You are viewing our old site. See the new one here

ENB:03:03 [Next] . [Previous] . [Contents]

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR: AGENDA 21 (A/C.2/47/L.64)

The final item on the Razali Group's agenda was consideration of a short draft resolution entitled, "Capacity Building for Agenda 21". This resolution, which had only been circulated among delegations for several days, was proposed after reference to UNDP's "Capacity 21" initiative was removed from the CSD resolution. The resolution has three operative paragraphs that (1) invite the UNDP Governing Council to give due consideration to Agenda 21 recommendations on capacity building and to the "Capacity 21" initiative, with the view to promoting early action in support of developing countries in the area of capacity building; (2) invite all relevant UN agencies within their mandates to promote early action in support of developing countries in the area of capacity building; and (3) request the CSD to give urgent consideration to the implementation of Agenda 21 on capacity building.

The Philippines did not think that an untested programme such as Capacity 21 should be endorsed in the same breath as Agenda 21. Mozambique, the primary sponsor of this resolution, responded that the resolution does not endorse Capacity 21, but invites the UNDP Governing Council to look at this initiative. Benin commented that the resolution left out ideas that were important to his delegation, including paragraphs that clearly speak of the countries that are in greatest need of capacity building -- the least developed countries (LDCs). The UK commented that this was a balanced text and expressed fear that if they started adding amendments this could turn into a lengthy negotiation. Benin responded that they would stay until midnight, if necessary. The meeting then adjourned for an hour while delegates redrafted the paragraphs to take into account the concerns of the LDCs.

When the meeting reconvened, the new text was read out. Paragraphs 1 and 2 were redrafted to include the phrase "in particular the least developed countries". Some delegates still had problems with the particularization of LDCs. The UK proposed a new formulation for paragraph 2, which read "Further invites all relevant UN agencies within their mandates to promote early action to implement Chapter 37 of Agenda 21;". This reformulation would take into account the needs of the LDCs, as referred to in Agenda 21, without particularizing them in the resolution. Everyone accepted this language. After a brief exchange between Tunisia and the Chair about the budgetary implications of this resolution, Razali quickly gaveled the discussion to a close.

[Return to start of article]