Cnited Nations GENERAL ASSEMBLY FORTIETH SESSIO:"J Official R~cords* FIFTH COMMIT'I'FF. 36t!-> meeting held on Thursday, 14 November 1985 at 7.00 p.m. New York SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 36th MEETING Chairman: Mr. TOMMO MONTHE (Cameroo~) Chair~an of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budqetary Questionss Mr. MSELLE CONTENTS AC.PNDA I'T'Er-1 116: PROPOSFD PROGRAMJ'.'E BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM 1986-1987 (continued) ~GENOA ITEM 117: PROGRA?-1ME PLANNING (continued) First rearina (continuen) RxpPnditure sections 18, 20, 21, 22 and 23 8679S (F) Distr. GFNFRAL A/C.5/40/SR.36 22 Novemher 1985 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH I ... 'A/C. 5/40/SR. 36 English Page 2 The meeting was called to order at 7.30 p.m. 'AGENDA ITEM 116: PROPOSED PROGRAMME BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM 1986-1987 (continued) 'AGENDA ITEM 117: PROGRAMME PLANNING (continued) ('A/40/3, 'A/40/6, A/40/7, 'A/40/38 and Add.l, 'A/40/262J A/C.S/40/9, A/C.S/40/12 and Corr.l) First reading (continued} Expenditure section 18: United Nations Environment Programme (continued) 1. Mr. MUDHO (Kenya} said that UNEP's mandate as the co-ordinator of the Plan of 'Action to Combat Desertification was well-known to the Committee, as were the initiatives it had taken to mobilize resources in addition to those earmarked in the Environment Fund for the implementation of the Plan of Action. Those efforts had met with cnly modest success, however. UNEP had also tried to obtain support in the form of seconded staff, but the financial constraints from which other agencies were also suffering had prevented that. Meanwhile, the problem of creeping desertification continued to expand, causing untold economic damage and human suffering. In his delegation's view, UNEP's efforts to mobilize extrabudgetary resources were highly commendable. Nevertheless, the fact remained that the resources available were grossly insufficient. His delegation felt. it would be appropriate and timely, therefore, for the regul~r budget to contribute modestly to the implementation of the Plan of Action by funding the P-5 post whose 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the budget and planning of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and its efforts to combat desertification. The mention of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification, the mobilization of resources, and the need for funding suggest that the topic is closely related to environmental and natural resource management.

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