Proposal for the Revision of the Statute of the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning

1. Under the terms of its decision 32/428 B, adopted by the General Assembly at its 111^th meeting, on 21 December 1977, the Assembly:

(a) Took note of the report of the Secretary-General ¹ and of the observations made in the Fifth Committee, on 15 December 1977, by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; ²

(b) Decided to request the Economic and Social Council to transmit the statutes of the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning to the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Panning and Economic Development of the Economic Commission for Africa for consideration and revision in the light of the proposals made by the Secretary-General in his report.

2. At its 207th meeting, on 27 March 1979, the Conference of Ministers of the Economic Commission for Africa adopted its resolution 350 (XIV), paragraphs 1 and 2 of which read as follows:

(a) Adopts the revised statutes of the Institute as amended by the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly and endorsed by the Executive Committee of the Commission after amendment of article IV.2 (d) which is contained in the annex to the present resolution;

(b) Invites the Executive Secretary to submit the statutes as adopted through the Economic and Social Council for approval by the General Assembly.

3. The Economic and Social Council, in turn, by its decision 1972/72 of 3 August 1979, decided to bring to the attention of the General Assembly at its thirty-fourth session the revised statutes of the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning, annexed to resolution 350 (XIV) of the Conference of Ministers.

4. The text of the revised statutes is accordingly reproduced in the Annex for consideration by the Fifth Committee in conjunction with Chapter III of the Report of the Economic and Social Council.

1 A/C.5/32/62.
2 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-second Session, Fifth Committee, 64th meeting, para.1. 79-38120

ANNEX

Statutes of the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning

Article I

Purpose and Functions of the Institute

1. The primary purpose of the Institute shall be the training of specialists and senior officials of those services and institutions in Africa responsible for economic development and planning. Such training shall include appropriate supportive research activities. The Institute shall also organize seminars of varied duration on practical problems of national or regional development and on the planning of various economic factors. The functions of the Institute shall be as follows:

1. To provide at its headquarters, training courses of varying duration on various aspects of development and planning. The details of such courses and the requirements for admission shall be determined periodically by the Governing Council on the advice of the Advisory Board on Studies and Research. The Council will also determine the type and nature of the certificates to be awarded at the end of such activities;

2. To organize in African countries, in cooperation with the appropriate national services and the specialized agencies concerned, seminars of varying duration on practical problems of national and regional development and planning;

3. To provide advisory services at the request of Governments and in so far as the training programme allows;

4. To establish documentation which will be made available throughout Africa to research workers, to national institutions dealing with economic development problems and to subregional organizations in the field of economic planning and development;

5. In undertaking the four functions as mentioned in (a) through (d) above, the Institute should take into account the paramount importance of promoting and defending the economic independence of African countries.

Article II

Location of the Institute

1. The headquarters of the Institute shall be located in Dakar, Senegal.

2. The host Government shall provide, in agreement with the United Nations, adequate premises, facilities and services as required for the efficient operation of the Institute.

Article III

Status and structure of the Institute

1. The Institute is a subsidiary body of the Economic Commission for Africa.

2. The Institute shall have its own Governing Council and budget. It shall be subject to the Financial Rules and Staff Regulations of the United Nations, except as may be otherwise provided by the General Assembly. It shall also be subject to the Financial Rules, the Staff Rules and all other administrative issuances of the Secretary-General, except as may be otherwise decided by him.

3. In addition, there shall be an Executive Committee, an Advisory Board on Studies and Research, a Director and supporting staff.

Article IV

The Governing Council

1. The Governing Council shall be composed as follows:

(a) The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, who shall be ex-officio Chairman;

(b) A representative of the Government of Senegal;

(c) Twelve members appointed by the Conference of Ministers of the Economic Commission for Africa on the recommendation of the Conference of African Planners. These members, selected on the basis of their personal competence and experience in affairs connected with the work of the Institute, must be nationals of 12 geographic distribution. They shall be appointed for a period of four years and shall be eligible for reappointment. To achieve continuity, six of the 12 shall initially be appointed for two years. Vacancies occurring due to disability or resignation shall be filled for the interim period by the ECA Executive Committee or the Conference of Ministers, whichever meets first;

(d) During the period of UNDP assistance to the Institute, a UNDP representative, who will normally be the UNDP resident representative in Dakar, shall participate as a non-voting member in the deliberation of the Governing Council;

(e) The Director of the Institute shall act as secretary of the Governing Council.

2. The Governing Council shall:

(a) Lay down general principles and policies governing the operations of the Institute, including the general conditions of admission;

(b) Review and approve work programmes and the relevant budgets;

(c) Examine and approve the Director's annual report on the work and progress of the Institute, including the budgetary and financial report for the preceding year;

(d) Present an annual report on the work of the Institute including a complete audited report in respect of all income and expenditures at the appropriate meeting of the Executive Committee of the Economic Commission for Africa or the Conference of Ministers;

(e) Review the administration of the Institute and make such recommendations, as it may deem appropriate.

3. The Governing Council shall hold and ordinary session twice a year, once to adopt the budget and programme activities and once to review the management report and statement of accounts. It may hold an extraordinary session at the request of the Chairman or one third of its members. The Governing Council shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

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Proposed Article IV

The Governing Council

1. Members of the Governing Council are appointed by the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of the Economic Commission for Africa on the recommendation of the Committee of Experts. Members are selected on the basis of their personal competence and experience in affairs connected with the work of the Institute. With the exception of the Regional Organizations and the Host Country which are permanent members, all other members shall be appointed for a period of three years and shall be eligible for reappointment for one second term only. To achieve continuity, half the members shall be initially appointed for two years. Vacancies occurring owing to disability or resignation shall be filled for the interim period by the ECA Conference of Ministers.

2. The Governing Council shall be composed as follows:

(a) Ten (10) representatives of African governments, two each from the five subregions of the continent (North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa and Southern Africa;

(b) One representative of each of the three (3) regional organization, namely, the Economic Commission for Africa, the African Union (AU) and the African Development Bank (ADB);

(c) Two representatives of the private sector as non-voting members;

(d) Two representatives of the civil society as non-voting members;

(e) One representative of the Government of Senegal as host country;

(f) One representative of the Advisory Board; and

(g) The Director of the Institute serving as the Secretary of the Governing Council;

(h) The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa shall be ex-officio Chairman of the Governing Council;

(i) During the period of UNDP assistance to the Institute, a UNDP representative, normally the UNDP resident representative in Dakar, shall participate as a non-voting member in the deliberations of the Governing Council.

3. The Governing Council shall:

(a) adopt general principles and policies governing the operations of the Institute, including the general conditions of admission;

(b) Review and approve work programmes and the relevant budgets;

(c) Examine and approve the Director's annual report on the work and progress of the Institute, including the budgetary and financial report for the preceding year;

(d) Present an annual report on the work of the Institute including a complete audited report in respect of all income and expenditures, the appropriate meeting of the ECA Conference of African Ministers;

(e) Review the administration of the Institute and make such recommendations as it may deem appropriate;

(f) Select from its members, an Executive Committee of five (5) persons.

4. The Governing Council shall hold an ordinary session once every two years to adopt the budget and programme activities and to review the management report and statement of accounts. It may hold an extraordinary session at the request of the Chairman or one third of its members. The Governing Council shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

The Executive Committee

5. The Executive Committee shall report and make recommendations to the Governing Council for final approval. It shall meet twice a year to monitor the implementation of programmes and the decisions of the Governing Council. It shall also give guidance to the Director in his management of the Institute. It is composed as follows:

The Chairperson of the Governing Council;

(a) One representative of the governments;

(b) One representative of the three regional organizations;

(c) One representative of the private sector;

(d) One representative of Civil Society; and

(e) The Director of the Institute.

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Article V

The Chairman of the Governing Council

1. The Chairman of the Council shall:

(a) Convene the Governing Council and prepare its agenda;

(b) By delegation of authority from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, appoint the Director and other staff of the Institute;

(c) With the approval of the Governing Council, solicit and receive aid from specialized agencies of the United Nations, intergovernmental agencies, non-governmental organizations and other sources.

Article VI

The Director

1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, upon recommendation by the Executive Secretary of ECA, shall appoint the Director of the Institute. The Executive Secretary shall consult with the Governing Council before making his recommendation. The initial appointment of the Director shall be for three years, renewable for succeeding periods of two years each.

2. The Director will be assisted by a Deputy Director.

3. The Director shall have the responsibility for the organization, direction and administration of the Institute. In accordance with the policies laid down by the Governing Council, he shall:

(a) Submit the programme and budget of the Institute to the Governing Council for approval;

(b) Carry out programmes and effect disbursements as provided in the budget through which funds have been allocated;

(c) Submit to the Governing Council annual reports on the activities of the Institute, together with a complete report on revenue and expenditure for the preceding period;

(d) Submit the names of senior personnel for approval and appointment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations or the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, depending on the level of the posts to be encumbered;

(e) Select and appoint personnel of the Institute other than those in (d) above, after consultation with the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa;

(f) Make the necessary arrangements with other national and international organizations for the utilization of the services offered by the Institute, it being understood that arrangements with national organizations will be made with the approval of the Government concerned.

Article VII

Advisory Board on Studies and Research

1. The Advisory Board on Studies and Research shall be composed of:

a. The Director of the Institute;

b. The Deputy Director;

c. Two senior lecturers nominated by the Director;

d. A representative of the Economic Commission for Africa;

e. A representative of each of the United Nations agencies concerned;

f. Four professors or research workers appointed by the Chairman of the Governing Council, having regard to the principle of equitable geographical representation;

g. Two senior members of appropriate university disciplines outside Africa, one from a developed country and one from a developing country, to be appointed by the Governing Council and proposed by the Chairman.

2. Members of the Board appointed by the Chairman of the Governing Council shall normally be requested to serve for at least three years.

3. The Director shall be the Chairman of the Advisory Board on Studies and Research.

4. The Advisory Board on Studies and Research shall be responsible for giving technical advice with regard to the design of research and study programmes of the Institute.

5. The Board shall be convened at least once a year by its Chairman. At its meeting, it shall formulate recommendations to be submitted to the Governing Council on the future work programme of IDEP.

Article VIII

Cooperation with the secretariat of the

Economic Commission for Africa

The secretariat of the Economic Commission for Africa shall, within the limits of its resources, assist the Institute in every possible way in order to facilitate its work in economic planning for Africa. In particular, ECA should, from time to time, make available to the Institute experienced staff to give lectures, to assist in supervising research and to participate in seminars.

Article IX

Financial resources and rules governing the

Financial management of the Institute

The Institute shall derive its finances from contributions made by African Governments and by UNDP. The Institute may derive further resources in cash or in kind, from the United Nations, its specialized agencies, other governmental organizations and institutions, Governments and non-governmental organizations. Acceptance by the Institute of offers of such further assistance shall, in every case, be subject to the decision of the Chairman of the Governing Council, in consultation with the Director of the Institute, in accordance with the basic aims of the Institute and the relevant provisions of the rules governing the financial management of the Institute. The Chairman of the Governing Council shall report on the matter to the Council at its next session.

Article X

General remarks

1. This statute supersedes that adopted pursuant to resolution 93 (VI) of 27 February 1964 at the 109^th meeting of the Economic Commission for Africa.

2. The Secretary-General is requested to issue a revised administrative instruction to ensure the effective implementation of this statute.