The
ECAFE (Economic Commission for Asia and Far East) as it was then named was founded
in Shanghai in 1947, with ten original members. At that time, most of the
Pacific islands counties were under colonial rule or were United Nations Trust
Territories, administered under mandate granted to colonial powers. They did
not count in the Commission then -in name or in deed.
By the
time of the thirtieth annual session of the Commission held at Colombo in 1974,
the former ECAFE became ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific) as was proposed by me as the new Executive Secretary.
The
Pacific Islands, the jewels that stud the sparkling expanse of Pacific Ocean,
had reached the threshold of a new era as the United Nations development aid
system was directing considerable focus onto the region. Covering some 30
million square kilometres, the Pacific includes the largest number of small
islands, developing countries and territories in the world.
Of the
more than 28 principal Island groups in the Pacific, during my time, twelve
were members or associate members of ESCAP). With a population of approximately
four and a half million and a land area of 527,621 square kilometres, this
represented an average population density of about eight person per square
kilometre. Fuji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga were
all full members of ESCAP while Cook Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Trust Territory
of the Pacific islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu were associate members. Furthermore,
Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Solomon Islands were members of ESCAP’s
parent body, the United Nations.
Parliament of Asia and Pacific
ESCAP
was often called the “Parliament of Asia and the Pacific” and its primarily
role was to serve member countries by identifying areas for social and economic
development problems; providing a forum for debate on development issues; providing technical and advisory services;
and helping member countries to attract outside assistance. It did not itself
provide capital resources but helped establish institutions to attract funds
for regional and sub-regional projects that in turn, supply development
aid. In previous years, it was felt
that ECAFE was more Asian oriented and that the Pacific Island countries and
the countries bordering the Pacific were only marginally involved.
When I
came aboard I was committed to change that image. In my very first Commission
session I proposed to change the name of ECAFE into ESCAP (Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific) to reflect the new political equation in region. With the
re-emergence of China, Vietnam and the formation of sub regional groupings like
ASEAN and in the South Pacific forum the political map of the Pacific had
changed.
I
wanted to encourage the countries of the Pacific and the countries bordering
the Pacific particularly, to play a more active role and to guide them into the
mainstream of ESCAP activities which up to then had been dominated by South
Asian countries.
I was
also determined to give more attention to the social dimensions of development.
It is a well-known fact that hundred millions of people in Asian countries
suffer from poverty, ill health and illiteracy that should be tackled in a more
comprehensive way. More attention should also be given to programmes of popular
participation, including the participation of youth and integration of women in
development programmes.
ESCAP’s Liaison Office in Nauru
During
the annual sessions of the Commission I had regularly convened meetings with
the South Pacific delegates to discuss specific problems and needs of the Pacific
islands countries. From this discussions arose the concept of ESCAP’s Liaison
Office for the Pacific that would serve as a bridge over which UN aid,
technical assistance and transfer of technology would flow. The Liaison office
would improve linkages and maintain effective liaison between ESCAP and the
Pacific island countries, and would assist me in the programming and
implementation of needed activities. The thirty-fourth session of the
Commission established the Liaison Office and unanimously selected Nauru as the
location for the Office. To mark this milestone, the Government of Nauru even
had postage stamps commissioned with my image. Upon my suggestion the President
of Nauru H.E. Hammer deRoburt, was elected Chairman of the thirty-second session
of the Commission.
Technical assistance to the Pacific
ESCAP
had continuously increased co-operation with regional institutions in the
Pacific such as the South Pacific Commission (SPC) based in Noumea, New
Caledonia and the Fiji-based South Pacific Bureau for Economic co-operation
(SPEC) with its far-reaching South Pacific Forum.
Joint ESCAP/UNDP programming missions
A
joint ESCAP/UNDP programming mission which started a US 12 million-aid
programme recommended that assistance would be channelled through institutions
in the region such as the South Pacific Bureau for Economic Co-operation, South
Pacific Forum and the Noumea-based South Pacific Commission, furthering the
concept of self-reliance. UNDP assistance had been extended to areas such as
root crops development, fisheries, investigation of mineral potentials of the
South Pacific, a regional telecommunication network, civil aviation and
industrial surveys in the region, trade promotion, development of small scale
enterprises, alternate source of energy and livestock development.
A
second ESCAP/UNDP programming mission for the Pacific took place in October
1980 and had presented a US 16 million package of aid for developing island
countries for 1982-1986. As well as continuing a number of current projects,
several new ones would be started in 1982, again in co-operation with
sub-regional organizations. Energy, atoll development and training were among
the programmes planned.
UNDAT
The
United Nations Development Advisory team (UNDAT) based in Suva was another
example of ESCAP’s co-operation with and concern for the Pacific island.
Established in 1972 and taken over by ESCAP as executing agency in 1977, UNDAT
was referred to as “ a short term and quick action consultancy programme”. It
consisted of UN experts and consultants, who advised and assisted Pacific
island governments on request, on a broad range of development issues such as
economic and social planning, town planning environment, tourism, airline
management, migration and shipping. American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam.
Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu,
had all benefited from the Team’s service. UNDAT co-operated closely with SPEC,
SPC and the University of South Pacific. Australia and New Zealand contributed
significantly to the activities of the Team. The Netherlands, the United
Kingdom and America also provided their support. ESCAP’s role in assisting the
development of the Pacific Islands would further increase in 1980s as I
instructed the various divisions of the Secretariat to seek co-operation with
other UN agencies and UNDP to combine their resources in vital areas of island
development.
Energy, then a major international development issue had been suggested by me
as the theme for the thirty-seventh Commission session of the Commission in
Bangkok in March 1981 and the Pacific Island countries would receive special
attention in the search for new, alternate and renewable sources of energy. A
working Group would meet in Apia, Samoa, to plan wide-ranging energy programmes
for the South Pacific.
It was
agreed to formulate inter-country and sub-regional programmes to assist the
South pacific countries with their most urgent and important energy needs.
Environment
Closely
allied to the energy crises was that of the environment and a South Pacific
Regional Environmental Programme (SREP) was established that would work in
co-ordination with other regional environmental programmes as well as the
United Nations Environment program (UNEP).
Natural resources
The
Natural Resources Division of ESCAP started a three-year US $ 2,5 million
program in January 1979 funded by UNDP. ESCAP Committee of Co-ordination of
Joint Prospecting administered the program for mineral resources in South
Pacific areas.
The
sea and its resources had a special significance for ESCAP. The vast
Asia/Pacific area with millions square kilometres of ocean and thousands
kilometres of coastline would make any development in the Law of the Sea highly
significant. Thus I had inscribed the Law of the sea as a major agenda item for
the thirty-seventh session of the Commission.
The
Social Development Division concentrated on a number of programmes in the
Pacific particularly those relating to youth and the integration of women in
the countries development programs. For Pacific Island youth, a series of short
term training programmes were organized in co-operation with the World Councils
of Churches.
The
role of women in development received increasing attention from ESCAP. In Samoa
for example, ESCAP assistance had resulted in the formation of Women’s Advisory
Committee directly responsible to the Prime Minister and attached to the Rural
Development Program to assist in the integration of woman in Samoa’s
development.
Those
were some of the programmes and projects that I had initiated in the Pacific.
Two way visits
With
so many on-going activities in the Pacific, more frequent contacts were being
made between ESCAP staff and the Pacific islands. Conversely more islanders
were visiting ESCAP and taking important roles in ESCAP’s deliberations and
programmes.
An
increasing number of regional and sub regional meetings often at ministerial
level were held in various Pacific islands countries. The Crown Prince Tupoutoa
had also visited ESCAP.
In frank
and open discussions, the Crown Prince was informed of the substantive on-going
ESCAP assistance programmes for the Pacific, particularly energy, environment,
mineral resources and the role of women and youth in Pacific Island development
Subsequently Dr. Tom Davies, Prime Minister of the Cook Island visited ESCAP in
May 1980, to discuss possibilities on how ESCAP could assist the Cook Islands
in the promotion and development of trade and in the field of export marketing
Relations between ESCAP and the Pacific islands would become even more cordial
in the forthcoming decade in name and deed, socially and economically.
It is
with a feeling of satisfaction that one of the commitments I had set myself to
achieve during my tenure of office was successfully accomplished.
Posted April 10, 2002 -
rudyct
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