UN Organization and
Specialized Agencies
Discussion:
In the mid-sixties the UN member countries slowly began to agree
on a greater involvement of the United Nations in population
matters. In 1967 the Secretary-General created a Trust Fund to
finance work in the population field. In 1969 the Fund was renamed
the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and placed
under the overall supervision of the United Nations Development
Program. During this period, also, the mandates of the Specialized
Agencies were modified to permit greater involvement by these
agencies in population activities.
UNFPA's role was clarified by an ECOSOC resolution in 1973:(a) to
build up the knowledge and capacity to respond to the needs in the
population and family planning fields; (b) to promote awareness in
both developed and developing countries of the social, economic, and
environmental implications of population problems; (c) to extend
assistance to developing countries; and (d) to promote population
programs and to coordinate projects supported by the UNFPA.
Most of the projects financed by UNFPA are implemented with the
assistance of organizations of the United Nations system, including
the regional Economic Commission, United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF), International Labour Organization (ILO), Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Educational
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Health
Organization (WHO). Collaborative arrangements have been made with
the International Development Association (IDA), an affiliate of the
World Bank, and with the World Food Programme.
Increasingly the UNFPA is moving toward comprehensive country
programs negotiated directly with governments. This permits the
governments to select the implementing (executing) agency which may
be a member of the UN system or a non-government organization or
company. With the development of the country program approach it is
planned to level off UNFPA funding to the specialized agencies.
UNFPA has received $122 million in voluntary contributions from
65 governments, of which $42 million was raised in 1973. The Work
Plan of UNFPA for 1974-77 sets a $280 million goal for fund-raising,
as follows:
- 1974 - $54 million
- 1975 - $64 million
- 1976 - $76 million
- 1977 - $86 million
Through 1971 the U.S. had contributed approximately half of all
the funds contributed to UNFPA. In 1972 we reduced our matching
contribution to 48 percent of other donations, and for 1973 we
further reduced our contribution to 45%. In 1973 requests for UNFPA
assistance had begun to exceed available resources. This trend has
accelerated and demand for UNFPA resources is now strongly
outrunning supply. Documented need for UNFPA assistance during the
years 1974-77 is $350 million, but because the UNFPA could
anticipate that only $280 million will be available it has been
necessary to phase the balance to at least 1978.
Recommendations:
The U.S. should continue its support of multilateral efforts in
the population field by:
a) increasing, subject to congressional appropriation action, the
absolute contribution to the UNFPA in light of 1) mounting demands
for UNFPA Assistance, 2) improving UNFPA capacity to administer
projects, 3) the extent to which UNFPA funding aims at U.S.
objectives and will substitute for U.S. funding, 4) the prospect
that without increased U.S. contributions the UNFPA will be unable
to raise sufficient funds for its budget in 1975 and beyond;
b) initiating or participating in an effort to increase the
resources from other donors made available to international agencies
that can work effectively in the population area as both to increase
overall population efforts and, in the UNFPA, to further reduce the
U.S. percentage share of total contributions; and
c) supporting the coordinating role which UNFPA plays among donor
and recipient countries, and among UN and other organizations in the
population field, including the World
Bank. |