Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryA/C.5/45/2 English Page33 V.REVISED ESTIMATES UNDER SECTION 13,ECONOMIC COMMISSION FORAFRICA 88.Itwillberecalled that,initsreport ~/,theGroupofHigh-level Intergovernmental Experts toReview theEfficiency oftheAdministrative and Financial Functioning oftheUnited Nations expressed theviewthatasubstantial gaininefficiency oftheOrganization couldberealized through, interalia,the useofmodern automation equipment. 89.Inhisprogress report (A/42/234) ontheimplementation ofGeneral Assembly resolution 41/213, theSecretary-General proposed toundertake acomprehensive reviewofadministrative unitsthroughout theSecretariat, including thoseatother dutystations, withthepurpose ofaddressing, interalia,theissueof simplification ofprocedures soastoshorten linesofcommunication, reduce processing delays anddelegate authority appropriately, whileatthesametime strengthening responsibility andensuring adequate accountability andcontrol. 90.Areviewofthelevelofoffice automation attheECAwasconducted inlate 1989withtheideaofassessing theneedsoftheCommission formodern computer technology forservicing itsactivities. Thereview hasrevealed thatthereare unusually severeoperating restrictions onECAowingtooutdated technical facilities. Onlyoneunit,thedocuments typingpool,isreasonably wellequipped withelectronic office machinery. Therearesome100personal computers and 40printers available forthewholeofECA,ascompared toidentified needsfor some360additional micro-computers and300printers. Typingfacilities arewholly inadequate. Insomeorganizational unitsoftheCommission's secretariat, typists aretakingturnsusingtypewriters, andmanytypewriters areonlypartially functional. Working photocopiers arescarce. Mostprinting andreproduction machines areoutoforderforlackofsparepartsorarebeyond economical repair. Printing facilities arequiteinadequate evenifexisting equipment wereinorder. Verylittle useismadeofword-processing, spreadsheet, database ordesktop publishing software. Fewqualified technicians areavailable, although morecanbe trained bylocalinstitutions. Insummary, thereview hasindicated thatthe ability ofECAtofulfilitsmandate isgreatly hampered bythetechnical backwardness ofitsfacilities. 91.Theissueofthetechnical accommodation ofECAhasbeenacontinuing preoccupation oftheCouncil ofMinisters oftheCommission, whichhadconducted itsownreviewofthesubject in1987. Atitssummer 1990session, theEconomic andSocial Council reviewed andtooknoteofCommission resolution 682(XXV), entitled "Improving technical facilities oftheEconomic Commission forAfrica", whichaddressed theproblem oftheneedforimproving thetechnical facilities of theCommission andrequested theSecretary-General totakethenecessary stepsin thatdirection (E/1990/84, para.43). 92.Itisagainst thatbackground thattheimprovement oftheoffice automation capability oftheECAisnowdeemed tobeurgent andessential. /... Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld LibraryAlC.5/45/2 English Page34 A.Components andcharacteristics oftheproject 93.Theprincipal application needthatmustbeaddressed fortheautomation project istheestablishment ofwidespread word-processing capability forthe Commission's secretariat, whichwouldprovide effective productivity opportunities currently lacking. Itisestimated thatofthe360additional micro-computers required, some330couldbejustified onthatbasis. Moreover, thepersonal computer's application forsuchpurposes asresearch, analyses andsurveys, supported byextensive useofdatabankapplications, wouldeffectively increase thepotential oftheCommission inserving itsMemberStates. Aseparate needfor upgrading thedocmnents reproduction process wouldalsoariseasaresultofthe introduction ofword-processing andpersonal computer technologies. Thatneed wouldleadtoestablishing asmalldesktop publishing unitandmodernization of existing reproduction facilities. 94.Theautomation oftheECAsecretariat's facilities wouldopenopportunities foraneffective linking oftheECAinformation subsystem intheadministration and management areaintotheIntegrated Management Information Systemcurrently being
**Analysis**
The text discusses the need for modernization and automation of the Economic Commission for Africa's (ECA) administrative and financial functions, highlighting the current technical backwardness of the organization's facilities. The focus is on improving the office automation capability, including the establishment of widespread word-processing capability, upgrading document reproduction processes, and modernizing existing facilities.

**Category**
Science and technology, Transport and communication