fMarineaffairs inAfrica (c) 274.Onedelegation questioned whether therewasanyduplication ofactivity proposed undertheprogramme onmarineaffairs withactivities carried out elsewhere intheOrganization. Thesamedelegation alsoaskedwhether the establishment ofanewProfessional postfortheprogramme wasnecessary andwhy theneedcouldnotbemetfromredeployment. Therepresentative ofECAresponded thattherewasnoduplication ofactivity intheprogramme and,infact,ECA carried outsomeoftheactivities programmed jointly withtheOceanEconomics and Technology BranchoftheDepartment ofInternational Economic andSocialAffairs. Headdedthatthestaffing needsoftheprogramme couldnotbemetfrom redeployment andtheonenewpostproposed wouldbetheonly on~available forthe programme onmarineaffairs. (d)Development issuesandpolicies inAfrica (e)Environment inAfrica Reservation275.Thequestion wasaskedwhyprogramme elements 1.4(Perspective studies onthe economics oftheAfrican region) and1.9(Development perspective oftheAfrican regio,n) oftheprogramme ondevelopment issuesandpolicies hadnofinaloutputs. Therepresentative ofECAexplained thatsubstantial workwouldbeundertaken duringthebiennium 1~86-1987 underthoseprogramme ele~ents andthatthefinal reportwouldbesubmitted totheJointConference ofAfrican Planners, Statisticians andDemographers atitsfifthsession inthefirstquarter of1988. Section 14,Economic Commission forWestern Asia 1.Introduction 278.Atits44thand45thmeetings, on24May,theCommittee considered section 14 oftheproposed programme budgetforthebiennium 1986-1987. Fortheconclusions andrecommendations oftheCommittee, seeparagraphs 651-655 belOW.28 el ma pr de us *UnitedStatesofAmerica.28 pr be te pr mi pr -52- /.'! /.y dwhy ponded :A licsand fairs. forthe onthe rican tputs. en inal 1988. .1.1 ofthe :ywas its the ~tion14 .usionsr r2.Discussion 279.Theinitial discussion oftheCommittee centred ontheissueoftheoverall implementation oftheprogramme ofECWAduringthepastfewyearsandthe possibilities forimprovement inthatregard. Thephysical removal ofECWA headquarters toBaghdad, together withasubsequent highvacancy rateinthe Professional posts,weregenerally recognized asdetrimental factors thathad impinged onprogramme performance. Afewdelegations questioned whether current circumstances inECWAwouldpermitahigherimplementation rate. 280.Therepresentative ofECWAstatedthat,asatApril1985,thevacancy rateof Professional postshadbeen18percent,although theeffective ratewascloserto 30percent,sincenotall.recently appointed staffmembers hadyettakenuptheir posts. Heindicated alsothat,inordertoadjustforoverplanning andtoavoid duplication ofactivities beingundertaken byotherregional organizations, ECWA hadagreedtothetermination of15programme elements intheprogramme budgetfor thebiennium 1984-1985. Inthiscontext, headdedthatthetermination of programme elements hadbegunwiththosethathadbeenassigned lowestpriority. Furthermore, otheractivities hadbeenstrengthened intheproposed programme bUdgetforthebiennium 1986-1987, resulting inaprogramme thatwasmoredirectly action-oriented and/orwasanaidintheabsorption oftechnology andother development facto~s. 281.Thedetailed discussion ontheprogrammes ofactivity focused onthefollowing programmes • (a)Foodandagriculture 282.Onedel~gation remarked thatthepromotion ofregional foodsecurity arrangements underprogramme element 2.2(Evaluation offoodproduction and consumption policies inselected countries) wasamatterofutmostimportance to thememberStatesoftheregionandaskedwhether theregional foodsecurity projects tobeidentified wouldbeconsistent witharegional planasawhole. The representative ofECWAreplied thattheCommission hadagreedtoholdan intergovernmental meet1ng onthattopicinordertoreviewactions andachievements andtoprepare aplanofactionfortheinstitutions working inthatfield. (b)Humansettlements 283.Onedelegation questioned theappropriateness ofterminating programme element 2.2(Surveyofresearch andstatistical services related tobuilding materials intheECWAregion) andproposed thatitshouldberetained inthe
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the budget and programmatic activities of the Economic Commission for Western Asia (ECWA) and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The topics covered include marine affairs, development issues and policies, environment, food and agriculture, and human settlements. These areas are likely related to economic development, natural resources, and environmental sustainability. The text also touches on the implementation and management of programs, which could be relevant to the category of science and technology.

**Category**
Economic development, Natural resources and environment, Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Science and technology