221. The Council considered the Twelfth Annual Report of the Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) of the UN/FAO World Food Programme covering the period 5 May 1973 to 26 April 1974, including reports of the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Sessions of the IGC.
222. The Executive Director in introducing the report, referred to what he had said in respect of Item 6 “World Food Conference: Follow-up Action by FAO”, that WFP had had a difficult year; that in spite of the generous contribution of $50 million from Saudi Arabia the resources pledged for the period 1975–76 were still some 20 percent below the target of $440 million; that inflation, shortfalls in production and rising prices had acerbated the supply situation; that the consequent reduction in resources had obliged the Programme to limit its activities, without, however, harming unduly those undertaken in favour of the Least Developed and Most Seriously Affected Countries. He noted that priority was being given to projects for increased agricultural production rather than for only emergency feeding, limited to small-scale disasters: WFP's rôle in major disaster areas was principally that of a coordinator of assistance, as in the cases of the Sahel countries, Ethiopia and Bangladesh. At a later stage the Programme then aided food-for-work projects in those areas, aimed at rehabilitation and/or reconstruction. The Executive Director continued by noting that arrangements had been made whereby WFP would now meet up to 30 percent of the internal transport costs for the countries appearing on the UN list of Least Developed and Most Seriously Affected Countries. He concluded with a reference to the assistance totalling some $3 million already given by the Programme to the newly liberated areas in Mozambique and Angola; and drew the attention of the Council to the proposal now before it concerning the manner of proceeding for the future in regard to non-liberated areas in Africa.
223. The Council welcomed the Executive Director's report, and expressed satisfaction on the achievements of the Programme outlined therein for what had been accomplished in spite of the difficulties which he had enumerated. It also noted the new responsibilities outlined for the Programme by the World Food Conference.
224. Appreciation of the Saudi Arabian donation was expressed, along with hopes that other potential donors, similarly placed, might be encouraged to follow suit. The importance of making non-food items available to the Programme was also emphasized, as being essential to the launching of many projects for “aid to end aid”.
225. In reply to the several members who had noted the desirability of WPF's making purchases where possible within the developing countries, as this would boost local production, the Executive Director explained that this was being done, and quoted the case of purchases made in Kenya for use in connexion with the special donation from the Federal Republic of Germany to Ethiopia. It was also noted that in order to enable purchases to be made in developing countries, the WFP was making prior arrangements with the appropriate national authorities to stimulate additional production that could be purchased by WFP without disrupting local economies.
226. Some members expressed the opinion that besides the Least Developed and Most Seriously Affected Countries, the newly liberated areas in Africa should be accorded highest priority when requesting WFP aid. It was also noted that the proportion of WFP assistance going to the Asian region might perhaps be increased, in view of the size of the populations involved and the difficulties they were encountering.
227. The Council noted with appreciation the increases proposed in their pledges by Australi the Federal Republic of Germany and the United Kingdom.
1 CL 64/17, CL 64/PV/12, CL 64/PV/19.
228. The Council elected the following four Member Nations to the Intergovernmental Committee of the World Food Programme, for a term of office of three years (1 January 1975 to 31 December 1977): Canada, India, Saudi Arabia, United States of America.
