existing humanresources, including women. Moreefficient useofexisting infrastructure wouldimplyconscientious operation andmaintenance, aswellas rehabilitation ofexisting water-supply systems. 19.28Technical co-operation activities willconcentrate onthetransfer and adaptation ofwatertechnologies, thestrengthening ofinstitutional systems, the exploration anddevelopment ofnewwatersources, andthepromotion ofeconomic and legalmeasures toimprove efficiency inwateruse.Interregional seminars onwater issuesofwidespread importance willbeheldasrequired andresearch pUblications covering development andmanagement issueswillbewidelydisseminated towater resources specialists. -6- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library•.----------------------- 19.29 Themonitoring ofprogress intheimplementation oftheMardelPlataAction Plan,including themonitoring ofprogress inproviding drinking watersupplyand sanitation services totheurbanandruralpoor,following theendofthe International Drinking WaterSupply andSanitation Decade, willcontinue tobean essential element oftheworkoftheSecretariat. 19.30 Thefurther implementation oftheMardelPlataActionPlaninthe1990s, as wellassystem-wide actionconcerning drinking watersupply andsanitation, will continue torequire closeco-operation andco-ordination ofefforts amongthe organizations oftheUnitedNations systemconcerned. Continued support willbe giventotheACCInter-Secretariat GroupforWaterResources, aswellasto co-operative arrangements concerning drinking watersupplyandsanitation following theendoftheDecade. SUBPROGRAMME 3.MINERAL RESOURCES (a)Objectives 19.31 Thelegislative authority forthesubprogramme derives fromGeneral Assembly resolutions 32/176, 33/194 and34/201; andEconomic andSocialCouncil resolutions 1761(LIV), 1954(LIX), 2014(LXI),1979/71, 1981/76, 1981/77, 1981/78, 1981/79 and1988/91. 19.32 Duringtheearly1980s, astructural changehadoccurred inthe international marketformineral rawmaterials, resulting insubstantially lower consumption growthratesinthemajorusercountries, ascompared toprevious decades. Thisshifthashadprofound implications forthosedeveloping countries thatareheavily reliant onminerals asaconstituent oftheirgrossdomestic products andasanelement intheirbalance ofpayments. Manydeveloping countries havestrengthened theirinstitutions responsible forbasicgeological investigations, mineral exploration, technical andeconomic evaluation ofmineral projects, legislative andadministrative regulation ofthemineral resources sector, andinvestment promotion andnegotiations withforeign investors. Knowledge oftheresource endowment hasincreased inmostcountries, personnel have beentrained inboththepublic andprivate sectors, investment hasbeenattracted forexploration, development ofminesandprocessing facilities andrehabilitation ofexisting installations, andnewmineral development regUlations andstrategies havebeenintroduced. Therehasrecently beenaconsiderable increase inprices formostminerals andmetalsasaresultofariseinconsumption growth. Asa consequence, stocklevelsdecreased forsomeminerals andmetals andshortages developed forsomeothers. 19.33 While,duringthe1960sand1970s,majorlargeprojects dominated them~n~ng industry, morerecently thenewprojects aresmaller, produce lesscommonminerals andmetals andinclude installations forfurther processing withinthedeveloping countries. Exploration andproduction technology changes rapidly, anddeveloping countries oftenlackaccesstosuchnewtechnology orhaveaccessonlythrough the services offoreign expertise. 19.34 Whileadequately trained andexperienced personnel existinsomedeveloping countries withalonghistory ofmineral sectoractivities, mostcountries still lackmanagerial andtechnical expertise required fortheefficient management of themineral sector. Availability ofexperienced personnel isparticularly important inviewofthepersistent weakness oftheinternational mineral markets, -7-l•.----------------------- 19.29 Themonitoring ofprogress intheimplementation oftheMardelPlataAction
**Analysis**
The text discusses the implementation of the Mardel Plata Action Plan, which focuses on the management of water resources and mineral resources. It highlights the need for efficient use of existing infrastructure, technical cooperation, and monitoring of progress. The text also touches on the challenges faced by developing countries in managing their mineral resources, including a lack of expertise and access to new technology.

**Category**
Natural resources and environment, Economic development