Salahuddin AHMED (WFP): I welcome this opportunity to present to the Council the Eleventh Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes for the year 1985. The Executive Director, Mr Ingram, before he left on duty travel to Pakistan, asked me to convey his regards and best wishes to you.
The report before you contains a great amount of detailed information and data on the Programme's activities and accomplishments during last year. I will touch on some of the highlights to put it in perspective.
The unprecedented food crisis in Africa and the special attention given to relief assistance resulted in food aid for emergencies receiving prominent coverage in the media during 1985. Important and vital as emergency food aid has been, it constituted about a quarter of the Programme's total aid in 1985. We continued to use food aid not only to alleviate hunger but to promote development and prevent hunger in the world.
In 1985 the Programme committed 642 million dollars of resources to 55 new, as well as ongoing development projects, involving 1. 8 million tons of food. Special attention continued to be paid by WFP to the needs of sub-Saharan Africa to assist in the process of recovery and development.
Consistent with the Programme's established priorities, low-income, food-deficit countries were allocated 85 percent of the volume of our development assistance committed in 1985.
Projects approved last year also reflected our continuing emphasis on providing support for agriculture and rural development: 78 percent of our development assistance commitments went to projects in these sectors.
Globally, in 1985 the Programme was involved in the implementation of over 360 ongoing development projects in 88 countries. The value of its assistance to those projects was around $3.6 billion.
The easing of the immediate crisis in sub-Saharan Africa somewhat relieved the pressure on resources devoted to emergency operations in 1985. We committed 230 million dollars to 55 new emergency operations in 32 countries during that year, involving more than 700 000 tons of food and five million dollars in cash subsidies. Our relief activities were not, of course, limited to Africa alone but also brought relief to drought-stricken nations, refugees and displaced persons and the victims of natural disasters all over the world. About 11 million people were targeted beneficiaries of WFP emergency food aid approved in 1985.
I would like to draw your attention to some of the unprecedented activities WFP undertook last year in countering the emergency in Africa. WFP's Africa Task Force improved and computerized data on food aid pledges and deliveries in Africa, for regular dissemination to donors and recipients, allowing for greater coordination among donors in the massive international effort to provide aid. To speed up deliveries in recipient countries, the Task Force provided extra equipment and transport, recruited special teams of experts who monitored ports and transit routes to overcome transportation bottlenecks and, in some cases, the implementation of road and rail repairs and the mobilization of special transport units.
These successes were made possible by the financial support of donors, very generous support, I must say the full support we received from African governments and institutions, including transit countries, the cooperation of the concerned organizations and agencies in the United Nations system and, last but not least, the dedication and hard work of our staff, both in the field and at Headquarters.
With the growth in other types of development assistance stagnating, food aid becomes all the more important as an integral component of international aid. In the 1985-86 biennium, the combined total of resources pledged or contributed to WFP amounted to 1. 35 billion dollars. For regular pledges, we received the highest level of contributions in the history of the Programme-over a billion dollars, although this represented only 78 percent of the target. Added to these funds was a dramatic increase in the resources donors made available to the International Emergency Food Reserve (IEFR). Contributions to the IEFR in 1985 were more than 800 000 tons valued at 224 million dollars, surpassing the target for the third consecutive year.
The cash resources coming to the Programme, however, must be increased in relation to the food supplies in the interests of greater operational flexibility.
WFP managed the shipment of over 2 million tons of food to 84 countries in 1985, using over 1 800 vessels. Once again, we sought to use vessels from developing countries subject, of course, to cost effectiveness, and those nations accounted-that is, the developing countries accounted for 12 percent of the vessels used, compared to 11 percent in 1984.
Purchases of food by the Programme in 1985 continued at high levels, amounting to about 58 million dollars, 80 percent of which was used in what we call "triangular transactions", a matter in which the governing body is always very interested.
As many members of the Council know, the most important development for us in the field of logistics was the Programme's first involvement in directly managing large-scale truck fleets in Chad, the Sudan and Ethiopia to transport food aid. This was a challenge that had to be met on behalf of the international community and we took that challenge. This accomplishment of WFP adds a new dimension to the UN's role in dealing with emergencies. More people in remote areas have been reached than would have been possible under existing conditions. The experience has been critically evaluated and considered by the CFA; the lessons learnt should help us respond more effectively in future emergencies.
It would interest you to know that the Programme has received substantial transfers of authority for internal audit, contracts, personnel and accounting as a result of the recommendations of the Joint UN/FAO Task Force. I am pleased to report that this transfer of functions from FAO to WFP took place in a highly cooperative and constructive manner; the new arrangements are in place and fully operational·
As regards WFP's resource situation for the biennium 1987-88, some 58 donors have. so far pledged US $624 million, which is forty-five percent of the target. However, all the main donors have not yet pledged. If they maintain their pledges at the levels of the current biennium, we should see a small overall increase in resources available for development over the resources for 1985-86.
In conclusion, the work and activities of WFP in 1985, as in previous years, have shown how food aid, perceptively used, can be a most effective investment resource for supporting the efforts of developing countries in achieving long-term and sustainable development, as well as in addressing their immediate needs.
I now commend to the FAO Council the Eleventh Annual Report of the CFA, contained in Document CL 90/9, for your consideration.
LE PRESIDENT: Je félicite M. Ahmed, le Directeur adjoint du Programme alimentaire mondial, pour son exposé très clair. Nous allons ouvrir le débat et je passe la parole au Royaume-Uni.
Ronald F. R. DEARE (United Kingdom): May I first thank Mr Ahmed for his very comprehensive and interesting introduction. The United Kingdom is of course privileged to be a member of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes and therefore we have had an opportunity to participate in the preparation of this report. In the circumstances I can be reasonably brief in my comments. But I do want to say one or two things, because 1985 was, as Mr Ahmed has reminded us, a momentous year for WFP. As he has said, we have seen in the past year or so the implementation of the report of the UN/FAO Joint Task Force and, as Mr Ahmed has said, this has led to a new relationship which we are pleased to know is working well in a spirit of harmony and close cooperation. I think this Council should congratulate the Director-General and the Executive Director on the way in which this new arrangement has taken shape.
Mr Ahmed also referred to WFP's major involvement in the African food crisis and I think that we can all acknowledge that WFP rose manfully to this challenge and also learnt valuable lessons which we were able to discuss in the CFA last month. Here again I think congratulations are due to all the staff and management of both WFP and FAO who were involved in this tremendous effort.
I would also just like to note the reference in the report to the Executive Director's initiative in instituting a review of WFP's management methods and organizational structure. We believe that all organizations need from time to time to stand back and to review and, if necessary, redefine their objectives and priorities, and we are very glad that WFP has done this. We had a useful first discussion last month in the CFA and we, like other delegations, look forward to receiving the Executive Director's proposals in due course.
Today seems to be a day for congratulations because I think that congratulations are also due to the Secretary-General and the Director-General for their decision to reappoint Jim Ingram for a further term as Executive-Director of WFP, and my delegation would like to offer our congratulations to him too. Those are all the congratulations.
Now, speaking as the country which has the privilege at the moment of holding the presidency of the European Community, I would just like to draw to the attention of the Council the fact that the European Community Development Council on 11 November reached a common position on a new food aid regulation which I think is of some significance. The main features of this are that food aid will be linked to a much greater extent in future to development aid and development policy. Food aid will conform more closely to the needs of the recipients and there will be a streamlining of procedures to allow food aid to be mobilized more quickly, especially in emergency situations.
We are hopeful that a few remaining institutional problems can be resolved quickly and that the regulation will be adopted before the end of this year. We believe that these reforms should enable recipients and donors alike to obtain better value from food aid and I am sure that this is an objective shared by all members of the CFA and of this Council.
Ms Anne Marie ESPER-LARSEN (Denmark): The Danish delegation has studied with interest the 11th Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes to the Economic and Social Council, the FAO Council and the World Food Council. May I start by thanking Mr Ahmed for his excellent introduction to this document and state that we appreciate the clear and precise way in which the programme's activities in 1985 are reported to us in document CL 90/9. Since the Danish delegation in other fora has expressed its opinion on the operation of the World Food Programme in 1985, I only wish to highlight a few points here which we find of importance.
With respect to the World Food Programme's development assistance, my delegation notes with satisfaction that WFP also in 1985 is continuing its policy of emphasizing commitments to the poorest countries. Out of the total of 1. 8 million tons of food committed 85 percent went to low-income food-deficit countries. We are fully aware that maintaining such a high commitment to low-income countries is not an easy task. We commend the programme on this fine record, and of course we encourage it to continue along this route.
We also note with satisfaction that in 1985, $499 million, or 78 percent of the total development assistance, went to WFP projects in the agricultural and rural development area. We feel that the work started by WFP in 1985 and the project cycle is of considerable interest and my government is following the development in this area. The Programme's activities under food aid promoting the role of women also has my Government's support.
Turning to the World Food Programme activities in the emergency area, we should like to commend the programme and its outstanding performance in connection with the African food crisis programme which has responded not only to the requirements for emergency food aid, but has also undertaken an important coordinating responsibility in the areas of information and logistics. The programmes's achievements in this area have greatly assisted in alleviating the sufferings of thousands of people. Having said that, I should like to emphasise that my government sees the world food programme mainly as a development agency. We also feel that emergency food aid should be limited to urgent assistance. We should like to see emergency situations turned into development activities as early as possible.
In the case of long lasting refugee situations where emergency food aid is used over a longer period of time, we should like to encourage a better advanced programming of such inputs. we have stated this in the cfa and would also like to repeat this point of view here.
We note with concern that the resource situation of the programme is falling short of the pledging targets. it is our basic view that targets should be realistic and it is indeed difficult for the cfa to establish a pledging target for the world food programme one to one-and-a-half years before the appropriate biennium. in our opinion the cfa should be able to follow a more adequate procedure.
Finally, let me reiterate the importance that my Government attaches to the reappointment of Mr Ingram as Executive Director of the World Food Programme for another five-year term, thus ensuring full continuity in the management of the Programme.
In conclusion, we reaffirm our continued support to the Programme. We look forward to fruitful cooperation with Mr Ingram and his dedicated staff in the coming years.
Gonzalo BULA HOYOS (Colombia): El señor Ahmed hizo una buena presentación. Las cifras para 1985, año que comprende este informe indican que 1984 sigue siendo excepcional tal como se desprende de los párrafos 2 y 12.
Apoyamos el esfuerzo del PMA por destacar y estimular la funcion de la mujer en los proyectos realizados con la ayuda alimentarla, asi como de incrementar considerablemente el numero de mujeres profesionales, ahora 55 de las cuales se contrataron 6 en 1985.
Sobre la asistencia al desarrollo consideramos que la asignación en 1985 de 1, 8 millones de toneladas de alimentos es una cifra considerable aunque inferior a la de 1984 pero superior a otros años anteriores.
La delegación de Colombia reitera su apoyo a la politica de seguir prestando particular atención a los países menos adelantadosy a aquellos de bajos ingresos con déficit de alimentos, como lo ha dicho recientemente la distinguida colega de Dinamarca.
Nos complace que en cuanto al valor en 1985 la asignación destinada a los paises más pobres haya sido el 79 por ciento superior a la del 76 por ciento en 1984.
En cuanto a la distribución por regiones el párrafo 16 elenca el orden prioritario de asignación de recursos que pensamos corresponde a una realidad socioeconómica y que coloca a América Latina y el Caribe en un lugar con el 10 por ciento.
Aceptamos la explicación que se daen el párrafo 17 según el cual la proporción de recursos por regiones puede variar considerablemente de un año a otro y reiteramos nuestro apoyo a la prioridad en favor del Africa Subsahariana. Esta circunstancia podría justificar los datos del cuadro Β en el cual podría observarse que el 16 por ciento en 1983 y el 15 por ciento en 1984, en 1985 ha d\escendido al citado 10 por ciento para América Latina y el Caribe.
El Gobierno de Colombia reitera su posición en el sentido de que el programa debe conservar su carácter de universalidady de que dentro de las limitaciones impuestas por los recursos y por las justas prioridades se debe asignar igualmente recursos a algunos países de nuestra región que aún los requieren, sobre todo para proyectos de desarrollo.
La reciente y afortunada evolución de la CEE en esa politica de acercamiento al desarrollo expresada por el primer orador de esta mañana el señor Deare, del Reino Unido, y la actitud constructiva de Dinamarca nos hace pensar que en el futuro esa importante Comunidad y los altruistas y generosos países nórdicos van a estar en condiciones de ofrecer recursos para proyectos de desarrollo en países de América Latina y el Caribe.
Apoyamos la política del Programa en cuanto a tipo de proyectos dentro de la asignación para el desarrollo, sin menospreciar los proyectos de desarrollo de los recursos humanos. Consideramos que aquellos de desarrollo agrícola y rural deben seguir ocupando la atención principal y que el PMA debe continuar concentrando sus esfuerzos y recursos en los sectores más pobres de la población rural.
Otra muestra de estímulo a la participación de la mujer-estamos muy feministas esta mañana-está en función del bienestar de los niños, un poco olvidados, según el párrafo 23, es la cooperación del PMA con la UNICEF en cursillos prácticos cuya realización apoyamos y opinamos que deberían continuarse en todas las regiones.
La delegación de Colombia desea destacar su apoyo a la valiosa labor que viene realizando el servicio de evaluación del PMA, frente al cual estuvo hasta hace poco, con gran competencia, el señor Holder a quien nos complace ver esta mañana en el podium.
La evaluación de los proyectos de desarrollo es muy importante para saber si en realidad se cumplen los objetivos de los diversos aspectos esenciales de la labor del programa.
El señor Ahmed ha señalado la importancia de la función del Programa en las operaciones de urgencia en 1985. Bastaría señalar el caso excepcionalmente eficaz del transporte mediante camiones en Etiopía. Son ejemplos de superación en el ofrecimiento de la asistencia que bien se merece ese noble país africano.
Los datos sobre los recursos del programa indican que la Comunidad Internacional de donantes sigue siendo generosa con el PMA en homenaje a la manera seria, dinámica y positiva como trabaja el Programa.
El párrafo 54 contiene la suma de aportaciones y el nivel sin precedentes en su conjunto. Desafortunadamente nunca se alcanza el objetivo de promesas ordinarias en toda la historia de los 23 años de existencia del PMA. Para 1985/86 el porcentaje del 76 por ciento son los 1 350 millones de dólares. Esperamos que para el bienio 1987/88 se logre cumplir el objetivo propuesto y adoptado por los órganos rectores de las Naciones Unidas y la FAO sobre la base innovadora de alimentos y efectivo.
Este Consejo debe agradecer a los donantes sus generosas aportaciones que han permitido al PMA en 1985 cumplir los importantes objetivos contenidos en este 11° informe y también corroborar el llamado que ha hecho el señor Ahmed, un llamado cordial y respetuoso, a los donantes actuales y potenciales, sobre todo a los grandes donantes y a toda la comunidad internacional en general para que haga un esfuerzo suplementario a fin de que pueda lograrse totalmente, ojalá, por primera vez el objetivo para 1987/88.
Convendrá señalar que entre los 92 países donantes muchos son países en desarrollo, algunos de los cuales ahora también contribuyen a la RAIE, según el párrafo 56, lo cual a juicio de la delegación de Colombia confirma el espíritu de solidaridad del Tercer Mundo con la causa de la cooperación internacional·
Ya que hablamos de la RAIE la delegación de Colombia piensa que merece destacar en nuestro informe el hecho de que por cuarta vez desde su establecimiento la RAIE ha superado las 500 mil toneladas fijadas en el lejano 1974 y ha llegado a más de 800 mil; pero, naturalmente, dada la difícil e incierta situación en todo el mundo este reconocimiento no deberá ser pasivo, sino de aliento para que las contribuciones a la RAIE sigan incrementándose a fin de permitir al Programa atender debidamente todas las operaciones de urgencia.
Este Consejo debe reiterar la importancia de las transacciones triangulares que benefician al país donde se hacen las compras y también al destinatario.
Son obvios los beneficios que sobre todo los países eficientemente productores del Tercer Mundo obtienen de las transacciones triangulares.
El párrafo 64 dice que en 1985 esas transacciones sólo representaron el 80 por ciento de las compras de productos, proporción menor que en los años anteriores, si las razones que justifican esa disminución pueden ser ciertas o aceptables en cierta medida, de todos modos convendrá insistir en apoyar una vez más las transacciones triangulares·
Destacaremos la actitud positiva de los donantes bilaterales que canalizan sus contribuciones a través del PMA y la mayoría de las cuales se efectúan mediante transacciones triangulares.
Este Consejo debe apoyar la actitud ya positiva asumida por el CPA. Al respecto, la delegación de Colombia piensa que la mayor participación de los países en desarollo en el transporte es posible y viable. Debe intensificarse para beneficio de aquellos estados del Tercer Mundo que tienen posibilidad de ofrecer ese transporte y beneficiarse así económicamente.
El señor Ahmed lo dijo, y el párrafo 65 indica que el transporte aumentó sólo muy ligeramente, en un 1 por ciento en relación con 1984. Pidamos al CPA que insista ante el Director Ejecutivo para que se incremente más consistentemente esa proporción.
Una vez más la delegación de Colombia insiste sobre la necesidad y conveniencia de que en el personal del PMA seestablezca una representación geográfica adecuada, sobre todo a nivel de posiciones políticas y de tomas de decisión. América Latina y el Caribe están muy mal representados en el personal del PMA en los más altos niveles. Confiamos en que los constantes esfuerzos para mejorar la representación geográfica del personal de que habla el párrafo 66 se harán realidad ya que esto no se cumplió cuando se hizo el reciente aumento del personal del PMA, pero ahora el informe McKinsey ofrecerá otra oportunidad de rectificación de esa situación injustamente prolongada.
A ese respecto, nuestro colega y amigo el Sr. Deare, del Reino Unido, anticipó los comentarios sobre la nueva era del PMA. Creo que ha sido conveniente plantear este asunto aunque no haga parte de este informe. Fue tratado en un período de sesiones de este año y estamos tratando del año 1985, pero nosotros creemos que eso es importante y que a ese respecto también quisiéramos sumar la opinión de la delegación de Colombia a la del Reino Unido en favor de la nueva era, de la prolongación de la luna de miel, de las relaciones de plena cooperación existentes entre la FAO y el PMA.
Debemos dejar constancia de la manera adecuada, inmediata y coherente como el Dr. Saouma, Director General de la FAO, interpreto la voluntad unánime del CPA e inmediatamente, de acuerdo con la Secretaría General de Naciones Unidas, redesignó al Sr. Ingram para otros cinco años, noticia que es de grato placer y de verdadera complacencia para la delegación de Colombia.
En la ultima reunión del CPA, que concluyó hace unos días, el Director General de la FAO destacó la importancia de la monetización (espero que mi colega Sra. Fenwick, quien hasta ahora ha estado complacida con mi declaración, no vaya a cambiar esta actitud en su rostro siempre sonriente), pero decimos que el Director General se refirió a la monetización en determinados proyectos para países que no tienen recursos de contrapartida. El Director Ejecutivo asumió la afortunada actitud innovadora de presentar cuatro de esta clase de proyectos de completa monetización que fueron aprobados por el CPA en su ultima reunión. La delegación de Colombia piensa que este Consejo debe apoyar la posición del Director Ejecutivo y pedir al Director Ejecutivo que siga presentando esos proyectos y al CPA que no vacile en refrendar el buen principio de la completa monetización cuando ésta sea necesaria y conveniente. Como lo había previsto, noto que mi colega la Sra. Fenwick de los Estados Unidos ha pasado al frente de su delegación, pero justamente para eso estamos en esta Sala Roja, para adelantar un diálogo seguramente constructivo.
Finalmente, Sr. Presidente, nos complace el felicitar al colega y amigo Haratel Hőstmark, de Noruega, ahora observador de su país en este Consejo, pero siempre activo y dinámico representante de ese importante país nórdico. El Sr. Hőstmark presidió con eficacia y competencia los dos períodos de sesiones del CPA que comprende este undécimo informe.
Quedamos en espera de la reacción de nuestra colega Fenwick. de los Estados Unidos y agradecemos a Ud. y a los miembros del Consejo la atención que ofrezcan a esta humilde declaración de la delegación de Colombia.
Mrs Millicent M. FENWICK (United States of America): I cannot resist my dear colleague from Colombia. Of course, there is nothing humble about what he said, and there should not be, because as a rule he reads every paragraph of the report. I regret to say that usually I am not very technical, but I think he did not quite get to the last paragraph, number 77, in which there is reference to what he has given reproach to our colleague from the United Kingdom. I think if he gets to the end and reads paragraph 77 he will find that that subject is covered there.
What I should like to say seriously is that this monetization has been carefully gone into in the CFA. It was discussed at length and it was agreed that we should have a policy paper on this whole matter to be drawn up and clearly outlined before the next CFA. So I think that that matter has been handled in a very good way. Of course, we are in favour of project food aid rather than programme food aid, and we were not the only delegation that was concerned about this development of monetization in the CFA.
My colleague will have other things to say in our serious intervention. This was just an intervention, you might say, by courtesy of Colombia.
Wu TIANXI (China) (Original language Chinese): In the past year WFP provided $300 million dollars worth of emergency and development aid for the sub-Saharan region in Africa, contributing significantly to easing the African food crisis. It continued to implement the policy of using food aid for development and helped the poverty stricken areas carry out food-for-work projects in which the construction of infrastructures for agriculture formed a major part. Thus conditions for production in these areas were improved and agricultural production enhanced. At the same time, WFP devoted tremendous efforts to the development of human resources and provided emergency food aid for millions of refugees.
All these accomplishments were duly reflected in the 11th annual report of CFA. We are satisfied with these achievements and we appreciate what WFP has done to make all these possible. I should also like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to WFP and CFA for their efforts in the past year in approving China's projects on agriculture, fishery and forestry. These projects are now being implemented in China, which will play a positive role in controlling soil erosion in the Loess Plateau, in developing aquaculture in the low-lying and water-logged areas, and in improving the agro-ecological environment through planting trees and grasses.
We have noted the significant progress WFP has made in upgrading its institutional management, promoting triangular transactions, in fully tapping the material potentials of the developing countries, and in revising its projects cycle. We have realized that the new project cycle will help to improve project designing and project management efficiency and increase project returns from the experience we have gained. While there is need for the project areas to prepare materials and
counterpart investment and manpower, there is also the need for them to do a good job in project design and management so as to achieve optimum results. As we share a common goal, the Chinese delegation fully appreciates and supports the steps taken by WFP to improve its management and is ready to join efforts with the Programme in future cooperation for better development.
Michel MOMBOULI (Congo): Avant de faire part au Conseil des observations de la délégation congolaise sur le rapport à l'examen, permettez-nous tout d'abord de nous acquitter d'un devoir, celui d'adresser ici, au niveau du Conseil de la FAO, nos vives et sincères félicitations à M. James Ingram, Directeur exécutif du PAM, qui vient de se voir confier par le Secrétaire général des Nations Unies et par le Directeur général de la FAO, un nouveau mandat de cinq ans. Nous lui renouvelons l'expression de notre confiance et l'assurons de notre franche collaboration avec l'espoir qu'il continuera, comme par le passé, à multiplier ses efforts pour courir au secours des hommes, des femmes et des enfants, affectés dans leur chair et dans leur coeur par la pénurie alimentaire.
M. Ingram étant absent de Rome en ce moment précis, nous souhaitons que M. Ahmed lui fasse écho de ce message de notre délégation.
Ceci étant fait, venons-en au rapport qui nous est présenté. Comme cela a toujours été le cas pour les documents soumis à notre examen, c'est avec une attention soutenue que notre délégation a parcouru le llème rapport du Comité des politiques et programmes d'aide alimentaire du PAM dont nous sommes saisis au titre du point 7. 1 de notre ordre du jour sous la cote CL 90/9, rapport dont nous tenons à féliciter le Secrétariat pour sa clarté et sa pertinence habituelles.
En notre qualité de représentant d'un Etat Membre du CPA, nous avons, certes, déjà eu l'occasion de nous mettre au courant d'une bonne partie des informations contenues dans ce rapport; mais, au niveau de ce Conseil qui est un organe hiérarchique supérieur au CPA, nous aimerions, malgré tout, saisir la présente occasion pour réaffirmer la position de notre pays sur les différentes questions abordées dans ce rapport qui nous est soumis.
Bien que la quantité de 1, 8 million de tonnes de vivres engagées en 1985 par le PAM au titre de ses activités de développement témoigne de l'ampleur de l'action du programme dans les pays bénéficiaires, il n'en reste pas moins vrai, pour les pays en développement qui sont dans le besoin, que ce tonnage, comparé ó celui mobilisé en 1984 est inférieur, même s'il est supérieur à celui des années antérieures à 1984. Toutefois, nous nous réjouissons que, malgré cette déception provoquée par la baisse relative du tonnage de l'aide, ce sentiment soit quelque peu atténué par l'accélération enregistrée au cours de cette même période dans la révision et la mise en oeuvre du cycle des projets. Nous continuons à considérer comme une initiative heureuse les groupes consultatifs créés sous l'égide de la Banque mondiale et les tables rondes organisées par le PNUD, pour la recherche de voies et moyens susceptibles d'assurer l'intégration de l'aide alimentaire et les autres formes d'assistance aux plans et programmes nationaux de développement. Dans ce contexte, nous nous félicitons d'une participation de plus en plus large du PAM à ces mécanismes de coordination de l'aide. Nous réitérons notre appui aux efforts déployés par le PAM en vue d'une implication de plus en plus grande des femmes dans les projets bénéficiant de l'aide alimentaire.
Nous osons espérer que malgré les difficultés financières propres à chacun de nos Etats, nous serons tous en mesure de verser, malgré tout, la totalité de nos contributions au budget ordinaire du PAM pour son exercice biennal en cours. Nous nous réjouissons du bon climat de travail et de collaboration qui s'est instauré entre le PAM et la FAO depuis l'adoption, lors de la 19ème session du CPA des mesures préconisées par l'Equipe spéciale ONU/FAO chargée d'étudier les problèmes de leurs relations avec le PAM, qui ne sont plus qu'un mauvais souvenir lointain. Nous nous félicitons de la priorité absolue que le PAM a continué d'accorder à l'Afrique subsaharienne en 1985 et nous aimerions saisir cette occasion pour exprimer toute notre considération aux autres régions des pays en développement pour leur bonne compréhension et pour leur solidarité à l'endroit de notre continent, et remercier une fois de plus tous les donateurs pour leur aide alimentaire soutenue, à travers le PAM, aux pays africains éprouvés par les crises alimentaires.
Nous réitérons notre appui au PAM pour qu'il continue à mener ses activités de suivi et d'évaluation qui sont, à notre avis, aussi importantes que les activités de programmation et d'exécution des projets. Nous ne cesserons pas d'encourager le PAM dans ses activités d'appui aux projets de développement, une fois passées les situations d'urgence comme c'est le cas en Afrique subsaharienne.
Nous nous réjouissons des récents accords passés entre le PAM et le PNUD au sujet de leurs relations sur le terrain pour améliorer le traitement de l'aide alimentaire aux réfugiés, tout en déplorant une fois de plus la persistance des troubles intérieurs dans plusieurs pays, troubles qui sont à l'origine d'une bonne partie de départs massifs d'hommes, de femmes et d'enfants, qui ne cessent de grossir les rangs des réfugiés estimés à présent à 10 ou 12 millions d'âmes.
Nous réitérons notre appui au PAM pour qu'il continue de recourir aux opérations triangulaires: nous demandons qu'il continue aussi à nous donner des indications sur la part des pays en développement dans les opérations de transport et à y recourir le plus largement possible.
Enfin, nous nous réjouissons que, pour la quatrième fois consécutive, l'objectif de 500 000 tonnes de céréales pour la RAIU ait été dépassé en 1985 et que sept pays en développement aient pu y contribuer.
Ceux qui nous ont précédé ont fait allusion à deux questions importantes discutées récemment au cours de la session du CPA: l'étude Mc Kinsey et la question de la monétisation.
A cette occasion nous n'aimerions pas revenir sur les débats que nous avons eus récemment à la vingt-deuxième session du CPA. Nous nous réservons le droit d'y revenir à sa vingt-troisième session, lorsque ces différentes questions auront été étudiées de façon approfondie, comme nous le souhaitons, par le Secrétariat.
H. REDL (Austria): I would like to thank the Secretariat for the timely submission of document CL 90/9. My thanks are addressed to Mr Ahmed for the excellent and comprehensive introduction of this item. The document gives a good survey of the activities of the World Food Programme. We welcome its activities concerning the coordination of the aid mechanism and still see the possibilities for some improvement. The statement in paragraph 14 said that 85 percent of the total of 1. 8 million tons of food benefitted the low income food deficit countries and was noted with satisfaction. The same applies to paragraph 15 saying that an essential part of the WFP development support was directed to the LDCs. Concerning the regional support it was remarked with satisfaction that the various recommendations were taken into account and the African region was given high priority.
Concerning the food aid and the role of women the closest possible cooperation with the competent divisions of FAO seems to be urgently needed to avoid duplication. The outlook for 1986, paragraph 7, 4 to 77, should be completed by recent data since the year 1986 will end in a few weeks. Even the question arises whether this section should be newly formulated as an outline of the activities in 1987 is already available. Furthermore, it would be desirable if the document contained an outlook on the priorities in 1987.
Finally, it is a pleasure for me to underline once again the full support of my government to WFP's activities.
Real T. LALANDE (Canada): J'aimerais tout d'abord remercier M. Ahmed pour la présentation qu'il nous a faite au début de la séance.
Le Canada, à titre de Membre du Comité des politiques et programmes d'aide alimentaire du PAM et en sa qualité de contributeur important aux ressources de ce programme, fut heureux d'accorder son approbation au onzième rapport annuel du CPA, à la fin de mai 1986.
J'aimerais donc aujourd'hui limiter mes commentaires à certains aspects plus spécifiques. Comme d'autres délégations, nous sommes également d'avis que l'année 1985 demeurera une année importante dans l'histoire du PAM et dans l'évolution de ses politiques et programmes. Au cours de l'année 1985, le PAM a joué un rôle de premier plan dans la distribution de l'aide alimentaire d'urgence en Afrique. Les responsabilités dont le Programme s'acquitta en matière d'information et de logistique furent d'une assistance majeure pour le Canada dans la mise en oeuvre de son propre programme d'aide alimentaire bilatérale en Afrique.
Nous aimerions donc profiter de l'occasion pour remercier le Directeur exécutif du PAM et le personnel de cette Organisation pour les efforts importants qu'ils ont déployés à cette occasion. Nous considérons que la qualité du travail de cette Organisation s'améliore graduellement, de même que la qualité des rapports présentés à son Comité de coordination, le Comité des politiques et programmes d'aide alimentaire, et nous nous en réjouissons.
Nous nous réjouissons également de la nomination pour une nouvelle période de cinq ans de M. James Ingram à la tête de cet organisme, telle qu'effectuée récemment par le Directeur général de la FAO, M. Saouma, et le Secrétaire général des Nations Unies, et nous félicitons ces derniers de leur décision.
Notre délégation aimerait également exprimer sa satisfaction face aux efforts effectués en 1985, de même qu'au début de l'année 1986, par le PAM et la FAO pour clarifier les domaines d'autorité propre à chacun en matière de gestion.
Nous croyons que la mise en oeuvre des recommandations formulées par le Groupe de travail conjoint de la FAO et des Nations Unies devrait faciliter les relations entre le PAM et la FAO et améliorer l'efficacité des deux Organisations. Notre délégation continuera donc à s'intéresser aux développements dans ce domaine en demandant que le sujet puisse faire l'objet d'un suivi adéquat lors des prochaines sessions du Comité des politiques et programmes d'aide alimentaire.
Dans le même esprit, notre délégation est également heureuse de la présentation au Comité des politiques et programmes d'aide alimentaire d'un rapport sur la gestion du PAM préparé par un consultant extérieur et présentant de nombreuses suggestions de réorganisation des structures et des modalités d'opération de cet organisme.
De même que le délégué de la Colombie et celui des Etats-Unis d'Amérique, nous sommes satisfaits de la décision prise par le Directeur exécutif du PAM et son personnel au sujet de la question de la monétisation. Nous croyons que cette question est importante et mérite un examen et une discussion appropriés. Nous sommes satisfaits de la décision d'inscrire la discussion de cette question à une prochaine session du CPA.
Je désire souligner que la délégation canadienne, par le passé, a demandé à maintes occasions que le PAM adopte les mesures nécessaires pour accroître l'efficience de ses activitiés et l'efficacité de ses programmes. Notre délégation a toujours présenté ses commentaires de façon critique, bien sûr, mais également constructive, et nous nous réjouissons des différentes améliorations que nous pouvons constater dans le sens de la fourniture de meilleurs programmes à l'intention d'un nombre plus important de bénéficiaires dans le tiers monde.
Nous espérons que, dans l'esprit d'échanges libres de commentaires, dans un forum démocratique comme celui-ci, tel que nous le rappelait hier le Président de cette assemblée en fin de séance, les commentaires souvent critiques de notre délégation ne seront pas perçus comme la manifestation d'une attitude destructive face aux efforts des organisations auxquelles ces commentaires s'adressent mais bien comme des éléments constructifs à utiliser par le Secrétariat pour l'amélioration de son programme, tel qu'il nous est possible de le faire dans le cadre du Comité des politiques et programmes d'aide alimentaire.
Nous désirons donc terminer en réaffirmant le soutien aux objectifs du Programme alimentaire mondial de même qu'à ceux de la FAO et en vous assurant de notre entière collaboration et d'un appui total à ces deux organismes.
Notre soutien continuera cependant à se manifester très certainement par une approche critique mais constructive du PAM et de la FAO.
Agustín GUTIERREZ-CANET (México): La delegación mexicana felicita al señor Ahmed por la presentación sintetica y clara del documento en el que se exponen las actividades del programa Mundial de ALimentos durante 1985.
Observamos con preocupación que la disponibilidad de recursos en alimentos en 1985 fue inferior en un 14 por ciento al de 1984; pero también fue mayor que en años anteriores.
Por otra parte, observamos que del total de 6 42 millones de dólares asignados para proyectos de desarrollo, el 79 por ciento fue dedicado a dar atención a países menos adelantados de conformidad con el espiritu del PMA y del propio Comité. Nuestra delegación apoya totalmente esa política de prestar particular atención a los países de bajos ingresos, pero al mismo tiempo lamenta, como ya ha sido señalado por el distinguido representante de Colombia, el desequilibrio en la distribución. regional.
En este sentido la Región Latinoamericana y del Caribe apenas alcanzó un 10 por ciento de las asignaciones del PMA. Esto es así, no obstante los grandes bolsones de pobreza que se presentan en la región y a pesar del deterioro de la crisis económica derivada fundamentalmente del peso de la deuda y de los problemas de mercado de los productos básicos. Insistimos en la necesidad de alcanzar un adecuado equilibrio en la distribución regional y esperamos que sin menoscabo de atender prioritariamente a los países menos avanzados, se atienda más responsablemente a nuestra región.
La delegación mexicana desea, igualmente, destacar la pronta y efectiva respuesta que el PMA otorgó al pueblo hermano de El Salvador inmediatamente después del terremoto ocurrido en ese pais el 10 de octubre pasado. De igual forma hace poco más de un año el PMA brindó su asistencia a nuestro pais pos una causa similar, por lo que mi delegación reitera su reconocimiento al Programa.
Por otra parte, señor Presidente, apoyamos la implantación de los trabajos sobre el llamado Ciclo Revisado de los Proyectos, cuyo objetivo es incrementar la eficacia del desarrollo de los recursos destinados por el PMA. Nos complace los esfuerzos realizados por el PMA en su labor de coordinación
interagencial para lograr una mayor eficiencia entre los diversos mecanismos de la ayuda alimentaria. La eficiencia del programa ha sido demostrada en múltiples países de Africa, particularmente en Etiopía, y también ha quedado demostrada dicha eficiencia a nivel de Grupos Consultivos en los planes de programas y de desarrollo.
Apoyamos también al programa en lo referente a promover una mayor conciencia de la función que las mujeres pueden y deben desempeñar en los proyectos realizados con ayuda alimentaria, ya que la mujer, particularmente en el área rural, desempeña un papel fundamental dentro de la organización agricola en muchos países.
La delegación mexicana expresa su satisfacción por los logros alcanzados en materia de coordinación entre el PMA y la FAO derivada del Grupo de Acción Conjunta Naciones Unidas/FAO. Asimismo espera que esta Acción Conjunta a la que se han comprometido sus máximas autoridades, se consolide en pro de una mayor eficacia. Nuestra delegación aplaude a la comunidad de donantes que se ha comprometido, conforme a la propuesta del CPA, en obtener 3, 25 millones de toneladas y 405 millones de dólares en efectivo para el bienio 1987-88.
La delegación mexicana insta al Director Ejecutivo del PMA a que haga lo posible por diversificar los contenidos de la ayuda alimentarla e incluya en ésta productos que no trastoquen los hábitos alimenticios de las poblaciones beneficiarias. Asimismo solicitamos se fomenten las transacciones triangulares a fin de ayudar a los paises en desarrolloa a colocar sus excedentes alimenticios. Hemos coincidido en otro tema de nuestra agenda en que, aunque nos congratulamos de que existan tales excedentes en varios países africanos, sus consecuencias económicas de no ser colocados a tiempo pueden ser negativas. Pedimos al PMA, por tanto, que. estudie el caso de esos países africanos y de otros en circunstancias similares para que les ofrezca una salida a través de operaciones triangulares. Para ellos seria conveniente que el PMA utilizara en la mayor medida posible los servicios de transporte de los países en desarrollo. En general la asistencia alimentaria debe otorgarse de tal manera que no sólo permita la solución de casos urgentes de falta de alimentos, sino que también establezca las bases para una adecuada producción local de alimentos y estimule un crecimiento económico más sólido.
Finalmente, nuestra delegación quiere dejar constancia de su satisfacción por el nombramiento del doctor Ingram, por un nuevo periodo de cinco años a cargo del PMA.
Mrs Marasee SURAKUL (Thailand): First of all my delegation would like to join the other speakers to congratulate Mr Ingram on his appointment for another term as Executive Director.
On behalf of the Thai delegation I would like to express our appreciation of the report of the UN/FAO World Food Programme. I would like to refer to the report CL 90/9 regarding the relief operations for Kampucheans. My delegation would like to thank the World Food Programme and United Nations/FAO donor countries and voluntary agencies for providing relief assistance to the refugees along the Thai-Kampuchean border.
Concerning the pledge and contribution, the Thai Government has decided to pledge a contribution of white rice of the amount of US$70 000 for the period of 1987 and 1989.
My delegation also appreciated that the World Food Programme has continued support for triangular purchase transactions on behalf of donors.
Bernard LEDUN (France): Notre délégation a déjà eu l'occasion, lors de la dernière réunion des comités des politiques et programmes alimentaires qui vient de se tenir à Rome, de dire son appréciation pour les efforts menés par le PAM dans l'ensemble des pays en développement et plus particulièrement sur le continent africain où son action a été décisive dans la lutte contre la crise alimentaire de 1984-85. Le PAM a donné la démonstration de l'efficience et de la rapidité avec lesquelles il est en mesure de mobiliser toutes les ressources disponibles, afin de faire face à une situation d'urgence. Le grand public ne retient peut-être de l'action entreprise par le PAM que cette tâche de secouriste. Il en est une autre cependant qui pour être moins spectaculaire mérite tout autant son attention, c'est sa contribution au développement agricole. Celle-ci constitue en effet le moyen pour les pays en développement d'éviter la récurrence de situations d'urgence. Dans ce domaine, l'examen de projets présentés au dernier CPA a illustré combien l'aide au développement permettait d'apporter des ajustements et des améliorations qui allaient dans le sens d'un renforcement de l'autosuffisance alimentaire des pays en développement.
Nous nous réjouissons que, dans cette perspective pour 1986, le document CL 90/19 marque l'intention du PAM de "viser une intégration accrue de l'aide alimentaire dans les plans et politiques de développement des pays bénéficiaires". Il n'est pas inutile d'ajouter ici, à la suite de ce qu'a dit
tout à l'heure le représentant de la Grande-Bretagne, que, tout comme un autre pays, la communauté économique européenne s'est engagée dans la même voie et qu'une résolution vient d'être adoptée dans ce sens, ce mois-ci, par la Commission de Bruxelles.
Le Directeur exécutif du PAM nous a présenté au dernier CPA les grandes lignes de la réforme structurelle à laquelle il envisageait de procéder dans le court terme afin d'améliorer encore la performance de cette organisation. Ma délégation a déjà eu l'occasion de dire son intérêt pour cette réforme, tout en souhaitant que beaucoup de réalisations ne dépassent pas ses moyens financiers. Ce projet de réforme organisationnelle dans la mesure où il poursuit un objectif de rationalisation et de meilleure coordination entre les services gestionnaires du Siège et les activités opérationnelles sur le terrain, mérite, sans aucun doute, notre attention constructive. La délégation française tient donc à apporter son soutien au Directeur du PAM dans cet effort et ne peut que souhaiter la poursuite d'un programme qui-réponde de façon aussi utile à l'attente de la communauté internationale·
Rainer PRESTIEN (Germany, Federal Republic of):We have the Eleventh Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes before us. This report contains a number of interesting facts and figures relating to the year 1985 which are relevant also for the future of the World Food Programme. Since the delegation of the Federal Republic of Germany has already appreciated the work of WFP I should like to make only some brief remarks at this time.
The activities of WFP are divided into two major categories, i. e. development assistance through food aid, and emergency operations. With regard to the development assistance WFP has entered into what is called the WFP project cycle. Based on past experiences, projects and programmes should be more clearly incorporated in country frameworks and represent the outcome of better coordination between the country involved and the different multilateral and bilateral donors. Furthermore, an improved project design will be applied and a clearer definition of food as a project resource is asked for as well as a more active participation of WFP in World Bank Consultative Groups and UNDP Round Tables, respectively.
My delegation would like to commend WFP for this new endeavour but would also like to raise a point of caution regarding an exaggerated level of expectations. Such structural changes certainly provide a better base but the actual activities in the projects and programmes depend mostly on the cooperation of administration of the recipient country on the spot and, most importantly, on the participation of the people in planning and implementation.
In this connexion let me stress, like other delegations already did, that also my delegation fully supports the increased involvement of women in the whole process. The role of women, especially in the poor sectors of the population, has too often been overlooked in the past. This resulted in project failures sometimes or at least in poor project results.
WFP has improved its handling of emergencies. New approaches were found and efficiently implemented. The coordination within the international community and on the spot has been improved through OEOA and the United Nations System, mainly the UNDP Resident Representatives. We would like to congratulate WFP for its constructive engagement, be it in the multilateral field; be it in channelling bilateral or NGO's assistance to the needy. We are pleased with the quick and efficient response of WFP to the situation in sub-Sahara Africa, its willingness to explore new ways and means, for instance the trucking operations in Ethiopia and the Sudan as well as the incorporation of NGOs activities into the concerted efforts of the international community.
Whilst the target set for the combined total resources of WFP have not been met in full, we have to acknowledge that the resources made available to WFP are representing an impressive sign of international solidarity. This also holds true for the resources provided for in the International Emergency Food Reserve which have exceeded the target set over the last four years. It is especially welcomed that recipient countries have participated in this effort. Furthermore, WFP supported increasingly triangular purchase transactions on behalf of donors. At this point I would like to express the full satisfaction of my Government regarding those transactions carried out on our behalf. This mode of operation will be continued whenever feasible, relying on WFP's past experience in the interest of timely and correct responses to expressed needs.
The work of the UN/FAO Joint Task Force has proven efficient. We are glad to learn that almost all recommendations have been implemented and a fair base for costing of FAO support activities has been established. We are looking forward to the further discussions on the restructuring of WFP Headquarters in order to give it a more field-oriented impetus. A first exchange of views based on the McKinsey Report has already taken place during the 22nd Session of CFA in October. We are confident that WFP's administration has taken due note of the comments made in CFA.
All of us are stakeholders in WFP and therefore must be interested in an efficient and an innovative organization which is able to handle its specific mandate and the second largest resources per year in the United Nations System in the interest of the people it is dealing with, mainly the poorest parts of the population in developing countries, while at the same time giving the donor community the assurances of an efficient, effective and transparent conduct of business. We are also looking forward to discussing the general question of monetization of WFP's food aid. Before WFP gets involved in this kind of action on a large scale two questions have to be scrutinized very carefully. Firstly, what are the potential effects of food aid sold on the market and how can the counterpart funds be used to contribute to the development process of the country? Secondly, what could or should be the role of WFP within this context? For my government this will be an important point of discussion concerning the future work of WFP.
Ross COGGINS (United States of America): We are very happy to see Mr Ahmed and Mr Holder on the platform and we would like to compliment Mr Ahmed on his effective presentation of the 11th Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes. It is always a pleasant task to commend not in response to the required diplomatic niceties but in recognition of solid accomplishment.
There is much in the report which is worthy of comment but in the interest of brevity we would like to focus on just two or three points. My delegation is pleased to commend WFP's magnificent response to the famine situation in Africa. It was characterized by timeliness, determination and effectiveness. The highly professional performance of WFP in response to the widespread and sustained food emergy condition stands as a unique and certainly historic demonstration of the potential of the international community when faced with emergency.
We further commend what is in the report on the programme strategy for both accelerating the integration of women and improving their share of benefits in WFP activities. Devising a strategy is an essential first task but the harder task of carrying out the strategy lies ahead. We shall follow closely the implementation of this crucially important strategy with the fervent hope that it will be effective long before the projected date of the year 2000.
Having commended the programme for these achievements, my delegation would like to offer a promisory note for future commendation. We are following with keen interest the implementation of the recently revised WFP project cycle. In that connection we note WFP's traditional emphasis on project food aid. Ambassador Fenwick has already mentioned the serious concern of my delegation that in the most recent CFA there were tendencies to move away from project food aid in the direction of programme food aid as evidenced by submission for CFA approval of four fully monetarized projects. As Ambassador Fenwick stated when the United States and other delegations expressed their concern regarding this perceived trend, it was agreed that there would be a full policy discussion of the issue at the forthcoming CFA meeting, meanwhile deferring the submission of further projects akin to those in question. My delegation believes that the programme, which according to the report before us has achieved such commendable objectives in the recent past, will win future commendation by stubbornly continuing to focus its resources on the beneficiaries in the poorest population sectors on their food security, which is basic, and on their deepest aspirations for a better life.
Augustine K. OSUBAN (Uganda): First we wish to convey our congratulations to Mr James Ingram on his appointment as Executive Director of the WFP for a further term of five years. The WFP under Mr Ingram's leadership has achieved high recognition in the international community on account of its excellent work in developing countries. We wish him greater achievements during his second term of office.
Turning now to the document before us, I would like to thank Mr Ahmed for his excellent introduction and his detailed account of how food aid can be used as a valuable developmental source in alleviating hunger, human suffering, and as a long-term measure for rehabilitating agriculture and economic development.
We would like to commend the World Food Programme for the tremendous work carried out globally but especially for its involvement in the African food crisis. In this crisis the World Food Programme achieved a standard of performance of which we are all proud, given the odds and harsh logistic problems under which it had to perform its duties.
My delegation welcomes the high level of WFP commitments for development projects, reported to be equivalent to 1. 8 million tons of food, and we also welcome the orientation of the programmes towards agricultural production and rural development.
In the same way we also note with appreciation that some proportion of the total project values was commuted to supporting price stabilization programmes. We would welcome more of these projects because, as pointed out, they exemplify the innovative role that food aid can play in supporting agricultural reforms.
With regard to emergency operations, we commend the performance of the programme for the high level of WFP commitment to emergency operations and we especially appreciate the speed of delivery of its emergency supplies, as testified by the swiftness with which emergency supplies were delivered to Colombia.
We note with appreciation that for the fourth time since the inseption of the International Emergency Food Reserve, the target of 500, 000 tons of cereals has been reached and that most of it was channelled multilaterally through the WFP.
We note with appreciation also that 80 percent of the purchases were in the form of triangular transactions. We commend this trend, especially as it is easing the problem of developing countries which are achieving surplus production levels.
We also commend the improved geographical representation of WFP staff, although the absence of ladies on the podium is very conspicuous.
On the question of non-food items, ray delegation feels that these are very crucial inputs which could easily make the difference between success and failure of the project. We therefore call for more of these items to be procured.
We note with great appreciation the very cordial working relationship between WFP and FAO. Both organizations working in harmony to bring great benefits to the developing countries.
Finally, I wish on behalf of my delegation to thank the World Food Programme for the substantial assistance that the Organization is giving to our country.
In conclusion, we endorse the report.
Igor KIPMAN (Brazil): The report before us is a sound reflection of the responsible and serious work which has been under way in the context of the work of the World Food Programme under the guidance of the CFA. Not only has the World Food Programme for more than a decade been doing an outstanding job in trying to relieve hunger and malnutrition, but also searching for new and innovative ways to fulfill its tasks.
My delegation has no special remarks to make but two of the features presented should be specially commended since they clearly show the permanent awareness of the programme in relation to relevant issues and also the willingness to be up to date through the modernization of its working techniques and abilities.
The first is a comment on the participation of women in the implementation and operation of food aid assistance which in brief depicts the increasing importance being paid to the role of women in the implementation of development programmes.
The second aspect of the report which I would like to underline is the remarkable job being coordinated by the World Food Programme which is shortly and modestly disclosed in page 12 of the document. It is an extraordinary operation, the fruit of the cooperation and coordination of various international agencies, aiming at solving the tough and adverse conditions which are faced by the needy populations involved. It is an excellent example of the capacity of the World Food Programme to tackle different problems with imaginative and creative approaches.
Regarding triangular transactions and monetarization, I want to endorse the pertinent comments just voiced by Ambassador Bula Hoyas, delegate of Colombia, and my delegation looks forward to a constructive and positive approach being adopted by all delegations when the policy of monetarization is brought to the next session of the CFA.
A last remark is to mention that the report which is now submitted to the Council well demonstrates the reason why the Executive Director has been so strongly and unanimously supported in the last session of the CFA, when all member countries pleaded for his appointment for a further term of office as head of the programme.
Anwar Mohammed KHALED (Yemen, People's Democratic Republic of) (Original language Arabic):Like previous speakers, I too would like to express our pleasure and satisfaction at the very clear presentation by Dr Ahmed of the 11th Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes.
My country's delegation would also like to express its admiration at all that has been done by WFP and all that has been explained by Dr Ahmed. We find that the whole report is worthy of praise, in particular as regards the measures undertaken to cope with the food crisis in Africa so far as logistics and distribution are concerned. I think that the success of these endeavors is the result of the untiring efforts undertaken by the WFP.
Furthermore and without being diplomatic I would like to commend the competence of the staff both at the headquarters and in the field, who without exception displayed patience and diligence in implementing projects in Africa and elsewhere.
WFP would never have been able to reach such a high degree of success without the hard work of its staff. My country's delegation would like to express its appreciation to donor countries for all the aid that they have been kind enough to offer to WFP.
We should also like to commend the collaboration and coordination among recipient countries. We would like to emphasize the underlying understanding and cooperation established between WFP and FAO because I am sure that this will reflect positively on future activities.
We should also like to congratulate Mr Ingram on his reelection to a further terra of office. The Council, the Secretary General of the UN and the Director-General of FAO have given their support to his reelection. Mr Ingram's enthusiasm for and devotion to his task in the past will, I am sure, be maintained in the future. Undoubtedly, this will lead to an improvement in WFP's activities and to a greater mobilization and better use of resources.
We should like to pay tribute to the WFP for all that it has done in order to maximize the utilisation of available resources in 1985, and to promote the role of women in development. We also thank WFP for all that it has done in order to encourage more pledges which have reached record levels.
My delegation has read carefully what the WFP has been doing in order to improve the distribution of aid according to development requirements.
A WFP mission is currently visiting my country.
Turning now to the policy to be followed by WFP in the future. We should like to support the programme's orientation namely to provide assistance to solve the world food crisis. We are very much aware of the role of food aid in development and especially in the light of the present crisis. We look forward to activating this role through better use of resources of WFP so as to achieve its objectives in development and in providing food aid to low income food-deficit countries particularly in the current situation. We would request all donor countries to continue their contribution to WFP resources.
Adel HELMY EL SARKI (Egypt) (Original language Arabic):We have studied document CL 90/9 and we should like to express our satisfaction with the developments in the WFP especially insofar as raising the efficiency of resources allocated to development projects in 1985, as well as efforts exerted in further improving monitoring systems and auto-evaluation. We are also happy to see that pledges to the WFP regular resources have exceeded one billion dollars. The revised Project cycle enabled various countries to take appropriate decisions regarding food assistance.
Paragraphs 54 and 55 indicate that the WFP resources for the 1985/86 biennium have reached $1. 35 billion; and that 76 percent of the target has been reached. This is a source of satisfaction to us. We are also happy that paragraph 56 of the report indicates that the target for IEFR was exceeded for the first time since it was set up.
We also support the importance given by the WFP to purchases through triangular transactions. We read with satisfaction in paragraph 64 that 80 percent of the WFP's purchases have taken the form of triangular transactions. We should also like to commend WFP aid to Africa and we welcome the Executive Director's inclination to review the administrative structure of the programme.
WFP aid has continued to accelerate agricultural development in my country, that is why we should like to pay tribute to the WFP and its assistance. We should also like to thank Mr Salahuddin Ahmed for his clear presentation of this document. We should like to congratulate Mr Ingram on his reelection.
Mohammed ABDELHADI (Tunisie): La délégation de mon pays voudrait d'abord, comme l'ont fait d'autres délégations avant moi, remercier M. Ahmed, Directeur exécutif adjoint du PAM, pour son excellente introduction de ce document CL 90/9, relatif au rapport annuel du Comité des politiques et programmes d'aide alimentaire.
Ma délégation voudrait saisir cette occasion pour exprimer nos sincères félicitationsá M. Ingram pour la confiance que le Secrétaire général des Nations Unies et le Directeur général de la FAO lui ont exprimée en lui renouvelant son mandat á la tête du PAM pour les cinq prochaines années.
S'agissant des activités du PAM, nous sommes heureux de constater qu'en 1985 les contributions ont atteint un niveau record de plus d'un milliard de dollars, bien que ce chiffre soit inférieur de 25 pour cent à l'objectif fixé.
S'agissant des relations PAM/FAO, les résultats auxquels est arrivée l'Equipe spéciale ONU/FAO sont positifs, grâce à la volonté du Directeur général de la FAO et du Secrétaire général des Nations Unies; ces résultats ont permis de résoudre un probléme qui nous a préoccupés un certain temps dans le passé. La coopération constructive entre la FAO et le PAM ne pourra qu'avoir un impact positif et bénéfique sur les activités du Programme alimentaire mondial, dont les responsabilités, en matière de personnel, de comptabilité, de passation des contrats, ont été élargies et clairement définies.
En ce qui concerne les priorités dans la répartition de l'aide alimentaire du Programme alimentaire mondial, nous constatons avec satisfaction que priorité absolue est accordée à l'Afrique subsaharienne. Ma délégation appuie cette orientation du Programme. Il est signalé au paragraphe 18 qu'aucune demande émanant de cette région n'a été rejetée ni amputée en raison d'un manque de ressources·
En ce qui concerne l'aide d'urgence-paragraphe 33-le document nous informe que cette aide du PAM a touché environ 11 millions de bénéficiaires; nous apprécions á leur juste valeur les efforts considérables du Programme alimentaire et à cet effet ma délégation souhaite présenter au Directeur exécutif et á ses collaborateurs l'expression de son estime et de sa considération. Par ailleurs, ma délégation a noté avec satisfaction en ce qui concerne le Soudan, un des pays africains touché par la crise alimentaire, les efforts considérables déployés par le PAM pour faire parvenir des vivres dans le Sud, efforts qui ont commencé à porter leurs fruits, grâce à la persévérance de ce Programme·
Je ne voudrais pas terminer mon intervention sans exprimer, au nom de ma délégation, nos remerciements aux pays donateurs pour leur générosité et leur compréhension, pour mieux avoir répondu avec célérité aux demandes d'aide alimentaire d'urgence; et je voudrais insister auprès de ces pays sur la nécessité d'intensifier leur aide alimentaire destinée au développement qui, ne l'oublions pas, constitue la principale mission du PAM dans le but de prendre des projets permettant d'éviter les crises alimentaires et la famine en général.
Enfin, je désire réitérer l'appui de mon pays au PAM et aux efforts considérables déployés pour secourir des raillions d'êtres humains en difficulté, et pour l'importante aide consentie par le PAM en faveur du développement au bénéfice de nombreux pays.
Pour terminer, je voudrais signaler au Secrétariat que le document français, entre nos mains, ne comporte pas le paragraphe 77 mentionné tout à l'heure par la distinguée représentante des Etats-Unis d'Amérique; en effet, ce document, dans son édition française, ne comporte que 75 paragraphes·
Michael J. RYAN (Australia): I shall be very brief in my comments. We would like to thank the Secretariat for the preparation of the document we have before us on this item. Australia regards the work undertaken by the World Food Programme in 1985 as being sensible and appropriate, and considers that the policies and objectives being pursued by the WFP are soundly based. Australia looks forward to continuing positive and constructive activity on the part of the Programme. We are confident that under the leadership of Jim Ingram the quality and value of WFP's international role will continue to improve.
We are not given tofullsome and extravagant praise of individuals either at home or abroad. This is a widespread national trait on the part of Australians. However, I can say that Australia is quietly proud to have an Australian national of the calibre of Jim Ingram as the head of this most important UN body. He embarks on his second term of office with Australia's strong support and best wishes.
Leopoldo Ariza HIDALGO (Cuba): Queremos ante todo, señor Presidente, agradecer a la Secretaria por la presentación del documento, así como al señor Ahmed por la inteligente y eficaz exposición que nos hizo.
Nuestro gobierno felicitó calurosamente al Secretario General de Naciones Unidas y al Director General de la FAO por la decisión de designar por un nuevo mandato al Sr. Ingram, lo que garantizará la continuación de una política eficiente. El señor Ingram con su dinamismo ha ido perfeccionando los mecanismos paso a paso de un Programa de mucha importancia para el mundo en desarrollo. Ha funcionado con un alto sentido en toda su gestión. Para nosotros esto tiene una gran importancia y en el desempeño de todas las labores del Programa.
Queremos expresar también nuestra complacencia por ver en el podium, junto al Señor Ahmed a los señores Sintobin y Holder, cuyas capacidades garantizan la ejecutión. control y evaluación, con el mismo dinamismo e inteligencia que este Organismo ha demostrado en los últimos tiempos.
Los elementos que se brindan en este informe son ilustrativos de la actividad desplegada por el PMA en el ultimo período. La ayuda alimentaria gracias al PMA ha llegado a los lugares más difíciles, distantes y necesitados. Esta ayuda no ha sido equitativa, tenemos que expresarlo, por regiones. América Latina como siempre ha sido la que menos ayuda recibió, sólo un 10 por ciento. No obstante vemos con satisfacción que la cifra de ayuda del bienio es sobresaliente, a pesar de que no se cumplieron las promesas. Consideramos muy importante la atención que viene brindando el PMA a los proyectos de desarrollo, recogidos en el párrafo 21. Es cuestión indispensable preparar a los países para el futuro y no sólo para una situación determinada o coyuntural de emergencia y de hambre.
Sobre los proyectos de desarrollo creo que se va a tener que hacer un análisis muy profundo. Hemos oído ya oposiciones a una cierta monetización dentro de estos proyectos. Esto nos preocupa porque, sencillamente los mismos que nos han estado diciendo durante muchos años que la monetización era una expresión ya de desarrollo, ahora, cuando queremos introducirlo dentro de los mecanismos de desarrollo de los países del Tercer Mundo, tienen preocupación con la monetización. Nosotros sabemos en estas contradiciones cuál es el objetivo final de oponerse a la monetización. Esto será discutido con más tiempo.
El PMA ha sido sufientemente agudo para hacer de la ayuda alimentaria un instrumento de desarrollo, ya en estos momentos, sin mucha monetización. Diversificando mecanismos y formas y algunos objetivos de proyectos. Aquí es donde nosotros expresamos que han sido creativos e inteligentes y que ha funcionado de acuerdo con las necesidades de los países del Tercer Mundo que son los beneficiados directos del Programa. Esta es una de nuestras mayores satisfacciones y que nosotros hemos apoyado en todas sus partes la gestión del señor Ingram y del programa en su conjunto.
Finalmente, señor Presidente, queremos expresar que el PMA ha cumplido el mandato que la Comunidad Internacional ha puesto en su mano a través del Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas y del Director General. Ha administrado bien. Ha garantizado la acción multilateral, muy importante, en momentos en que hay que luchar contra viento y marea de aquéllos que tratan de erosionarla interesados normalmente en que el bilateralismos sea la única vía. El PMA ha sido un buen contenedor de eso. Ha garantizado la universalidad, ha mantenido en estos últimos años de crisis profunda en todo el mundo, sus labores han sido intensas y fructíferas, específicamente en trabajos en la ayuda a Africa, en su dramática situación. Todo esto, señor Presidente, hace que el PMA sea uno de los instrumentos más importantes del Sistema para apoyar a los países en los momentos de crisis que vivimos.
A. K. M. Kamaluddin CHOUDHURY (Bangladesh): First of all, I should like to express the sincere appreciation of the Bangladesh delegation to the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director of WFP for the excellent introduction of the document WFP/CFA: 21/23 containing the Eleventh Annual Report of the Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes to the Economic and Social Council, the FAO Council and World Food Council. It is a report which has been prepared with the usual thoroughness and clarity of the WFP.
We should also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr Ingram on his reappointment for a second term of office. We hope that under his leadership the World Food Programme will be further consolidated and that programme expansion will take place.
Bangladesh is a beneficiary of the programme of world food assistance and, as a low-income food-deficit country, we have always welcomed it. It is no doubt a very important supplement to the national efforts mobilized by my government in achieving food self sufficiency.
In the recent meetings of the CFA my delegation had the privilege of putting on record the important role that WFP is playing not only in my country but also in all the countries of Asia, Latin America and Africa in fighting the scourge of hunger and malnutrition. We are grateful to the members of the CFA for the confidence they have posed in Bangladesh by giving us a leadership role in the activities of CFA.
The WFP role in Africa during the worst food crisis faced by that continent has received universal acclaim. Nearly 300 million dollars has been spent by WFP in the African food crisis. It is a matter of great satisfaction for my delegation to see that WFP played such an important role in the distribution of emergency food aid in Africa. Ever since the inception of IEFR, WFP assistance has assumed a special dimension. We thank the donor countries for their generous contributions in the programme, and we hope in future years the contribution will not only be maintained but will increase in quantum. In this connection, we welcomed WFP efforts in promoting triangular transactions. In the last three years we find contributions channelled through WFP by bilateral donors account for over 60 percent of the programme's total purchase, most of which have been carried out through triangular transactions.
We are highly appreciative that WFP's policy of emphasizing commitments to the poorest countries has been continued. It is a matter of great satisfaction to find that of the total 1. 8 million tons of food committed, 85 percent went to the low-income food-deficit countries.
Again, we find that there is a strong emphasis on the WFP Programme on the Rural Areas and more specifically on the neediest group of the rural population, particularly small farmers on marginal land, landless workers, primary school children in the village schools, pregnant and nursing mothers. We hope that in the coming years the programme will be further extended and further improved.
My delegation is particularly happy to note the increasing level of cooperation and collaboration between the WFP and FAO. We share the comments made by the representative of Colombia in this regard and we hope that in the future the cooperation will be further extended.
We are pleased to note that serious efforts were made in 1985 to step up WFP's participation in aid coordination mechanisms such as the World Bank consultative group and UNDP Round Tables. In our view, this is the best possible way of integrating food aid along with other forms of assistance into national development programmes. We are confident that as a result of an integrated approach supported by the ongoing review of management methods and organizational restructuring, the WFP will be able to serve humanity at large in a more effective manner.
Humberto CARRION M. (Nicaragua): Nicaragua desea, señor Presidente, hacer una breve intervención sobre este tema. Nicaragua no es miembro del Comité de Políticas y Programas de Ayuda alimentaria del PMA, pero como observadores seguimos siempre con interés el desarrollo y las conclusiones de sus reuniones.
Consideramos que la ayuda alimentaria constituye un sostén valido a los esfuerzos que hacemos los países en vías de desarrollo para implementar estrategias o planes nacionales de desarrollo. En este sentido tanto la ayuda alimentaria de emergencia como la ayuda alimentaria de apoyo a proyectos de desarrollo son necesarios y complementarios en muchos de nuestros países, ya que las luchas nacionales planificadas contra el hambre y la desnutrición se encuentran limitadas algunas veces por situaciones coyunturales de emergencia
Durante el CPA de octubre pasado tuvimos la satisfacción de conocer que el señor Ingram, Director Ejecutivo del PMA, fue reelegido para ocupar ese cargo por otros cinco años a partir de abril de 1987· También hemos leído con sumo interés en el documento 90/9, que las relaciones de cooperación entre la FAO y el PMA son fluidas. Este hecho sólo puede beneficiar a los países en desarrollo e instamos al PMA y a la FAO a intensificar esa cooperación.
El PMA ha jugado un papel esencial durante la crisis alimentaria que ha atravesado el Africa subsahariana, y ha adquirido experiencias valiosas para tratar de superar las deficiencias encontradas para llegar efectivamente y a tiempo a los beneficiarios. Creemos que la superación de la crisis alimentaria en Africa subsahariana permitirá al PMA a asignar mayores recursos a otras regiones en desarrollo, particularmente a la región de América Latina y el Caribe que está atravesando hoy día una crisis económica que ha afectado sensiblementesu capacidad de producir alimentos, y el peso de la deuda externa no le permite importar alimentos suficientes para toda la población.
El PMA, puede entonces, apoyar en mayor medida los esfuerzos nacionales de los países de nuestra región para tratar de alcanzar la autosuficiencia alimentaria.
Deseamos también expresar que el PMA debe continuar manteniendo su universalidad y su multilateralidad en la asignación de la ayuda alimentaria que, como ya hemos expresado, la consideramos ayuda para el desarrollo, puesto que hemos notado con preocupación en al CPA pasado que elementos políticos perturbadores tienden a condicionar los proyectos que la Secretaría del ?MA somete al Comité para su aprobación.
Kosei SHIOZAWA (Japan):I should like to say that ray delegation have no difficulty in endorsing the 11th Annual Report of the CFA before us. My government highly appreciates the activities of WFP in food aid for development and traditional improvement in the developing countries as well as emergency food aid.
My country will continue to make a contribution Co WFP despite the severe budgetary constraints on the home government.
Regarding the monetizacion of food aid, we welcome the fact that the coming CFA is going Co have a full policy discussion, since we have particular concern on this matter.
I would like to associate myself with the previous speakers in congratulating Mr Ingram on his appointment for the second term as Executive Director of WFP.
Mohammed Hasan PAIMAN (Afghanistan):I would like to give enlightenment on the situation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan which has been mentioned as being over 2 million in number, (page 10 of the document CL 90/9). Under the name of the so-called "Afghanistan refugees" they are receiving most of the WFP emergency aid annually. In order to give the clear facts on this matter my delegation believes that with regards to the Afghan Nationals, who are now residing on the territory of Pakistan, it has been admitted in Reports from various sources (which are otherwise considered as most reliable by the Pakistanis) that there has been an enormous exaggeration of their number.
This exaggeration is due to the following factors:-Firstly, a great majority of Afghan nomads, who travel every year deep into the territory of Pashtoons, Baluchs and beyond, travel seasonally for the grazing of their animals. Their crossing of the borders has been registered by the Pakistan authorities as refugees.
Secondly, in order to secure more assistance, the number of the household of each refugee family is double-ruling and reported as more than their actual number.
Thirdly, a considerably large number of the local population, who belong to the same tribal and ethnic groups residing on the other side of the "frontier", are also listed as refugees.
Fourthly, during the past seven years since the inception of a new phase of the revolution, a great number of Afghans have returned to their home towns and villages. However, their names still remain on the list of those who are allegedly recipients of International assistance.
Fifthly, there are some traders crossing borders traditionally for business purposes who are also registered in the list of refugees.
Sixthly, fraud and embezzlement have also reportedly resulted in the drawing of funds and material assistance through the registration of non-existent refugee families.
Seventhly, the counter-revolutionaries; bandits; mercenaries and those who are undergoing military training in numerous camps located on the territory of Pakistan are also listed as refugees.
These factors, together with others, have been widely reported in the international media friendly towards Pakistan. Even the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, whose report to the delegation of Pakistan made repeated references to these factors, borrows the numbers of refugees from the official record of the government of Pakistan.
Although the status of those Afghans who can be considered as bona fide refugees has been obscured by such a deceitful conglomeracion of a relatively large number of The so-called "refugees", their real number is far less Chan that being claimed by Pakistani and Western sources.
The government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan has announced a general amnesty decree for all Afghans living abroad and has reportedly called on them to return to their homelands and villages and resume their normal peaceful life. This call was positively responded to by a large number of them. The number of returnees would have been greater if certain artificial barriers and obstacles were not created by the counter-revolutionary armed bandits and the Pakistani authorities.
I hope that all these aids and assistance will be devoted to constructive and productive areas and not for other purposes. For example, in many areas we also have to devote these aids and funds and utilize them, such as for land reform programmes for the benefit of small and landless farmers and nomads; for the construction of more than 250 agricultural extension units up to the village level; for land improvements and for infrastructure in agriculture; for fisheries, forestries and pastures and other areas, and especially for providing food aids.
In spite of counter-revolutionaries destructive activities, the cultural plan was implemented-99. 7 percent in wheat crops to the current year crop seasons in Afghanistan. However, due to the shortage of rainfall and due to the continuous droughts in North Afghanistan, about half a million hectares of arid and irrigated lands have been damaged and burned out. A shortage of 390 000 tons of wheat has occurred in current years in food consumption, and the urgent attention of WFP and other donor organizations is needed for assistance for Afghanistan, as well as for other countries, in this regard.
Likewise there are also many useful projects to draw every sort of aid and funds in these aspects.
Malikana Mike LISWANISO (Zambia):We would firstly like to thank the Secretariat for a well prepared and presented document. My delegation would also like to associate itself with the various speakers who have paid tribute to Mr Ingram on his reappointment for another five-year term of office. We wish him well.
My country is a beneficiary of WFP aid, which aid has gone a long way in supplementing our developmental efforts. We, therefore, urge the donor countries to continue to fund WFP generously. My delegation also welcomes WFP's decision to involve women in food aid projects. This is how it ought to be. Our womenfolk form the bulk of our population in rural areas. Maybe that is why we have very few ladies in our delegation to date.
Coming as I do from southern Africa, a region where we are daily being destabilized by the racist regime of South Africa, I wish to register my country's appreciation to WFP for coming to the assistance of refugees and other displaced persons in our region.
The WFP's timely assistance has been a great relief to us. In conclusion, I wish to refer to the concept of monetarization of projects. My delegation does not see anything controversal about this concept. I am not a member of the CFA, but I understand that this matter generated a lot of debate at the last meeting. It is the view of my delegation that the monetarization of projects Is, in fact, an important tool in diversifying food assistance.
Akbar Mirza KHALEELI (India):I would like to congratulate the Deputy Executive Director, Mr Salahuddin Amhed, on his work and the Report which reveals clarity of thought and expression. It also underlines the utility, the range and the transparency of WFP's operations. It is also timely to refer here to the decision during the last CFA to strongly recommend the reappointment of Mr J. Ingram for a well-deserved second terra as Executive Director of WFP in the interest of continuity and in recognition of his good work, and his unobtrusive and effective leadership. We wish him well and WFP more success in dealing with the important and humanitarian tasks in cooperation with FAO, other organizations and nations.
The WFP has emerged as one of those international organizations whose role is recognized in encouraging and implementing on the whole, an acceptable and wholesome mix of food surpluses, and humanitarian motiyes, of voluntary contributions and international approval cutting across countries-and cultures. Even though the main beneficiaries have been the developing countries, it is heartening to see how the developed countries continue to show their solidarity in the emphasis and the need to assist those more seriously affected, and, in recent years, a number of African countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
Even though there are food deficit countries In other parts of the world and countries whose income is as low in Asia or in Latin America as some of the adversely affected African countries, there has been continuing sympathy and solidarity with those African countries which have been given a priority over the last few years, not only in WFP's operations but also as a general focus of international interest and cooperation. It is clear that the African countries are determined to tackle the agriculture and food problems in a more determined and effective manner. We are happy that WFP has assisted so greatly both in dealing with the emergency problems and in assisting in the development process. We are particularly happy at the interest shown in WFP in dealing with the refugee problems which are arising in some of the frontline states in Southern Africa. However, I think it is desirable to refer to the increasing problems of destabilization as a result of the
looming confrontation with South Africa and the likely consequences of further destabilization on frontline and other African states. It is here that WFP may need to anticipate, or at least respond quickly to the likely human and refugee problems that could arise. The experience of WFP in Ethiopia, its achievements in southern Sudan and elsewhere, give us hope that it will be in a position to deal with such problems if and as they develop.
Coming to more general issues, we feel that to the extent possible there might be a little emphasis on non-cereal food items such as edible oils and other items, if there are such surpluses. The entire concept of monetization needs to be gone into because the basis of the WFP is really the food surpluses generated in a number of the countries of the world. If the food is not utilized as the medium of assistance and it is transferred into money, it might be quite helpful, depending on the situation. It might be administratively easier, but I am not so sure whether a number of countries, including donor countries, would be entirely satisfied. Therefore, I think some thought might be given to the question of utilization also of non-cereal items where possible. The tendency to utilize triangular transactions is a very healthy one and I think in this Japan has played a very important role.
The emphasis on small farmers, on the role of women, is very heartening and in keeping with the aims and objectives of WFP and we hope that this will continue.
Carlos DINATOR (Observador de Chile): Es muy grato a mi delegación intervenir en relación con el tema 7 del orden del día, Programa Mundial de Alimentos, y en especial a propósito del 11° informe anual del Comité de Políticas y Programas de Ayuda Alimentaria del PMA Naciones Unidas/FAO.
Mi delegación no tiene observaciones de fondo que formular en relación con el informe presentado, que nos parece exhaustivo y que ha sido objeto de una presentación clara y convincente del señor Director Ejecutivo Adjunto, Señor Ahmed. La labor del PMA debe ser encomiada y aplaudidos los resultados de la última reunión del CPA en la cual donantes y beneficiarios demostraron sensatez y visión dignas de encomio.
Es conveniente congratularse de la cooperación y coordinación cada vez más estrechas entre FAO y PMA y por la redesignación del actual Director Ejecutivo, señor Ingram, por un período adicional de cinco años.
Igualmente espera mi delegación la tendencia a la mayor universalidad en la acción del PMA, que además está reestudiando su propia estructura interna para atender mejor las operaciones de campo.
Mi delegación invita a los amigos países donantes a considerar y valorar con serenidad el concepto de fondo del contravalor o de monetización en la ayuda del PMA atendiendo a la utilización del mecanismo por los mismos donantes de hoy, al concluir el último conflicto mundial, en ese momento, tanto en caracter de donantes como de beneficiarios
Le complace a mi delegación la declaración que con relación a esta materia ha formulado hoy la delegación de Canadá, en el conocido francés de Quebec, en pro del sereno estudio de la cuestión que debe estar libre de prejucios, según lo dijo desde el comienzo mi delegación. Esa declaración ha sido seguida de otras, igualmente positivas, de parte de otros donantes, lo cual pone otra nota optimista respecto de la acción futura del PMA, y asimismo detectar consecuencias importantes en el traslado de un asunto desde la sala verde a la que cobija hoy nuestras labores.
Finalmente encomia mi delegación el reconocimiento y acción efectiva del PMA respecto de la función de la mujer, según se expresa en las páginas 7 y 8 del informe.
Khalil MAKKAWI (Liban) (langue originale arabe): La délégation de mon pays voudrait tout d'abord remercier M. Ahmed pour la présentation claire du document très important qui nous a été soumis et qui nous aidera énormément dans l'examen de cette question. La délégation du Liban voudrait saisir cette occasion pour dire que s'il y a eu des nuages dans les relations du PAM et de la FAO, la récente session du CPA les a tous dissipés.
La nomination par le Secrétaire général des Nations Unies et le Directeur général de la FAO du Directeur exécutif du PAM pour un nouveau mandat de cinq ans est l'expression de la. confiance totale qu'ils accordent à M. Ingram, á sa compétence et à l'engagement qu'il a pris de consolider les rapports entre le PAM et les organisations soeurs, en vue d'une harmonie encore plus complète.
En la matière, la délégation de mon pays a accueilli avec satisfaction, dans le paragraphe 57 du rapport du Comité, la confirmation du rôle du PAM et de la FAO dans l'évaluation des besoins alimentaires et dans le système d'alerte rapide. D'autre part, nous sommes convaincus que le
Directeur exécutif, lors de la présentation de son projet à la prochaine session du CPA, déterminera avec précision les incidences qu'auront ses propositions sur les rapports avec l'Organisation et les institutions soeurs. Je pense spécialement à la création des postes de Directeur des centres régionaux et les incidences qui en découleront sur les rapports du PAM et du PNUD, ainsi que les incidences qu'aura la création d'une direction chargée de proposer des projets sur les rapports entre le PAM et les agences spécialisées, notamment la FAO.
Monsieur le Président, est-il nécessaire de rappeler l'importance de nous conformer au principe de la complémentarité dans l'utilisation des ressources disponibles dans le cadre des Nations Unies? C'est le même principe qui a été confirmé par le Directeur exécutif lui-même à plusieurs reprises. Monsieur le Président, je voudrais insister encore une fois sur l'importance accordée par la délégation de mon pays à la question des transactions triangulaires et toutes les autres mesures qui visent á une distribution plus rapide de l'aide alimentaire. En l'occurence, les propositions du Directeur exécutif présentées au CPA nous semblent être très importantes et nous estimons qu'elles méritent l'appui du Conseil. Quoi qu'il en soit, nous avons pris note que le Directeur exécutif a l'intention, désormais, de tenir une réunion annuelle afin de discuter des contributions à la RAIU et qu'il précisera au cours desdites réunions les besoins de la RAIU.
La délégation de mon pays appuie cette initiative et propose qu'un tel programme d'évaluation soit soumis au PAM afin de déterminer les besoins dudit programme à la lumière des plans d'aide aux projets de développement. Nous estimons que cette proposition est constructive vu le faible taux des contributions pour la période 1985-86 et le peu de clarté qui persiste concernant l'exercice 1987-88.
Salahuddin AHMED (WFP): I must say that I myself, as well as my colleagues who are here, are extremely heartened by the very kind and very generous words of appreciation that have been voiced by the Council with regard to the Programme's activities and accomplishments. I would thank you heartily on behalf of the Executive Director for that. The Council has reiterated, what governments in the CFA and elsewhere have also done on previous occasions, its great: confidence and trust in the management and guidance of the Executive Director and I will faithfully convey this to him.
You have been kind enough, Mr Chairman. Some of the delegates also referred to ray colleagues on the right, Mr Holder who is Acting Director of the Project Management Division and Mr Sintobin who is the Acting Director of the Resource Management Division. While I say "Acting" I must emphasize, and I am sure you are aware, that they are very active. Not only are they active, but as you have recognized yourselves, there are others at the Headquarters and in the field who are working actively to serve suffering humanity and to encourage development in the world. Thank you very much on their behalf and on behalf of myself for your very kind words.
The delegate of Canada referred to a very apt approach. He mentioned a very critical and constructive approach to any analysis of the activities of the World Food Programme. We say that we heartily welcome that statement because it is very much consistent with, and in consonance with, our own approach from the management side, to be open and frank and to engage in constructively critical dialogue with the governments. Our thanks for that.
There have been certain points raised. All of them I will not be able to cover but most of them I would like to address because I feel some of them need to be clarified a little further and others need to be explained on a little bit more.
The delegate of the United Kingdom referred to the recent decision of the European Community in order to further rationalize its approach to food aid allocation and utilization, making it conform to the needs of the-recipient countries and also to conform to the development strategies of those countries. We are in regular touch, almost in daily touch, with the Community and its functionaries, and in December there will be further discussion with the Community with regard to how best we can make use of the Community's food aid contributions. So this is an area in which we are very deeply involved. In this connection, I would like also to put on record our very deep appreciation for the very generous contributions that we received not only for our Regular Budget but also during the African emergency.
The delegate of Denmark referred to the "project cycle" concept as something which was promising. I may inform you that for CFA/23 which will take place in the Spring of next year, all the project documents which will be submitted for approval will reflect this new concept. That means we will see some changes in the format, and as has been known to the members here, this format tries to be more definitive, more refined, more sharply focused and more pointed with regard to the objectives, with regard to the utilization, with regard to the assessment, and with regard to the evaluation, and it tries also to cut down on the existing number of steps that we have in order finally to lead to project approval by the CFA. So this is something which you will see reflected in the next set of projects which will be submitted to the CFA in the Spring of next year.
One particular aspect of it has been referred to by the Ambassador of the PDRY when he said that there is a WFP mission currently visiting his country. This is part of the project cycle approach to have "food aid policy review" missions visiting certain countries in order to find out the avenues for adapting and utilizing food aid more effectively within the national economic development strategy. Other missions will be going to shutan and Bolivia. This is with regard to the project cycle.
Another point was mentioned regarding our handling of refugees. It is common knowledge that the WFP and UNHCR collaborate with each other very closely and effectively, almost on a daily basis, with regard to finding what we need for feeding and sheltering refugees. Feeding is our part. But at the same time we also look into a number of possibilities where we can help in the rehabilitation efforts of the refugees in the host countries. A number of these programmes are currently going on, for example in Angola for Namibian refugees, in Uganda for Rwanda refugees, in Botswana for refugees from Zimbab we, and also in the Sudan. This is to give an indication that where rehabilitation is possible, feasible, desirable and wanted by the host country, we try to help them along.
With regard to our general approach, again, it was mentioned that emergencies should not be the main plank of the operation of the World Food Programme-development should be the real orientation. In my statement I mentioned this fact, and the Executive Director has mentioned it repeatedly, but where there is human suffering we have to rush in and try to eliminate suffering as far as food is involved. But our main concern even in times of emergency is to work for the prevention of emergencies, and even while going for feeding programmes, wherever it is feasible we try to encourage food-for-work projects so that emergency relief can be ensured and at the same time certain infrastructures can also be built for future development utilization.
The delegate of Colombia referred to some matters, and we always listen to him with great respect. He mentioned regional allocation of resources. Members are aware that there is no national allocation of resources as such as between regions or as between countries. But the fact is that the particular share of a country or a region may vary from year to year depending on the type of projects, ongoing, expanded or freshly approved by the CFA. However, I am able to tell him and to inform this assembly that during this current year, the two sessions of the CFA, 21 and 22, approved projects in Latin America and Caribbean region worth $99 million and we find that while ten percent of the share globally went to Latin America in 1985, in 1986 it is 17 percent of the total. As I said, these figures are variable and we have to look at the long-term trends and the long-term needs. All of you have heard the remark of the delegate of Zambia that no African project that was submitted to us in 1985 was rejected by us, we tried to accommodate it. Similarly, in the case of Latin America we try to be as understanding as possible and to help wherever it Is feasible; this Is something that we will keep in view while looking at the overall balance throughout the world, depending on the need perceived.
Triangular transactions are one thing that occupies our attention in the CFA and the Council and the Programme, and it occupies the attention of the Executive Director. Wherever it is possible we try to encourage triangular transactions. Again it depends; it may not always be showing the same trend. Our people have done an analysis of the trend during 1986, for example, and we hope that by the end of the year the purchases that we will have made as triangular transactions will be at least at the level of 1984, which is higher than the 80 percent that we achieved in 1985. We hope it will be possible to do so.
Overall I must say that total purchases we have made are rising. In 1975 we purchased commodities worth about $58 million, but In 1986 it will go up to about $73 million and proportionately, as I have said, the triangular transactions will also rise.
A point was made about the utilization of the vessels of the developing countries. The programme is always solicitous in this matter, but again it depends on the availability of the vessels and the costs structure-the CFA, the governing body, is always very keen to see that we handle our operations cost-effectively. But subject to that, over the last three years we have seen that steadily the utilization of the vessels of the developing countries in value terms has gone up from 10 to 11-12 percent and we will keep this concern very much in view.
With regard to the geographical representation in the staffing structure of the WFP, this is a point that definitely engages the attention of the Member Governments, and of the Executive Director from session to session, month to month, year to year. But as you realize, Mr Chairman, we have a very small staff, something that we have been complimented on, and our total international staff, both at headquarters and in the field, will not exceed 324. So we will have to depend on the opportunities and keep in view the overall competitive nature and in particular the requirements of particular posts. Subject to that, the points made by delegates will be kept in view and we will keep in touch with them and we hope that over time whatever points of dissatisfaction there are will be eliminated. I will definitely communicate the points of view to the Executive Director.
Very legitimately something has been said about women-and we are very glad about it-not because
this is a subject of topical importance but because the World Food Programme has viewed women as development partners, not just as a separate entity. We are a programme and as a programme we have our mandate and our procedures. But the fact remains that we are part of the human society and all the staff of the WFP share a common human heritage, and that is respect for women and our obligation to women as mothers, wives, sisters and daughters, and as I said a while ago, in our context, as development partners.
There are different ways in which we try to tackle this problem of representation of women. In the staff, of course, it is going up, as the Ambassador of Colombia mentioned. In the beneficiaries of the WFP programmes, there are a number of ways that we can do it, and we are doing it, but of course it is not yet perfect and we have to do a lot more, we recognize that.
For example, if there is a maternity and child welfare project women are the direct beneficiaries. Again, there are certain projects which are more suited to women's capabilities, for example in forestry projects-and they are a very significant part of WFP's project portfolio-in the nurseries women find it more congenial to work. There are yet other areas, for example in Lesotho we have ongoing food-for-work programmes and there we find that about 90 percent of the workers are women. For one reason or another they like it and the work is available and they take it. In Bangladesh there are also projects where women form the bulk of the workforce.
I must tell you more about the policy objectives in this area. I think you need to know this and I would like to inform you about it. As part of the project cycle exercise we have issued very elaborate guidelines to our field officers asking them to take care of the special representation of women, special utilization of women's skills and women's needs, in project design, in monitoring and evaluation.
We had a very elaborate discussion with UNICEF, following which the two executive heads issued joint instructions to the field staff to develop joint strategies, joint policies and joint programmes which enhance the participation of women in those projects.
In mid-December we are going to have a meeting with the UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA in order to coordinate our strategies, policies and working modalities so that together we can do more about women in development. So I have told you about some of the things that we are doing and some of the things we have in mind and the joint efforts that we are making in this direction.
There are two other points that engaged the attention of the delegates. One was monetarization and the other was the management review that this Programme undertook. With regard to monetarization I should say that though one delegate mentioned a "perceived trend" towards greater monetarization as part of the WFP approach to development projects, I would say that there was no "conceived trend" towards it this just happened. This is a point that the Executive Director stated very clearly and succinctly In CFA/22. In fact the projects concerned happened to have monetarization as part of a bigger project strategy in cooperation with other international agencies, including IDA and World Bank, for example, or as part of the overall development strategy of the country. Together these projects that went to the CFA did not constitute more than 9 percent of the total project effort during 1986. However, it has been very clearly decided by the CFA that there will be a policy paper brought to its spring session on monetarization in all its aspects and the committee will give its very deep and constructive and critical thought to that, following which we shall know which way to proceed with regard to it. The Executive Director has looked at monetarization, in certain cases, as an integral and inescapable part of project implementation depending on the nature of the project and depending on the nature of the strategy into which it builds itself.
As regards management review, again as with individuals so with nations and so with International organizations, there is a time to pause and ponder, to adapt, to reorientate, and that is something that one of the delegates mentioned here. We had a review and the CFA in the last session had a preview of that. We have had certain broad guidelines and certain ideas and we will keep all this in view as we proceed further with the review implementation.
A point was also raised about counterpart funds, and the utilization of the counterpart funds. I must say that as part of the project cycle concept we have also worked out detailed procedures for the management of the counterpart funds, of course, in the closest consultation with the governments. These guidelines have been passed on to our field offices which will help them to be more specific, more circumspect and more helpful in their discussion with the governments concerned in order to ensure timely, proper and effective utilization of counterpart funds.
Mention was made of the situation in South Sudan by the distinguished delegate of Tunisia. It is known that the World Food Programme did undertake airlifts of food; however, apart from that the World Food Programme did undertake trucking of food from the south through Kenya, Uganda and even sometimes from Zaire. Food is moving into that area. I have information that only one day ago another consignment went into Juba. Another place, Wau, which has been starved of food for a while, there also, food has arrived only recently. Food also arrived at Malakal, about two thousand tonnes,
some two weeks ago. This is something that is going on. We have some trucks moving through Uganda and we hope that they will also be able to cross into Sudan. This is an area that is receiving the very, very constant attention of the World Food Programme and donor agencies including NGOs.
The last point, one made by the distinguished Ambassador of India with regard to the situation in southern Africa and the particular problems of the front line states. I should say that we are very much in touch with the developments and with the countries over there.
There was a meeting held only ten days ago in New York, by the Vice-President of Botswana who is Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the SADDC Countries. He met with the Secretary General of the UN to discuss the developing situation, or the possible developments, and how the United Nations system could respond to the problems of the front line countries. WFP was present there and we are liaising with them. We attended recently a meeting of the Beira Corridor Authority that was held in Brussels to find out how best we can help it. We are actively considering assisting the port and railway workers at Beira, and thereabouts.
We are also engaged in discussions with Zimbabwe as to helping them in railway-related developments along the Beira Corridor. We are also expecting to have soon a list of the items which may be required of us as a contingency measure, in case the situation should deteriorate over there.
One phrase that attracted my attention very much was raised by the distinguished delegate of the USA. He mentioned about 'promissary note'. I can tell you this much, that we accept the praise of today as the promissary note of tomorrow. We hope to cash it some day, and cash it effectively.
There was also mention of the resource position, and while members want to see the resources improved, they also wish to see very much that the resources are economically, effectively and efficiently invested. We are heartened by that. We hope that all the donors from developed and developing countries, from socialist countries, all of them will keep this in mind that the World Food Programme Is trying to do a job on their behalf, for them and for the poorer people of the world. Not only will there be need for fulfilment of regular pledges and other pledges but also for the cash resources which are vital for triangular transactions or other local purchases in developing countries. I hope all this will receive their due and urgent attention.
Finally, Mr Chairman, it has been a pleasure to be with the Council under your very esteemed chairmanship and leadership. I must say that I go back enlightened, fortified and having greatly benefitted from appearance before this Committee. Thank you, Mr Chairman, and through you thanks to all the members of the Council.
LE PRESIDENT:Au nom du Conseil, je voudrais remercier M. Ahmed, Directeur exécutif adjoint du Programme alimentaire mondial, pour sa réponse complète à tous les intervenants qui ont contribué à enrichir le débat de ce matin.
Je crois me faire l'interprète du Conseil en me félicitant de la confirmation de M. Ingram par le Secrétaire général de l'ONU et le Directeur Général de la FAO pour un nouveau mandat de cinq ans en tant que Directeur exécutif du Programme alimentaire mondial, et en adressant à ce dernier nos chaleureuses félicitations pour cette reconduction car il a mené et continuera de mener avec sagacité les activités du PAM.
Je crois que nous pouvons également exprimer notre grande satisfaction du climat de coopération fructueuse et constructive qui s'est Instauré entre la FAO et le PAM et qui sera le meilleur garant d'une efficacité accrue de la famille agricole des Nations Unies.
Je pense me faire également l'interprète du Conseil en rendant hommage au Programme alimentaire mondial pour les efforts conidérables et efficaces qu'il a déployés aussi bien en 1984 qu'en 1985, lesquels ont permis de faire face, dans des conditions jugées satisfaisantes par tous, à une conjoncture particulièrement difficile, notamment en Afrique subsaharienne, grâce entre autres à la nouvelle dimension logistique adoptée par le PAM pour réaliser cette opération.
J'insisterai aussi pour exprimer la reconnaissance du Conseil aux pays donateurs pour leur généreuse contribution et pour formuler le voeu que la communauté internationale continuera à faire preuve d'un esprit constructif et nous permettra d'atteindre les objectifs du CPA pour le biennum 1987-88.
Le Conseil s'est félicité du fait que près de 80 pour cent du Programme alimentaire mondial soient allés au développement agricole et rural et que près de 80 pour cent également de la sécurité alimentaire aient été oreintés vers les pays les moins avancés ou ceux à déficit alimentaire, qui sont souvent les mêmes.
Nous nous félicitons également de l'option prise par le PAM tendance à orienter l'aide alimentaire vers l'aide au développement et á focaliser l'aide alimentaire proprement dite vers les cas d'urgence et ceux qui méritent un traitement spécifique. A cet égard, le Conseil s'est félicité du fait que les 500 000 tonnes prévues pour la Réserve alimentaire internationale d'urgence ont été dépassées pour la quatrième fois. C'est un fait qui mérite d'être souligné.
Un autre point soulevé par le Conseil est constitué par sa satisfaction et ses remerciements pour l'intégration de la femme en tant que bénéficiaire des activités du PAM et surtout pour la promotion des opérations triangulaires qui ont couvert près de 80 pour cent des opérations du PAM et constituent un moyen important d'aider les pays du tiers monde. En effet, nous commençons á constater certains surplus de production. Il est tout à fait légitime et souhaitable qu'en fournissant une aide au développement, le PAM puisse aider les pays en développement. Il s'agit là d'un point très important qui a été relevé par plusieurs orateurs.
De nombreux Membres du Conseil ont manifesté leur intérét pour les efforts entrepris par le PAM en vue d'améliorer sa gestion, notamment par une nouvelle restructuration, en intégrant l'action du Siège et les projets par région. Moyennant une bonne contrepartie de la part des pays récipiendaires, une telle réorganisation ne peut être que bénéfique, compte tenu de l'accroissement substantiel des activités du PAM.
Enfin, de nombreux orateurs ont manifesté le grand intérêt qu'ils attachent à l'étude envisagée par le CPA au sujet de cette importante question de la monétisation. Je crois que tout le monde suivra avec beaucoup d'intérêt l'évolution de cette question.
Voilà ce que je voulais dire au sujet de ce débat particulièrement intéressant. Je ne voudrais pas lever la séance sans féliciter à nouveau le Programme alimentaire mondial pour sa contribution très importante au sein de la famille agricole et pour l'efficacité de son action, qui a été perçue par tous ·
The meeting rose at 12. 45 hours.
La séance est levée à 12 h 45.
Se levanta la sesión a las 12. 45 horas.
