volatile exchange ratesJ and decline and low levels of official development assistance.* * Mr. Huslid (Norway), Vice~President., took the Chair. JIB/24 A/S-18/PV. 8 111 (Mr. Didi, Uganda) In Africa, prospects for long-term economic growth and sustained development remain bleak despite the tremendous efforts and sacrifices countries in the reqion have made towards structural adjustment reforms and economic transformation, often at: very high socio-economic and political oosts. As the President of the African Development Bank observed in his statement durinq this session: "We are witnessing not a transient phenomenon of little significance, but a protracted period of economic retrogression." (A/S-18/PV• 4; P• ·166) With each passing year, this prolonged retrogression has inflicted upon the continent declines in living standards and ruptures in the social fabric so pronounced and so pervasive that many of the gains of the early post-independence era have been lost. And the prospects for the future seem bleak and discouraging. We considered it timely that the thirteenth special session of the General Assembly, in 1986, took a decision and adopted a comprehensive orogramme of action for Africa, the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990. Africa has lived up to its obligations in the implementation of the Programme by pUtting in Place policies of economic reform and adjustment. It was expected that the international communi tv would lend its full support to the Programme. However, even at the time of the mid-term review in 1988, that support was far below exoecta tion. The financial assistance committed in support of the Programme was not only inadequate; its disbursement was not timely and was tied to performance bench·-marks that were too unrealistic to have any meaningful impact. Moreover, most of the assistance provided was targeted to deal with short-term 
**Analysis**
The text primarily focuses on the economic challenges faced by African countries, including the impact of exchange rates, decline in official development assistance, and the need for structural adjustment reforms and economic transformation. It also mentions the implementation of a comprehensive program of action for African economic recovery and development, which suggests a focus on economic development and international cooperation.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade