446.Inintroducing thereport, theDirector oftheInterorganizational Co-operation andJointPlanning BranchoftheOfficeforProgramme Planning and Co-ordination outlined thefeatures specific tothecross-organizational programme analysis inthatarea. Hestatedthatitsscopewasaprioriextremely large,its basicunitofanalysis wastobereports andpublications produced bytheUnited Nations systemratherthanprogrammes, anditwasbeingprepared withinanoverall context thatwasnotalwaysfavourable tothedevelopment ofresearch activities. Thecross-organizational programme analysis wouldtherefore beparticularly difficult toprepare, and,a&stressed bytheCommittee atitstwenty-fourth session, itsscopehadtoremainpractical andmanageable. Threelevelsofoftheauseful ,teeconsidered lizational marineaffairs :aries-General ages. Forthe ,OWedonein izational :ibemadeto subject escriptionof lems,.Inthe hsuchissues elegations uchkey uredinsucha onsand Inthis sconclusions, etof Itwasfelt uctiveself­ itinits alyses by evious sanadequate meanalysis in bjec~ basisofthat ienceand esubject of extended analprogramme ,fsc:ience and dinthearea ereexpressed essedthatnot portand amely,the tionand -93-analysis wereproposed inthereportbeforetheCommittee: anessentially qualitative panorama oftheresearch activities oftheUnitedNations system, a reviewofthecontent andmainor.ientation ofasampleofabout300reports and publications produced bytheUnitedNations system, andamoredetailed description oftheresearch activities fOLthepreparation ofasmallnumberofreports and publications. TheCommittee mightwish,inparticular, toexamine thecriteria proposed fordelineating thescopeoftheanalysis. ./2.DiscJssion 447.Duringthediscussion, anumberofconcerns wereexpressed thatshould be borneinmindbytheSecretariat inpreparing thecross-organizational programme an~lysis andbytheCOMmittee itselfinreviewing theanalysis andmaking recommendations thereon atitstwenty-sixth session. Thecomments maderelated essentially tothepurpose oftheanalysis andtotheapproach tobeadopted for itspreparation. 448.Itwasstressed thatthepurpo"..=oftheanalysis shouldremainclearand precise. Across-organizational programme analysis, asindicated inparagraph 2of thereportbeforetheCommittee, wasintended toprovide theCommittee with information thatwouldenabieittoassesstheoverall workofthesystemin relation tomandates, toidentify possible gapsandoverlaps, andtoconsider the effectiveness ofthearrangements forco-ordination, andtheresources used. The analysis oneconomic andsocialresearch shouldnotdeviate fromthatframework. Thestatement inparagraph 28ofthereportthattheanalysis shouldallowthe Committee toseewhattheresearch roleofthesystemwasandmakesuggestions on howitshouldevolvefurther wasmisleading. Itwasnotwithinthemandate ofthe Committee todetermine futureorientation ofresearch activities. Rather, the analysis ~hnuld showhowthesystem wasimplementing themandates givenbyMember States. Also,theanalysis shouldnotshifttoanevaluation exercise. Paragraphs 28to31ofthereportcouldimplysuchashift. 449.TheCommittee emphasized thatbothinpreparing t,leanalysis andindrawing up recommendations averycautious attitude wasrequired ontheissueofapparent duplication. Itwaspointed outthatintergovernmental bodiesbenefited fromthe factthatdifferent organizations approached thesamequestions fromdifferent perspectives andreached different conclusions. Thecross-organizational programme analysis should beprepared cautiously, soasnottobecome afactorinthatdebate orbeusedinawaywhichwouldbedetrimental tothecauseofdevelopment and international co-operation. Itwasnotedthattheanalysis shouldfocusonthe extentofco-operation between organizations andbetween theirvarious research teams,aswellasonmeansofimproving suchco-operation intheuseofdataandin theexchange ofinformation andviewsonthetopicsbeingstudied, aswellason theresearch process. Adetailed comparison ofthereports andpublications was notdesirable. 450.Whilethepurpose ofthecross-organizational programme analysis should be clear,precise, cautious andnotoverlyambitious, theapproach usedinits preparation should beflexible andpragmatic. TheCommittee underlined thestrong
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the preparation of a report on the research activities of the United Nations system, specifically focusing on the cross-organizational programme analysis and its scope. The report seems to be dealing with the overall work of the system in relation to its mandates, identifying gaps and overlaps, and considering the effectiveness of arrangements for coordination and resources used. The text does not specifically mention economic development, natural resources, or environmental issues, but it does mention "science and dinthearea" which could be related to research activities.

**Category**
Science and technology, International relations