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A. Fourteenth McDougall Memorial Lecture
B. Presentation of the B.R. Sen Awards for
1984 and 1985
C. Presentation of the A.H. Boerma Award
1984-85
D. In
Memoriam
E. Volcanic Eruption in Colombia
F. Tribute to Dr M.S. Swaminathan as
Independent Chairman of the Council
G. Retirement of Mr Edward M. West
H. Tribute to the Memory of Mr Jean E. Carroz
A. Fourteenth McDougall Memorial Lecture
1. The fourteenth in the series of lectures at regular Conference sessions in memory of Frank Lidgett McDougall, a founding father of the Organization, was delivered by His Excellency Alan Garcia Pérez, President of Peru.
B. Presentation of the B.R. Sen Awards for 1984 and 1985
2. The B.R. Sen Award was presented to Mr. Alfred G. Scherer (Federal Republic of Germany) for his work in the strengthening of the organization and management capabilities of the Nepal Food Corporation. Mr Scherer's association with FAO started in 1964. In 1965 he was FAO/OPAS (Operational Assistance) Horticultural and Marketing Adviser to Uganda and, in 1970, while retaining the position of Special Adviser to the Government, he was appointed Project Manager of the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)/FAO Marketing and Storage Development Project, and in that capacity made a major contribution to the improvement of the operational and managerial efficiency of the Produce Marketing Board of Uganda. Mr Scherer was transferred to Brazil in 1975 as FAO Marketing Economist associated with the Companhia Brasileira de Alimentos (COBAL); in 1978 he became the Senior Marketing, Management and Training Adviser/Team Leader of the UNDP/FAO Project "Centre for Human Resource Development in Agricultural Marketing" attached to COBAL where he distinguished himself in the organization of the COBAL training centre which offered in-service training programmes for 10 000 staff members. In 1983, Mr Scherer was transferred to Kathmandu as Team Leader/Management and Organization Adviser to the UNDP/FAO Technical Assistance Project for Strengthening the Nepal Food Corporation where he developed an improved system for operational and statistical data collection and management information and contributed to the improvement of communications between the Corporation's Headquarters and its field offices. He was also instrumental in developing a suitable planning methodology for maintaining optimal inventory levels at various procurement and distribution stores, for minimizing transportation costs, and determining staff training needs and the development of a comprehensive training programme. In this work, Mr Scherer gave particular emphasis to the practical training and development of middle-level management and operational manpower indispensable to the efficient implementation of the government food policy; he thus made a significant contribution in strengthening the food security policies and programmes of Nepal. His outstanding technical competence displayed throughout his career coupled with his continuing efforts in promoting small farmer development through an integrated and practical marketing/production approach, led to the achievements which culminated in the bestowal of the award.
3. The B.R. Sen Award for 1985 was presented to Mr Lawrence Kwadjo Danso (Ghana) for improving the productivity of forest lands in North East Thailand through integrated rural development. When first employed by FAO in 1980, Mr Danso was appointed to the post of Forestry Officer/Chief Technical Adviser on the Project for the Development of Reforestation in North Eastern Thailand, with duty station in Korat. Mr Danso, responsible for advising and assisting the government in the overall planning, as well as the implementation and direction of all project activities, designed and helped to execute under difficult circumstances various preparatory activities, and guided the identification, demarcation and mapping of the pilot area. In cooperation with other government and non-government agencies, he carried out analytical studies of the project area as a basis for the preparation of a realistic work plan comprising institutional arrangements and changes in organizational structures and procedures. He also designed and implemented a training programme for the project's national staff with an aim to make their involvement more productive. In order to ensure more effective on-site management and technical guidance, Mr Danso moved the site of the project to Khao Poo Luang, about 150 km from Korat, for over a year. The work undertaken by Mr Danso had broken new ground in the application of rural sociology to the problems of settlement in forest areas. He had demonstrated through personal achievement the appropriateness of FAO's policy of forestry for rural development.
C. Presentation of the A.H. Boerma Award 1984-85
4. The A.H. Boerma Award is presented biennially to a journalist or journalists whose work has helped to focus public attention on important aspects of the world food problem, with the likely result of having increased public support of measures leading to its solution.
5. On this, the fourth occasion, the Award for 1984-85 was shared by a noted television cameraman and producer, Mr Mohamed Amin of Kenya, and a distinguished journalist and writer, Ms Claire Brisset of France.
6. The Awards were presented by the Director-General to Mr Amin for his widely televised news coverage of the famine in Ethiopia, and for his documentary film on the famine afflicting more than 20 African countries, "African Calvary: Uncertain Redemption". Ms Brisset received the Award for her coverage of the problems of the Third World in many French-language journals of repute over a period of many years, with particular emphasis on the malnourished, especially children.
7. The Conference observed one minute of silence in memory of staff members who had died in the service of the Organization since the Conference last met.
E. Volcanic Eruption in Colombia
8. The Conference adopted the following Resolution:
AID FOR COLOMBIA
THE CONFERENCE,
Deeply touched by the extremely large number of human lives, property and crop losses that have recently struck Colombia due to the eruption of the volcano "Nevado del Ruiz",
Concerned with the suffering of thousands of people left without means of subsistence and shelter,
Recognizing the dimension of the tasks that Colombia has to initiate without delay,
1. Expresses its solidarity to the people and the Government of Colombia;
2. Commends the efforts made by the authorities and the people of Colombia to conduct urgently an assistance programme in the affected areas;
3. Notes with satisfaction the quick action taken by FAO and WFP in assisting the populations of the affected areas;
4. Urges all Member States, the United Nations System Organizations concerned and the International Community as a whole, to offer to the Government of Colombia the necessary aid to enable it to meet the critical situation of the people affected and the hard task of reconstruction;
5. Encourages the Director-General of FAO and the Executive Director of WFP (World Food Programme) to take additional steps on request in order to assist the Government of Colombia in appropriate ways, in the sectors of food and agriculture, to enable the Government to meet the needs of the severely affected population.
(Adopted 28 November 1985)
F. Tribute to Dr M.S. Swaminathan as Independent Chairman of the Council
9. The Conference paid tribute to the outgoing Independent Chairman of the Council and adopted the following resolution:
TRIBUTE TO DR M.S. SWAMINATHAN, AS INDEPENDENT CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL
THE CONFERENCE,
Considering that the term of office of Dr M.S. Swaminathan, Independent Chairman of the FAO Council since November 1981, expires at the close of the Twenty-third Session of the Conference, Conscious of the fact that the outgoing Independent Chairman had been actively associated with the work of the FAO Council since 1979,
1. Pays tribute to the guidance he has given to the Council in its debates during the four years of his Chairmanship;
2. Expresses to Dr M.S. Swaminathan its sincere thanks and warmest wishes.
(Adopted 25 November 1985)
G. Retirement of Mr Edward M. West
10. In tribute to the Deputy Director-General whose retirement would shortly take place, the Conference adopted the following Resolution by acclamation
RETIREMENT OF MR EDWARD M. WEST
THE CONFERENCE,
Noting that Mr Edward M. West will shortly retire from the Organization after four years of service as Deputy Director-General,
Mindful of his earlier services to the Organization as a member of the Programme Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Fifteenth Session of the Conference and subsequently as Assistant Director-General of the Office of Programme, Budget and Evaluation,
Recognizing his long and exceptionally outstanding services and unfailing dedication to the aims of the Organization,
Expresses to Mr Edward M. West its thanks and deep appreciation of the distinguished contribution he has made to the work of FAO, and conveys to him its warm wishes for a continued active life, good health and happiness.
(Adopted 25 November 1985)
H. Tribute to the Memory of Mr Jean E. Carroz
11. The Conference observed a minute of silence in memory of Mr Jean E. Carroz, Assistant Director-General of the Fisheries Department, who died on 25 November 1985. The Director-General and delegations paid tribute to his outstanding contribution and the dedication he had shown throughout his career in the Organization.
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