure the sustainability of ecotourism;

23. Appreciates the efforts of the Economic Coopera-tion Organization to enhance cooperation in the field of health in the region in collaboration with international organizations and United Nations specialized agencies, es-pecially the World Health Organization, the International Society of Blood Transfusion, the United Nations Develop-ment Programme, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the United Nations Population Fund, and requests their continued support for the activities of the Economic Co-operation Organization in the field of health;

24. Expresses its satisfaction at the progress made by the Economic Cooperation Organization towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals related to child mor-tality, maternal mortality and combating hiv/aids, malaria and other diseases and takes note of its analytical report on the subject, and encourages the relevant United Na-tions agencies, especially the United Nations Development

Programme, the Joint United Nations Programme on hiv/aids, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Na-tions Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization, to extend technical and financial support to the Economic Cooperation Organization to identify and implement re-gional projects based on the findings and recommendation of its report for the benefit of the member States;

25. Appreciates the efforts of the Economic Cooperation Organization to compile and disseminate drug-related data and organize training programmes in the field of drug con-trol and organized crime for experts of the member States, with the technical and financial assistance of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the European Commission, and encourages the donor agencies to assist the Economic Cooperation Organization in this regard;

26. Welcomes the signing of the memorandum of un-derstanding between the Economic Cooperation Organiza-tion and the European Commission on 3 February 2009 to implement the European Commission-funded project enti-tled “Fight against illicit drug trafficking from/to Afghani-stan”, appreciates the signing of a memorandum of under-standing between the Economic Cooperation Organization and the International Organization for Migration on 27 January 2009, and calls for the effective implementation of these two memorandums of understanding;

27. Takes note with appreciation of the contributions made by the Economic Cooperation Organization towards reconstruction and development in Afghanistan, and ap-preciates its support for the high-level Core Group of Re-gional Forum Secretaries-General established at the meet-ing of the regional bodies on 19 July 2010 in Kabul to, inter alia, ensure coordination of the Afghan component of the regional cooperation frameworks;

28. Appreciates the work being done by the Cultural Institute of the Economic Cooperation Organization to expand and strengthen the cultural ties among the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, and requests the relevant United Nations institutions, especially the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to extend support to the programmes and projects of the Cultural Institute aimed at promoting the rich cultural heritage of the region;

29. Also appreciates the efforts of the Economic Cooperation Organization to promote cooperation among its member States in the fields of education and science by establishing its Education Institute in Ankara and the Science Foundation in Islamabad;

30. Welcomes the Comprehensive Plan of Action to Enhance External Relations of the Economic Cooperation Organization, adopted at the one hundred and fifty-first meeting of the Council of Permanent Representatives, on 4 August 2009, on behalf of the Council of Ministers to further promote its relations with regional peers, in-ternational and regional organizations and relevant non- Economic Cooperation Organization member States;

31. Appreciates the efforts of the Economic Coopera-tion Organization to establish or activate contact groups of Ambassadors of its member States within the United Nations and with other regional and international organi-zations to, inter alia, mobilize technical and financial as-sistance for the implementation of the regional projects of the Economic Cooperation Organization and to harmonize


their positions on issues of common interest, and invites the relevant international and regional organizations to extend all possible assistance to these contact groups;

32. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution;

33. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-seventh session the sub-item entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Coopera-tion Organization”.

On 22 December [meeting 72], the Assembly adopted resolution 65/235 [draft: A/65/L.55 & Add.1] without vote [agenda item 122 (c)].

Cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

The General Assembly,Bearing in mind the aims and purposes of the Association

of Southeast Asian Nations, as enshrined in the Bangkok Declaration of 8 August 1967, in particular the maintenance of close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organizations with similar aims and purposes,

Recalling all previous resolutions on cooperation be-tween the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,

Noting with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General,

Noting with satisfaction that the activities of the Asso-ciation of Southeast Asian Nations are consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations,

Welcoming efforts to strengthen partnership between the United Nations and regional organizations, and in this context welcoming also efforts to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations system and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,

Welcoming also the participation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the high-level meetings between the United Nations and regional organizations, as well as the collaboration between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific to promote dialogue and cooperation among regional organizations in Asia and the Pacific,

Welcoming further the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as an observer in the General Assembly,

Recalling the First and Second Association of Southeast Asian Nations-United Nations Summits, held in Bangkok on 12 February 2000 and at United Nations Headquarters on 13 September 2005, respectively, and the commitment of leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Secretary-General of the United Nations to further broaden cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United Nations,

1. Welcomes the entry into force on 15 December 2008 of the Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Na-tions, which represents a historic milestone for the Asso-ciation of Southeast Asian Nations, reflecting a common vision and commitment to the development of an Associa-tion of Southeast Asian Nations community so as to ensure lasting peace, stability, sustained economic growth, shared prosperity and social progress in the region;

2. Continues to encourage both the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to further

strengthen and expand their areas of cooperation, and in this context welcomes the signing on 27 September 2007 of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Asso-ciation of Southeast Asian Nations and the United Nations on Association of Southeast Asian Nations-United Nations cooperation at United Nations Headquarters, which aims at establishing a partnership between the Association of South-east Asian Nations and the United Nations that will encom-pass the full range of cooperation based on mutual benefits;

3. Encourages the United Nations to support the As-sociation of Southeast Asian Nations undertakings in all three of its community-building pillars through appropri-ate and concrete steps, as outlined in the Cha-Am Hua Hin Declaration on the Road Map for an Association of South-east Asian Nations Community (2009–2015);

4. Commends the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for their efforts to hold regular meet-ings, on an annual basis, with the presence of the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, during the regular session of the Assembly, with a view to further strengthening the cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations;

5. Continues to encourage the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to convene Associa-tion of Southeast Asian Nations-United Nations Summits regularly, and underlines the importance of the presence thereat of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and heads of relevant United Nations departments, funds and programmes, and specialized agencies, and in this context welcomes the holding of the Third Association of South-east Asian Nations-United Nations Summit, in Hanoi on 29 October 2010;

6. Recognizes the value of partnership between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Na-tions in providing timely and effective responses to global issues of mutual concern, in the context of partnership be-tween the United Nations and regional organizations, and thus encourages the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to explore concrete measures for closer cooperation, particularly in the areas of food and energy security, the achievement of the Millennium De-velopment Goals, peace and security, peacekeeping, post-conflict peacebuilding, climate change and disaster man-agement, as reflected in the statement of the Co-Chairs of the Third Association of Southeast Asian Nations-United Nations Summit and the Joint Declaration on Association of Southeast Asian Nations-United Nations Collaboration in Disaster Management adopted at the Summit;

7. Commends the successful completion of the Associa-tion of Southeast Asian Nations-led coordinating mecha-nism for post-Nargis relief and recovery efforts in Myan-mar, and acknowledges the outcome achieved in assisting the post-Nargis relief work by the Tripartite Core Group comprising the Government of Myanmar, the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the assistance provided by the international commu-nity to those in need;

8. Encourages cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, particu-larly through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights and


the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children, which are aimed at enhancing the promotion and protection of human rights through exchanges of best practices and capacity-building;

9. Encourages effective cooperation between member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the appropriate United Nations organizations in the de-livery of operational activities in the area of development at the country level, particularly efforts to close the devel-opment gaps, including cooperation to support implemen-tation of the Initiative for Association of Southeast Asian Nations Integration workplan II and the master plan on Association of Southeast Asian Nations connectivity;

10. Takes note of the efforts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to hold meetings with other regional organizations at the fringes of the sessions of the General Assembly to promote cooperation in support of multilateralism;


12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-seventh session the sub-item entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of South-east Asian Nations”.

On 24 December, the Assembly decided that the item “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum” would remain for consid-eration until the resumed sixty-fifth (2011) session (decision 65/544).

Europe

The Economic Commission for Europe (ece) did not meet in 2010. Its sixty-fourth session was sched-uled for 2011. The state of the European region and the activities of ece subsidiary bodies during 2010 are discussed below.

Economic trends

A report [E/2011/16] on the economic situation in the ece region: Europe, North America and the Com-monwealth of Independent States indicated that of the five UN regions as defined by the regional com-missions, the ece region was the most negatively impacted by the 2008 financial and economic crisis, with real growth declining from 3.2 per cent in 2007 to 0.9 per cent in 2008, to -3.7 per cent in 2009. Growth recovered to 2.6 per cent in 2010, and was expected to reach 2.8 per cent in 2011 and 2012. Sov-ereign debt levels increased significantly in a number of the region’s economies and had become problem-atic, leading to premature fiscal consolidation that delayed and weakened the recovery. In many econo-mies (except North America), gross domestic product remained below pre-crisis levels.

ActivitiesTrade

The Committee on Trade did not meet in 2010. At its third session in 2009 [YUN 2009, p. 981], it consid-ered a number of reports and took related action. Al-though its fourth session was to have been held 25–26 February 2010, it was postponed to 14–15 June 2011.

Timber

The Timber Committee, at its sixty-eighth ses-sion (Geneva, 11–14 October) [ECE/TIM/2010/7], was briefed on international developments related to the forest sector [ECE/TIM/2010/2]; the International Year of Forests; the Ninth Session of the UN Forum on Forests; the Sixth Ministerial Conference on the Pro-tection of Forests in Europe; and the joint session of the Timber Committee and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (fao)/European Forestry Commission. The Committee reviewed the cooperation activities and supported further efforts to strengthen partnerships with key organizations, particularly in the context of the International Year of Forests (2011) [YUN 2006, p. 1240]. The Committee also had before it secretariat notes on developments relevant to the unece/fao joint timber and forestry programme of work and related matters that arose from the most recent unece session [ECE/TIM/2010/3], and on market developments in 2010 and prospects for 2011: joint session of the annual Timber Committee Market and the Society of Wood Science and Technol-ogy [ECE/TIM/2010/4].

The Committee also held a joint policy forum on “Building codes and standards: Influence on material use and construction practices” [ECE/TIM/2010/5], in collaboration with the Society of Wood Science and Technology. It took note of the forum’s recommenda-tion that the Executive Secretary form a task force on green building to address the issue in a neutral and scientific way.

The Committee reviewed and approved the planned outputs from October 2010 to December 2011 [ECE/TIM/2010/6], with additions as proposed by the secretariat. It also reviewed the outcome of the unece 2008–2009 biennial evaluation, and approved a proposal for the 2010–2011 biennial evaluation and the proposed cluster-level framework. The Commit-tee agreed to further elaborate a proposal to create a joint unece/fao working party on forests policy and management as a subsidiary body.

Transport

The seventy-second session of the Inland Trans-port Committee (Geneva, 23–25 February) [ECE/


TRANS/208 & Add.1] reviewed, among other topics: ece reform in the field of transport; assistance to countries with economies in transition; the Trans-port, Health and Environment Pan-European Pro-gramme and environmental aspects of transport; and the review of the transport situation in ece countries. It also discussed the inland water transport in the unece region, under the theme “Sustainable trans-port development: the case of inland water transport”.

Energy

The Committee on Sustainable Energy, at its nineteenth session (Geneva, 24–26 November) [ECE/ENERGY/84], focused its energy security dia-logue on “Energy Security and Gas Infrastructure”, which examined the prospects of gas resources and infrastructure, including unconventional gas resources. It recommended that Government del-egations and international organizations continue jointly to organize the Energy Security Dialogue; the secretariat should strengthen cooperation with other UN regional commissions and the UN sys-tem; and it should convene an informal intergov-ernmental group of experts to study the need for the elaboration of new international legal mechanisms aimed at ensuring energy security and report any findings at its twentieth (2011) session.

The Committee requested the secretariat to recom-mend to the unece Executive Committee to change the names of its ad hoc group of experts to the Group of Experts on Global Energy Efficiency 21; the Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane; the Group of Ex-perts on Cleaner Electricity Production from Coal and Other Fossil Fuels; and the Group of Experts on the Supply and Use of Gas. It also endorsed the re-quests by the Group of Experts on Coal Mine Meth-ane and the Group of Experts on Cleaner Electricity Production from Coal and other Fossil Fuels for the renewal of their mandates for a further two years.

On the activities of its subsidiary bodies, the Com-mittee took note of the status of implementation of the studies carried out by the Working Party on Gas, requested the secretariat to accelerate the preparation of the liquefied natural gas study, with the view to pre-senting it to the next session of the Working Party on Gas, and approved the programme of work for 2010–2013. It approved the programme of work of the Gas Centre, and emphasized the importance of broaden-ing its outreach. The Committee also took note of the status and progress achieved by the Energy Efficiency 21 Programme; and directed the Expert Group on Resource Classification to further encourage testing and application of the United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Reserves and Resources.

Environment

The Committee on Environmental Policy, at its seventeenth session (Geneva, 2–5 November) [ECE/CEP/161 & Corr.1], considered the environmental performance reviews (epr) of Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and presented the background doc-ument on the third cycle. The main outcomes of the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and Pacific (see p. 976) were presented, including the “Green Bridge” Initiative, designed to facilitate the establishment of a Europe-Asia-Pacific partnership for outlining the blueprint for a shift from the conventional development pat-terns to green growth. The Committee requested that a detailed proposal for a “Green Bridge” Partnership Programme be prepared for consideration at its special session in 2011.

The Committee considered the report of the Work-ing Group on Environmental Monitoring and Assess-ment at its eleventh session (Geneva, 2–3 September) [ECE/CEP/AC.10/2010/2], and agreed to extend the man-date of the Group’s Joint Task Force on Environmental Indicators until the end of 2012. With regard to the preparation of the Seventh “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference (Astana Ministerial Confer-ence), the Committee agreed on the agenda and ap-proved the organizational and communication plans.

The Joint Task Force on Environmental Indica-tors [ECE/CEP-CES/GE.1/2010/2], at its second session (Geneva, 3–4 May), revised the five indicators dis-cussed at its first session [YUN 2009, p. 983]; reviewed in detail six further indicators from the Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia; and had an initial discussion on three sets of indicators that were not included in the Guidelines but were important in the international context.

Housing and land management

The Committee on Housing and Land Manage-ment, at its seventy-first session (Geneva, 20–21 September) [ECE/HBP/162], discussed various issues, including country profiles on the housing sector; af-fordable, healthy and ecological housing; improve-ment of urban environmental performance; land registration and land markets; housing moderniza-tion and management; building and construction safety; and cross-sectoral activities. The Committee also reviewed its 2010–2011 work programme [ECE/HBP/2010/1] and the 2011–2012 draft programme of work, annexed to its report. It decided to set up a Working Group on a legally binding instrument on affordable, healthy and ecological housing in the unece region and agreed on its terms of reference.


It recommended that the paper on the subject [ECE/HBP/2010/6] be used as a background document for discussion in the Working Group. The Committee endorsed the 2008–2009 biennial performance evalu-ation report and the 2010–2011 biennial evaluation plan. It also agreed that the group HUMAN would present proposals for consideration on the develop-ment of a “cluster structure” for the housing sector and an implementation strategy for a limited-profit housing industry.

Statistics

The Conference of European Statisticians, at its fifty-eighth session (Paris, 8–10 June) [ECE/CES/79], considered the implications of the meetings of its parent body—the February session of the UN Sta-tistical Commission (see p. 1262). Two seminars were convened during the session on spatial statistics and the impact of global crises on statistical systems. The Conference discussed the outcomes of in-depth reviews by the Conference Bureau on statistical dis-semination, communication and publications [ECE/CES/2010/1 & Add.1]; and government finance, fiscal and public sector statistics [ECE/CES/2010/2 & Add.1]; as well as the in-depth reviews of time-use surveys [ECE/CES/2010/25] and measuring the information society and statistics on science, technology and innovation [ECE/CES/2010/4].

The Conference considered a secretariat note [ECE/CES/2010/8] on the measurement of different emerging forms of households and families, which presented a framework and concepts and indicators for measuring new forms of family and household arrangements in the ece region, including reconstituted families, commut-ers between households, living apart together, same-sex couples, and persons living apart but within a network. The Conference also considered a secretariat note [ECE/CES/2010/9] on the potential indicators for measurement of quality of employment, which grouped the indicators under seven dimensions that broadly outlined quality of employment: safety and ethics of employment, in-come and benefits from employment, working hours and balancing work and non-working life, security of employment and social protection, social dialogue, skills development and training, and workplace relationships and work motivation.

Economic cooperation and integration

The Committee on Economic Cooperation and In-tegration, at its fifth session (Geneva, 1–3 December) [ECE/CECI/2010/2], noted the conclusions and recom-mendations of the innovation performance review of Belarus, and asked the secretariat to consider joint follow-up steps to facilitate their implementation. The

Committee discussed issues, such as creating a sup-portive environment for innovative development and knowledge-based competitiveness; regulatory protec-tion of intellectual property rights and strengthening their role in innovative development; entrepreneur-ship and small- and medium-sized enterprises devel-opment; financial intermediation in support of inno-vative development; best practices in public-private partnerships; and capacity-building activities.

The Committee also noted the 2011 programme of work and beyond [ECE/CECI/2010/4] and the 2010–2011 biennial evaluation plan. It recommended the renewal of the mandates of the Teams of Specialists on Innovation and Competitiveness Policies, on Intel-lectual Property and on Public-Private Partnerships until 2013.


In a consolidated report on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organi-zations [A/65/382-S/2010/490], the Secretary-General described the modalities of cooperation between the United Nations and the Eurasian Economic Com-munity and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION

On 13 December [meeting 64], the General Assembly adopted resolution 65/125 [draft: A/65/L.32] without vote [agenda item 122 (k)].

Cooperation between the United Nations and the Eurasian Economic Community

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolutions 58/84 of 9 December 2003,

in which it granted the Eurasian Economic Commu-nity observer status in the General Assembly, and 63/15 of 3 November 2008,

Recalling also that one of the purposes of the United Nations is to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural and humanitarian nature,

Recalling further the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations that encourage activities through regional coop-eration for the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations,

Taking note of the fact that the membership of the Eura-sian Economic Community includes countries with econo-mies in transition, and recalling in this regard its resolu-tion 61/210 of 20 December 2006, in which it invited the United Nations system to enhance dialogue with and in-crease support to the regional and subregional cooperation organizations whose membership includes countries with economies in transition and whose efforts include assisting their members to fully integrate into the world economy,

Recalling its resolution 64/208 of 21 December 2009 in which it invited the United Nations development system, in


particular the funds and programmes, and at the regional level, in accordance with their respective mandates, to im-prove support, as appropriate, to middle-income countries,

Noting that the Treaty on the Establishment of the Eura-sian Economic Community reaffirms the commitment of the States members of the Community to the principles of the Charter and also to the generally accepted principles and norms of international law,

Convinced that the strengthening of cooperation be-tween the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the Eurasian Economic Community contributes to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations,

Expressing concern over the persistent natural disasters in countries of the region,

Recognizing that the issues of water and energy resources management, as well as the development, dissemination and transfer of technologies, have particular importance for the sustainable development of the countries members of the Eurasian Economic Community,

Recognizing also that the Eurasian Economic Com-munity includes some landlocked countries, and in this regard underlining the key role of regional integration in-stitutions such as the Eurasian Economic Community in the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Devel-oping Countries,

Recognizing further the value of regional and subregional cooperation efforts in meeting the challenges of the global economic and financial crisis, and in this regard noting the creation within the Eurasian Economic Community of the Anti-crisis Fund as a useful contribution to the multilateral response to the current crisis,

Noting the progress achieved in the area of regional eco-nomic integration through the establishment of a customs union by Belarus, Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation,

Noting with appreciation the activities of the Eurasian Development Bank in support of development and inte-gration of the States members of the Eurasian Economic Community,

1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 63/15, and expresses satisfaction with regard to the mutually beneficial interaction between the United Nations and the Eurasian Economic Community;

2. Also takes note of the activities of the Eurasian Eco-nomic Community in support of United Nations goals through the strengthening of regional cooperation in such areas as trade and economic development, the establish-ment of a customs union, energy, transport, agriculture and agro-industry, the regulation of migration, banking and finance, communications, education, health care and pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, environmental protection and natural disaster risk reduction;

3. Commends the commitment of the States members of the Eurasian Economic Community to scaling up re-gional economic integration by establishing a customs union and free-trade zone, consistent with the multilateral trading system, as well as the formation of a common en-ergy market;

4. Notes with appreciation the progress achieved in cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Community and the Economic Commission for Europe, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the United Nations Development Programme, as well as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Or-ganization, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Develop-ment, including in the fields of water and energy resources management, energy efficiency, the development, dis-semination and transfer of technologies, trade facilitation, transport, the environment, capacity-building, education, science and innovation, biotechnology and nanotechnology and investment promotion;

5. Welcomes the promotion of effective interaction within the framework of the United Nations Special Pro-gramme for the Economies of Central Asia;

6. Underlines the importance of further strengthen-ing dialogue, cooperation and coordination between the United Nations system and the Eurasian Economic Com-munity, and invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations to continue conducting, to this end, regular consultations with the Secretary-General of the Eurasian Economic Community, within existing resources, using for this purpose the relevant inter-institutional forums and formats, including the annual consultations between the Secretary-General of the United Nations and heads of regional organizations;

7. Invites the specialized agencies and other organiza-tions, programmes and funds of the United Nations system, as well as international financial institutions, to further en-hance cooperation and direct contacts with the Eurasian Economic Community for the purpose of undertaking joint implementation of programmes to achieve their goals;

8. Invites in particular the Economic Commission for Europe, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and other related organizations of the United Nations system to further contribute to the development by the Eurasian Economic Community of a concept for the effective use of water and energy resources in States members of the Community as well as to the resolution of water-related disaster risk reduction issues in the region;


10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-seventh session the subitem entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Eurasian Economic Community”.

On the same date [meeting 64], the Assembly adopted resolution 65/128 [draft: A/65/L.35 & Add.1] without vote [agenda item 122 (d)].

Cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization

The General Assembly,Recalling its resolution 54/5 of 8 October 1999, by

which it granted observer status to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, as well as its resolutions 55/211 of 20 December 2000, 57/34 of 21 November 2002, 59/259 of 23 December 2004, 61/4 of 20 October 2006 and 63/11


of 3 November 2008 on cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organi-zation,

Recalling also that one of the purposes of the United Nations is to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social or humanita-rian nature,

Recalling further the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations that encourage activities through regional coopera-tion for the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations,

Recalling its Declaration on the Enhancement of Coop-eration between the United Nations and Regional Arrange-ments or Agencies in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security of 9 December 1994,

Recognizing that any dispute or conflict in the region impedes cooperation, and stressing the need to solve such a dispute or conflict on the basis of the norms and principles of international law,

Convinced that the strengthening of cooperation be-tween the United Nations and other organizations con-tributes to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations,

Recalling the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 63/11,

1. Takes note of the Declaration adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the States members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization on the occasion of the Fifteenth Anniversary Summit of the Organization, held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 25 June 2007;

2. Reiterates the conviction that multilateral economic cooperation contributes to enhancing peace, stability and security to the benefit of the Black Sea region;

3. Welcomes the efforts towards the completion of the process of reforms in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization envisaged in the Bucharest statement of 26 April 2006, issued by the Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Organization, thus contributing to the enhancement of the efficiency and ef-fectiveness of the Organization, as well as its role in the economic and social development of its member States;

4. Acknowledges the commitment of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization to contributing to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals at national, regional and global levels;

5. Takes note of the resolve of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization to foster a pragmatic and pro-ject- and results-oriented approach in the spheres of com-mon interest for its member States, where improved re-gional cooperation could create synergies and increase the efficiency of resources used;

6. Welcomes the activities of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in fields such as energy, focusing on renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency, transport, institu-tional reform and good governance, trade and economic development, banking and finance, with a new approach involving environmental protection, sustainable develop-ment and entrepreneurship, communications, agriculture and agro-industry, health care and pharmaceuticals, tour-ism, science and technology, the exchange of statistical data and economic information, collaboration among Customs services, and combating organized crime and illicit traf-

ficking in drugs, weapons and radioactive material, acts of terrorism and illegal migration, and in other related areas;

7. Also welcomes the efforts of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization to elaborate and realize concrete joint regional projects, particularly in the fields of energy and transport, which will contribute to the development of the Euro-Asian transport links;

8. Takes note, within this framework, of the signing in Belgrade on 19 April 2007 of the memorandum of under-standing for the coordinated development of the Black Sea Ring Highway and the memorandum of understanding on the development of the Motorways of the Sea at the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization region;

9. Welcomes the financing of projects by the Project Development Fund of the Black Sea Economic Coopera-tion Organization, as well as by the Hellenic Development Fund, which was established within the Black Sea Eco-nomic Cooperation Organization, taking into account the guidelines of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Devel-opment for sustainable development and for achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the Black Sea region;

10. Appeals for greater cooperation between the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and international financial institutions in co-financing feasibility and pre-feasibility studies of the projects in the wider Black Sea area;

11. Takes note of the positive contributions of the Par-liamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Coop-eration Organization, the Business Council, the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank and the International Centre for Black Sea Studies to the strengthening of multifaceted regional cooperation in the wider Black Sea area;

12. Also takes note of the enhanced cooperation be-tween the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and the Economic Commission for Europe, the United Na-tions Development Programme and the United Nations In-dustrial Development Organization and the working con-tacts of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization with the World Bank, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization, aimed at promoting the sustainable development of the region of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization;

13. Welcomes the multifaceted and fruitful coopera-tion between the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Or-ganization and the Economic Commission for Europe, especially in the area of transport, within the framework of the Cooperation Agreement signed between the two or-ganizations on 2 July 2001;

14. Also welcomes the implementation of the Black Sea Trade and Investment Promotion Programme, the first partnership project between the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and the United Nations Devel-opment Programme, launched on 1 December 2006, and the signing of the cooperation agreement between the two organizations in Istanbul on 28 June 2007;

15. Takes note of the establishment of cooperation between the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organiza-tion and the International Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies of the United Nations Industrial Develop-ment Organization, with emphasis placed on energy and the environment;

16. Also takes note of the increased cooperation be-tween the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization


and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and, within this framework, welcomes the launching on 1 Sep-tember 2007 of the joint Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization-United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime project on strengthening the criminal justice response to trafficking in persons in the Black Sea region;

17. Further takes note of the intensified cooperation be-tween the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and the European Union, and supports the efforts of the Organization to take concrete steps for the establishment of mutually beneficial partnerships;

18. Takes note of the cooperation established between the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and other regional organizations and initiatives;

19. Invites the Secretary-General to strengthen dia-logue with the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organi-zation with a view to promoting cooperation and coordina-tion between the two secretariats;

20. Invites the specialized agencies and other organi-zations and programmes of the United Nations system to cooperate with the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization in order to continue programmes with the Organization and its associated institutions for the achieve-ment of their objectives;


22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-seventh session the sub-item entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization”.

Latin America and the Caribbean

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (eclac), at its thirty-third session (Brasilia, Brazil, 30 May–1 June) [E/2010/40], con-sidered the document entitled “Time for equality: closing gaps, opening trails” [LC/G.2432(SES.33/3)]. It held a high-level seminar on the subject with four panels: macroeconomics policies for development; structural heterogeneity and productivity gaps; social and labour institutions; and state, political actions, fiscal policy and social covenants. In the Brasilia resolution [E/2010/40 res. 650(XXXIII)], the Commis-sion requested the Executive Secretary to disseminate the document and foster more in-depth comparative analysis with countries outside the region, and to con-duct studies and formulate public policy proposals for building national economic and social development capacities. The Commission also heard a presentation on energy for a sustainable future: the vision of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advisory Group on Energy, and considered the biennial report on eclac’s 2010 and 2011 activities [LC/G.2528(SES.34/7)], the draft programme of work of the eclac system for 2012–2013 and the report of the Committee on South-South Cooperation.

The Commission adopted other resolutions on South-South cooperation [res. 647(XXXIII)], which requested the secretariat to analyse new alternatives for generating the volume of resources necessary for financing the development of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, and develop indicators to reflect the particular realities in the countries and for measuring the social and economic impact of South-South cooperation; support for the work of the Latin American and Caribbean Institute for Economic and Social Planning [res. 652(XXXIII)]; follow-up to the Plan of Action for the Information Society in Latin America and the Caribbean [res. 653(XXXIII)]; eclac activities in relation to follow-up to the mdgs and im-plementation of the outcomes of major UN confer-ences and summits in the economic, social and related fields [res. 654(XXXIII)]; the report of the twenty-third session of the Caribbean Development and Coopera-tion Committee and the fourteenth meeting of the Monitoring Committee [res. 655(XXXIII)]; the agree-ments on population and development: priority issues for 2010–2012, adopted at the 2010 meeting of the eclac Ad Hoc Committee on Population and Devel-opment [res. 657(XXXIII)]; and the Regional Confer-ence on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean [res. 658(XXXIII)], which urged active participation in the eleventh session of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Commission adopted the eclac programme of work for 2012–2013, including the creation of a new subprogramme on financing for development [res. 648(XXXIII)], approved the calendar of conferences for 2010–2012 [res. 651(XXXIII)]; and recommended that the Economic and Social Council approve the invitation of El Salvador to host the Committee’s next meeting [res. 656(XXXIII)].

The General Assembly adopted resolution 65/242 (see p. 335) on Cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community.

Economic trends

A report on the economic situation in and outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean, 2010–2011 [E/2011/19] indicated that gross domestic product re-turned to growth in 2010, increasing by 6.1 per cent. While growth was seen throughout the region, reach-ing 6.8 per cent in South America and 4.9 per cent in Mexico and Central America, the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean only saw growth of 0.5 per cent. That growth pushed the regional unemployment rate down to 7.5 per cent. The second half of the year saw the exhaustion of idle production capacity, public spending cuts and strong appreciation of the curren-cies of some countries in the region; as a result, growth in 2011 was projected to reach 4.2 per cent.


Activities

An eclac report on the Commission’s work in 2010 and 2011 [LC/G.2528(SES.34/7)], addressed activities undertaken and progress made under its 12 subpro-grammes: linkages with the global economy, regional integration and cooperation; production and innova-tion; macroeconomic policies and growth; social de-velopment and equality; mainstreaming the gender perspective in regional development; population and development; planning of public administration; en-vironment and human settlements; natural resources and infrastructure; statistics and economic projections; subregional activities in Mexico and Central America; and subregional activities in the Caribbean.

Regional integration and cooperation

During the 2010–2011 biennium, the work of the subprogramme was conducted through the eclac International Trade and Integration Division, which continued to contribute to the improvement of the region’s linkages with the global economy through the development of trade, integration and coopera-tion schemes; and the strengthening of eclac’s role as a partner for assistance and technical advice. The subprogrammes’s work was organized around three main areas: economic and commercial trends in Latin American international relations; internationalization strategies for Latin America and Caribbean countries, with an emphasis on competitiveness, and negotiation and administration of trade agreements; and regional integration and cooperation, trade and climate change, and the promotion of position linkages between trade and poverty reduction efforts and gender equality. A report on the regional debate on integration and the region’s role in the global economy “Opportunities for Convergence and Regional Cooperation” was pre-sented at the Unity Summit of Latin America and the Caribbean (Cancún, Mexico, February). A workshop with the various subregional integration schemes on areas of convergence and regional cooperation in Latin America, held at eclac headquarters in July, discussed the proposals contained in the report.

Production and innovation

The eclac Production, Productivity and Manage-ment Division provided research and technical assis-tance and a forum for regional dialogue on produc-tion activities. It studied the processes of structural change, innovation and technological development, with a special focus on information and communica-tion technology (ict). Eclac participated in the Re-gional Plan of Action for the Information Society in Latin American and the Caribbean and published a book entitled icts for growth and equality: renewing

strategies for the information society, which highlighted the potential benefits of icts and suggested policy options for Governments. Technical assistance was provided for the implementation and monitoring of the Regional Plan of Action, including the definition of progress indicators, and capacity-building through training and advisory services, which benefited 260 policymakers and technical staff from 16 Latin Ameri-can and 12 Caribbean countries in the areas of design and implementation of strategies, policies and mea-sures to foster innovation, and science and technology. The Division also provided a consistent message on the need to strengthen policies to promote industrial and agricultural development and reduce disparities in productivity among industries and enterprises.

Macroeconomic policies and growth

While the region saw a vigorous recovery in 2010, the performance of the economies was uneven, creat-ing new challenges for the analytical work and the technical support provided by the eclac Economic Development Division. The 2009–2010 edition of the Division’s Economic Survey focused on the distribu-tive impact of public policies, which was also debated at two high-level meetings held in April and August. The April expert meeting, held at eclac headquarters, aimed to stimulate policy discussions. The follow-up event in August consisted of six conferences with the participation of eclac officials and consultants, scholars and policymakers. The Division’s Preliminary Overview of Economics of Latin America and Caribbean provided analysis of the region’s economic perfor-mance and outlook at the end of the year.

The Division contributed to the debate on the role of fiscal policy in the region and beyond, in the context of the global economic crisis, through several work-shops, including on fiscal policy for the strengthening of democracy in Latin America (27–28 April); macro-economic volatility and fiscal space (3–4 August); and after the bicentennial: institutions and economic de-velopment in Latin America (30 September). At those events, the Division disseminated technical and policy documents on stimulus measures, fostering of sustain-able development, protection of the most vulnerable sectors of the population and efforts to achieve greater social cohesion. The Division also ran several extrabug-etary projects related to fiscal policy and labour markets.

Equity and social cohesion

In 2010, the eclac Social Development Division focused on strengthening social protection and care provision with a redistributive emphasis, improving social expenditure and child poverty analysis, study-ing and promoting the positive impact of icts on health and education, and disseminating innovative social development projects.


Eclac launched a study on The Economy of Child Care in Haiti, which proposed that social policies for women and children should be the pillar of re-construction in that country, and addressed the is-sue of public policymaking in support of child care. The Division also organized an international semi-nar (Mexico, 17 February) that discussed proposals for measuring poverty apart from income levels, in-cluding through access to basic rights and the loss of freedoms. International and national experts also examined proposals and methodologies for measur-ing poverty in the region from a multidimensional perspective during a seminar on multidimensional poverty measurement in Latin America (Santiago, Chile, 10–12 November). Experts warned that over 50 per cent of the region’s rural population was poor and almost a third lived in extreme poverty.

Mainstreaming gender in regional development

The eclac Division for Gender Affairs continued to generate knowledge and support the development and monitoring of public policies for gender equal-ity in the region, and to incorporate the knowledge into capacity-building for national mechanisms for the advancement of women and national statistical institutes. The Division also supported the collection of data on the situation of women and men through the Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean, and strengthened relations be-tween producers and users of those gender indicators. The Observatory, established in response to the Quito Consensus [YUN 2007, p. 1031], was consolidated as an important strategic tool through a web portal in four languages. The biennium saw the number of users almost quadruple in comparison with 2008–2009, reaching over 209,000.

The eleventh session of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean (Brasilia, 13–16 July) [LC/L.3309] brought together some 1,000 people from 31 eclac States, 16 UN agencies and funds, and 10 intergovernmental and governmental organizations. The Conference adopted the Brasilia Consensus, which highlighted new commitments for attaining greater economic autonomy and equality in the workplace, enhancing the citizenship of women, broadening their participation in decision-making, addressing all forms of violence against them, and carrying out training and activities for exchanging and disseminating experiences.

Population and development

The eclac Latin American and Caribbean De-mographic Centre–Population Division engaged in intensive technical support to enhance national cen-

sus capacities, and provided workshops and reference publications on a variety of census topics, such as liv-ing conditions, household equipment, environment, demographic and socio-economic characteristics, as well as the training of enumerators, use of new tech-nologies, data coherence and demographic analysis. As its technical secretariat, the Division prepared the meeting of the eclac Ad Hoc Committee on Popula-tion and Development (Santiago, 12–14 May), which dealt mainly with population and health matters and agreed on population and development priorities for 2010–2012.

A workshop (Santiago, 7–9 June) focused on strengthening the capacities of national statistical of-fices for formulating the census questionnaire for the 2010 round of census. Four more workshops were or-ganized on sharing experiences on classifications and nomenclatures; experiences in training of census su-pervisors and enumerators; analysis of census data, co-herence, quality and coverage; and potential uses and applications of census data. The Division decided on four areas of focus during the next biennium: analysis of demographic trends; generation of data; inclusion of socio-demographic inputs in social programming at the national and local levels for decision-making in the design and implementation of public policies; and regional cooperation in population and development through South-South cooperation.

Public administration

The Latin American and Caribbean Institute for Economic and Social Planning (ilpes) provided policy advice and proposals in development strate-gies and public-sector economics to foster improved performance of public policies, programmes and projects, and strengthen and capitalize knowledge networks in those areas. It promoted and supported the creation of new instruments for budgetary poli-cymaking and evaluation, and disseminated results-based management practices for incorporation into the public-policy cycle. It organized new international courses on planning, government and development; electronic government; and mdgs at the municipal level. It also provided strategic advisory services to the Governments of Costa Rica, the Dominican Re-public, El Salvador and Paraguay, in areas related to development planning, prospective analysis and insti-tutional strengthening. Ilpes also expanded its train-ing services within and outside the region through e-learning courses.

Technical cooperation was provided to 12 countries in planning, results-based management, fiscal policy, regional and local development strategies and policies, and e-government. In the field of research and analy-sis, ten documents were published and widely dissem-inated on diverse topics, such as public management,


budgeting, project and programme evaluation, local and regional development, and e-government issues. The twenty-second version of the regional seminar on fiscal policy, organized by ilpes and co-sponsored by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, oecd and the Inter-American Development Bank, with the support of the German Agency for Inter-national Cooperation (Santiago, January), discussed fiscal policy responses and options for coping with the financial crisis.

Sustainable development and human settlements

The eclac Sustainable Development and Human Settlements Division continued to work on interre-lationships among economic growth, environmental protection, urban development and social equity, as well as consolidating work on the economics of cli-mate change. The subprogramme focused on two ar-eas for strengthening the capacities of the countries in the region: evaluating the advances, gaps and strategic opportunities for sustainable development, the inte-gration of sustainable criteria in public policies and institution-building for environmental management, including urban development, land use and metro-politan areas; and climate change impacts, mitigation and adaptation, including disaster and risk assessment and management. Efforts were devoted to capacity-building through courses, workshops and seminars, with officials from all countries in the region benefit-ing from numerous courses on urban projects, urban responses to climate change, impacts of sea level rise in coastal zones, the clean development mechanism, adaptation to climate change, projects on Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, social impacts of climate change, green tax reforms and risk management.

During the nineteenth General Assembly of Minis-ters and High-level Authorities of Housing and Urban Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (Argentina, September), it was emphasized that re-sponses were urgently needed for poverty and precarious urban and rural habitats, social housing programmes and urban development and climate change. Eclac organized an international conference and a meeting on risk, habitat and megacities, with the Helmholtz Association of Germany (Santiago, March), at which experts examined the dynamics of growth of human settlements in relation to urban and rural land markets.

The Division produced Economics of Climate Change in Latin America and the Caribbean (2010), which detailed the main economic effects of global warming in different potential scenarios and sug-gested options for action to avoid greater damage to the region. The Division also organized, in conjunc-tion with ilpes, the third session of the twenty-second

regional seminar on fiscal policy (Santiago, Janu-ary), and an international seminar on planning and sustainable management of natural and sustainable resources (Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, August).

Eclac conducted several missions to estimate the socio-economic and environmental impacts of dis-asters, including earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, the El Niño phenomenon in Bolivia, the influenza A (H1N1) epidemic in Mexico, and Tropical Storm Agatha in Guatemala and El Salvador.

Natural resources and infrastructure

The eclac Natural Resources and Infrastructure Division contributed to strengthening the region’s ca-pacities to formulate and implement policies for pro-moting and moving simultaneously toward economic growth, social equity and environmental sustainabil-ity. The Division provided substantial technical as-sistance to the countries of the region to strengthen their institutional capacities and skills for enhancing their regulatory frameworks. It also organized the first policy dialogue on energy efficiency in the region: “Towards sustainable institutionalities” (Santiago, November), which created a database of performance indicators to serve in evaluating the results of policies and programmes applied.

In the field of mining, the Division organized, jointly with the Sustainable Development and Hu-man Settlements Divisions, the Senior Expert Group Meeting on Sustainable Development of Lithium Resources (Santiago, November). The Division also organized a high-level seminar (Montevideo, Uru-guay, October) that discussed the role of transport and ports in sustainable development. It was also ac-tive in infrastructure, transport and logistics policies. Ten countries (Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Do-minican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, Panama) signed the Tuxtla Declaration, which recognized the support given by eclac and requested that joint work be carried out in multimodal transport policies, logistics chain security and infrastructure projects.

Statistics and economic projections

The eclac Statistics and Economic Projections Division continued to help the region’s countries build, strengthen and harmonize statistical infor-mation and decision-making systems. It supported countries in enhancing national accounts quality and coverage, with 24 of them making progress in implementing the System of National Accounts 1993 [YUN 1993, p. 1112], including satellite accounts. Sev-eral countries were also assisted in updating the base year for their consumer price indices and improving international harmonization.


Eclac organized a regional seminar on national accounts (Lima, Peru, November), which discussed the strategy for implementing the 2008 recommen-dations on national accounts, as well as how to coor-dinate the worldwide efforts of several international agencies. Two regional seminars were held on the Mil-lennium indicators: the first on health matters, jointly with the Pan American Health Organization (April); and the second on ict (September). They provided a forum for analysing discrepancies between national and international data and complementary indicators for specific goals. Progress was made towards the de-velopment of a multidimensional poverty measure-ment, with eclac organizing two events on the issue (Santiago, May and November). The report eclac: Development of Official Statistics in the Region stated that significant progress had been made in developing statistics, and described the main trends and chal-lenges in the development of official statistics.

Subregional activitiesCaribbean

The eclac subregional headquarters for the Carib-bean in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, contin-ued to strengthen the capacity of policymakers and other eclac stakeholders to formulate and implement economic and social development measures and im-prove opportunities for integration in the Caribbean, as well as between the Caribbean and the wider Latin America region. Six countries were at various stages of formulating or adopting policies and measures in line with eclac recommendations, among which were the establishment of gender policies, the devel-opment of databases to disseminate statistical results, the adoption of sophisticated measures for conduct-ing country poverty assessments, and the use of the methodology for developing environmental indicators to address other areas of the mdgs. A number of coun-tries adopted policies or programmes that enhanced their capacity and technical expertise to follow up on the major international programmes of action in the economic, social and environmental fields.

At its twenty-third session (St. George’s, Grenada, 17 March), the Caribbean Development and Coop-eration Committee reviewed the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementa-tion of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States [YUN 2005, p. 946], and considered progress in the Caribbean toward the achievement of the mdgs, in preparation for the high-level meeting at the General Assembly’s sixty-fifth session (see p. 813). The subregional head-quarters convened a number of workshops contribut-ing to the development of the subregion’s statistical capacity, including one in response to a request for technical assistance from the Government of Grenada

to improve its statistical capacity in the use of the redatam software.

In the area of social development, the subpro-gramme hosted an experts group meeting in collabo-ration with UN-Women on good practices in national action plans on violence against women (13–15 Sep-tember); a regional seminar, in collaboration with the eclac Division for Gender Affairs, on the use of administration records to measure violence against women in the Caribbean (30 November–1 Decem-ber); and a regional workshop on the implementa-tion of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities [YUN 2006, p. 785] in the Caribbean (9–10 November). The Caribbean Millennium Development Goals Report 2010 assessed achievements and con-straints in countries’ efforts to accomplish the Goals.

Mexico and Central America

In 2010, the subregional economy started growing again after the 2008 financial crisis, though at a slower pace than before the crisis. Due to the strain on the economy, efforts under the subprogramme were aimed at assisting Governments and stakeholders of the countries served by the office in Mexico to strengthen their capacities to address economic and social issues, as well as to design or evaluate policies and measures in the areas of trade, integration and sustainable devel-opment. The assistance was directed towards different economic and social agents, resulting in four countries adopting eclac analysis and recommendations in key issues for development, and six countries in fundamen-tal aspects of sectoral policies.

Eclac organized a seminar on equality and devel-opment (June) and a workshop on tools for assessing the effects of climate change on agriculture (San Jose, November), attended by government officials and aca-demics from Costa Rica. A study was also completed under the subprogramme on energy and climate change in Central America, whose findings were presented to meetings held in Guatemala City (August) and San Jose (August). Technical assistance was provided to: the infrastructure, energy, transportation, housing and hu-man settlements sectors in Haiti, as well as for other post-disaster needs; the Ministry of Agriculture, Live-stock and Food of Guatemala; the Governments of El Salvador and Guatemala, following the eruption of Pacaya Volcano and the passage of Hurricane Agatha; and to the Government of Colombia to evaluate the impacts of the flooding in the country.


During its thirty-third session (Brasilia, Brazil, 30 May–1 June) [E/2010/40], the Commission adopted a number of resolutions on programme and organi-zational matters.


ECLAC Calendar of conferencesThe Commission [res. 651(XXXIII)] reaffirmed its

decision to maintain the current intergovernmental structure and pattern of meetings and approved the eclac calendar of conferences for 2010–2012 annexed to the resolution.

Proposed strategic framework, 2012–2013The Commission [res. 648(XXXIII)] adopted the

eclac programme of work for the 2012–2013 bien-nium, including the creation of a new subprogramme on financing for development. The priorities of the programme of work were increasing macroeconomic stability and enhancing policies for reducing vulner-ability and mitigating the effects of economic and financial crises; strengthening the region’s access to financing for development and enhancing the finan-cial architecture; increasing the region’s productivity potential and reducing productivity gaps to achieve convergence, with particular emphasis on innovation and new technologies; improving the region’s position in the international economy through trade, coop-eration and regional integration; promoting a social covenant by improving social security, reducing social risks and reinforcing gender mainstreaming in public policies; enhancing sustainable development policies and energy efficiency and addressing the impacts of climate change; and improving institution-building for the management of global and transboundary is-sues and the provision of public goods at the regional level. The Commission requested the Executive Sec-retary to examine the challenges faced by the region in connection with the 2008–2009 economic and financial crisis and related issues.

Venue of ECLAC thirty-fourth sessionThe Commission [res. 656(XXXIII)] recommended

that the Economic and Social Council approve the holding of the Commission’s thirty-fourth session in El Salvador in 2012.

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ACTION

On 20 July [meeting 42], the Economic and Social Council, on the recommendation of eclac [E/2010/15/Add.1], adopted resolution 2010/4 without vote [agenda item 10].

Venue of the thirty-fourth session of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

The Economic and Social Council,Bearing in mind paragraph 15 of the terms of reference

of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as rules 1 and 2 of the rules of procedure of the Commission,

Considering the invitation of the Government of El Salvador to host the thirty-fourth session of the Commission,

1. Expresses its gratitude to the Government of El Salvador for its generous invitation;

2. Notes the acceptance by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean of this invitation with pleasure;

3. Endorses the decision of the Commission to hold its thirty-fourth session in El Salvador in the first half of 2012.


The Secretary-General, in his September consolidated report on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations [A/65/382], outlined UN relations with the Latin American Economic Sys-tem (sela). The formulation of the undp-United Na-tions Conference on Trade and Development-sela Joint Regional Programme for Trade, Investment and De-velopment Issues in Latin America and the Caribbean (2010–2012) was finalized. The Programme aimed to enhance the capacity of Latin American and Caribbean countries in formulating policy responses in trade, investment and human development.

On 24 December, the General Assembly decided that the item on “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic System” would remain for consideration during its resumed sixty-fifth (2011) session (decision 65/544).

Western Asia

The Economic and Social Commission for West-ern Asia (escwa), at its twenty-sixth session (Beirut, Lebanon, 17–20 May) [E/2010/41], considered during the senior officials segment management issues, the Executive Secretary’s report on the Commission’s ac-tivities [E/ESCWA/26/5], the draft 2012–2013 strate-gic framework [E/ESCWA/26/7], and progress made in the establishment of the escwa Technology Cen-tre [E/ESCWA/26/9]. The ministerial segment held two round tables: the first on national youth policies within the framework of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond [YUN 1995, p. 1211]: and the second on human and institu-tional capacity-building [E/ESCWA/26/4]. The theme of youth policies was considered by delegates in view of its relevance to the countries in the region, particu-larly in the light of the proclamation by the United Nations, in Assembly resolution 64/134 [YUN 2009, p. 1187], of 2010 as the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. Discus-sion centred on youth and education, employment, health, participation in decision-making and public life; globalization and exceptional issues. At the end of the session, escwa distributed a booklet on Youth Development in the escwa Region: Statistical Profiles, National Strategies and Success Stories.

The Commission adopted 10 resolutions, includ-ing one on the establishment of the escwa Technology Centre.


Economic trends

The economic outlook of the escwa region im-proved in 2010. The economies in the region grew by 4.7 per cent, compared with 1.9 per cent in 2009. The recovery was a result of higher external and do-mestic demand, bolstered by active fiscal measures. That came in the wake of a strong recovery of crude oil prices since the second quarter of 2009, and the non-realization of several worst-case scenarios that could have affected the region’s economic develop-ment, such as balance-of-payment crises and associ-ated currency devaluations. The Gulf Cooperation Council (gcc) countries grew by 4.4 per cent, while in the more diversified economies growth increased to 5.7 per cent. Inflation in the gcc countries reached 3 per cent, while in the more diversified economies it increased to 8.3 per cent.

Activities

In 2010, escwa activities under its 2010–2011 work programme [E/ESCWA/27/5 (Part I)] focused on seven subprogrammes: integrated management of natural resources for sustainable development; social develop-ment; economic development and integration; ict for regional integration; statistics for evidence-based poli-cymaking; the advancement of women; and conflict mitigation and development.

Natural resources management for sustainable development

The escwa Sustainable Development and Pro-ductivity Division was responsible for implementing that subprogramme, which aimed at improving the sustainable management and use of natural resources in the region, and promoting regional cooperation and harmonization in the management of water, en-ergy and the production sectors. The Division organ-ized a pilot project that provided support to women in adopting techniques to improve the quality of pro-duce and increase their income, and an ad hoc group meeting on the sustainable livelihoods approach (sla) (Beirut, 24–25 November) [E/ESCWA/SDPD/2010/WG.4/6/Report], which sought to encourage the shar-ing of experiences and lessons learned from local sla initiatives, the identification of priorities for rural development and the enrichment of a draft guide on the “Application of the sla in the escwa region”, pre-pared by escwa. The meeting concluded with a set of recommendations supporting the implementation of sla.

Assistance provided by escwa to the League of Arab States Arab Ministerial Council for Electricity contributed to the adoption of the Arab Strategy for

Renewable Energy and the Arab Guiding Framework for Improving Energy Efficiency in the Electricity Sector at End Users Level, which became effective at the end of the year.

On 19 May [E/2010/41 res. 297(XXVI)], the Commis-sion commended the secretariat in following up the realization of the mdgs, in particular progress in the escwa region. It requested the Executive Secretary to develop an mdg monitor for societal progress, includ-ing gender equality and youth empowerment.

Social development

The escwa Social Development Division aimed at strengthening national social policies that were region-specific and culturally sensitive, and encourag-ing community development action. During the bien-nium, escwa supported Jordan, Lebanon and Oman in consideration of their social protection schemes. Escwa engaged with countries to better understand labour-related challenges facing Governments in the region and to increase knowledge of the character-istics and impact of labour regulations and labour market policies. Escwa organized workshops and seminars (Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen) on the role of civil society in the development process and in promoting a dynamic public-civic relationship. In ad-dition, escwa initiatives to follow the repercussions, causes and dynamics of the Arab uprisings resulted in potential resolutions, action plans, and technical input for a dynamic civic engagement in the process of change and transition towards democratization.

Escwa also organized, in coordination with the Arab Institute for Training and Research in Statistics, the First Coordinators’ Workshop on Measuring the Well-being and Progress of Arab Societies (Beirut, 1–5 November) [E/ESCWA/SD/2010/WG.4/Report], which aimed to build the capacities of national coordi-nators through training and information. It developed a draft national action plan of measuring well-being and progress of society based on the regional roadmap.

On 19 May [res. 295(XXVI)], the Commission stressed the importance of the Guiding Declaration of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on Giving Greater Attention to Youth Policies: An Opportunity for Development, annexed to the resolution.

Economic development and integration

The escwa Economic Development and Globaliza-tion Division aimed at strengthening macroeconomic policymaking for short-term economic growth and sustainable economic development in member coun-tries, negotiation of trade and investment agree-ments, and trade facilitation. The League of Arab


States-United Nations Arab mdg report “The Third Arab Report of the mdgs 2010 and the Impact of the Global Economic Crises”, presented at the twenty-sixth escwa Ministerial Session (May), and the thir-tieth session of the Arab Ministers of Social Affairs (12–13 December), was followed by an open dialogue session between the members of the Thematic Work-ing Group on mdgs and Arab Ministers of Develop-ment and Social Affairs.

Escwa focused on mobilizing both domestic and international resources for development and organ-ized ten national training workshops on negotiations of bilateral investment agreements, double taxation avoidance, and compilation of foreign direct invest-ment abroad. The workshops contributed to upgrad-ing the negotiation skills of some 245 government officials in Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic and the United Arab Emirates.

During the eleventh session of its Committee on Transport (Beirut, 22–24 March), escwa prepared the terms of reference for the working group on the harmonization of institutional frameworks and legis-lation in the transport sector in the region. The Com-mittee also agreed on a set of recommendations that called on countries to adopt the escwa international agreements on transport, in addition to other recom-mendations related to transport and trade facilitation in the region.

ICT and related development issues

The escwa Information and Communication Technology Division aimed at narrowing the digital divide to build an inclusive development-oriented information society and knowledge-based economy. Escwa assisted countries in accelerating ict develop-ment by advocating for and supporting improvements in the production and service sectors, and implement-ing strategies and action plans. The regional escwa Technology Centre (Amman, Jordan) was fully op-erational and escwa continued the maintenance and updating of the Information Society Portal for the escwa region. The two expert group meetings on promotion of South-South cooperation in technology transfer discussed the priority areas of cooperation in such transfer, shared best practices and successful case studies in the areas of water, energy, agriculture and ict, and produced a collaboration framework with multi-owners for critical technology development, management, maintenance, and service.

The Division, in partnership with the League of Arab States, organized an Expert Group Meeting on the Regional Roadmap for Internet Governance (Beirut, 25–26 October) [E/ESCWA/ICTD/2010/WG.7/Report], which gathered private and public Internet experts to discuss Internet governance; a pro-

posal for an Arab Internet Governance Forum (igf); and public consultations on proposed registry policies for the Arab top-level domains “.arab”. Participants endorsed the Arab Regional Roadmap for Internet Governance: Framework, Principles and Objectives, and called for the holding of an Arab igf, as well as collaboration in Internet governance and the en-hancement of the Arab role in that regard.

On 19 May [res. 294(XXVI)], the Commission adopted the statute of the escwa Technology Centre, which was annexed to the resolution, and requested the Executive Secretary to take steps for its imple-mentation, including the conclusion of a headquarters agreement, and to establish the board of governors and to report in 2012.

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ACTION

On 20 July [meeting 42], the Economic and Social Council, on the recommendation of escwa [E/2010/15/Add.1], adopted resolution 2010/5 without vote [agenda item 10].

Establishment of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia Technology Centre

The Economic and Social Council,Noting that the Economic and Social Commission for

Western Asia at its twenty-sixth session, held in Beirut from 17 to 20 May 2010, adopted resolution 294(XXVI) on the establishment of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia Technology Centre and the statute of the Centre,

Endorses the resolution on the establishment of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia Tech-nology Centre and the statute of the Centre, as set out in the annex to the present resolution.

Annex

294(XXVI). Establishment of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

Technology Centre

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia,Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome, Economic

and Social Council resolution 2004/68 of 5 November 2004 and the United Nations Millennium Declaration, in which the promotion of science and technology was identi-fied as a United Nations priority,

Recalling also General Assembly resolution 64/222 of 21 December 2009 adopting the Nairobi outcome docu-ment of the High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation, in which the Assembly empha-sized the need to promote, including through South-South cooperation, access to and the transfer of technology,

Recalling further its resolution 284(XXV) of 29 May 2008, by which it approved the establishment of the Eco-nomic and Social Commission for Western Asia Technol-ogy Centre,


Expressing its appreciation to the Government of Jordan for its offer to host the Centre, and noting that resources for the Centre should come from the following sources:

(a) Support from the host country,(b) Support from the Economic and Social Commis-

sion for Western Asia,(c) Income received by the Centre for services provided

to beneficiaries,(d) Any other funding sources approved by the Board

of Governors,1. Adopts the statute of the Economic and Social Com-

mission for Western Asia Technology Centre, in accordance with the present resolution, as the basis for its operations;

2. Requests the Executive Secretary to take all steps necessary for the prompt establishment of the Centre, including the conclusion of a headquarters agreement be-tween the host country and the United Nations;

3. Also requests the Executive Secretary to establish the founding Board of Governors by soliciting nominations from member countries;

4. Further requests the Executive Secretary to report to the Commission at its twenty-seventh session on the im-plementation of the present resolution, including the initial operating phase of the Centre, and the achievements of the Commission in that regard.

7th plenary meeting19 May 2010

Annex to resolutIon 294(xxVI)Statute of the Economic and Social Commission

for Western Asia Technology Centre

Establishment1. The Economic and Social Commission for Western

Asia Technology Centre shall be established in accordance with the following terms and conditions.Mission

2. The mission of the Centre is to assist members of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia and public and private organizations to acquire the tools and capabilities necessary to accelerate socio-economic development in order to attain technological parity with other nations and regions of the world and to contribute to the conversion of the economies of member countries into economies based on scientific and technological knowledge.Objectives

3. The objectives of the Centre are to assist the mem-bers of the Economic and Social Commission for West-ern Asia by strengthening their capabilities to develop and manage national systems; develop, transfer, adapt and ap-ply technology; determine the suitable technology for the region and facilitate its development and improve the legal and commercial framework for the transfer of technology. The Centre also aims at enhancing the technological and scientific knowledge content of major economic sectors in member countries.Functions

4. The Centre will achieve the above objectives by undertaking such functions as:

(a) Conducting research and analysis of trends, condi-tions and opportunities;

(b) Providing advisory services;(c) Disseminating information and promoting good

practices;(d) Developing partnerships and other networks with re-

gional and international organizations and key stakeholders;(e) Training national personnel, particularly scientists

and policy analysts;( f ) Assessing the scientific and technological level and

content of production and service sectors and measuring performance indicators of those sectors in the localization of scientific and technological knowledge.Status and organization

5. The Centre shall have a Board of Governors (here-inafter referred to as “the Board”), an Executive Director and staff, and a Technical Committee.

6. The Centre shall be located in Amman. A host country agreement shall be concluded between the Gov-ernment of Jordan and the United Nations.

7. The activities of the Centre shall be in line with relevant resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission. The Centre shall be subject to the financial and staff regulations and rules of the United Nations and applicable administrative instructions and issuances.Board of Governors

8. The Centre shall have a Board of Governors consist-ing of a standing representative designated by the Govern-ment of Jordan and no fewer than six additional representa-tives nominated by the other members of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia and elected by the Commission. The representatives who are elected by the Commission shall be elected for a period of three years and shall be eligible for re-election one more time only. If a rep-resentative is unable to serve for the full term, the vacancy shall be filled by the Government of that representative. The Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commis-sion for Western Asia or his/her representative shall attend meetings of the Board but shall not have the right to vote.

9. During the two-year establishment period, a Board of Governors will be constituted comprising representatives of all member countries who so wish.

10. The Executive Director of the Centre shall serve as secretary of the Board of Governors and, in such capacity, shall keep and circulate minutes of Board meetings to its members.

11. Representatives of (a) any State Member of the United Nations, (b) United Nations bodies and specialized and related agencies, and (c) such other organizations as the Board may deem appropriate, as well as experts in fields of interest to the Board, may, at the Board’s discretion, be invited to attend Board meetings.

12. The Board shall meet at least once a year and shall adopt its own rules of procedure. Sessions of the Board shall be convened by the Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, who may propose special sessions of the Board at his/her own initiative and shall convene such special sessions at the request of a major-ity of Board members.


13. A quorum for Board meetings shall be a majority of its members.

14. Each member of the Board shall have one vote. De-cisions and recommendations of the Board shall be made by consensus or, where this is not possible, by a majority of the members present and voting. For the purposes of these rules, the phrase “members present and voting” means members casting an affirmative or negative vote. Members who abstain from voting are considered as not voting.

15. The Board shall, at each regular session, elect a Chair and a Vice-Chair. The Chair and the Vice-Chair shall hold office until the next regular session of the Board. The Chair or, in his/her absence, the Vice-Chair shall pre-side at Board meetings. If the Chair is unable to serve for the full session for which he/she has been elected, the Vice-Chair shall act as Chair for the remainder of that session.

16. The Board shall review the administration and financial status of the Centre and the implementation of its programme of work. The Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia shall submit an annual report as adopted by the Board to the Commission at its regular sessions.Executive Director and staff

17. The Centre shall have an Executive Director and such additional staff as are appointed by the Secretary-General in accordance with United Nations regulations, rules and administrative instructions. The Executive Direc-tor and additional staff shall have the status of Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia staff members.

18. The Executive Director shall be responsible to the Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commis-sion for Western Asia for the administration of the Centre and the implementation of its programme of work.Technical Committee

19. The Centre shall have a Technical Committee consisting of experts from member countries of the Eco-nomic and Social Commission for Western Asia and from intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. Members of the Technical Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Director in consultation with the Execu-tive Secretary of the Commission.

20. The Technical Committee shall be responsible for advising the Executive Director on the formulation of the programme of work and on other technical matters con-cerning the Centre’s operations.

21. Reports of meetings of the Technical Committee, and the Executive Director’s observations thereon, shall be submitted to the Board at its next session.

22. The Chair at each meeting of the Technical Committee shall be elected by the majority vote of those members of the Technical Committee present and voting.Resources of the Centre

23. The Centre shall be financed from the following sources:

(a) Support from the host country;(b) Support from the Economic and Social Commis-

sion for Western Asia;(c) Income received by the Centre for services provided

to beneficiaries;

(d) Any other funding sources approved by the Board of Governors.

24. The Centre shall endeavour to mobilize sufficient resources to support its activities, in addition to those re-ceived from the host country pursuant to the agreement signed between the host country and the United Nations.

25. The United Nations shall maintain separate trust funds for donations for technical cooperation projects or other special contributions for activities of the Centre.

26. The financial resources of the Centre shall be ad-ministered in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations.Amendments

27. Amendments to the present statute shall be adopted by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.

28. In the event of any procedural matter arising that is not covered by the present statute or rules of procedure adopted by the Board of Governors, the pertinent part of the terms of reference and rules of procedure of the Eco-nomic and Social Commission for Western Asia shall apply.Entry into force

29. The present statute shall enter into force on the date of its adoption by the Commission.

Statistics

The escwa Statistics Division aimed at improving the production and use of harmonized and compara-ble economic, social and sectoral statistics, including gender-disaggregated data, thereby allowing for in-formed and evidence-based decision-making. The Sta-tistical Committee, at its ninth session (Beirut, 13–15 October) [E/ESCWA/SD/2010/IG.1/10], discussed the implications of meetings held by global and regional agencies on the Division’s work programme and the activities of the Statistical Committee, strategic issues of official statistics in the region, the celebration of World Statistics Day, the mdgs, capacity-building in statistics for evidence-based policymaking, and a re-port on the activities of the Task Force on the 2010 Round of Population and Housing Censuses in the region. The Division also discussed the implementa-tion of recommendations made by the Committee at its eighth (2008) session, progress made in carrying out statistics-related activities in the period between its eighth and ninth sessions, and an overview of the escwa programme of work for the 2010–2011 bien-nium.

Advancement of women

The escwa Centre for Women (ecw) organized two workshops for participants from national women machineries and gender focal points of Ministries of Labour to provide guidelines for formulating gender mainstreaming strategies within those Ministries. Ecw assisted countries in integrating a gender per-


spective into conflict resolution and post-conflict re-construction processes through the organization of a workshop on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325(2000) [YUN 2000, p. 1113] on women, peace and security; and the introduction of “escwa-United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees guidelines on the protection of women living in con-flict situations”.

Ecw also co-organized a workshop with the Inter-Parliamentarian Union on the role of parliamentar-ians in implementing the Convention on the Elimina-tion of All Forms of Discrimination against Women [YUN 1979, p. 895] and combating violence against women by introducing gender-sensitive legislation.

On 19 May [res. 293(XXVI)], the Commission called on member countries to adopt the resolution on the follow-up to the implementation of the Beijing Plat-form for Action in the Arab countries after fifteen years: Beijing+15, and the recommendation on sup-porting ecw with additional resources in order to upgrade it to a division, adopted by the Committee on Women at its fourth session [YUN 2009, p. 991]. It asked the secretariat to complete the administrative procedures related to the upgrading of ecw.

The Economic and Social Council, by decision 2010/254 of 23 July, deferred consideration of the draft resolution recommended by escwa entitled “Upgrading the escwa Centre for Women to the level of a division and follow-up to the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action in the Arab countries after 15 years: Beijing+15” until its 2010 resumed sub-stantive session. On 15 December, the Council, by decision 2010/265, further deferred consideration of the item to its 2011 substantive session.

Conflict mitigation and development

The escwa Section for Emerging and Conflict- related Issues (ecri) aimed to increase understanding by countries of the impact of conflict and enhance their capacity to identify, assess, predict and respond to challenges posed by conflict, with a view to reduc-ing its impact on development. Escwa continued to focus on strengthening national capacities in assess-ing and mapping governance limitations and prior-ity/focus areas, identifying policy recommendations and developing action plans for the establishment of a more efficient distribution of power, and competen-cies between the central and local governments to achieve equitable access to essential services.

In 2010, the Section conducted a study enti-tled Food Security and Conflict in the escwa Region [E/ESCWA/ECRI/2010/1], which argued that the nexus between conflict and food insecurity should be bro-

ken through the provision of new economic oppor-tunities resulting from greater regional cooperation.

On 19 May [res. 292(XXVI)], the Commission de-cided to establish a committee on emerging issues and development in conflict settings, whose functions and mandate would be determined after further consulta-tion with member countries. It requested the secre-tariat to upgrade ecri to a division similar to other escwa subprogrammes, with a view to meeting the needs of member countries and intensifying activities in the areas of emerging issues, development in situ-ations of conflict and instability, development in the least developed countries and development of public sector institutions.

The Economic and Social Council, by decision 2010/253 of 23 July, deferred consideration of the draft resolution recommended by escwa entitled “Upgrading the escwa section for Emerging and Conflict-related Issues to the level of a division and establishing a governmental committee on emerg-ing issues and development in conflict settings” to its 2010 resumed substantive session. On 15 December, the Council, by decision 2010/265, further deferred consideration of the item to its 2011 substantive ses-sion.


On 19 May [res. 298(XXVI)], the Commission en-dorsed the change in the title of subprogramme 2, from “Integrated Social Policies” to “Social De-velopment”; and adopted the amendments to the work programme for the 2010–2011 biennium [res. 299(XXVI)], the sessional reports of its subsidiary bodies [res. 300(XXVI)], and the draft strategic frame-work for the 2012–2013 biennium [res. 301(XXVI)] [E/ESCWA/26/7].

In an August bulletin [ST/SGB/2010/7], the Secretary- General outlined the functions and organization of the escwa secretariat, and abolished the 2002 bulletin on the subject [ST/SGB/2002/16].

Cooperation with LAS

On 13 December, the General Assembly, in reso-lution 65/126 (see p. 1416) commended the efforts of the League of Arab States to promote multilateral cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States and requested the Secretary-General to continue efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two organizations and other UN system organizations and agencies in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, administrative and technical fields.

chapter v regional economic and social activities

Documents