progra andCor for198 strict! Onedel co-oper disagre capacit prograeconomic andtechnical cc-operation amongdeveloping countries (E/1985/53). For theconclusions andrecommendations oftheCOmmittee, seeparagraphs 723-734 below. 2.Discussion 458.Members oftheCOmmittee expressed theirappreciation fortheworkthathad goneintothepreparation ofthereportandrecognized theSecretariat's efforts to prepare thestudyinaccordance withtheguidance givenbytheCOmmittee atits twenty-fourth session. Thereportcontained aconsiderable volumeoforiginal information thatshouldproveofvalueintheCOmmittee's consideration ofthework oftheUnitedNations systemineconomic andtechnical co-operation among developing countries. Atthesametime,theyconsidered thatthereportwasoverly descriptive andfailedtoprovide thecritical andindependent analytical assessment ofthesystem's roleandtherelationship between activities and mandates thattheCOmmittee hadrequested atitstwenty-fourth session. Thatmade itdifficult fortheCOmmittee toformitsownassessment andthequestions raised inthecontext ofthesystem's activities inthefield,andscepticism was expressed abouttheessentially positive conclusions ofthereportconcerning the absence ofmajorproblems ofoverlap between organizations' activities andofgaps inthesystem's coverage, andtheeffectiveness ofinter-agency co-ordination arrangements. Thelengthofthereportwasfoundburdensome anditwasconsidered thatamoreanalytical approach wouldhaveallowed theSecretariat tomakeamore concise presentation.457.Inintroducing thereport, theDirector oftheInterorganizational Co-operation andJointPlanning BranchoftheOfficeforProgramme Planning and Co-ordination recalled thattheCommittee, atitstwenty-fourth session, had considered ananalysis ofthemandates ofandproblems addressed bytheUnited Nations systemintheareaofeconomic andtechnical co-operation amongdeveloping countries (A/39/l54-E/1984/46 andCOrr.l). Inpreparing thereport nowbeforethe Committee, theSecretariat haddrawnonthatanalysis andtheresults ofits consideration bytheCommittee. Inaccordance withGeneral Assembly resolution 39/216of18December 1984,thereportalsoincorporated across-organizational reviewofeconomic andtechnical co-operation amongdeveloping countries inthe medium-term plansoftheorganizations oftheUnitedNations systemwhichwastobe considered bytheEconomic ar~SocialCouncil atitssecondregular session of 1985.Considerable attention wasgiveninthereporttothemethodology ofthe study,sincetherewasaclearlackofconsensus amongtheorganizations ofthe systemonwhichactivities should beincluded. Thatmatterwasclearly important forfuturereporting onthesubject, andthereportalsoraisedthequestion ofhow tomeettheneedsofGovernments forinformation mosteffectively andeconomically inthefuture. Amongotherpointsraisedinthereport, hedrewattention tothe conclusion thatintergovernmental decisions didnotprovide clearguidance on relativ& priorities intheareaandthatthesumofobjectives andstrategies in theindividual medium-term plansoftheorganizations ofthesystemdidnotyet constitute acomplete andcoherent response tothemandates ofthesystem. Healso drewtheCommittee's attention totheunevenpattern ofsecretariat arrang~ments forpromoting andco-ordinating activities insupport ofeconomic andtechnical co-operation amongdeveloping countries, despite recommendation 33ofthe BuenosAiresPlanofActionforPromoting andImplementing Technical Co-operation amongDeveloping Countries, 19/andtotheimportance thatthereportattached to regional andsubregional action, including thepossible needforstrengthening the system's activities inthatconnection. -96- I.i1459.Therewasgeneral recognition thatthemethodology usedinpreparing the reportwasbroadly consistent withtheapproach outlined inthereportofthe Secretary-General onmandates andproblems andrepresented agenuine attempt to respond totheconcerns expressed bytheCommittee atitstwenty-fourth session. Atthesametime,theviewwasexpressed thatthemethodology wasundulycomplex, whichdetracted fromthereport's value. Avariety ofviewswereexpressed concerning theapplication oftheagreedcriteria fordeciding whichactivities wouldbeincluded inthereport. Somedelegations considered thattheapplication ofthosecriteria wastoorestrictive andthatthathadledtoanunderstatement of
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the United Nations system's economic and technical cooperation among developing countries, highlighting the importance of coordination and cooperation among organizations to address the needs of developing countries. The report also touches on the methodology used to prepare the report, the challenges faced in preparing it, and the importance of regional and subregional action.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade