were the two fundamental goals, has hardly improved. The mid-point review, carried out in 1988, revealed that the response expected of the developed countries and the international financial and economic institutions did not measure up to the efforts demanded of the African countries and the constraints and sacrifices they had decided, as sovereign nations, to impose on their peoples. JP/jl A/S-18/PV.4 53 (Mr. Bako, Niger) Even before the adoption of that Programme of Action, many African countries had undertaken reforms of their economic policies and had adopted austerity measures to improve their economic and financial climate and to ensure a rapid and lasting recovery of major sectors of their national economies. That means that adjustment is an inescapable necessity as the basis for a lasting development structure and to promote factors for internal growth. Its :implementation requires the co-operation of all -development partners and social partners -in taking action in the key sectors, which are, particularly in Africa, rural and social development. The reality of the situation in Africa today is that the quality of life is being degraded, and therefore adjustment will succeed only if the conditions are created to enable people to understand its purpose. That will happen only if the policies adopted improve the socio-economic climate and bring about an appreciable improvement in personal income -not in the distant future, but immediately. The debt crisis, another phenomenon of this end-of-the-century period, is today the main worry of the developing countries. According to World Bank statistics, the total debt of the third world countries had risen to a total of $1,290 billion at the end of 1989. The consequences of such a heavy debt burden are immeasurable. However, the problem is clear. All observers recognize that a large part of the debt can never be repaid and it will be necessary to draw up and 
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the economic situation of African countries, specifically the need for economic adjustment and the burden of debt. It also touches on the importance of cooperation and the need for policies to improve the socio-economic climate and personal income. Based on this content, it is likely that the text falls under the category of economic development.

**Category**
Economic development