Mid-term review and appraisal of progress in the implementation of the International Development Strategy for the 2nd United Nations Development Decade — A/RES/3517(XXX) | UN Mandate Registry

Mid-Term Review and Appraisal of Progress in the Implementation of the International Development Strategy for the 2nd United Nations Development Decade

A/RES/3517(XXX)View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, published in 1976.

What subjects does this mandate have?

2 subjects

Development Strategies International Decades

What’s in this document?

94 operative paragraphs

This extracted fulltext may contain errors or omissions. Please check the source document.

1

Reaffirms its adherence to a stratcgic framcwork for international development co-operation as cm-- bodied in the International Development Stratcgy for the Second United Nations Development Decadc based ?n _mutually consi~tent and reinforced goals a~d ob- Jecttves and comm1tments to tbe adoption and irnplc- ~e~tation of measures to realize those goals and ob- Jechves;

2

Adopts the text of the mid-term ovcr-all rcvicw and appraisal of progress in the implementation of tlll" Int~rnation~ Development Strategy for tbe Sccond Umted Natlons Development Decade as set forth in sections I to III of the present resolution;

3

Urges Member States to implement the rneasures, undertaken within tbe framework of thc I11tc1- national Development Strategy, set forth in scct1on J\: of the present resolution;

4

Urges M_ember States to implcmcnt thc pultcy measures unammously agreed upan by thc General Assembly at its seventh special session in rcsolution 3362 (S-Vll) concerning international tradc, transfer of resources far development, international monctarv refarm, science and technology, industrialization, fon¿! and a~riculture and co-operation among dcvclnping countnes and, to that end, requests ali Governmcnts to take the required measures and come to thc ;,,ter-- nati~nal meetings sufficiently prepared so as to makc i1 poss1ble far the competent bodies of the United Nations concemed, particularly tbe United Nations Confcrencc on Trade and Development at its fourth sessio11, the United Nations Industr!al Development Organization, tbe World Food Council and the World Bank Grnup, to reacb urgent and satisfactory agreements on !hose matters referred to them for implementation;

5

Urges developed and developing countries tu continue seeking new areas of agreement and widcning the existing ones, within the framework of thc ,npropriate intern~tional. organizations, through add rc:~- mg themselves, mter alza, to tbe fallowing issucs ·

a

Extension of preferential treatment in favorn of developing countries in trade;

b

Differential and more favourable treatmenl ;" ~avour of developing countries, in appropriate ~:,1:w~ m areas other than trade;

e

Intemational norms and procedures to govern departures from the provisions of the principie of standstill;

d

Transfer of resources to developing countries on a predictable, continuous and assured basis, through, inter alía:

i

The establishment of a link between additional development financing and special drawing rights as and when they are created according to the needs of international liquidity;

ii

The possible utilization of the proceeds from the exploitation of the resources of the sea-bed and the ocean floor and the subsoil thereof beyond the limits of national jurisdiction;

e

Increased financing of development in developing countries in accordance with their national plans and priorities through new approaches such as increased access on favourable terms to the capital market of developed L:ountries;

f

Full and effective participation of developing countries in the international economic system and their contribution to its functioning;

6

Invites Member States to take appropriate steps to ensure the implementation of all the provisions of the International Development Strategy;

7

Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-first session an item entitled "Revision of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decadc", so that the Strategy fully takes into account the principies and policy decisions adopted w:thin the United Nations since the adoption of the Strategy and. in particular, resolutions 3201 (S-VI) and 3202 (S-VI), containing the Declaration and the Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International E-::onomic Order, 3281 (XXIX). containing the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States. and 3362 (S-VII) on development and international economic co-operation;

8

Invites the regional commissions, in thc light of the present resolution, to carry forward work already undertaken in preparation for this mid-term review and appraisal, in co-operation with the other competent organizations of the United Nations system;

9

Requests the governing bodies of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Devclopment, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme and the specialized agencies, in the light of this mid-term revicw and appraisal, to rccommend in their respective sectors new goals and objectives, as appropriate, for the remainder of the Decade, taking into account the conclusions and recommendations of the intemational conferences which have taken place since the adoption of resolution 2626 (XXV);

10

Invites the Committee on Development Planning to submit to the Economic and Social Council at its sixty~first session a report containing projections for the remainder of the Decade and, as appropriate, proposals for revision of the goals and objectivcs of the International Development Strategy, as well as recommendations for new goals and objectives, in the light of the conclusions and recommendations of the international conferences which have taken place since the adoption of resolution 2626 (XXV);

11

Requests .the Secretary-General to prepare and subrnit to the Economic and Social Council at its sixtyfirst session appropriate documentation on the basis, inter alia, of the preparatory work to be done in accordance with paragraphs 8 to 10 above;

12

Invites the Economic and Social Council to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session an ítem dealing with the revision of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade.

Review and apprnisal of pro~ress in the implementation of the lnternational Development Strategy

Paragraphs 1-4 5-13 111.

14-46 47-75 A. Co-operation among developing countries 56-57 B.

Invisibles . .

. ............. .

58-59 C. Special measures in favour of thc least developed countries 60-62 D. Special measures in favour of the landlocked and island developing countries 63-65 E. Special measures in favour of the most seriously affected countries 66 F. Human development 67-68 G. Expansion and diversification of production 69-73 H. Mobilization of public opinion 74 Elimination of foreign aggression and occu- J.

pation. racial discriminat,ion, apartheid and colonialism 75

l. INTRODUCTION

1

This mi<l-term review and appraisal of progress in the implementation of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade takes place at a time when the intemational economic situation is continuing to change and when events have been following each other so rapidly as to shake the foundations of the existing economic order. In the first half of the Decade there has been a succession of crucial events. The Bretton Woods system broke down in 1971. From January 1973, the prices of food, fue! and fertilizer rose so rapidly that, together with ever-increasing prices of capital goods, equipment and scrvices, the balanceof-payments situation of most dcveloping countries deteriorated. During 1974, most commodity priccs slumped. Existing structura.l imbalances in agricultura! production were aggravated by, intcr alia, a continuation of unfavourable climatic conditions. The situation in developing conntries was further exacerbated by the economic recession in the developed market economies, combined with thc acccleration of the pace of inflation. During the first half of the Decade, an alanning increase occurred in the ¡rnp between developed and developing countries. and thcrc wa, also an irreversible and most promising change in thc relationship of forces of the world. The devcloping countries emerged as a more powerful factor, as a necessary consequence of the new and growing perception of the reality of interdcpcndence. This newly found strength of the developing countries opens up promising avenues for enlarging and reinforcing cc-opcration among thosc countries on the basis of the fraternal solidarity of thcir pcoples in facing the challenge of development, justice and cquity. Particularly important is the joint action of the devcloping countries to safeguard their permanent sovereignty ovcr thcir natural resources and economic activities, and to strengthcn thcir .icgotiating power for obtaining a just and equitablc trcatmcnt for their exports of both primary prcxlucts and manufactured goods. Fmthermore, parts of thc developing world are sti.11 subject to foreign aggression and occupation, apartheid and

colonial and neo-colonial domination, this being one of the grea1est obstacles to the economic emanoipation and development of the developing world as a whole as well as one of the greatest threats to peace and security throughout the world.

2

This situation led to the call for the establishment of a new international economic order at the sixth special session of the General Assembly, based on true internacional economic ioterdependence, full equity, sovereignty of States, sovereign equality, common interest and co-operatñon among ali States, irrespective of their economic and social systems. In this context, severa! priority areas were identified by ad hoc world conferences which considered problems of enwronment, population, food, industrialization and the role of women in development, and by the General Assembly at its seventh special session, which was a major follow-up to the sixth special session. However, the results of the implementation of action taken at these conferences did not have any impact on the situation prevailing in the first half of the Decade.

3

Developed countries have not, by and large, implemented the policy measures of the International Development Strategy, and indeed there has been sorne retrogression. The inadequate implementation of policy measures embodied in the Strategy, compounded with a continuing economic crisis which affects particularly the developing countries because of their greater vulnerability to externa! economic impulses, produced the most discouraging results w,ith minimal progress in the advancement of the cause of development.

4

Despite agreement at the first biennial review on the necessity to implement the policy measures agreed upon, there has been inadequate movement on the part of the developed countries towards making the development objective a central focus of issues to which the international community should urgently seek effective and consistent solutions.

11. ACHIEVEMENT OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

5

Sorne of the aggregate targets set in the Internacional Development Strategy were met or exceeded, owing mainly to the developing countries' own efforts and to a certain extent to externa! factors such as thc "commodily boom". These aggregate figures, however, do not reflect the variation in achievements by individual developing countries. The main features of achievement are set forth in paragraphs 6 to 13 below.

6

The average growth rate in developing countries has continued at approximately the target set for the Decade, though the annual growth rate per capita was 3.3 per cent, ora little below the targe,t of 3.5 per cent se1 by the International Development Strategy.

Table 4.

Quantum of exports 6.5 Quantum of imports 7.9

11. The net flow of financia) resources of official development assistance, a major area of development policy, has decreased in real terms and as a percentage of gross national product.

Table 5.

,Vet fiow of offecial development assistance from developed market economy countries (lnternational Development Strategy target, 1971-1980:

0.7 per cent per annum)

0.34 0.32 0.32 Table J.

Cross domestic product of developing countries (International Development Strategy target, 1971-1980:

6 per cent per annum)

5.5 5.9 5.2 5.6

Sales No. E.75.II.C.1).

7

A major a rea of shortfall was in the agricultura! sector, where less than half the target rate of 4 per cent was realized by the developing countries as a whole.

Table 2.

Agricultura/ production of developing countries (lnternational Developmen~ Strategy target, 1971-1980:

4 per cent per annum)

2.8 1.5 1.6 -0.8 3.9 1.5

8

The over-all target of 8 per cent per annum in manufacturing output was attained in general, and in sorne cases exceeded.

· Table 3.

Manufacturing production of deve/oping countries (lnternational Development Strategy target, 1971-1980:

8 per cent per annum)

9.0 8.3 6.7 8.9 8.7

9

Developing countries as a whole have achieved the domestic savings rate of 20 per cent set for 198C, though for many developing countries the rate was somewhat less.

10

A main factor conduaive to the over-all achievements of the developing countries during this period was trade. In externa! trade and payments, quantum increases for many developing countries in the early years of the Decade decelerated in 1974, resulting in an average rate of somewhat less than the 7 per cent target of the Intemational Development Strategy. Change in exports and imports of developing countries (International Development Strategy target, 1971-1980~ 7 per cent per annum)

7.1 8.4 8.3 2.5 7.1 1.9 9.8 13.1

12

The burden of debt service payments of developing countries has continue<l to increase in relation to their export earnings.

Table 6.

Service payments on externa[ public debt of seventy-eight developing countries

1967 9.9 1970 11.2 1973 10.9

13

Population policies have, by and large, been implemented by developing countries within the context of their development plans and priorities, and the target of 2.5 per cent of average annual increase in population in developing couI)tries has almost been reached.

lll. EVALUATION OF 1HE IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY MEASURES

14

Little progress has been made on international action in the field of cornmodity trade. In spite of internacional efforts to achieve stable, equitable and rernunerative prices for prirnary cornmodities exported by developing countries, there has been little progress in the field of cornmodity trade. Toe protection of domestic production and restrictive trade practices in sorne developed countries and/or the emergence and increased production of synthetic subsdtutes have contrúbuted to a slowing down of growth of demand for agricultural products. However, a scheme for the stabiliza,tion of export earnings on selected cornrnodities was agreed upon between the European Econornic Cornrnun.ity and forty-seven developing countries.

15

Li-ttle has been accornplished on the issue of access to markets for primary cornmodities, particularly agricultura! products of export interest to developing countries, in spite of the agreernent reached by the Ministers of the Contracting Parties to the General Agreernent on Tariffs and Trade at their meeting held at Tokyo frorn 12 to 14 Septernber 1973.

16

These negotiations, which according to the Tokyo Declaration were to have been concluded by the end of 1975, have not yet had substantive results, to the particular detriment of developing countries whose econornies are particularly sensitive to externa! conditions. Toe removal and/or elirnination of trade barriers were not satisfactorily achieved during the first half of the Decade in spite of the irnplementation of the generalized systern of preferences. In certain instances, the principie of standstill was not observed by sorne major trading countries, causing social and economic problems in developing countries.

17

The impact of tariff escalation on processed products is a major obstacle to vertical diversification. Despite the objectives of facilitating improved access to the markets of developed countries for serni-processed and processed cornmodities of developing countries, adequate intemational action to achieve those objectives has not yet been forthcorning, thereby hampering the efforts of the dcveloping countries to divcrsify their econornies. In fact, the adverse effects of the Kennedy Round, which actually increased the degree of discrirnination against sorne processed products, still rernain a matter of concem.

18

Although the generalized system of preferences represents a break-through in the traditional concept of international trade and co-operation, its benefits to developing countries have so far been of a rnodest nature, owing rnainly to its delayed irnplernentation, to limitations in application by restrictive conditions regarding product coverage, the leve! of "ceiling", the degree of preference, the size of the preferential tariff quota, as well as the inadequacy of relevant information, which prevents benefioiaries frorn taking full advantage of the existing schernes. Even such lirnited benefits as accrue to developing countries from the generalized systern of preferences may be eroded both by preferential arrangements arnong sorne developed countries and by the prospect of reduction in trade barriers among them following the multilateral trade negotiations within the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

19

Developed countries have in sorne cases dcpartcd from the standstill referred to in the International Developrnent Strategy by applying new restrictions affecting a wide range of developing countries' exports, specifically those products in which the developing countries are becoming cornpetitive in intemational rnarkets, such as textiles, leather products, certain types of steel and electronic products. Sirnilarly, the new restrictive measures irnposed by sorne developed countries against exports of agricultura! products of developing countries, both in raw and processed forms, have severely affected the export earnings of those countries. General Auembly-Thirtieth Seuion

20

In spite of growing awareness in the international community of the adverse effects on trade and development of restrictive business practfoes, which are being studied actively, ínter alía within the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; no international action has been taken to elüninate this problem.

21

There has not been systematic progress by developed countries in the implernentation of measures called for to evolve a programrne to assist in the adaptation and adjustment of their non-cornpetitive industries.

22

There has been a growing effort in developing countries to make greater use of trade promotion as an instrument for the expansion of their exports. The application of countervailing duties by sorne developed countries has lirnited the efforts of developing countries in prornoting their trade through export policies which include such measures as subsidies and export incentives.

23

During the first three years of the Decade a substantial growth occurred in trade between developing countrúes and the socialist countries of Eastern Europe. However, there are still certain irnportant problems which trade and economic relations between those countries and developing countries rnust face. The trade of those socialist countries witll developing countries is largely concentrated on a limited number of established partners. There is clearly room for acceJerating the growth of trade between those socialist coun.tries and developing countries, as well as a need to intensify further the efforts to adopt specific measures, as called for by the relevant paragraphs of the Intemational Development Strategy, the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Developrnent and the Charter of Econornic Rights and Duties of States.

24

The current economic situation has given added irnpetus to the expansion of econornic co-operation among developing countries. This need was reflected in the Prograrnme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order and decisions adopted by the non-aligned countries and other groups of developing countries as well as subregional and regional groups of developing countries, which stressed the need for further co!Jective self-reliance and growing co-operation among developing countries. Sorne progress has been made wí,thin interregional and regional grou¡,6. On the basis of trade figures up to 1972, the growth of trade among developing countries has accelerated to over 15 per cent per annurn since 1970, cornpared to 6 per cent during the First United Nations Development Decade. During the rernainder of the Second Development Decade, a more vigorous approach is required for joint action by developing countries. The Programrne of Action contains sorne of the steps which should be taken to expand co-operation at the regional, subregional and interregional levels while action is being taken arnong various groups of developing countries. The fields for such expansion of economic cooperation include industry, raw rnaterials, science, technology, transport, shipping and communication media.

25

The targets for net financia! flows in the lnternational Development Strategy were set to provide the critica\ rnargin of externa! financing over and above the financia! resources developing countries could obtafa through export eamings to meet the mínimum growth objectives of the Strategy. Toe Programrne of Action on the Establishment of a New lnternational Economic Order also emphasized thc need to rea.ch and even exceed at an accelerated pace the proportion of the flow of total net financia! resources frorn developed countries to developing countries and multilateral institutions. This flow, expressed as a percentage of the gross national product, fell from a level of 0.76 per cent in the early period 1961-1963 to 0.70 per cent during the period 1968-1970 and rernained at that leve! during ,the period 1971-1973.

26

The performance of countries mernbers of the Developrnent Assistance Cornmittee under the official development assistance target has been even less sat.isfactory as a whole. The ratio of official development assistance to their combined gross national product declined frorn 0.53 per cent during the early 1960s to about 0.39 per cent during the period 1966-1969 and to 0.32 per cent during the period 1970- 1973. The poor performance of rnost of the developed market

economy countries with regard to the 0.7 per cent target is due, ínter alia, to a lack of political will to reach that tar!!et by the middle of the Decade.

27

In the face of the declining flows of official development assistance in real terms, developing countries have resorted even more to borrowing on relatively harder terms. This has increased debt-servicing problems, which are rlow extremely acute for a number of developing countries. Debtservice payments have grown from an annual average of 9.6 per cent during the 1960s to abóut 16.5 per cent during the period 1970-1972. According to the latest available figures, the ratio of debt-service paymen,ts to export earnings for a number of developing countries exceeded 10 per cent in 1974 and in sorne cases passed the 20 per cent level.

28

The aggregate terms and conditions of financial assistance to developing countries do not reveal the fact that overall efforts to soften and harmonize these terms and conditions of financia! assistance to developing countries, as envisaged in the Intemational Development Strategy, have not been adequate. In addition, an excesSiive amount of development assistance continues to be tied. In paragrnph 45, however, the Strategy states that, where loans continue to be ,tied, the harmful effects should be mitigated; there has been little progress in this area.

29

Within the framework of their national plans and priorities, many developing countries have taken appropriate measures to attract foreign investment. At the same time, concern regarding those aspects of foreign prívate investment

having negative consequences in developing countries has been reflected, inter alía, in the continuing consiideration of thls subject by intemational economic forums, thus motivating a series of resolutions reaffirming the permanent sovereignty of States over their na,t,ional resources and economic activities.

30

The Commission on Transnational Corporations has been established by the United Nations in order, ínter afia, to formulate a code of con,duot.

31

Concern was also expressed regarding the corrupt practices of certa.in transnational and other corporations, their intermediaries and others involved which violate the laws and regulation.s of host countries. The international community solemnly condemned such practices. Both home and host Governments were called upon to take within their respective national jurisdictions ali necessary measures which they deem appropriate, including legislative measures, to prevent such corrupt practices and to take consequent measures against the violators. Home Governments were called upon to co-operate with host Governments to prevent such corrupt practices and to prosecute, within their national jurisdictions, those who engaged in such acts.

32

Consideration has been given to the establishment of a link between special drawing rights and additional development financing. It was agreed at the seventh special session of the General Assembly that the establishment of a link between the special drawing rights and development assistance should form part of the consideration by the International Monetary Fund of the creation of new special drawing rights as and when they are created according to the needs of international liquidity. This small advance is the onJy progress made to date.

33

The most seriously affected countries continue to face a critical situation, despite international efforts carried out under the United Nations Emergency Operation. The flow of resources designed to assist them in meeting their balance-0f-payments problems, as agreed in General Assembly resolution 3202 (S-V,I) of 1 May 1974, has been slow and less than adequate.

34

The code of conduct for liner conferences has not to date been adhered to by the major shipping countries.

35

The main objective of the International Development Strategy in the field of insurance an,d reinsurance is the establishment and growth of domestic insurance and reinsurance markets in developing countries. During the first half of the Decade, sorne preparatory steps have been taken which could lead to important results in this area in the remainder of the Decade. Resolutiom adopted on the reporta of the Second Co~mittee

36

Despite the series of resolutions · adopted after 1970, the essential facts concerning progress in the least developed countries are disappointing. While financia! flows to the least developed countries have clearly improved in the 1970s as compared with the late 1960s, the per capita flow of official development assistance to these countries is still onJy slightly above that to other developing countries, and the total flow of financial resources from ali sources to these countries still remains well below the average to other developing countries.

37

Little has been done in concrete terms to implement the special measures in favour of the least developed countries, particularly in the field of commercial policy.

38

Likewise, the special measures in favour of the landlocked and island developing countries to assist them in solving their most critica! and urgent problems due to their geographical position have yet to be implemented by the international community, especially in regard to compensation for their transportation and additional transit costs, including through the establishment of a special fund.

39

There has been progress in the drafting of a code of conduct for the transfer of technology, though substantive action has still to be taken.

40

There has been sorne movement towards the revision of the patent system but as yet there has been no concrete action.

41

A number of positive changes have taken place in the world social siluation since the advent of the Second United Nations Development Decade. In the context of the increased awareness of the gravity and complexity of human development problems facing the world commuillity, developing countries have made sorne gains in identifying problems and adopting policies to meet them and also in improving the actual situation, though there is clearly room for further advancement. Such matters as a more equitable distribution of income and wealth, employment, agrarian reform, including reform of Jand tenure systems whenever appropriate, land improvement, population policies, education and training policies, rural and integrated rural-urban development and the mobilization of interna! resources, ali of which wouJd contribute appreciably towards a solution to the development problem, remain a source of great national and international concern.

42

Significant advancement has been attained in the field of education, both in the provision of opportunities and in policies. In the area of health, basic health services are sti!J to be extended to cover the entire population, though there has been notable success in sorne other areas. There is still room for improvement in the provision · of housing and related community facilities in both urban and rural areas, particularly in the area of town planning. With respect to the welfare of youth and children, malnutrition, disease, infant mortality, lack of schooling facilities and employment opportunities for youth are still major areas of concern. The integration of women in the development process has still to be complete. Sorne progress has been noted in securing active support and participation of ali segments of the population in socio-economic development programmes.

43

In spite of intensified national and international efiorts to arrest the deterioration of the human environment, environmental problems in the fields of land, water and energy use and climatic change have made themselves increasingly felt.

44

A unified approach to the analysis and planning of development at the national leve! covering all sectors of the national economy, both public and prívate, is being increasingly regarded as a means for the attainment of a balanced economic. social and human development in the light of the circumstances prevailing in the countries concerned.

45

Although developing countries give priority to development programmes for the benefit of the masses, much remains to be done to achieve an integrated rural development.

46

The primary responsibility for the development of developi ng countries rests upon the countries themselves. However, as is stated in the preamble of the International Development Strategy, the efforts of the developing countries will not be sufficient to enable them to achieve the desired devefopment

goals as expeditiously as they must unless they are assisted through increased financia! resources and more favourable economic and cornmercial policies on the part of the developed countries. In both areas there has been slow progress in the implementation of these policy measures.

IV. FURTHER ACTION

47

A more balanced and equitable system of internationaJ economic relations should be promoted, inter alia, by efforts to adjust the present pattern of world trade in favour of the developing countries so as to increase their participation therein and to reduce to a mínimum the negative impact of economic fluctuations. A number of options are open to the international cornmunity to preserve the purchasing power of developing countries. These need to be further s11Udied on a priorúty basis. Toe Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development should continue to study direct and indirect indexation schemes and other optioru; with a view to making concrete proposals to the Conference at its fourth session.

48

The efforts of the developing countries to diversify their economies with a view to expanding the production and export of semi-manufactured and manufactured goods, as well as of semi-processed and processed commodities, and broadening the pattern of exports in favour of commodities with relatively dyn:imic demand conditions, should be supplemented, inter alia, by resources from developed countries and by the provision of specific funds far diversification as a feature of commodity arrangements whenever possible.

49

There should be intensive research and development efforts designed to improve market conditions and cost efficiency and to diversify the end uses of natural products facing competition from synthetics and substitutes; there should also be financia! and technical assistance to developing countries producing natural products which suffer from competition with synthetics and substitutes, in order to help them to diversify into other areas of production. Where natural products are able to satisfy present and anticipated world market requirements, no special encouragement should be given to the creation and utilization of new production, particularly in the developed countries, of directly competing synthetics.

50

Toe trade between the socialis,t countries of Eastern Europe and developing countries should continue to expand at an accelerated rate and cover a large number of developing countries. While measures should be taken to increase the rate of growth of imports from developing countries, particular attention shall be paid to increasing the rate of expansion of the share of manufactures and semi-manufactures. Efforts should be intensified to enter into new trade arrangements and initiate other improvements in order to bring about greater flexibility and multilateralization of payments.

51

Financia! and technical assistance should be directed exclusively towards promoting the economic and social progress of developing countries and should not in any way be used to the detriment of the national sovere,ignty of recipient countries.

52

Taking into account existing agreements and those under consideration, discussions and negotiations should be vigorously pursued with a view to making arrangements far the transfer of resources to stabilize and improve the export earnings of developing countries. In the context of the search for appropriate means for dealing with the problems of disruption' of development arising from the adverse rnovements in the export proceeds of developing countries, efforts should be contlnued in arder to work out a scheme of supplementary financing.

53

All Governments should co-operate within the framework of the Commission on Transnational Corporations with a view to formulating, adopting and implementing an international code of conduct referred to in the report of the Commission on its first session.91

54

Developing countries should continue to implement their undertaking in the International Development Strategy for the mobilization of domestic resources.

91 Of]icial Records of tlze Economic and Social Council, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 12 (E/5655 and Corr.1).

55

Toe role which producers' associations may play within the framework of intemationaJ. co-operation should be facilitated and, in pursuance of their aims, inter alía, assistance in the promotion of sustained growth of the world economy should be provided and the development of developing countries should be accelerated.

A.

56

Developing countries should take specific measures to iintensify their current efforts and initiate new ones to negotiate and put into effect commitments to expand their mutual trade and to extend their economic and technical cooperation at the subregional, regional and interregional levels through, ínter alia: the establishment of payments arrangements; the mutual liberalization of trade; the utilization of available financia) resources for financing development in the developing countries; the promotion of industrial co-operation; co-ope,ration in the field of science and technology; the promotion of subregional, regional and interregionaJ financia} support and co-operation; the increase in the production of agricultural inputs, particularly fertilizers and pesticides; and the etJtablishment of national, regional and interregional shipping companies.

57

Developed coun~ries and intemational organizations should take measures, or, when appropriate, strengthen existing measures, to support economic and technical co-operation among developing countries.

B.

58

National and international measures should be taken to increase substantially the earnings of developing countries from invisible trade, in particular shipping and other modes of transportation, insurance and tourism and the profitability of their trade, and to improve their balance of payments on a permanent basis.

59

All countries, especially developed countries, which have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention on a Code of Conduct for Liner Conferences,92 are invited to take appropriate and urgent actiion to do so.

C.

60

All efforts should be made by the intemational community to ensure the sustained economic and social progress of the least developed countries through the urgent and comprehensive implementation of the agreed measures in their favour.

61

Concerted efforts should be made by developed countries and international organizations through their programmes of technical and financia! assistance to meet the needs of the least developed countries in their development objectives. Toe ,terms and conditions of financial assistance to these countries should be improved so as to include a preponderant grant element.

62

Developed countries and developing countries in a position to do so should take special measures to assist in the structural transformation of the economies of the least developed countries.

D.

63

National and intemational financia! institutions should accord special attention to the particular needs of the landlocked and geographically disadvantaged island develaping countries in extending adequate financia!

and technical assistance to projects and prograrnmes designed for the development and improvement of the transport and communication infrastructure needed by these countries. Toe terms and conditions of financia! assistance to these countries should be improved so as to include a preponderant grant element.

92 United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on a Code of Conduct for Liner Conferences, vol. 11, Final Act (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.11.D.12), pa.rt one, annex l.

ResolutioW1 adopted on the reports of the Second Cq.nmittee

64

Ali States are invited to become parties to the Con-

70

Developing countries should aim at achieving a growth vention on Transit Trade of Land-Locked States of 8 Júly rate of manufacturing output of considerably more than 1965.98 8 per cent per annum during the second half of the Decade.

65

Implementation of measures designed to assist the To this end, the international community should implement above-mentioned countries in overcoming the handicaps of the decisionf of the Second General Conference of the United their geographically disadvantaged positions should take into Nations Industrial Development Organization,95 held al Lima account the relevant decisions and resolutions of the General from 12 to 26 March 1975, in the field of industrialization. Assembly:, the United Nations Conference on Trade and De-

71

Developing countries should aim to achieve the minivelopment and other relevant bodie!!.

mum annual rate of growth in agricultura! production of 4 per cent during the second half of the Decade. To this end, E.

both developing and developed countries should implement the decisiions of the World Food Conference,96 held in Rome

66

Industrialized countries and other potential contributors from 5 to 16 November 1974, in particular, developed counand intemationaJ. organizations, such as the World Bank and tries should assist developing countries in their efforts to the lnternational Monetary Fund, are called upon to extend achieve this target. to the most seriously affected countries immediate relief and

72

Concrete and speedy measures should be adopted and assistance, as provided for in General Assembly resolutions implemented for combating desertificatfon, salination and dam- 3201 (S-VI), 3202 (S-VI) and 3362 (S-Vll). in order to age by locusts or any other adverse natural phenomena enable them to rejoin the developmental mainstream and to affecting agricultura! production in developing countries. reach the targets laid down in the International Development

73

Free and effective exercise by a!J countries of perma- Strategy.

nent sovereignty over their natural resources and economiic activities will play an important role in the achievement of the goals and objectives of the Decade. Developing countries

67

In accordance with their development requirements, the will take steps to develop the full potential of their natural developing countries should devote increasing attention to the resources. Concerted efforts will be made in the defence of implementation of the policy measures in the field of human the free and effective exercise of the right of every State to development contained in the lnternational Development Stratfull and permanent sovereignty over its natural resources. egy and other relevant United Nations decisions for the Competent agencies of the United Nations svstem will assist benefit of their populations as a whole as well as for every developing countries, at their request, in con'nexion with the individual. In accordance with their development plans and operation of nationalized means of production. objectives, the developing countries should give prfority to the poorest strata of the population in such policy areas as inteff. grated rural development, agrarian and land reform, basic

74

The growing recogni•tion at government leve! of the health services, nutritional standards, education and trainreality of interdependence and of the urgent need to close ing, population, housing and related community facilities in the widening gap between developed and developing countries both urban and rural areas and employment. Recognizing calls for renewed efforts to mobilize public opiníon, particuthe miportance of the human environment as a basis for economic and social development, ali countries should in- Iarly in developed countries, in support of the objectives and policies of the International Development Strategy to the tensify efforts for ,the protection, preservation and enhancepoint where it sustains Governments in the early imp1ementament of the environment. Developed countries and internation of commitments made. In view, especially, of the present tional institutions should, upon request, assist thc developing countries in the above tasb.

economic recession in both developed and developing countries, the -task is even more essential now than it was in 1970.

68

With a view to ensuring the maximum participation of women in the total development effort, ali States and J. competent organizations should give priority to the implementation of the recommendations of the World Conference

75

In accordance with the relevant provisions of General of the lnternational Women's Year,94 held at Mexico City Assembly resolutions 2626 · (XXV) and 3 176 (XXVIII), from 19 June to 2 July 1975, in the formulation of their economic and social policies.

vigorous and concrete steps and action still remain to be taken collectively and individually by ali members of the G.

international community to end ali forms of foreign aggression and occupation, racial discrimination, apartheid and

69

Developing countries should adopt and implement colcnialism. It is the duty of ali States to support and extend measures to increase production and improve productivity in assistance to the countries, territories and peoples concerned, order to provide goods and services necessary for raising so as to resto re their national sovereignty, territorial integ- Jevels of living and improving economic viability. Developed rity and their undeniable and fundamental rights. countries and competent international institutions should take the necessary steps to support those measures.

CONTENTS l. INTRODUCTION ll. ACHIEVEMENT OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES . . . .

EVALUATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY MEASURES IV. FURTHER ACTION

Average ama, al rate of increase ( percentaqe)

1971-1974 SouRcE:

World Economic Survey. 1974.

Period 1969-1970 1971-1973 19744 World Economic Survey, 1974. • Provisional data. Average annual rate of change Pcrcenta¡¡e citan.ge ( percenta¡¡e)

from preceding y•ar 1961-1970 1971-1974 1971 1972 1973 1974 SouRcE:

Wo,·ld Economic S1<rvey, 1974 (United Nations publication,

A1,:erage annual rate of change Percentage change from preceding year ( perce11ta11e)

1971 1972 1973 1974 1961-1970 1971-1974 SouacE:

World Economic Survey, 1974.

Average annua{ rate of change Percentage change ( percenla_qe)

/rom preccd1"ng yeur 1971-1974 1971 1972 1973 1974 SouncE:

IVorld E .. :otiomic Survey, 1974.

Percentage change from precedinq year 1971 1972 1973 1974

Percentage share of public debt service payment to the exports of goods and non-factor .serviC(!S ( seventy-eight dwcloping countries)

Centre for Development Planning, Projections and Policies of the l}nited ::-,¡'ations Secretariat.

CO-OPERATION AMONG DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

INVISIBLES

SPECIAL MEASURES IN FAVOUR OF THB LBAST DEVBLOPED COUNTRIES

SPECIAL MEASURES IN FAVOUR OF THE LAND-LOCKED AND ISLAND DEVELOPINO COUNTRIES

SPECIAL MEASURES IN FAVOUR OF THE MOST SERIOUSLY AFFECTED COUNTRIES

F. HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

MOBILIZATION OF PUBLIC OPINION

ELIMINATION OF FOREIGN AGGRESSION AND OCCUPATION,

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, apartheid AND COLONIALISM

Ex:PANSION AND DIVERSIFICATION OF PRODUCTION