countries, owingtotheunfavourable social andeconomic conditions athome. 30.20Furthermore, inadequacies ineffective humanresources andemployment planning havetendedtolimitthecontribution thathumanresources couldmaketo economic growth andsocio-economic development. Itistherefore important to accelerate efforts toreverse thebraindrainandtoinstitute measures for assisting returnees andrefugees tobecomeproductive. 30.21Inthelightofthatorientation, theobjective ofthesubprogramme isthe promotion ofacontinuous understanding oftheprocess ofeconomic andsocial development andgrowthinAfricaandencouragement ofaunified approach to development analysis andplanning inthecontext oftheLagosPlanofAction for theImplementation oftheMonrovia Strategy fortheEconomic Development ofAfrica, theUnitedNations Progr~e ofActionforAfrican Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990 andtheAfrican Alternative Framework toStructural Adjustment Programmes forSocio-Economic Recovery andTransformation, aimedatthe socio-economic recovery anddevelopment oftheregion. 30.22Inthefieldofplanning, development andutilization ofhumanresources, theobjective ofthesubprogramme istoassistAfrican countries inpromoting the effective development ofhumanresources necessary foraccelerated economic and socialdevelopment inallsectors ofthenational economy andtostrengthen -8- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Librarycapabilities forhumanresources planning, development andutilization asabasis foroptimizing thecontribution ofhumanresources todevelopment. 30.23Furthermore, theobjectives ofthesubprogramme are: (a)Toenhance thecapability ofmemberStatestocollect, store,retrieve anddisseminate information onissuesofAfrican development; (b)Todevelop andmaintain aseriesofnumeric andnon-numeric databases for storage anddissemination ofdevelopment information tobeusedbymemberStates; (c)Totrainpersonnel frommemberStates, subregional andregional institutions intheintroduction andutilization ofup-to-date methods of development information processing anddissemination; (d)Todevelop andencourage acceptance ofnormsandstandards for harmonizing development documentation andinformation. (b)CourseofactionoftheSecretariat 30.24Duringtheperiod 1992-1997, thesecretariat ofECAwillcontinue research andstudies ofspecific factors influencing theAfrican economic andsocial situation, including aspects ofco-ordination ofthedevelopment process. The secretariat willcontinue topublish theannualsurveyofeconomic andsocial conditions inAfrica andtheannual economic reportonAfrica. Training ofAfrican planning specialists inplanpreparation, implementation techniques andmethodology andtheenhancement ofplanning physical structures andcapabilities willbe continued incloseco-operation withtheAfrican Institute forEconomic Development Planning. 30.25 TheECAsecretariat willalsoassist memberStatesinplanning, designing, managing, monitoring andevaluating humanresources development andutilization by conducting andorganizing, onthebasisofrelated studies, training workshops, seminars andconferences atnational, subregional andregional levelsforsenior government officials andpersonnel fromboththeprivate andparastatal sectors, providing advisory services tomemberStates onmanpower andemployment planning, assisting theminstrengthening theirinstitutional machinery forhumanresources development andutilization, andevaluating education andtraining programmes. 30.26Finally, thesecretariat willprovide advisory services ondevelopment of information management systems andtechnology, andtraining ofstaffofnational, subregional andregional institutions incomputerized information management techniques, harmonization ofstandards andmethodologies, development ofdatabases onsocialandeconomic development inAfricafordissemination ofthatinformation tonational, subregional andregional participating centres aswellasthegeneral public. SUBPROGRAMME 2.AGRICULTURAL ANDRURALDEVELOPMENT (a)Objectives
**Analysis**
The text appears to focus on the development of human resources and the promotion of economic growth and socio-economic development in Africa. It mentions the need to reverse the brain drain, institute measures for assisting returnees and refugees, and promote the effective development of human resources. The text also highlights the importance of information management and technology in supporting development efforts.

**Category**
Economic development, Employment, Education