unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (08/24/89)
INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FOR DEVELOPMENT TO HOLD TENTH SESSION 21 AUGUST - 1 SEPTEMBER
To Conduct End-Of-Decade Review of Vienna Programme of Action
An end-of-the-decade review of the implementation of the Vienna Programme
of Action on science and technology for development will be the substantive
theme of the Intergovernmental Committee on Science and Technology for
Development during its two-week session from 21 August to 1 September.
The Committee will examine the activities of the United Nations system in
science and technology for development including those of the Centre for
Science and Technology for Development, the Advisory Committee on Science and
Technology for Development and the United Nations Fund for Science and
Technology for Development.
The Intergovernmental Committee, which was established in 1979 and is
open to all United Nations Member States, meets biennially. The basic
objective of the Committee is to ensure implementation by the United Nations
system of the Vienna Programme of Action on Science and Technology for
Development. The Vienna Programme focuses on socio-economic development
processes for the well-being of humanity as a whole with the use of science
and technology as essential instruments. It stresses the necessity for
promoting the linkages between science and technology endeavours and
socio-economic concerns.
During its forthcoming tenth session, the Committee will also consider
such matters such as programme performance for the biennium 1986-1987; the
medium term plan for 1992-1997; and a review of recurrent documents and
publications. In addition, the Committee will take up the appointment of
members of the Advisory Committee on Science and Technology for Development;
the frequency of future sessions of the Committee; the election of its
Chairman; and the nominations of other officers for its eleventh session.
A list of the items before the Committee and the documentation to be
considered for each item are contained in the provisional agenda for the
Commission (document A/CN.11/87).
End of Decade Review
In devoting its tenth session to an end-of-the-decade review of the
Vienna Programme of Action, the Committee intends to seek viable and
innovative options to bring science and technology into mainstream
socio-economic developmental efforts by learning from the experience of the
1980s. The report of the Secretary-General on the end-of-the-decade review
(document A/CN.11/89) summarizes achievements and gaps in relation to the
goals set out in the 1979 Conference on Science and Technology for
Development. While assessing the achievements of the past decade and
analysing obstacles and shortcomings, the report focuses on the future and on
what needs to be done in the changing contemporary world.
According to the report, accomplishments during the 1980s were far short
of the objectives sought by the Vienna Programme of Action except in a few
countries. Among the more important causes cited for that shortfall was the
inability to make changes in the conceptual and institutional approaches
essential to fulfilling the basic goals of the Vienna Programme. Those goals
are strengthening the endogenous capacity of developing countries;
restructuring international scientific and technological relations; and
strengthening the role of the United Nations system, including provision of
additional financial resources.
The report suggests that the Committee may wish to focus on future
strategies to enhance endogenous capacity in science and technology for
development, and to reflect on the relevant role of the United Nations with a
view to reassessing and perhaps redefining the Committee's role as the
intergovernmental body with the primary responsibility for development in the
field of science and technology for development.
Activities of United Nations System
Following Committee guidelines, the organizations of the United Nations
system in science and technology for development have worked toward
harmonizing their activities by consultations through the Administrative
Committee on Co-ordination (ACC) Task Force on Science and Technology for
Development and seeking views and comments of the intergovernmental
legislative bodies of the system's organizations. There have also been
harmonization and co-ordination efforts at the country level through
inter-agency missions. One such effort in Thailand was so successful that the
Centre on Science and Technology for Development has been encouraged to
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Patt Haring | UNITEX : United Nations
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