47.TheCommission hasmadepositive efforts toimproveitsprogramming methods:in1983itestablished criteria toguidetheselection ofprojects inpriority.Thesecretariat hassucceeded inimplementing areasonahle percentaqe ofitsprojects andthechoice andnumberoftheprojects require acloser lookfromtheconceptual angle. Thenewcriteria shouldassistinrefininq thesedecisions. TheextentoftheCommission's involvement inthesocial andeconomic lifeoftheregionisevident intherangeofmeetings ithostsorotherwise aidsinthepursuit ofitsprogramme: itsadhocintergovernmental meetinqs ontopicsofspecial interest haveprovided auseful forumforco-operative actioninindustry,trade,transnational corporations andotherareas. Itsregional projects inmineral resources, agricultural machinery andtechnoloqy transfer, tonameonlyafew,pointthewaytoregaonal networks serving andbeingserved bymembercountries, proffering advicetothosewhoneeditandusingexpertise fromthosecountries thathaveit. 48.Therehavebeensignificant changes madeintheorganization ofthesecretariat inrecentyears, whichhaveaimedatproducing betterco-ordination inruraldevelopment andenvironmental matters and,generally, inareaswherea -16-1 hould ities rs, drug In and lasmultidisciplinary approach couldimprove theproduct delivered. Whiletheyhave notallbeenequally successful, theInspectors commend theefforts beingmade,but suggest thatco-ordination whichemerges fromtheactofplanning, creatinq and sharing intheimplementation ofprogrammes andprojects islikelytobemore successful thanthesuperimposition ofco-ordination asaseparate activity above andbeyondthsubstantive one.Itisimportant, forinstance, thattheProject Review Committee, whichrightly seekstoensurethatprojects conform tothe criteria established, beanorganic expression ofthecombined experience of division heads. TheInspectors believe theProject Co-ordination andMonitoring Officecanbedeveloped toplayastronger roleinthemultidisciplinary and co-ordinating effort. 49.Onthesubject oftheCommission's meetings, theInspectors notedsuggestions madebymemberStatestoimprove thefocusoftheirdeliberations. Theyhavemade somerecommendations onthenumberofmeetings, onthepreparation ofdocumentation andonthepossible institution ofaprogramme preparation andreviewcommittee, whichwouldmeetinadvance oftheCommission session and,bypreliminary discussion ofthemanytechnical issues, refinetheproposals andthusenablethe Commission toreachitsowndecisions moreexpeditiously. 50.Inchapter V,theInspectors raisetwoissuesthatconcernallregional commissions: theslowpaceofdecentralization andtheduties andresponsibilities oftopexecutives inthecommissions, withspecial reference tothepostofDeputy Executive Secretary. Chapter VIoffers ageneral assessment ofthe multidisciplinary workofESCAP,leadinq totherecommendations inchapter VIIon programme matters, organization andsomeaspects ofthemanagement ofresources. 51.Thereport wassenton10April1985totheSecretary-General oftheUnited Nations foraction andtotheotherparticipating orqanizations ofJIUfor information. I .atG•Thechanging useofcomputers in UnitedNations system inGeneva: (JIU/REP/85/2) 14/organizations ofthe management issues '.'. e The y, a in52.Computers havebeenapartofthesubstantive andadministrative activities of theUnitedNations systemforalmost twodecades. Overtheyears,thebroadpolicy aimshavebeentopromote international information exchange, particularly for development co-operation; todevelop co-ordinated oratleastcompatible information systems withinthesystem; andtodevelop andusecomputerized systems toimprove organizational operations. 53.Inthepastfewyears,thepaceofchange hasincreased dramatically owingto newcomputer-based communications systems worldwide,small"personal" or"micro" computers, expansion ofcomputer networks withintheorganizations, andcomputer software packages, allofwhichprovide powerful newtoolstoimprove services and helpstafftocarryouttheirwork. TheEconomic andSocialCouncil hasrecently stressed thevalueoftheinformation resource andtheimportance ofrespOnding to theinformation needsofMemberStates. TheAdministrative Committee on Co-ordination hassimilarly statedthattheorqanizations areintheinformation business andthatinformation activities, whichcosthundreds ofmillions of dollars annually, areamajorfunction whichmustbewellmanaged toprovide high quality information goodsandservices.
**Analysis**
The text appears to focus on the evaluation of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and its activities, including its programming methods, organization, and meetings. The text mentions specific projects and initiatives related to rural development, environmental matters, and technological transfer, which suggests a strong connection to economic development and natural resources.

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