the aecond phase, but lhe purpose of thls report ls to make a contnlbutlon tothe thinklng and debate on how to derlve the greatest poasible beneflt fron lhevarlous on-golng acllvltj.es and lheir results over the medlun and long lermextendlng well beyond the end of the Decade. lfrica ir1l1 contlnue to experlenceacute transport and coonunlcatlona probleos long alter I988, and lhe Decade willat least have had the effect of dnawtng attentlon to the gravlty of such problema and provldlng a franework for lnternational co-operation 1rl this fleld. J. fn the short, in the vleH of JIU, lhe value of lhe report lies ln Chefollowing faetors : (a) The Decace associates, apart froo the States concerned, the UnitedNatlons systen and the reglonaL and gubregionaL international and intergovern-menlal organizatlors. Il therefore Eeeoed iiorthwhile !o study in depth bhe nechanisms and procedures of such assoclatlon, which iE obvloualy of a complex nature; (b) Tranaporb and corlnunlca!1ons are a fundaoental prtority for Africancountriea, slnce lhey affec! their developnent. Consequently, lt was necessapy Lo deternine whether the ioplenentatlon of lhe Decade's pt ograone has hadposllive effects en lhe developEent of lransport and conounlcationa and oninternatlonal co-operatlon, bearlng 1n mlnd the costa of ghe programme both lorthe l,lember States and for the Unl,ted Nallons systen; (c) Generally speaklng, 1t seeEed necessary !o reflect on ghe course ofaction to be followed after 1988 (end of the Decade ) in orden to avoid losiogthe moEentuo bullt up through the lnplenentatl.on of the ppogr.adoe. 6. In prepartng lhls report, the Inspeclor held nuoenous consultallons !r1!hthe ECA secretarlat and wlth offlclals responslble for lhe Decade 1n variousUnlted Natlons speciallzed agencies, as welJ- as 1n Afrlcan seqtoral and fegionalagencles. He also atlended varlous oeetlngs (neetings of experts, conferencesof Mlnisters of Transport and Comnuntcatlona, Parls Round-lable on the Decade ietc.). He i{1shes to exprees hls gratj.tude and appr.eclati.on to a1t those who
**Analysis**
The text appears to be focused on the implementation of a decade-long program aimed at improving transportation and communication in Africa. It discusses the importance of this issue for African countries' development and the need for international cooperation. The report also evaluates the effectiveness of the program and provides recommendations for the future.

**Category**
Transport and communication