development oftheleastdeveloped, land-locked andislandcountries inAfrica, through theimplementation ofappropriate policies inthatrespect ineachcountry andintheregionasawhole; (c)Attaching growing importance tosocialaspects ofeconomic development of theAfrican countries andtotheinterrelationship ofeconomic andsocialfactors anddevelopment, withemphasis placed ontheintegration ofspecific population groupsintothedevelopment process. 30.3Duringthedecadeofthe1980s,theeffects ofaggravating factors, onthe domestic front,suchastheimpactofunprecedented droughts, theaverage rateof population growthfarinexcessoftherateofincrease infoodproduction andthe deficient economic management policies, and,ontheexternal front,thecollapse in thepricesofcommodities, thedeterioration inthetermsoftrade,thedeclining trendinrealtermsintheflowofofficial development assistance, thewidespread protectionism, thehighinterest rates,thecurrency fluctuations andtheheavy debtanddebt-servicing burden weresuperimposed onAfrica andcompounded the debilitating effects ofitslong-standing underlying fragile socio-economic structures. Africa, therefore, constituted averyweaklinkinthechainofglobal economic relations andbecameineffectthepriority regionforUnitedNations attention andaction asthefundamental issueintheregion becamesurvival and recovery. 30.4Themid-term review andappraisal oftheimplementation oftheUnited Nations Programme ofActionforAfrican Economic Recovery andDevelopment 1986-1990, -3- sr! Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Libraryconducted bytheGeneral Assembly atitsforty-third session in1988,hasindicated thattheachievements gainedwithintheframework oftheimplementation ofthe Programme intermsofAfrican economic andsocialrecovery andgrowthcanonlybe considered asuseful andsubstantial beginnings. Thepursuit ofthegoalsand objectives oftheprogramme, aswiththosecontained intheotherregiona11y agreed strategies andapproaches, mustcontinue wellintothe19905. 30.5Ithasbecomeincreasingly clearthatthebasicproblem facingAfrican economies isthatofinitiating andsustaining viable economic andsocial development processes. Thus,whilemeasures mustbetakentodealwithshort-term problems ofinternal andexternal imbalances, suchasbudgetand balance-of-payments deficits, thosemeasures shouldbetakenwithintheframework ofthelong-term objectives ofsocio-economic recovery andtransformation. During theperiod 1992-1997 ofthemedium-term plan,intensified andmuch-improved international co-operation willbeparticularly significant inenabling African countries tomakethenecessary breakawayfromunderdevelopment. Inthat connection, themaintenance ofasubstantially improved external environment characterized byimproved aidandtechnical assistance modalities, asustained, equitable andnon-inflationary growth, liberal tradepolicies andimproved market accessespecially fortropical products andmanufactures fromthirdworldcountries willbeessential. 30.6Thechallenge toECAisdaunting. Amongthefactors required tosustain a dynamic anddiversified process ofdevelopment andgrowth, humanresources planning, development andutilization mustberetained asapriority ofthefirst orderwithaviewtoenhancing thecapacities ofallpopulation groups, including especially farming communities, andensuring theincreased supplyofmiddle- and high-level skilled manpower andtechnologies required especially fortheconversion ofdomestic industrial rawmaterials intosemi-finished andfinished products. Attention willbepaidtothecritical roleofentrepreneurial resources, especially asitrelates tothetransfer anddevelopment oftechnology andtothe problem ofmassunemployment. Theemployment question willitselfhavetobe perceived andaddressed intermsofthefactors determining population growth and composition andtheirincorporation inplanning andprogramming processes. An essential component ofactivity inthatareawillbeasubstantially expanded programme fortheintegration ofwomen,especially ruralwomen,indevelopment, withincreased emphasis onthepromotion ofemployment, productive resources and incomeforwomen, andwomen's participation indecision-making, inthe
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the economic development of African countries, focusing on the challenges they face and the strategies needed to overcome them. It highlights the importance of social aspects of economic development, population growth, and human resources planning. The text also touches on the role of international cooperation and the need for a supportive external environment.

**Category**
Economic development, Employment