immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (seechap.IV,decision 1990/18 forthe recommendation oftheCommittee asadopted bytheExecutive Board). However, it wasstatedthatWHOshouldplantheprimary roleinAIDSprevention. 6.Manydelegations underscored theneedforincreased national capacity-building, whileotherdelegations welcomed increasing efforts tointegrate projects andprogrammes intothegeneral development ofrecipient countries. The Executive Director wasrequested toelaborate inhisannualreport tothe 1991Boardsession onwhattheconcept ofcapacity-building implies specifically in thecontext ofUNICEF programmes. Inaddition, theneedtoensure the sustainability ofachievements already madeinprogrammes suchasuniversal child immunization (UCI)andoralrehydration therapy (ORT)wasalsostressed. Strengthening partnerships withGovernments andnon-governmental organizations (NGOs), community participation, community financing andincreased co-operation amongUnited Nations organizations atthefieldlevelwerementioned asessential elements forsustainability. Itwasalsoproposed thatasustainability analysis should beincluded infuture country programme recommendations. Theimportance of cost-effectiveness inprogrammes andprojects wasunderlined byanumber of speakers. 7.Theimportance ofdeveloping meansofmeasuring progress towards the attainment ofgoalsandofassisting countries inthedevelopment ofmonitoring and evaluation systems wasstressed (seechap.IV,decision 1990/4 forthe recommendation oftheCommittee asadopted bytheExecutive Board). Theneedfor applied research atcountry andlocallevels toimprove measurability andbaseline data,especially forchildren inespecially difficult circumstances, wasalsonoted. 8.While anumber ofdelegations agreedthatissuesrelated tobuilding an economic baseformeeting humangoals, suchasdebtrelief andtradeagreements, hadabearing ondevelopment goals,itwasgenerally feltthattheseissues might bemoreappropriately discussed inotherforums. Itwasstressed, however, that thespecial needsofleastdeveloped countries (LDCs) mustbetakenintoaccount, aswellastheresults oftheupcoming Second United Nations Conference onthe LeastDeveloped Countries. (Seechap.IV,decision 1990/2 fortherecommendation oftheCommittee asadopted bytheExecutive Board.) Ill.MEDIUM-TERM PLAN,1990-1993 9.Virtually alldelegations expressed overall support forthemedium-term plan fortheperiod 1990-1993 (E/ICEF/1990/3 andCorr.1), eitherinthegeneral debate orintheProgramme Committee. Several delegations indicated thatitwasbroadly consistent withthegoalsandstrategies document, whileothers notedthatboth covered muchofthesameground. Itwaspointed outthatsomerepetition was necessary because theplan,whichisanongoing Executive Boarddocument, is prepared within theoverall goalsandstrategies assetoutinthestrategies document (E/ICEF/1990/L.5), whichwillnotbebrought before theBoardagain. It wasnotedthattheplanshould beseenasaplanofactionreflecting thegoalsand strategies, andthatitcouldbemorespecific astowhatUNICEF coulddoto achieve thegoals,particularly toensure moreactive community participation. -52-10.Several delegations notedwithapproval theemphasis givenintheplantothe importance ofthecountry programming process, aswellastoreaching the unreached, reducing disparity, sustainability andnational capacity-building, community participation, theempowerment ofwomenandtheemphasis placed on cost-effectiveness. However, somedelegations indicated thatareassuchasthe environment andfamilyplanning (seechap.IV,decision 1990/7forthe recommendation oftheCommittee asadopted bytheExecutive Board)mightreceive moreemphasis infutureversions oftheplan. Animmediate evaluation ofchildren inespecially difficult circumstances (seechap.IV,decision 1990/6forthe recommendation oftheCommittee asadopted bytheExecutive Board), andwhere feasible, anupdating ofrelevant sections oftheplanwasrequested byone
**Analysis**
The text appears to focus on international development and humanitarian aid, specifically in the context of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and its goals and strategies. The discussion revolves around issues such as AIDS prevention, capacity-building, sustainability, and the empowerment of women, which are all relevant to the field of health and humanitarian aid.

**Category**
Health, Humanitarian aid and relief