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The Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA)

• The Conference Emblem
• Introduction
• Objectives
• Action to be taken
  1. Action at the national level
  2. Action at the subregional and regional levels
  3. Action at the interregional level
  4. Action at the global level
• United nations General Assembly Endorses plan of action

C. Action at the interregional level

42. A prime objective of TCDC is to enable the developing countries to benefit from the widest access to accumulated experience in efforts to deal with comparable development problems. It is now recognized that, for a variety of reasons, the experience and knowledge needed by a developing country in a given region may well be found, if not within the region, then in another region.

Moreover, as countries in a given region may have adopted similar approaches to problems, new approaches may be found by drawing upon and distilling experience from outside the region. Interregional co-operation offers considerable potential advantages and constitutes a substantial and important opportunity for TCDC.

43. A wide variety of interregional intergovernmental organizations of developing countries exists. Some such organizations are of a political character, others pursue common social and economic goals, and yet others function in specific technical or economic fields. These organizations, institutions or arrangements should be fully mobilized to promote, support or conduct TCDC projects and programmes, within their respective terms of reference.

Recommendation 22. The development and strengthening of interregional co-operation

44. Governments of developing countries that are members of interregional organizations, institutions or arrangements should, as appropriate, through such interregional organizations, institutions or arrangements, and in collaboration with their subregional and regional intergovernmental organizations and, as appropriate, with the assistance of organizations of the United Nations development system, in particular the regional commissions, considering initiating inter alia:

1. An evaluation of the function of TCDC in their common organizations, institutions or arrangements, and their capacity to promote TCDC further;
2. The necessary measures to strengthen the interregional linkages between subregional and regional organizations with similar interests and complementary capacities;
3. The joint identification of development problems that are interregional in scope and have a TCDC dimension; and
4. Joint programmes to be undertaken by appropriate interregional organizations or at an interregional level by any two or more entities belonging to different regions, and the identification of additional needs or organizational gaps where new arrangements may be called for.

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D. Action at the global level

45. The entire United Nations development system must be permeated by the spirit of TCDC and all its organizations should play a prominent role as promoters and catalysts of TCDC. The United Nations Development Programme, the specialized agencies and other bodies of the United Nations family, including the regional commissions, have already directed a number of their activities towards TCDC. The decisions and recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries should lead to the strengthening and expansion of these efforts in order to complement further those made at the national, subregional, regional and interregional levels.

Recommendation 23. The enhancement of national and collective self-reliance

46. In view of the fact that the achievement of national and collective self-reliance through the release and development of indigenous capacities necessitates an important change in emphasis, the thrust of international technical co-operation should be increasingly directed towards enhancing the capacities of developing countries to help themselves and each other. The use of the resources of the United Nations development Programme and other multilateral and bilateral agencies should reflect this change in emphasis.

Recommendation 24. The exchange of development experience

47. Since a great deal of benefit is to be derived by developing countries from sharing each other's experiences, the organizations of the United Nations development system should, at the request of interested developing countries, provide assistance in their respective sectors in preparing programmes and projects through which the rich experience accumulated in these countries in dealing with the problems connected with improving the living conditions of their populations could be shared and extensively applied.

Recommendation 25. The fostering of global technical collaboration

48. Governments and international development assistance organizations, in seeking to expand the potential and outreach of TCDC, should foster collaborative associations among national and international technical organizations that are working in the same development problem areas so as to give support to TCDC projects agreed upon by developing countries, at the request of countries concerned. Expansion of such problem solving networks should be in accordance with the objectives identified by the developing countries concerned in their TCDC projects.

Recommendation 26. The improvement of information flows

49. To encourage and intensify the collection, processing, analysis and dissemination at the global level of information on the capacities and needs of developing countries, the Information Referral System (INRES) and other related information systems should be further improved, developed and expanded. They should comprehensively cover the needs that might be met through TCDC in dealing with specific, detailed development problems. The Inquiry Service of INRES should be expanded at an early date in order to be able to match speedily the specific needs of developing countries with available capacities in order to improve channels for the wider use of experts, consultants, training facilities, equipment and other capacities of developing countries through bilateral or multilateral TCDC arrangements. For improved efficiency and better service to developing countries, appropriate linkages should be established between INRES and the information systems of other organizations of the United Nations development system and of the subregional and regional intergovernmental organizations.

50. In order to improve further the efficiency of INRES and to develop it appropriately, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme should initiate an evaluation and assessment of the functioning of the System.

Recommendation 27. Control of the "brain drain" from developing countries

51. In view of the global nature of the problem of the migration of professional and skilled manpower from developing countries and of such manpower's potential as an asset for TCDC, the organizations of the United Nations development system and the specialized international agencies which deal with migration should assist the developing countries, at their request, to formulate measures for strengthening their capacities to encourage patterns of voluntary migration in the interests of their development, including not only selective migration of skilled people between developing countries, but also the return of scientific, professional and technical personnel living outside their countries of origin, taking into account work already initiated on a bilateral and multilateral basis as well as relevant resolutions adopted in various United Nations forums.

Recommendation 28. Measures in favour of economically or geographically disadvantaged developing countries

52. Effective practical measures should be taken by Governments and multilateral technical co-operation agencies for dealing with the special problems and requirements of the least developed, land-locked, island and most seriously affected countries in order to increase their capacities to contribute to and benefit from TCDC activities. In accordance with the decisions embodied in the resolutions of the General Assembly and other bodies concerned, a special effort should be made by developing countries as a whole, with the support of developed countries and of the United Nations development system, to channel through TCDC the technical and financial resources to assist them.

Recommendation 29. Measures in favour of newly independent countries

53. Special efforts should be made by all countries as well as the United Nations development system to support TCDC activities and projects in the newly independent countries.

Recommendation 30. The strengthening of transport and communications among developing countries

54. Bearing in mind the fact that the strengthening of transport and communications among developing countries is a necessary condition if TCDC is to become a major element in the development process, the Governments of developing countries should, on the basis of studies carried out by themselves, and by the organizations of the United Nations system when so requested, make specific and sustained efforts to strengthen, improve and maintain all means of transport and communications between their countries. In this context, all countries, the United Nations System and other international organizations should effectively support the implementation of programmes of the Transport and Communications Decade in Africa.

Recommendation 31. Maximization of the use of developing countries' capacities

55. In designing, formulating and executing technical co-operation projects, Governments, and, at the request of developing countries, intergovernmental and other organizations concerned with supporting international development efforts should make the greatest possible use of local capabilities, including local expertise and consultancy firms. Where institutions and expertise of the requisite level, quality and relevance are not available locally, developing countries should have the option of obtaining such technical resources from other developing countries, taking due account of factors of quality, cost, delivery schedules and other related conditions. Similarly, the placement of fellowships and the procurement of equipment should also be directed towards other developing countries, wherever their facilities and experience are suitable.

Recommendation 32. Activities for technical co-operation among developing countries by the organizations of the United Nations development system in their respective fields

56. The governing bodies of the organizations of the United Nations development system should make every effort to mobilize their organizations in order to contribute to implementing this Plan of Action on a continuing and intensive basis, both in their respective fields of competence and in multidisciplinary joint action. Such efforts should focus on promotional, co-ordinating, operational and financial issues and should, inter alia, be aimed at:

1. Identifying TCDC solutions, or TCDC contributions to solutions, for specific development problems, inter alia, by incorporating TCDC aspects into international meetings and/or organizing when necessary international meetings on specific fields of interest to developing countries with relevance to TCDC;
2. Applying TCDC approaches and techniques in their programmes;
3. Supporting on request the preparation and execution of TCDC projects;
4. Developing new ideas and approaches for realizing the full potential of TCDC and, for this purpose, undertake the necessary studies and analyses;
5. Developing, strengthening or reorienting specific sectoral or subregional and regional information systems, and establishing functional linkages between such systems and INRES with a view to their effective utilization;
6. Organizing and assisting public information support for TCDC in their respective areas of competence;
7. Monitoring and reviewing the implementation of their TCDC activities;
8. Utilizing to the maximum extent possible the inputs available locally and those from other developing countries in keeping with paragraph 55.

Recommendation 33. Internal arrangements for technical co-operation among developing countries in the organizations of the United Nations development system

57. In order to pursue vigorously TCDC policies and measures at all levels in different sectors of development, all organizations and bodies of the United Nations development system should, if they have not already done so, reorient their internal policies and procedures in order to respond adequately to the principles and objectives of TCDC.

These organizations should also make the necessary internal adjustments and arrangements in their secretariats in order to integrate TCDC in their programmes of work. These arrangements should be result-oriented and should promote TCDC in the operational activities of these organizations.

Recommendation 34. Strengthening the capacity of the UNDP for the promotion and support of TCDC

58. In view of the wide implications and the importance of TCDC and the number of tasks which need to be carried out at the global level, and bearing in mind the importance that TCDC must assume in UNDP as an integral part of its activities, the Administrator of UNDP should take further steps to give the necessary orientation to the activities, programmes, and projects of UNDP in order to support the objectives of TCDC. These steps should include the strengthening of the capacity of the UNDP administration to work in close collaboration with the regional commissions and with regional offices of other organs and agencies of the United Nations development system through their respective headquarters, and also to respond more effectively to initiatives from subregional, regional and interregional intergovernmental organizations and groupings.

59. In this context and bearing in mind its existing functions9, the Special Unit, which should continue to be financed from the administrative budget of UNDP, should be strengthened in order to assist the Administrator of UNDP to carry out the functions described below:

1. Assisting Governments at their request and, where appropriate, in full collaboration with the relevant organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations development system, to undertake TCDC programmes and activities in order to achieve the objectives of TCDC;
2. Developing in full collaboration with the participating and executing agencies and regional commissions, new ideas, concepts and approaches for promoting technical co-operation among developing countries, and for this purpose, arranging for the necessary studies and analyses to be undertaken and submitted to the Governments for consideration and approval in the intergovernmental body mentioned in paragraph 62;
3. Co-ordinating the activities of the UNDP in the field of TCDC with those of the participating and executing agencies as well as the regional commissions in the field of TCDC;
4. Expanding, strengthening and promoting the efficient use of INRES and establishing appropriate linkages with national and regional information systems and/or focal points;
5. Promoting channels of communication with appropriate intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations so as to widen the awareness of TCDC and thereby generating financial and other support for TCDC activities;
6. Servicing the intergovernmental arrangement referred to in paragraph 62;
7. Preparing modifications in the policies, rules and procedures of UNDP, in accordance with relevant decisions of the General Assembly and the UNDP Governing Council, with a view to improving the Programme's capacity to implement TCDC and assisting, at their request, other organs and organizations of the United Nations system in this regard;
8. In full collaboration with the organs, organizations and bodies concerned of the United Nations system, preparing progress reports on the implementation of the Plan of Action and making suggestions to expedite progress through new actions and initiatives for the consideration of the intergovernmental body referred to in paragraph 62.

Recommendation 35. Support by developed countries for technical co-operation among developing countries

60. Developed countries and their institutions should give their full support to TCDC initiatives by inter alia:

1. Increasing their voluntary contributions to the operational programmes of the United Nations development system in order to permit a greater quantum of multilateral technical co-operation funds to be devoted to supporting TCDC;
2. Providing financial support on a voluntary basis to technical co-operation between two or more developing countries and to institutions in developing countries that have a TCDC outreach potential;
3. Accelerating the process of untying their aid resources, so as to make possible more rapid progress in the promotion and strengthening of TCDC;
4. Giving, in their economic and technical co-operation activities, due priority to intercountry projects and programmes at the bilateral, subregional, regional and interregional levels which promote TCDC;
5. Making qualitative improvements, if they have not yet done so, in their policies and procedures related to technical co-operation, in order to be able to support TCDC activities and projects at the request of participating developing countries so as to contribute to the greater reliance by those countries on resources available locally or in other developing countries.

Recommendation 36. The harmonization of development assistance with technical co-operation among developing countries

61. TCDC activities and traditional technical co- operation and development assistance to which the developed countries contribute should be productively linked. Developed countries should take fully into account, on a continuing basis, the goals established for TCDC activities when formulating their development assistance and technical co-operation policies. Developed countries, if they have not yet done so, should also institute changes in their procedures for furnishing technical and capital assistance to foster TCDC and a greater measure of national and collective self-reliance among developing countries.

Recommendation 37. Intergovernmental arrangements

62. Recognizing that the UNDP, as the principal funding source of technical co-operation with the United Nations development system, has particular responsibility for the promotion and support of TCDC, in close collaboration with the specialized agencies, programmes and organizations of the United Nations development system, the over-all intergovernmental review of TCDC within the United Nations system should be entrusted by the General Assembly to a high level meeting of representatives of all States participating in the United Nations Development Programme. This meeting should be convened by the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and should, after annual meetings in 1980 and 1981, be held biennially. These meetings should be held in the same places as, and prior to, sessions of the UNDP Governing Council and should carry out the following functions:

1. Reviewing the progress made in implementing the tasks entrusted to the United Nations development system by the Buenos Aires Plan of Action;
2. Ensuring that efforts to strengthen TCDC are sustained within the United Nations development system;
3. Supporting new policies and innovative approaches to further the development of TCDC;
4. Considering the availability of financial resources and their effective use by the United Nations development system, without prejudice to existing programmes;
5. Ensuring co-ordination of the promotional and operational TCDC activities of the United Nations development system.

63. United Nations organs, organizations and bodies, including the regional commissions, and other subregional, regional and interregional intergovernmental organizations, should participate actively in the work of these meetings.

64. These meetings shall report to the General Assembly through the UNDP Governing Council and the Economic and Social Council.

Recommendation 38. Financial arrangements for technical co-operation among developing countries

65. In view of the fact that the financing of TCDC activities is primarily the responsibility of developing countries themselves, it will nevertheless be necessary for the developed countries and the United Nations development system to support these activities financially without prejudice to the decision-making control by the developing countries of these TCDC activities. Financial participation in and support for TCDC projects and activities should include, inter alia, the following:

1. Developing countries should determine norms and mechanisms appropriate to them in the context of their participation in the financing of TCDC activities at the national, bilateral, subregional, regional and interregional levels, with due consideration for the constraints faced by the least developed, land-locked, island developing and most seriously affected developing countries and newly independent countries;
2. Regional and international funds, development banks and other intergovernmental financial institutions and aid agencies should, within their respective terms of reference, make special efforts to finance TCDC projects and activities, and, as appropriate, make adjustments in their policies and procedures, to promote TCDC;
3. Developing countries which may wish to do so should consider earmarking a percentage of their Indicative Planning Figure of UNDP at the national level, for financing TCDC projects at the bilateral and subregional levels;
4. Regional Indicative Planning Figures of UNDP should be used to the maximum possible extent on the basis of regional priorities, for financing TCDC projects and activities. The responsibility for identifying and initiating such projects and activities should like with the developing countries of the region concerned;
5. A sizable proportion of interregional and global Indicative Planning Figures of UNDP should be devoted to the financing of TCDC projects and activities requested by two or more developing countries of different regions. The management of these resources should be conducted in close consultation with the developing countries concerned;
6. The United Nations development system should explore additional sources of finance for TCDC projects and activities including those of an interregional and global nature;
7. Flows of development assistance should be increased on a predictable, assured and continuous basis;
8. Developed countries should provide, on a voluntary basis and without prejudice to existing programmes, additional financial support for TCDC projects and activities, for example through third-country financing arrangements, through increased contributions to different national, subregional, regional, interregional or international organizations, including UNDP;
9. All organizations of the United Nations development system should allocate an increasing proportion of their resources for TCDC activities and projects;
10. In this context, special efforts should be made by the United Nations development system, other aid-giving agencies, developed and developing countries, to strengthen the capacity of the least-developed, land-locked island developing, most seriously affected and newly independent countries, to participate effectively in TCDC activities and projects.

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UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENDORSES PLAN OF ACTION

United Nations Conference on Technical Co-operation Among Developing Countries* The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 3201 (S-VI) and 3202 (S- VI) of 1 May 1974 containing the Declaration and Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order, 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974 containing the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States and 3362 (S-VII) of 16 September 1975 on development and international economic cooperation,

Recalling further its resolution 31/179 of 21 December 1976 and 32/183 of 19 December 1977 on the United Nations Conference on Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries as well as resolution 32/182 of 19 December 1977 on technical co-operation among developing countries,

Taking note of the Economic Declaration and the Action Programme for Economic Co-operation adopted by the Fifth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non- Aligned Countries1 held at Colombo from 16 to 19 August 1976, and of the Declaration and the Action Programme for Economic Co-operation adopted by the Conference of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Belgrade from 25 to 30 July 19782,

Taking note also of resolution CMRes/560 (XXIX) adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its twenty-ninth ordinary session, held at Libreville from 23 June to 3 July 19773 and endorsed by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its fourteenth ordinary session, held at Libreville from 2 to 5 July 1977, and of resolution CM/659 (XXXI) adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty- first ordinary session, held at Khartoum from 7 to 18 July 19784,

Bearing in mind the recommendations made at the Conference on Economic Co-operation among Developing Countries, held at Mexico City from 13 to 22 September 19763 and the decisions of the First Conference of

1 A/31/197, annexes II and III 2 See A/33/3=206, annexes I and II 3 See A/32/310, annex I 4 See A/33/235 and Corr. 1, annex I Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity and the League of Arab States, held at Cairo from 7 to 9 March 1976,

Bearing in mind also the Kuwait Declaration on Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries of 5 June 19777,

Recognizing the role of technical co-operation among developing countries for initiating, designing, organizing and promoting co-operation so that developing countries can create, acquire, adapt, transfer and pool knowledge and experience for their mutual benefit and for achieving national and collective self-reliance,

Declaring that the United Nations Conference on Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries, held at Buenos Aires from 30 August to 12 September 1978, is a major step in the strengthening of co-operation among developing countries and that the implementation of its decisions would constitute a major contribution in the evolution of international co-operation for development and in the establishment of the new international economic order,

Considering that the agreements reached at the Conference call for urgent action,

1. Expresses its appreciation and thanks to the Government and the people of Argentina for the excellent facilities and generous hospitality provided for the United Nations Conference on Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries;

2. Commends the Secretary-General of the Conference on the successful preparation and organization of the Conference8; 5 See A/C.2/31/7, part one 6 See A/32/61, annexes 7 See A/CONF.79/PC/18 8 United NationsPublication, Sales No. E.78.11.A.11

3. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of Conference;

4. Endorses the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries9 as an important instrument of the international community to intensify and strengthen co- operation among developing countries, thus making international co-operation for development more effective;

5. Endorses the resolutions adopted by the Conference on assistance to Namibia, national research and training centres of multinational scope, and technical co- operation among developing countries in the spheres of employment and human resources10;

6. Urges all Governments to take intensified and sustained action for the implementation of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries and the resolutions adopted by the Conference;

7. Requests the organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations development system, including the regional commissions, to take expeditious action, within their respective fields of competence, for the implementation of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries and the resolutions adopted by the Conference;

8. Calls upon other subregional, regional and interregional intergovernmental organizations to take all necessary measures, as appropriate, for the implementation of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries and the resolutions adopted by the Conference;

9. Requests the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme to give the necessary orientation to the activities, programmes and projects of the United Nations Development Programme in order to support the objectives of technical co-operation among developing countries, including the strengthening of the Special Unit for Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries so as to assist the Administrator in carrying out the functions described in recommendation 34 of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Co- operation among Development Countries11;

10. Commends the organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations development system, including the regional commissions, for their effective contribution to the Conference and to its preparation, through the Interagency Task Force, and recommends the continuation of consultation and co-ordination on technical co-operation among developing countries by appropriate means;

11. Decides to entrust the over-all intergovernmental review of technical co-operation among developing countries within the United Nations system to a high-level meeting of representatives of all States participating in the United Nations Development Programme, to be convened by the Administrator of the Programme in accordance with the provisions of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Co- operation among Developing Countries, requests him to report to the General Assembly at its thirty-fourth session on the organizational and substantive arrangements for the first meeting, to be held in 1980, and also decides that Arabic will be an official language at these meetings.

9 Ibid., chap. I 10 Ibid., Chap. II, resolutions 1, 2 and 3 11 Ibid., chap. I

1 See A/31/197. 2 See A/C.2/31/7 and Add. 1. 3 See A/32/32/61. 4 See A/CONF.79/12. 5 See A/33/206, annexes I and II. 6 DP/69. 7 See A/CONF.79/OC/18. 8 See A/342/310, annex I. 9 Annex to DP/69 * Resolution adopted at General Assembly's 33rd Session (A/RES/33/134)

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