constraints andmeasures neededtoovercome theminthecontext ofdevelopment policy andplanning; (b)Toexamine thenatureofemerging changes intheexternal environment in the1990sandtheirimplications withregardtotrade,finance andinvestment and torecommend courses ofactionandpolicyoptionresponses tothosechanges; (c)Toidentify critical areasofneedintraining ofgovernment officials, particularly indevelopment policy andplanning, andtofollow-up through the provision ofconsultancy andadvisory services andtheconduct oftraining courses andseminars. (b)CQurseofactionofthesecretariat 31.100 Withregardtotheleastdeveloped countries, in-depth studies willbe undertaken onthespecial problems andonpossible measures toresolve them. Emphasis willalsobeplaced ontechnical co-operation intheformofconsultancy, advisory services andtraining. 31.101 Asforislanddeveloping countries, theirsocialandeconomic problems will beanalysed ingreater detail anddevelopment profiles oftheireconomies willbe prepared andupdated periodically. Seminars andworkshops willbeorganized for widerdissemination ofin-depth studies onselected issuesindevelopment policy -25- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library.~jW MMW@WP S"!i!!¥t&, andplanning, andtraining andorientation programmes willbeconducted inareasof identified needsindevelopment policy andplanning. Short-term technical co-operation willalsobeprovided through advisory andconsultancy missions. Exploratory workwillbecarried outonpromoting greater subregional andregional co-operation, especially inthefieldsofforeign investment andtrade. Human resources development activities willreceive highpriority inboththeleast developed andislanddeveloping countries components ofthesubprogramme. SUBPROGRAMME 13.STATISTICS (a)Objectives 31.102 Thelegislative authority forthesubprogramme isCommission resolution 246(XLII), paragraphs 2and4. 31.103 Veryfew,ifanyofthedeveloping countries oftheregionareasyet completely abletosatisfy, intermsofquantity, quality andtimeliness, the requirements forinformation thattheincreasingly complex challenge ofeconomic andsocial development demands. Available dataoftendonotformacohesive, consistent bodyofinformation thatcanbeutilized incross-sectoral analysis. Theuseofstatistics isnotyetsufficiently implanted intothepolicyformulation anddecision-making processes inmanycountries, andthereisaninadequate appreciation oftheroleofstatisticians inthemanagement oftheeconomy. Throughout theregion, budgetary constraints arehampering thedevelopment of national statistical services, andinadequate humanresources development isakey factorhindering strengthened statistical capability, especially intheapplication ofcomputerized technology tostatistical work. 31.104 Without readily available comparable regional data,administrators, policy makers andresearchers encounter difficulties intheformulation ofdevelopment programmes intheregion, inmonitoring thedevelopment process andinevaluating theimpactofdevelopment plansgenerally andofregional andinternational development strategies inparticular. Thereiscurrently nocomprehensive integrated statistical databaseavailable withwhichtoassess andmonitor economic andsocialdevelopment intheregion. 31.105 Theapplication ofinformation technology inthegovernment sectoroffers oneofthemostpromising prospects indeveloping countries forimproving the planning andmanagement ofdevelopment. However, computerization ofthegovernment sectorintheregionisimpeded byanumberofobstacles, primarily institutional, organizational andhumanresources related, butalsotechnological. Moreover, existing government information systems indeveloping countries areconcentrated at thecentral government levelandaresectora1 innature, andthusdonotadequately support theplanning andmanagement process. Inaddition, publicsector computing
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the development of statistics and data management in developing countries, particularly in the context of economic and social development. It highlights the importance of statistics in policy formulation and decision-making, and the challenges faced by developing countries in collecting and analyzing data. The text also touches on the role of information technology in improving the planning and management of development.

**Category**
Economic development, Science and technology