New dimensions in technical co-operation

XXX. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE SECOND COMMITTEE
3405. New dimensions in technical co-operation

The General Assembly, Bearing in mind its resolutions 3201 (S-VI) and 3202 (S-VI) of 1 May 1974 containing the Declaration and the Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order, Recalling the consensus, annexed to its resolution 2688 (XXV) of 11 December 1970, as the comprehensive framework for the activities of the United Nations Development Programme, as well as the voluntary and universal character of the Programme, Recalling its resolution 3362 (S-VII) of 16 September 1975, in particular section II, paragraph 6, thereof,

1. Endorses the decision adopted by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme at its twentieth session on new dimensions in technical co-operation, which is set forth in the annex to the present resolution;

2. Stresses the importance of applying the general guidelines contained in that decision for the future orientation of the United Nations Development Programme;

3. Requests the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme to review periodically the progress in the application of these guidelines;

4. Requests the Economic and Social Council to give continuing attention to the assessment of the progress in the application of these guidelines and to report thereon on a regular basis to the General Assembly.

2420th plenary meeting
28 November 1975

ANNEX Decision of the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme[1]

At its 487th meeting, on 25 June 1975, the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme:

(a) Reaffirmed the consensus of 1970[2] as the comprehensive framework for the activities of the United Nations Development Programme and also reaffirmed the voluntary and universal character of the Programme;

(b) Recalled the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolutions 3201 (S-VI) and 3202 (S-VI) of 1 May 1974 pertaining to the Declaration and the Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order;

(c) Took note with appreciation of the documentation submitted by the Administrator, particularly the report of the Administrator on new dimensions in technical co-operation;[3]

(d) Requested the Administrator:

(i) To take all necessary measures to introduce more flexibility in the United Nations Development Programme, to enhance its dynamism and effectiveness and make the scope of activities and working methods of the Programme more responsive to the changing needs and priorities emerging from new economic conditions;

(ii) To base those measures on the proposals favourable to developing countries contained in the report of the Administrator on new dimensions in technical co-operation, taking into account the observations made thereon in the Governing Council during its twentieth session;

(e) Adopted, in particular, the following general guidelines for the future orientation of the United Nations Development Programme, and requested the Administrator to ensure that the guidelines were reflected to the maximum extent possible in the execution of the Programme:

(i) The basic purpose of technical co-operation should be the promotion of self-reliance in developing countries by building up, inter alia, their productive capability and their indigenous resources and by increasing the availability of the managerial, technical, administrative and research capabilities required in the development process;

(ii) The selection of priority areas in which to seek the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme should remain the exclusive responsibility of the Governments of the recipient countries; in that context, the Programme should respond favourably to requests for meeting the most urgent and critical needs of each developing country, taking into account the importance of reaching the poorest and most vulnerable sections of their societies and enhancing the quality of their life;

(iii) Technical co-operation should be seen in terms of output or the results to be achieved, rather than in terms of input;

(iv) So long as projects are for the basic purpose of technical co-operation, the United Nations Development Programme should provide, where appropriate, equipment and material resources, adopt a more liberal policy towards local cost financing and be flexible in requirements for counterpart personnel;

(v) The United Nations Development Programme should diversify the sources of its supply from countries to enable it to mobilize in a prompt and efficient manner all available human and material resources for technical co-operation, including particularly those from developing countries;

(vi) The United Nations Development Programme should give increased support to programmes of technical cooperation among developing countries and should procure as much equipment and as many services as possible on a preferential basis, in accordance with United Nations practice, from local sources or from other developing countries;

(vii) Governments and institutions in recipient countries should be increasingly entrusted with the responsibility for executing projects assisted by the United Nations Development Programme;

(viii) Technical co-operation should be provided at any of the levels and stages of the development process, including assistance for project planning, pre-feasibility, feasibility, detailed engineering design and, where appropriate, construction and initial operations and management;

(ix) In accordance with the consensus, the United Nations Development Programme should more often enter into partnership with capital assistance sources, in the terms expressed in paragraph 53 of the report of the Administrator on new, dimensions in technical co-operation, with a view to financing the technical assistance components of projects and programmes, taking into account the close relationship between technical co-operation and capital formation;

(x) In the context of new dimensions of technical cooperation, special attention should be paid to the requirements of the least developed among the developing countries;

(f) Decided to undertake periodic reviews of progress in the application of the above guidelines, as part of the continuing and over-all efforts to improve the quality and efficiency of the United Nations Development Programme;

(g) Invited the Economic and Social Council to bring this decision, together with the report of the Administrator on new dimensions in technical co-operation and the respective part of the Governing Council's report on its twentieth session,[4] to the attention of the General Assembly as the contribution of the United Nations Development Programme to the preparation the seventh special session of the Assembly.

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[1] Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 2A (E/5703/Rev.1), para. 54. [2] Resolution 2688 (XXV), annex. [3] DP/114. [4] Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 2A (E/5703/Rev.1), chap. II.