UNITED NATIONS Distr. DEVELOPMENT GENERAL DP/439 PROGRAMME 30 April 1980 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

GOVERNING COUNCIL Twenty-seventh session June 1980 Agenda item 4(a)

Country and IntercountrZ Programming and Pro~e_cts

IMPLEMENTATION BY THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRA59~ OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING ASSISTANCE TO BOTSWANA, , CHAD, THE , DJIBOUTI, EQUATORIAL , GUINEA-BISSAU, LESOTHO, MOZAmbIQUE, SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE, , TONGA, UGANDA AND ZAMBIA.

Re~ort of the Administrator

Summary

At its thirty-fourth session the General Assembly adopted a series of resolutions (34/119 to 3h/132) by which it requested the United Nations Development Programme and various organizations of the United Nations system to bring to the attention of their governing bodies for their consideration the assistance they are rendering to Botswana, Cape Verde, Chad, the Comoros, Djibouti, , Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Tonga, Uganda and Zambia. Further, the resolutions requested that the needs of these countries be brought to the attention of the governing bodies. The present report informs the Governing Council of actions taken or being considered in favour of the countries concerned.

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INTRODUCTION

i. At its thirty-fourth session, the General Assembly adopted a series of resolutions (3h/I19 to 3h/132) by which it requested UNDP and other organiza- tions of the United Nations system to bring to the attention of their govern- ing bodies for their consideration the special needs of Botswana, Cane Verde, Chad, The Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Le~otho, Mozambique, Sap Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Tonga, Uganda and Zambia, and the assistance being rendered to these countries.

2. A comprehensive review of the assistance by the United Nations Develon- merit Programme to some of these countries was made in document DP/375 submitted to the Governing Council at its thirty-sixth session. Since then, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Chad and Tonga have been added to the list.

3. Besides informing the Governin~ Council of the actions of the United Nations Development Programme in mobilizing the necessary resources, the ~resent report covers anticipated financial resources and activities being considered in favour of these countries. Amon~ these, are increased IPF resources, favourable treatment of some countries as if they were least developed countries and the special regional programme being develooed for island developing countries of . DP/439 English Page 3

(a) Assistance to Botswana

4. Since the Governing Council considered document DP/375 (paras. 6-11) regarding assistance to Botswana, the General Assembly adopted resolution 34/125 at its thirty-fourth session, by which it requested the governing bodies of UNDP and other organisations of the United Nations system to consider the assistance they are rendering to Botswana.

5. During the last nine months or so, UNDP’s assistance has been reviewed during the mid-term review of the country programme when shortcomings were identified and practical adjustments were proposed in relation to the national priorities. This mid-term programme review which was attended by the Deputy Assistant Administrator, Regional Bureau for Africa, identified additional projects to be funded by UNDP in the fields of land development, meteorological forecasting and mineral resources exploration.

6. The total cost of the proposed new projects in 1979-1981, including those in civil aviation, small-scale industries, livestock development and agricultural improvements was estimated at ~1.5 million.

7. The civil aviation project has already been approved and is being funded by the Special Fund for Land-locked Countries. Other important projects approved include those for:

- Staff development, directorate of personnel - Training of medical laboratory assistants - Provision of United Nations Volunteers to alleviate trained personnel shortages, especially in the field of education - Non-formal education with emphasis on rural development - Training in the management and development ofwild life - Investigation of ground water in the - Economic planning.

Additional projects were identified for UNCDF assistance, notably in control of communicable diseases, development of remote areas and improvement of WFP storage and transportation facilities.

(b) Assistance to Cape Verde

8. The General Assembly, in resolution 34/119, adopted on lh December 1979, appealed "to all States, regional and interregional organizations and other inter-governmental bodies to provide financial, material and technical assistance to Cape Verde so as to enable it to carry out a programme of accelerated development". In particular, the United Nations Development Programme was invited to bring to the attention of the Governing Council the special needs of Cape Verde and to report the decisions of the Council to the Secretary-General by 15 August 1980. The Governing Council will recall that in previous years the General Assembly launched similar appeals. DP/439 English Page 4

9. Since our last report to the Governing Council on this matter (DP/375, paras. 22-24), a number of measures have been taken by UNDP in favour of Cape Verde. First, the Revublic of Cape Verde has received additional alloca- tions of $68,000 from the Special Measures Fund for Least Developed Countries, thus bringing to $216,000 the amount of resources provided to Caoe Verde from that Fund. Second, the United Nations Capital Develovment Fund has fielded a number of feasibility missions to examine projects in the fields of irriga- tion and water supply, poultry production and primary school construction. As of the end of 1979, an amount of $1,990,000 was aDproved by the Fund to finance the primary school construction project. Third, the UNDP Office in Praia has been strengthened by upgrading the post of Representative to Resident Representative and a new post of Assistant Resident Representative has been added to the manning table.

i0. It is also worth noting that the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa is preparing a special programme for developing island countries of that which will benefit Cape Verde.

ii. As one of the LDCs, Cape Verde is likely to receive larger assistance from UNDP in 1982-1986 if the proposals being considered by the Governing Council concerning the allocation of resources durin~ that programming cycle are approved.

(c) Assistance to Chad

12. On 14 December 1979, the General Assembly adopted resolution 34/120 calling for urgent assistance by the international community of Member States of the United Nations for the reconstruction, rehabilitation and development of Chad.

13. The resolution contained a request to the organizations of the United Nations system - the UNDP was mentioned in particular, alon~ with FAO, IFAD, WFP, UNIDO, UNESCO and UNICEF - to continue and increase their programmes of assistance. In order to comply with this request, the UNDP had started to reactivate its programme of technical assistance to the Government of Chad, and to make preparations to increase its assistance to some key sectors of the national economy. These preparatory activities focused on strengthening the country’s capacity for economic planning and reconstruction, while particular attention was given to the energy and mineral production sectors. lb. Although most of UNDP’s activities had been suspended during the civil strife that erupted in N’DJamena in February 1979, detailed plans for their reactivation had been made by February 1980, while some of the non-suspended projects continued their activities.

15. After hostilities began in N’DJamena in 1979, UNDP approved a special project providing, on an emergency basis, assistance to 68 Chadian students who until then had been receiving stipends from their own Government, but had not received any stipend payments since February 1979 because of the difficult economic situation the Chadian Government was facing. Total cost to UNDP of this special project, which is continuing, amounts to $347,000. DPIb39 English Page 5

16. Around mid-March 1980, the political situation in Chad deteriorated considerably, leading to a new eruption of armed conflict in the caoital. These circumstances forced international and bilateral aid organizations, including those belonging to the United Nations system, to suspend all their activities and to evacuate all their personnel on or around 24 March 1980.

17. By the time this report is being written, the armed conflict is continu- ing and no plans have been made to reactivate UNDP activities in Chad.

(d) Assistance to the Comoros

18. In addition to requesting UNDP to bring to the attention of the Govern- ing Council the special needs of the Comoros, the General Assembly, in resolution 34/127, "requests the appropriate organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to maintain and increase their current and future programmes of assistance to the Comoros and to co-operate closely with the Secretary-General in organizing an effective international programme of assistance and to report periodically to him on the steps they have taken and the resources they have made available to assist that country".

19. Document DP/375 submitted to the Governing Council in 1979 describes in paragraphs 29 to 31 action taken by UNDP in favour of the Comoros since the General Assembly adopted resolutions 31/42, 39/92 and 33/123 concerning assistance to that country.

20. Although it has not even been a year since the Resident Representative took office in Moroni in May 1979, his appointment to the country has already proved to be one of UNDP’s significant contributions to the mobilization of "the necessary resources for an effective programme of financial, technical and material assistance to the Comoros" (resolution 33/123). During 1979 assistance financed under the indicative planning figure (IPF) rose $1.06 million, representing a dramatic contrast to the previous year’s $363,000. In addition, $122,000 was allocated to the Comoros from the Special Measures Fund for the Least Developed Countries thus bringing to $391,000 the total amount of resources provided to the country from that Fund.

21. Much of the assistance financed by UNDP during 1979 went to activities in agriculture and rural development, with particular emphasis on food production. It has also funded activities in such other fields as the strengthening of the education sector, manpower development and personnel training, as well as economic and development planning. ~"~nese are all areas in which the country is least prepared, and on which future development depends.

22. Steps were also taken in 1979, to prepare the first ever country programme for the Comoros. Final discussions on the countrw programme took place in the first half of September of that year when the Deputy Assistant Administrator, Regional Bureau for Africa, visited the country for this purpose. Visits were also separately made by a consultant of the Capital Development Fund with the objective of identifying and developing projects to be financed by the Fund.

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23. As one of the LDCs, the Comoros is likely to receive larger assistance from UNDP in 1982-1986 if the proposals being considered by the Governing Council concerning the allocation of resources during that programming cycle are approved. The Comoros will also benefit from a special programme for developing island countries which the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa is preparing for that region.

(e) Assistance to Djibouti

2h. As reported to the Governing Council last year in document DP/375 (paras. 25 and 26), pursuant to General Assembly resolution 32/93 13 December 1977 the UNDP Governing Council, in June 1977, increased the funds available to Djibouti thus bringing total IPF resources to $1,hh2,000 for the 1977-1981 cycle. A recommendation to further adjust upward the IPF for Djibouti for 1977-1981 is pending before the Council. In addition, Djibouti was granted the same favourable treatment as is enjoyed by the least developed among the developing countries. Thus, Djibouti has received additional alloca- tions totalling ~3h,000 under the Special Measures Fund for LDCs.

25. In October 1979 the UNDP Basic Agreement was signed in New York and active arrangements have been underway since the m~ddle of 1979 to open an office in Djibouti. A representative was assigned to Djibouti in September 1979 and the office premises were officially opened in January 1980.

26. During the signing ceremony of the Basic Agreement, the wish was expressed to arrange a Round Table Donor Meeting under the overall auspices of UNDP. Arrangements have been made for a preliminary programme identifica- tion mission to visit Djibouti in early 1980 and, subject to the outcome of this mission, a sectoral meeting might be held towards the middle of 1980 to be followed by a Donors’ Round Table Conference towards the end of 1980.

27. Programming activities have so far been modest. Two small fellowship projects were under implementation in 1979: i.e., DJI/78/003, Bourse d’Etudes en Planification et Administration de l’Education~ and DJI/78/004, Bourse d’Etudes en D@veloppement Economique et Planification, Dakar. One large- scale project, DJI/78/005, Essais sur Fluides G~othermiques, with a UNDP allocation of $471,000 was also under implementation with commitments for 1979 of $190,190.

28. Subject to the outcome of the Round Table Conference mentioned above, it is envisaged that preparations for the first country programme for Djibouti will be started during 1980.

(f) Assistance to Equatorial Guinea

29. The Governing Council discussed assistance to Equatorial Guinea at its February 1980 meeting (see DP/3h6 of h February 1980). There is nothing more to report to the Governing Council at this stage.

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(g) Assistance to Guinea-Bissau

30. Assistance to Gulnea-Bissau was presented in document DP/375 (paras. 27-28). In its resolution 3h/121, the General Assembly reiterated its appeal to UNDP and to the organizations of the United Nations system to consider the special needs of Guinea-Bissau.

31. The Governing Council will recall that in 1978 it accorded Guinea- Bissau the benefits enjoyed by the least developed countries which increased its IPF resources by 6.h per cent amounting to $362,000. Additionally, Guinea-Bissau has received a total of $22h,000 from the Soecial Measures Fund for LDCs. The total UNDP funds available to Guinea-Bissau for the period 1977-1981, including the unspent balance of the 1972-1976 IPF, thus amount to S7,620,000. The IPF approved in June 1976 for the 1977-1981 programming cycle was $5.75 million.

32. In addition, in order to allow a smooth transition to its third IPF cycle, it has been agreed that Guinea-Bissau may borrow uo to a maximum of $1,500,000 from the next IPF.

33. The programme in Guinea-Bissau is being implemented at full speed. Forty-one UNDP-assisted projects are presently underway. As a consequence of the country being designated eligible to receive benefits enjoyed by the least developed among the developing countries, a UNCDF identification mission was fielded to Guinea-Bissau in January 1980 to help the Government in select- ing possible new projects.

34. A review mission by the Secretary-General visited Guinea-Bissau last year to consult with the Government on the economic situation and on the progress made in implementing the special economic assistance programme, especially in the sectors of economic planning, finance, health, education, transport, agriculture and food aid. It appears from the Secretary General’s report to ECOSOC (document A/3h/370) that Guinea-Bissau has received inter- national assistance under a number of bilateral and multilateral programmes. Under bilateral assistance, the report mentions Abu Dhabi, China, Denmark, France, German Democratic Republic, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, United Kingdom, USA and USSR. Multilateral assistance was received mainly from UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, ADB, BDEAC and OPEC.

35. Although the international response was quite positive, Guinea-Bissau will continue to require additional foreign assistance. A report of another review mission which visited Guinea-Bissau recently is awaited.

(h) Assistance to Lesotho

36. Since reporting to the Governing Council in 1979 on assistance to Lesotho (DP/375, paras. 12-16), the followin~ information on developments that have taken place is worth mentioning.

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37. First, a Donor Conference organized by the Government with UNDP assistance was held in Maseru from 5 to 9 November 1979. Tne Conference considered ways in which the donor countries and agencies could assist Lesotho in strengthening its economy within the overall frame-work of the third development programme 1980/1981 to 198h/1985. The main thrust of the plan is to devise a strategy to reduce vulnerability of the economy to external pressures. One of the major results of the conference was that the agricultural sector was identified as one of the most imnortant and for which further studies were required. It was agreed that another donor conference should be organized in 1980 to consider how to increase the contribution of agriculture to incomes, employment and self-sufficiency in food. A high level multi-donor mission led by UNDP will be making preliminary studies and reports, for consideration at the Donor Conference planned for July 1980.

38. Second, as an LDC Lesotho continued to benefit from resources of the Special Measures Fund for the LDCs and of the United Nations Capital Develop- ment Fund. Following the grantin~ to Lesotho of an additional allocation of $225~000 from the Special Measures Fund, the total assistance received so far by Lesotho from that Fund now amounts to ~2.025 million.

39. Regarding the Capital Development Fund, assistance provided to Lesotho now amounts to $2.7 million. Projects financed under that Fund include improved sanitation in primary schools, low cost housing, and a wilot asparagus plant.

(i) Assistance to Mozambiq~ue

20. In addition to inviting UNDP to bring to the attention of the Governing Council the special needs of Mozambique, the General Assembly, in resolution 32/129, requested UNDP and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system "to maintain and increase their current and future programmes of assistance to Mozambique and to co-operate closely with the Secretary- General in organizing an effective international programme of assistance". hi. In Document DP/375 submitted to the Governing Council in 1979, assistance to Mozambique is dealt with in oaragranhs 17 to 19. The Governing Council will recall that in response to the General Assembly resolution 33/126 of 19 December 1978~ the Secretary-General sent a review mission to Mozambique from 27 May to 3 June 1979 to consult with the Government on the economic situation. In his report to the General Assembly (A/Bh/377 of 16 August 1979) the Secretary- General stated that of the h2 projects costing anoroximately ~h8 million, for which foreign assistance was sought as a matter of urgency, only 20 had attracted international funding. No assistance had been forthcoming for the remainder, at the time of the review mission. However, the mission identified four new additional projects which required urgent international assistance. Three of these projects were related to the damage and disruption arising from the actions of the illegal regime in . The fourth project involved the creation of a food security reserve recommended by FAO. This reserve stock would provide cover for two months against import delays and provide sufficient emergency stocks for any unforeseeable disasters of which there have been several over the last few years. Most important, it would cushion Mozambique from the vagaries of weather and other disasters.

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42. The Governing Council of UNDP approved, at its twenty-sixth session in June 1979, the first country programme of the Government of Mozambique. The total IPF resources for the programme neriod amounted to 321,745,000. These resources are concentrated in a few key areas of assistance: those concerning activities in rural areas includin~ food production; and those dealing with education, health and housing.

43. UNDP will continue to provide its assistance to Mozambique within the framework of the country programme in keeping with priorities indicated by the Government for the utilization of UNDP resources. Mozambique will also benefit from sub-regional projects to be financed by UNDP and which may be developed in favor of countries of as a result of the organiza- tion of active economic and technical co-operation between countries of that part of the .

Assistance to Sac Tome and Princioe

4h. The General Assembly, in resolution Bh/131, adopted on 14 December 1979, renewed its appeal to Member States, regional and interregional orKanizations and other intergovernmental bodies "to provide financial, material and technical assistance to Sac Tome and Principe to permit the implementation of the projects and programmes identified in the report of the Secretary-General and to enable the Government to launch an effective programme of economic and social develop- ment". In particular, UNDP was invited to bring to the attention of the Govern- ing Council for its consideration the special needs of Sac Tome and Principe and to report the decisions of the Council to the Secretary-General by 15 August 1980. In the same resolution, the General Assembly also requested the Administra- tor of UNDP to consider as a matter of priority, the assigning to Sac Tome and Principe of a full-time representative.

45. The Council will recall that at its twenty-sixth session durin~ which it considered document DP/375, it also approved the country programme for Sac Tome and Principe. Implementation of projects is picking up speed and constraints experienced in 1975, 1976 and 1977 with regard to the recruitment of experts are gradually disappearing. To date, Sac Tome and Principe has received an allocation of $82,000 from the Special Measures Fund of which $51,000 has been expended or committed through December 1979 leaving an un- committed balance of ~31,000. Nonetheless, the Government considers that the present level of their IPF ($1.6 million) is inadequate in view of the country’s existing needs and has therefore requested that the situation be reviewed. h6. Since Sac Tome and Principe is bein~ treated as if it were an LDC, a mission by UNCDF will be fielded soon to identify projects for possible assist- ance by the Fund.

47. Regarding theGeneral Assembly’s request to assign a full-time Resident Representative to Sac Tome and Principe, the Council is aware that hitherto Sac Tome and Principe has been covered by the Resident Representative posted in Libreville, Gabon, with a Resident Senior WFP staff member overseeing the conduct of the day-to-day business in Sac Tome and Principe. Although the merits of the request are obvious, a decision will be taken only after full consideration of the global implications and the budgetary aspects of such a decision. /... DP/439 English Page i0

(k) Assistance to Seychelles 48. In its resolution 33/129 of 19 December 1978 on assistance to Seychelles, the General Assembly invited UNDP and a selected number of other agencies and organizations of the United Nations family, "to bring to the attention of their governing bodies for their consideration, the assistance they are rendering to Seychelles, for which the General Assembly has requested the Secretary-General V9 to implement a special economic assistance programme .... The resolution also requested the Secretary-General to, inter-alia, pursue with the Government of Seychelles the question of organizing a meeting of donors and, in this respect, to coordinate efforts with UNDP, the Economic Commission for Africa and the World Bank.

49. Although Seychelles did not become independent until 29 June 1976, it had been receiving UNDP assistance lon~. before that. When that country became independent, an IPF of $1.6 million was set aside for Seychelles for the period 1977-1981. However, assistance continued to be given on an ad hoc basis but in consonance with the co~mtry’s most immediate needs.

50. It was decided in 1978, to rationalize and, therefore, systematize UNDPassistance to Seychelles. Consequently, country programming was under- taken in the course of 1979 on the basis of the ~1.6 million for the 1977- 1981 programme cycle. Final discussions on the country programme took place in November 1979, and were attended by the Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa. This country programme, Seychelles’ first ever, is being presented to the current Session of the Governing Council for aDproval.

51. It became apparent in the course of the programmin~ exercise that Seychelles’ needs for technical assistance exceeded available UNDP resources by far. Indeed, of the IPF of ~1.6 million, considerably less than half a million dollars remained uncommitted by 1979. In view of the fact that there are several priority projects which must be implemented between now and December 1981 if the Government’s modest development goals are to be achieved, a special effort is being made within UNDP to see to the financing of some of these projects, particularly through the Soecial Regional Programme for Develop- ing Islands of Africa which, like Seychelles, face such particular problems as difficulties in inter-island transport and communications, low domestic food and export goods production and, above all, energy production, as well as inadequate human and material resources for development. It is hoped that Seychelles could derive the benefit of up to half a million dollars over and above its regular IPF funds through this special UNDP assistance.

(I) Assistance to the Kin~dpm_ ofTong~aa

52. General Assembly resolution 34/132 adopted on 14 December 1979, calls upon Member States to consider granting to Tonga for the remainder of the current Development Decade "the special assistance and benefits accorded to least developed countries and to give special consideration to the early inclusion of Tonga in their programmes of development assistance". The resolution also invites UNDP to bring to the attention of its governing body, for consideration, the special needs of Tonga and to report the Governing Council’s decisions to the Secretary-General by 15 August 1980.

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53. The second country programme for Tonga was approved at the January 1976 meeting of the UNDP Governing Council for the period 1976-1980. The Administrator and the Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for and the Pacific visited the Kingdom of Tonga in 1979, prior to the UNDP/ESCAP/ South Pacific Commission/South Pacific Bureau for Economic Co-operation Meeting of Senior Planning Officials to discuss the UNDP intercountry programme for 1979-1981, at which Tonga was represented in Suva, FiJi, in February 1979.

54. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in resolution ll7 (IV) cited the serious economic situation in Tonga, its very low level of economic development, its remote location, the fragile nature of its economy and the many serious constraints faced by it. Concerned at the continued structural imbalances in the economy of the country, particularly its over- whelming dependence on imports, the General Assembly appeals to Member States, regional and interregional organizations and other intergovernmental bodies to provide financial, material and technical assistance to Tonga to enable it to establish the social and economic infrastructure that is essential for the well being of its people.

55. Considering the current situation and the above resolution of the General Assembly, the Administrator requests the Governing Council to decide whether, for the remainder of this cycle, Tonga should be extended the same benefits "as if" it were a least developed country. This would mean:

(1) An increase in the second cycle IPF ($2.0m~llion) by 6.h cent, or $128,000 to be met from funds available under "Future Participants, etc."

(ii) Allocation from the Special Measures Fund for Least Developed Countries from the resources made available in 1980 and 1981: and

(iil) Access to assistance from the Capital Development Fund.

(m) Assistance to U6anda

56. At its thirty-fourth session, the General Assembly adopted resolution 34/122 by which it requested the Secretary-General to mobilize an international programme of financial, technical and material assistance to Uganda to meet the long-term and short-term reconstruction, rehabilitation and development needs of Uganda. The resolution also invited organizations of the United Nations system, including UNDP, to maintain and increase their current and future programmes of assistance to Uganda and to co-operate closely with the Secretary- General in his efforts to organize an effective international programme of assistance.

57. Specifically, the resolution invited the organizations of the United Nations system to bring to the attention of their governing bodies, for their consideration, the special needs of Uganda and to report the decisions of these bodies to the Secretary-General by 15 August 1980.

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58. U~P has been particularly active in Uganda since the fall of the Amin regime. The Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa visited Uganda on two occasions to determine how best UNDP could assist the Govern- ment in its reconstruction efforts. Other staff members of the Regional Bureau for Africa also visited Uganda on several occasions.

59. At the Government’s request, UNDP’s programme of assistance was suspended in May 1979 pending a review by the Government of its priorities to fit the changed situation. In this matter, UNDP’s role has been significant.

60. In addition to a review of its own programme of assistance, UNDP assisted the Government in a thorough review of its over-all economic situa- tion including assessment of the damages, and determination of priority areas requiring urgent attention.

61. UNDP also organized inter-agency meetings in order to co-ordinate better the activities and assistance of the United Nations system during the emergency period. This was followed by sectoral programming and planning missions of specialized agencies of the United Nations to review and focus their programmes to reflect the changed situation and to accommodate the emergency needs of the Government.

62. Amongst the most significant and comprehensive studies carried out was the report of the team of Commonwealth experts under the leadership of Professor Dudley Sears. This report formed the basis of subsequent consultation on aid for Uganda by various donors and organizations.

63. Two donor meetings have taken place in Kmmpala (20 June and 25 July 1979) as a first step towards raising part of Uganda’s total financial requirements for the rehabilitation of its people and economy. UNDP resources were estimated as follows:

(i) ~20 million from unutilized IPF resources:

(ii) $5 million from UNCDF for rehabilitation and develonment projects of benefit to lower-income groups; and

(ill) Special assistance from the LDC Funds and the Special Fund for Land-locked Developing Countries.

64. Notable amongst the meetings was the World Bank Consultative Group on Uganda held in Paris 7-10 November 1979. The meeting focused on a Joint review of the emergency rehabilitation and economic recovery objectives and priorities of the Uganda Government and afforded potential donors the opportun- ity to share their views and intentions regarding their contributions to Uganda’s rehabilitation programme. One of the main thrusts of the meeting, however, was the balance of payment problems. The initial response of the donors was positive provided the Government was able to overcome the security problems and other constraints, in particular, manpower resources.

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65. UNDP and the Specialized Agencies of the United Nations system should shortly finalize the revised programme of UNDP assistance to Uganda based on the programming and plannin~ missions recently concluded by the various Agencies. Implementation however is slow and suffers from continuing constraints mainly arising from the security situation which continues to raise concern: weak Government infrastructure including poor transport and communication services: lack of housing for experts: food shortages: and the generally uneasy situation which prevails in the country.

66. In spite of all this, aid to Uganda from the international community and bilateral sources is gradually increasing. Although the total aid picture is not yet clear, Uganda will require massive aid for some time to reestablish and to maintain its basic services.

(n) Assistance to Zambia

67. As reported to the Governing Council at its twenty-sixth session in June 1979, the Security Council adopted on i0 March 1973, Resolution 329 (1973) which inter alia "appealed to the international community to provide financial, technical and material assistance to Zambia" following the decision of the Government of Zambia to apply sanctions against the illegal regime in Rhodesia.

68. The General Assembly, in resolution 34/128 adopted on 14 December 1979, invited UNDP inter alia "to maintain and increase their current and future programmes of assistance to Zambia in order to enable it to carry out its planned development projects without interruption, and to co-operate closely with the Secretary-General in organizing an effective international programme of assistance". Further, UNDP was invited to bring to the attention of the Governing Council the special needs of Zambia and to report the Council’s decisions to the Secretary-General by 15 August 1980.

69. UNDP has already taken steps to revise Zambia’s country programme to reflect the emphases on contingency-related projects, improvements required in the transport and industrial sectors to promote economic diversification. The magnitude of Zambia’s severe economic plight, compounded by emergencies, still require additional aid despite the assistance which has been extended so far.

70. In addition to these efforts, a review mission visited Zambia from 19 to 26 May 1979 to consult with the Government on the economic situation and to review the progress made in implementing the special economic assist- ance programme. The mission was led by the Joint Co-ordinator of Special Economic Assistance Programmes in the office for Special Political Questions.

71. The mission concluded (see the report of the Secretary-General, A/3h/h07 of 30 August 1979) inter alia, that one of the major problems facing the Government of Zambia in recent years has been the serious internal imbalances reflected in large Government deficits. The pressures which continue to be exerted on the balance of payments largely reflect the transport bottle-necks DP/h39 English Page lh which have prevented both the shipment of exports and of imports. However, there has been some alleviations of the pressures since the southern route was opened in October 1978 to facilitate the movement of exports and imports. Furthermore the mission observed that uncertainty about the resources required to implement the Third National Development Plan (1979-1983) led to delays finalization. It had been estimated that for 1979 alone, about $h00 million of external assistance would be required. It was considered that this assist- ance could best be provided by general balance of payments support, commodity assistance and food aid.

72. With the independence of Zimbabwe, UNDP intends to follow up on the proposal it made a year ago to governments of Southern Africa concerning the preparation of a comprehensive programme of transport and communications for that sub-region, the financing of which will need close co-operation between several donor countries and organizations under the leadership of the countries concerned.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE ADMINISTRATOR

73. The Administrator recommends that the Governing Council take note of this report.