opentoquestion. Furthermore, whileahighlevelofsupport f9rAfrica was needed, several delegations expressed theviewthatanappropriate balance should bestruckinoverall programme expenditure soastoensurethatoneregiondidnot benefit attheexpense ofanother. 136.Itwasfeltbyseveral delegations thatthecurrent emergency inAfrica was theresultnotofexceptional circumstances butofalong-term crisisofpoverty andunderdevelopment. Inmostcases,thefailure ofdevelopment programmes wasdue tothefactthathumanfactors hadnotbeensufficiently takenintoaccount. 137.Several delegations observed thattheimprovement intherainfall situation in theSahe1couldnotwipeouttheconsequences of10yearsofdesertification ­ famine, population movements andthedestruction ofthemeansofproduction. Figures regarding foodshortages didnotgiveanyideaoftheeffects ofdrought, particularly inthefieldofhealth. 138.SomeBoardmembers laudedthefactthatAfrica's infant andchildmortality haddeclined, despite conflicts andemergencies. Yet,theoverall figures concealed regional differences anditwasgenerally knownthatinAfrica, absolute infantandchildmortality figures had,infact,increased inthepasttwo decades. Theyfelt,therefore, thattheExecutive Director hadgoodreasonto -21- stresschildsurvival anddevelopment activities andtheimportant results achieved byUNICEFinthatareainhisreport. Todemonstrate theirdetermination to undertake EPIactivities, African StatesinWHOhaddeclared 1986"Immunization Year"• LatinAmerica andtheCaribbean 139.WithregardtoLatinAmerica andtheCaribbean, manydelegations notedthe gravesocialimpactofadjustment measures onthequality oflifeofthepoorest andmostvulnerable, andexpressed appreciation fortheattention beinggivento thatsubject. Successful socialmobilization efforts, withpopulation participation, toimprove healthservices werealsocommended. Although the regional programme onwomenindevelopment wascommended andendorsed, itwasfelt thattheprogramme couldbeimproved bymorecoherence intheformulation of strategy. TheCommittee notedthehighproportion of"noted" projects inthe region, butexpressed theviewthatthatwasinevitable because theregion wasina higher-income groupandconsequently received lowergeneral resources allocations. 140.Aproposal sponsored bysevenmembercountries oftheregion andrecommended bytheProgramme Committee, asadopted bytheExecutive Board,appears in chapter VI,decision 1986/19. AsiaandthePacific 141.ForAsia,theimproved presentation ofprogramme documents wasnoted,although suggestions weremadefortheirstandardization. Notingthatmanycountries inthe regionexhibited highpopulation growthrates,itwasurgedthatbirth-spacing should becomeanelement incountry programmes. Notingtheprevalence ofmaternal andchildmalnutrition, several delegations urgedthatincreased attention should begiventonutrition education, moreequitable distribution offoodandreversing thedecline inbreast-feeding. Thesignificance ofsanitation anddiarrhoea management inwatersupply programmes wasfurther stressed bydelegations. MiddleEastandNorthAfrica 142.WithregardtotheMiddleEastandNorthAfrica, manydelegations commended efforts beingmadetoaccelerate childimmunization andtoimprove databasesand situation analyses. Whiletheefforts madeonUCIwereappreciated, itwasfelt thatthebroadissuesofmaternal andchildnutrition shouldalsobeaddressed. TheUCImonitoring matrixdeveloped fortheregion wasfoundtobeausefultool, andtheCommittee expressed itsconcern thatthetargets indicated forsome countries mightbetooambitious. Theneedforbirth-spacing incountries with highpopulation growthrateswasalsostressed. "Noted" projects 143.TheProgramme Committee recommended thatinthefuture, requests totheBoard to"note"projects tobefunded fromspecific-purpose contributions shouldinclude information linking thoseprojects totherelevant country programmes. -22- Interregional projects 144.TheProgramme Committee notedthereportontheuseofglobaifunds (E/ICEF/1986/CRP.5 andCorr.l) andtheinterregional proposals toreplenish the special funding component oftheInfantMortality Reduction (IMR)Reserve (E/ICEF/1986/P/L.27). Evaluation 145.Manydelegations notedtheneedforevaluation notonlyofeffectiveness but also,wherever possible, oftheimpactofprogrammes andprojects andoftheuseof evaluation. TheCommittee further notedthatUNICEF had,infact,implemented the Board's conclusions onthereviewofevaluation in1984,whichincluded systems
**Analysis**
The text primarily focuses on the discussion and evaluation of various development programs and projects related to health, humanitarian aid, and relief, particularly in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Pacific. The text also touches on issues of poverty, underdevelopment, and social impact, which are closely related to economic development and humanitarian aid. However, it does not seem to have a strong focus on natural resources, industry, transport, communication, international trade, education, employment, or culture.

**Category**
Health, Humanitarian aid and relief, Economic development