it iE recoolrended thac the Conference of Mtnisters of lransport and Con&unica- tlons shoutd revie{ ECA'g Eandale and asslgn i,t oore clearly defined areas of conpetence, The ECA Secretariat could be inatructed, wlthln lhe fratrework ol a clearly deflned nandate. and ln consultation l.tith the Afrlcan reSlonal and sub- re8Lonal organizations and the aSencies in the United Nations. aysted concernedi (a) To tdentlfy, by neans of speclaL studles, fundamental i.nter-state projects conElalent wlth the overall obJectlves of the Decade and facilitate neSotlations betlreen States for the purpose of adoptlng the studies and taking the requialte follow-up deciEi.ons. (b) To ensure Chat projects proposed by Sovernmenls conforn Uo the obJec- lj.ves of lhe Decade and; lf necessary, to lnltiate negotiationa wlth governnenta. (c) To organlze fund-rais:.ng acilvities on the basiE of a list of major prcJects of regional, and particularly sub-regj-onal, ioportance of univerealLy recogni.zed prlorj.ty. (d) lo provide support to lhe varlous Afrlcan sub-re81onal organlzation8 and lo asslst then ln co-ordlnal.ing iheir transpore and coDmunicati.ons pnogramnes. (e) To seek a JuridlcaL framework for !.rays and !rcans of financing and inplenenting lnten-State proJects (estabLishment of rrAutho!"lt1es" so thab Ehe requesta for flnancing presented by lndlvldual countries are p.Lanned and co-ordlnated - see also paragraphs 58 and 5! above). L00. Slnce the Conference of Mlnlsters of lranaport and Co@lunications at lhe fourth oeetlng ln Conakry (February 1984) adopted the principle ol a second Desade (resoluti,on No. 7), some thought nust nolr be glven to the ro.Le lrhlch EcA wlll- be called upon to play after 1988, Desplle the nlsvigings surroundlng lt and lts own shortconlngs, the Decade enabled an lnstrunent and machlnery for co-operatlon lo be set up and brought lnto snooth operation wlthln ECA. Co-operaflon between Afrlcan States ln transport and coElunicatlons Haa 81ven a
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the role of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in promoting cooperation and development in the transportation and communication sectors among African countries. It mentions the need for clearer definitions of competencies and the implementation of projects that align with the overall objectives of the Decade. The text also touches on the importance of coordination and cooperation among African states and organizations.

**Category**
Transport and communication, International trade