increasingly requires amigration awayfromtraditional dataprocessing applications, whichdealwithdatainseparation fromday-to-day operations. In spiteofrecentdevelopments thathavebrought information technology withintheir economic andpractical grasp,developing countries arenotyetequipped todeal withthesematters because oflimitations ontheirexperience andexpertise. 31.106 Theobjectives ofthesubprogramme are: (a)Toassistcountries inmeeting theaspirations expressed inCommission resolution 246(XLII) andearlier legislative actionandtopromote theefficient utilization ofinformation technology inthedevelopment process; -26- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library(b)Toassist member countries andgroups ofcountries indeveloping and improving theircapabilities toidentify, collect, process, analyse andutilize the dataneeded fortheformulation, monitoring andevaluation ofdevelopment plansand policies; (c)Toimprov~ theavailability ofdataontheregion anditsconstituent countries, through thegathering frommember countries ofdemographic, social, economic andotherstatistics, theirmaintenance inaformsuitable forretrieval andtheirdissemination through various means; (d)Tofostertheutilization ofmodern information technology inthepublic sectorinordertostrengthen theability atboththecentral andsubnational levelstoplanandmanage economic andsocial development. (b)Course ofaction ofthesecretariat 31.107 Thesecretariat willcontinue tohelpcountries, through directtechnical co-operation, tostrengthen andconsolidate theirstatistical capacity. With maturing capabilities inseveral countries oftheregion, greater emphasis willbe placed onfostering allformsofregional co-operation, including technical co-operation amongdeveloping countries. Theactivities willalsoaddress theneed foraccuracy andtimely dissemination ofdata,whileworkonrequirements for guidelines, classifications andmethodologies inexisting andemerging activities willbecontinued, inconjunction withtheStatistical Institute forAsiaandthe Pacific (SlAP). 31.108 Advisory services willcontinue tobeprovided insuchfields asnational accounts, population censuses andsurveys, household surveys anddataprocessing. Transfer andexchange ofstatistical expertise through technical meetings, andits dissemination through training courses andworkshops, willhaveadirect impact on humanresources development inthefieldofstatistics. 31.109 Increasing concern withthequalitative aspects ofdevelopment, including socialjustice andtheenvironment, willbereflected inthesecretariat's activities, aswillgreater efforts atthemeasurement ofliving standards atthe micro-level. Inviewofgrowing concern withthedepletion ofnatural resource assetsintheregion, special attention willbepaidtoenvironmental andnatural resource accounting. 31.110 Closerattention willalsobepaidtointercountry comparability ofdata, andworkontheInternational Comparison Programme (ICP)willcontinue tobe supported. 31.111 Automation ofthedatabaseofESCAPstatistical publications willbe gradually developed, bothtoprovide better service tousersandtoutilize thesecretariat's resources moreefficiently. Efforts willcontinue tofurther improve thecoverage, quality andcomparability ofdatacollected anddisseminated bythesecretariat, andattempts willalsobemadetoattain consistency in national statistics andtoassesstheirreliability. Efforts willbemadeto introduce anewdissemination service through theprovision ofstatistics on diskettes formicrocomputers andthrough othermedia. Newcompilations in specialized fields ofstatistics, particularly thoserelevant topriority areas, maybeissued. AnESCAP-wide integrated databankofeconomic, social and demographic statistics, providing access totheUnited Nations databasesatNew
**Analysis**
The text discusses the objectives and course of action of a subprogramme focused on improving the utilization of information technology in developing countries, with a specific emphasis on strengthening statistical capacity, fostering regional cooperation, and promoting the efficient use of data for development planning and policy-making. The text also mentions the importance of accuracy, timeliness, and comparability of data, as well as the need for measuring living standards at the micro-level and addressing qualitative aspects of development, including social justice and the environment.

**Category**
Economic development, Science and technology