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OIOS notes that the keenness of Division staff to review the function is currently reflected in the Division’s current restructuring process (see para. 46 below). 17. (...) That contrasts with past years, in which the tendency in the Division was to provide advice to the focal point without consulting partners, and the Division had, in general, little contact with the other divisions in the Department. 21. (...) UNDP and Division stakeholders mention that UNDP is a close partner of the Government and, as such, may not be as objective as the Division.

This may reflect reality, but it complicates division- wide priority setting and the triangulation of beneficiary needs, divisional capacities and available resources. (...) Some interviewees said that the Division appeared to be focusing unduly on World Trade Organization issues and that too many divisional resources were being used for this purpose. (...) The dilemmas of depth versus breadth and of ad-hoc processes can be illustrated by several Division activities: 14 (a) The Competition and Consumer Protection Policies for Latin America programme is clearly making a difference in the five beneficiary Latin American countries.11 The relevant Divisional unit does not have the capacity to carry out similar projects for other countries in need, although it is making an important contribution to developing competition legislation in the countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union.

E/ESCAP/1109 Page 5 TENTATIVE ESCAP CALENDAR OF MEETINGS, 1998/99 (April 1998-March 1999) Meeting categorya Title of meeting Date or duration Venue Languageb Participation financed by APRIL 1998 LEG Special Body on Pacific Island Developing Countries, fifth session 14-15 Bangkok CEFR Participating governments LEG Commission, fifty-fourth session 16-22 Bangkok CEFR Participating governments MAY 1998 GOV Fourth session of the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee on the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development 22-23 Cebu, Philippines E Participating governments JUNE 1998 GOV Second Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on Human Resources Development for Youth 1-5 Bangkok CEFR Participating governments GOV Standing Committee of the Bangkok Agreement, seventeenth session Open (2 days) Bangkok E Participating governments GOV Third Round of Negotiations under the Bangkok Agreement Open (3 days) Bangkok E Participating governments a LEG - Legislative CON - Ad hoc conference GOV - Ad hoc intergovernmental REG - Regional projects and institutions b C - Chinese F - French E - English R - Russian E/ESCAP/1109 Page 6 SEPTEMBER 1998 LEG Committee on Socio-economic Measures to Alleviate Poverty in Rural and Urban Areas, first session 15-17 Bangkok CEFR Participating governments LEG Steering group of the Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation, tenth meeting Open (3 days) Bangkok CEFR Participating governments OCTOBER 1998 LEG Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Development, first session 21-23 Bangkok CEFR Participating governments NOVEMBER 1998 LEG Committee on Transport, Communications, Tourism and Infrastructure Development, first session 18-20 Bangkok CEFR Participating governments REG Governing Board of the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific 18-20 Bangkok E Participating governments LEG Committee on Statistics, eleventh session 24-26 Bangkok CEFR Participating governments DECEMBER 1998 GOV Typhoon Committee, thirty-first session Open (8 days) Open E Participating governments MARCH 1999 LEG Committee for Regional Economic Cooperation, seventh session 10-12 Bangkok CEFR Participating governments E/ESCAP/1109 Page 7 OTHER GROUP ACTIVITIES Training courses, seminars, study tours, symposia, expert group and other small group meetings financed mainly from external sources Activity Date or duration Venue Division or unit concerned Participation financed by APRIL 1998 Second meeting of the working party on the application of new technology to population data 1-3 Singapore Statistics Division UNFPA ESCAP human resources develop- ment course for youth development 1-6 Hanoi Social Development Division CCA Seminar on quality control circle activity for energy efficiency in industry 2 Moscow Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Japan Informal consultation meeting of the Bangkok Agreement 10 Bangkok International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Participating governments Working committee meeting on the Asia-Pacific International Trade Fair, ASPAT'99, Seoul (first session) 22-23 Bangkok International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Republic of Korea National workshop on the implementation of Commission resolution 48/11 on road and rail transport modes in relation to facilitation measures 22-24 Bangkok Transport, Communications and Tourism Division ADB National workshop on the implementation of Commission resolution 48/11 on road and rail transport modes in relation to facilitation measures 27-29 Yangon Transport, Communications and Tourism Division ADB Workshop on private sector involvement in water supply and sanitation 28-30 New Delhi Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Netherlands Training of trainers for capacity- building for sustainable transport development 30 Apr.-5 May Amsterdam Transport, Communications and Tourism Division Netherlands Pilot project on the promotion of non-handicapping environments: review and evaluation workshop Open (5 days) New Delhi Social Development Division Japan E/ESCAP/1109 Page 8 MAY 1998 National workshop on attracting foreign direct investment in Vanuatu 4-5 Port Vila Industry and Technology Division Japan Joint OECD-ESCAP meeting on national accounts: the 1993 SNA five years on 4-8 Bangkok Statistics Division Participating governments Second meeting of principal investigators for Advanced Earth Observation Satellite (ADEOS) applications 6-8 Phuket, Thailand Environment and Natural Resources Management Division NASDA/RESTEC Training of trainers on industrial project preparation and management for selected Pacific island developing countries 6-16 Port Vila Industry and Technology Division Netherlands Expert group meeting on growth with equity 7-8 Bangkok Development Research and Policy Analysis Division Republic of Korea Regional seminar on the impli- cations of the General Agreement on Trade in Services for Asian and Pacific economies 18-19 Bangkok International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Japan Meeting of the regional working group on remote sensing, GIS and satellite-based positioning 18-20 Cebu, Philippines Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Participating governments Expert group meeting on the improved management of the financial sector for its enhanced stability and support to trade and investment flows 19-22 Bangkok Development Research and Policy Analysis Division Netherlands Expert group meeting on the development of a standard unified maritime information format on the Internet 19-22 Bangkok Transport, Communications and Tourism Division Republic of Korea Workshop on plant nutrition concepts in Viet Nam 19-22 Hanoi Rural and Urban Development Division GTZ Fourth meeting of the inter-agency subcommittee on space applications for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific 21 Cebu, Philippines Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Participating governments E/ESCAP/1109 Page 9 MAY 1998 (continued) ESCAP/RCCAP consultations on youth development 25-26 Bangkok Social Development Division Participating committee members Regional conference on public involvement in natural resources projects 25-28 Bangkok Environment and Natural Resources Management Division UNDP Regional expert group meeting on capability-building to alleviate rural poverty under economic adjustments 25-28 Bangkok Rural and Urban Development Division Netherlands Regional seminar on developing ecotourism in the Asian region - the role of governments and the media 26-28 Bangkok Transport, Communications and Tourism Division Japan Regional workshop on preparations for the International Year of Older Persons 26-29 Beijing Social Development Division China, Macau Asia-Pacific meeting of youth organizations in preparation for the third session of the World Youth Forum 27-29 Bangkok Social Development Division Regular budget Regional expert group meeting on integrating environmental consider- ations into economic decision- making processes: institutional arrangements and mechanisms 27-29 Bangkok Development Research and Policy Analysis Division Japan Second meeting of the Boards of Investment in the Asian and Pacific region 27-29 Goa, India Industry and Technology Division Chambers of commerce ESCAP/APEC regional workshop on human resources development for the food industries in Asia and the Pacific Open (3 days) Jakarta Industry and Technology Division Japan Final review meeting on technical assistance for environmental co- operation in North-East Asia Open (2 days) Open Environment and Natural Resources Management Division ADB National workshop on indicators of sustainable development in Pakistan Open (2 days) Islamabad Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Netherlands Pilot project on the promotion of non-handicapping environments: final workshop Open (5 days) Beijing Social Development Division Japan E/ESCAP/1109 Page 10 JUNE 1998 Regional expert group meeting on integrating environmental consider- ations into economic decision- making processes: modalities for environmental assessment 1-3 Bangkok Development Research and Policy Analysis Division Japan Subregional workshop on the implementation of the 1993 SNA 1-12 Jakarta Statistics Division Netherlands Ad hoc expert group meeting on integration of water resources management into economic and social development plans 2-4 Bangkok Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Regular budget Country-level capacity-building seminar on integrated planning and sustainable transport development 3-5 Pattaya, Thailand Transport, Communications and Tourism Division Netherlands Seminar on policy challenges of multi-track trade liberalization 3-5 Bangkok International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Netherlands RICAP Subcommittee on Water for Asia and the Pacific, forty-first session 4 Bangkok Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Participating committee members First meeting of the Executive Committee of the Network of Asia-Pacific Education and Training Institutes in Tourism 8-9 Bangsaen, Thailand Transport, Communications and Tourism Division Participating institutes Country-level seminar on the development of shipping policies 10-12 Bangkok Transport, Communications and Tourism Division Japan Training course for energy managers (phase II) 10-12 Trivandrum, India Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Japan Country-level seminar on the development of shipping policies 15-17 Mumbai, India Transport, Communications and Tourism Division Japan Seminar to launch the pilot project on the promotion of non- handicapping environments 17-18 Bangkok Social Development Division Japan E/ESCAP/1109 Page 11 JUNE 1998 (continued) The year 2000 (Y2K) problem in computers and strategic issues for national statistical offices 18-19 Bangkok Statistics Division SIAP Asia-Pacific symposium on sustainable food production, income generation and consumer protection 23-26 Beijing Rural and Urban Development Division China National training workshop on promoting economies: lessons from the experiences of Thailand and ASEAN 24-26 Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam Industry and Technology Division Republic of Korea Workshop of specialists on the preparation of the report on the state of the environment in Asia and the Pacific, 2000 29 June-3 July Bangkok Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Japan Consultative meeting of the Private Sector Advisory Group, Indo-China Development Forum Open (1 day) Bangkok International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Japan National seminar on maximizing benefits from ASEAN Open (1 day) Phnom Penh International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Japan National seminar on maximizing benefits from ASEAN Open (1 day) Yangon International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Japan RICAP Subcommittee on Poverty Alleviation, third session Open (1 day) Bangkok Population Division Participating committee members Regional expert group meeting on the promotion of women in small businesses in Indo-China Open (3 days) Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam Rural and Urban Development Division Japan JULY 1998 Working committee meeting on the Asia-Pacific International Trade Fair, ASPAT'98, Almaty, fourth session 7-8 Bangkok International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Japan National training workshop on promoting privatization and deregulation in selected least developed countries and transitional economies: lessons learned from the experiences of Thailand and ASEAN 15-17 Phnom Penh Industry and Technology Division Republic of Korea JULY 1998 (continued) Regional symposium on inland water transport development and the safety of inland navigation 20-22 Bangkok Transport, Communications and Tourism Division Japan, IMO E/ESCAP/1109 Page 12 Regional training workshop on the development of a meteorological disaster database and applications in disaster management 20-24 Beijing Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Australia Country-level capacity-building seminar on integrated planning and sustainable transport development 27-29 Bangkok Transport, Communications and Tourism Division Netherlands Regional workshop on energy- environment planning 28-30 Bangkok Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Republic of Korea Seminar on the facilitation of travel in the Asian region 28-30 Phuket, Thailand Transport, Communications and Tourism Division Japan Ad hoc expert group meeting on appropriate technology for accessing population information Open (3 days) Bangkok Population Division Regular budget Demonstration energy audit-cum- training on energy efficiency in the cement industry Open (2 weeks) Tehran Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Japan ESCAP/UNCTAD/ADB meeting of senior officials on approaches for a positive trade agenda to the year 2000 and beyond for developing countries of the ESCAP region Open (2 days) Bangkok International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division ADB Enhancing cooperation in trade and investment between Pacific island countries and economies of East and South-East Asia Open (3 days) Bangkok/ Singapore International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division UNDP National seminar on maximizing benefits from ASEAN Open (1 day) Vientiane International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Japan National seminar on maximizing benefits from ASEAN Open (1 day) Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Japan JULY 1998 (continued) National workshop on indicators of sustainable development Open (2 days) Beijing Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Netherlands Pacific POPIN workshop Open (3 days) Suva Population Division UNFPA E/ESCAP/1109 Page 13 Regional expert group meeting on the impact of globalization on women Open (3 days) Bangkok Rural and Urban Development Division Japan Regional symposium on AFTA Open (2 days) Jakarta International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Japan Seminar on trade and investment information networking in the South-Western subregion of ESCAP Open (4 days) Tehran International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Netherlands AUGUST 1998 Meeting on TCDC and tripartite cooperation in trade and investment between North-East and South-East Asia 18-20 Bangkok International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Japan Expert group meeting on options for exchange rate policies in least developed countries 19-21 Bangkok Development Research and Policy Analysis Division Japan Consultative group meeting of senior officials and high-level experts in preparation for the Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific 25-27 Bangkok Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Participating governments Regional expert group meeting on empowering women in poverty Open (3 days) Dhaka Rural and Urban Development Division Netherlands Working committee meeting on the Asia-Pacific International Trade Fair, ASPAT'99, Seoul (second session) Open (3 days) Seoul International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Republic of Korea E/ESCAP/1109 Page 14 SEPTEMBER 1998 Policy seminar on women in development in South-East Asia 1-4 Bangkok Population Division UNFPA Training of trainers on industrial project preparation and management for selected least developed countries and economies in transition of the Asian and Pacific region 8-25 Kathmandu Industry and Technology Division Netherlands Workshop on integrated coastal zone management and non-living marine resources development 9-11 Bangkok Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Netherlands Third meeting of the working party on the application of new technology to population data 21-23 Bangkok Statistics Division UNFPA Training on GIS and remote sensing applications through long-term fellowships of the Government of China 25 Sep.-31 Dec. Wuhan, China Environment and Natural Resources Management Division China Policy seminar on the family 29 Sep.-2 Oct. Bangkok Population Division UNFPA First subregional training workshop on environment statistics Open (2 weeks) Macau Statistics Division Netherlands RICAP Subcommittee on Poverty Alleviation, fourth session Open (1 day) Bangkok Population Division Participating committee members Regional expert group meeting on strengthening credit institutions for rural poverty alleviation Open (5 days) Bangkok Rural and Urban Development Division Japan Regional meeting on a plan of action on ageing for Asia and the Pacific Open (4 days) Macau Social Development Division Macau Regional policy-level meeting on the sustainable development of inland water transport Open (4 days) Nanjing, China Transport, Communications and Tourism Division China Workshop on the implementation of a national action plan for desertification control Open (3 days) Open Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Netherlands E/ESCAP/1109 Page 15 OCTOBER 1998 Workshop on the integrated assessment and development of mineral resources within the Greater Mekong subregion 6-8 Bangkok Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Japan Expert group meeting on integrated pest management 7-9 Bangkok Rural and Urban Development Division Republic of Korea Working committee meeting on the Asia-Pacific International Trade Fair, ASPAT'98, Almaty (fifth and final session) and holding of the Trade Fair 20-21 Almaty International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Japan Consultative meeting among executive heads of subregional organizations and ESCAP, fourth meeting 26-27 Kathmandu International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Participating organizations Seventh regional seminar on earth observation for tropical ecosystem management 26-31 Dhaka Environment and Natural Resources Management Division NASDA/RESTEC Workshop on review of the application of indicators of sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific 27-29 Bangkok Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Netherlands Policy seminar on the impact of globalization on population change and poverty in rural areas 27-30 Bangkok Population Division Netherlands Regional seminar on the upgrading of Asian Highway routes 27-30 Bangkok Transport, Communications and Tourism Division Japan Ad hoc expert group meeting on institutional issues for trade facilitation Open (2 days) Bangkok International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Regular budget Asia-Pacific POPIN executive committee meeting Open (2 days) Beijing Population Division UNFPA Expert group meeting on enhancing income-generating opportunities for rural women in selected Central Asian republics Open (3 days) Almaty Rural and Urban Development Division Netherlands E/ESCAP/1109 Page 16 OCTOBER 1998 (continued) Expert group meeting on establishing a social development management information system Open (4 days) Bangkok Social Development Division Japan National policy-level seminar on the sustainable development of inland water transport Open (3 days) Dhaka Transport, Communications and Tourism Division India National policy-level seminar on the sustainable development of inland water transport Open (3 days) New Delhi Transport, Communications and Tourism Division India Subregional seminar on inland water transport development and co- operation in South Asia Open (4 days) New Delhi Transport, Communications and Tourism Division India Subregional workshop on the 1993 SNA Open (10 days) Beijing Statistics Division China Subregional workshop on the promotion of co-generation Open (3 days) Jakarta Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Japan Training workshop on selected population topics and information technology for population professionals Open (5 days) Beijing Population Division China NOVEMBER 1998 Regional workshop on social development information exchange through the Internet 2-5 Bangkok Social Development Division Netherlands Seminar on national policies and technological capability-building in developing countries 17-19 New Delhi Industry and Technology Division Japan Enhancing regional economic cooperation in promoting industrial complementarities among subgroups of countries in the Asian and Pacific region 17-20 New Delhi Industry and Technology Division Netherlands Regional seminar on approaches to enhanced government-NGO cooperation for poverty alleviation 17-20 Bangkok Population Division Netherlands Container port development and management seminar Open (5 days) Hong Kong, China Transport, Communications and Tourism Division Hong Kong, China E/ESCAP/1109 Page 17 NOVEMBER 1998 (continued) Expert group meeting to review and adopt the guidelines and manual for the protection and rehabilitation of contaminated rivers Open (5 days) Bangkok Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Netherlands Subregional (South Asia) seminar on the transport of dangerous goods Open (3 days) New Delhi Transport, Communications and Tourism Division India Subregional workshop on the promotion of co-generation Open (3 days) Dhaka Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Japan Third meeting of principal investigators for Advanced Earth Observation Satellite (ADEOS) applications Open (3 days) Open Environment and Natural Resources Management Division NASDA/RESTEC Training workshop on improving national capacity for monitoring reproductive health programmes Open (2 weeks) Bangkok Population Division Netherlands DECEMBER 1998 Regional seminar on promoting a society for all ages 1-4 Bangkok Social Development Division Japan Expert group meeting on development issues and policies 2-4 Bangkok Development Research and Policy Analysis Division Regular budget Regional seminar on options for exchange rate policies in least developed countries 9-11 Bangkok Development Research and Policy Analysis Division Japan Consultative meeting on the final review of implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s 16-18 Bangkok Development Research and Policy Analysis Division Netherlands Working committee meeting on the Asia-Pacific International Trade Fair, ASPAT'99, Seoul (third session) Open (3 days) Bangkok International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Republic of Korea E/ESCAP/1109 Page 18 JANUARY 1999 Regional workshop of national focal points for the report on the state of the environment in Asia and the Pacific, 2000 19-22 Bangkok Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Japan Regional symposium on the integration of Indo-China into the regional and global trading environment Open (2 days) Singapore International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Japan FEBRUARY 1999 High-level expert group meeting on the final review of implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s 9-12 Bangkok Development Research and Policy Analysis Division Netherlands Country-level seminar on the transport of dangerous goods Open (3 days) Kuala Lumpur Transport, Communications and Tourism Division Germany Meeting of the regional working group on space science and technology applications Open (4 days) Open Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Participating governments MARCH 1999 Meeting of the regional working group on satellite communication applications Open (4 days) Open Environment and Natural Resources Management Division Participating governments Seminar on skills formation and capacity-building in trade promotion in the transitional economies of Central Asia and Trans-Caucasus Open (2 days) Bangkok International Trade and Economic Cooperation Division Netherlands

The experts of the Arabic Division, the Dutch- and German-speaking Division, the Asia East Division (other than China), the United States of America/Canada Division, the Norden Division, the French -speaking Division and the Romano-Hellenic Division made comments or raised questions. (...) The Convener and experts from the United States of America/Canada Division, the Arabic Division, the Romano-Hellenic Division, the Dutch- and German-speaking Division, the Africa East Division, the Baltic Division, the Africa South Division, the Pacific South - West Division, the China Division and the Asia South-East Division made comments and raised questions, to which the presenters of the working papers responded. (...) The Convener and experts from the United States of America/Canada Division, the Romano-Hellenic Division, the Arabic Division, the Asia East Division (other than China), the Baltic Division, the Pacific South-West Division, the United Kingdom Division, the Africa South Division, the East Central and South -East Europe Division and the Africa East Division made comments and raised questions, to which the presenters of the working papers responded.

Despite strong positive feedback overall, multiple stakeholder interviewees reported that additional country-specific studies and support would be beneficial. Cross-divisional collaboration was effective in supporting member States on economic development issues, and there were positive examples of effective inter-agency collaboration and integrated programming. (...) The Division’s knowledge products were similarly praised. (...) Across case study countries with an ECLAC office, relationships with the Division were found to be reciprocal, with ECLAC in-country offices relying on the Division as a partner on substantive issues and the Division relying on in-country offices for specific context and relationship-building.

Developed by the Division during its 2003 and 2005 retreats, the strategy contains detailed provisions regarding staff responsibilities and activities for entering information into UNPAN and the Intranet on all divisional activities, including conferences, advisory services and publications (see also recommendation 7). 22. (...) One recommendation of the divisional retreat in April 2005 was to establish criteria to identify Division-wide products and services. (...) The Division is also currently producing outputs and providing services that are based on cross-cutting divisional functions and that require cross-branch skills.

In addition, complementarities, synergies and cohesiveness within the Division have not been fully exploited, nor has a Division-wide vision been developed and fostered. (...) Overall praise for the Division is also evident in interviews with Council members. (...) United Nations partners rate the Division highly 25. United Nations partners regard Division staff as competent and committed.

An internal study of risk assessment conducted by the Electoral Assistance Division recognizes that while the Division’s role diminishes after a project’s assessment, it does not end completely, as the Division is still responsible for monitoring the project in order to minimize the risk to the Organization. (...) The Division reported that there were still instances when the note of guidance was not followed in the field, which were not immediately reported to the Division. There are also cases where the Division’s decisions and actions were perceived by UNDP as overreaching the Division’s mandate and authority.

The Division’s sources of best practices assessments include research conducted by the Division, material of experts and other organizations and reports prepared by Governments. (...) The Office of Internal Oversight Services surveyed major partners of the Division, seeking their views on the relative impact of the services provided by the Division. (...) The Task Force provides training and support to Division staff and monitors posting and enhancing the quality of information about the Division’s activities on UNPAN.

In box 16, replace “an unstable explosive” by “too sensitive to assign a division”. In box 17, delete “unstable” and, at the end, add “No division assigned”. (...) In box 16, replace “an unstable explosive” by “too sensitive to assign a division”. In box 17, delete “unstable” and, at the end, add “No division assigned”. (...) In box 16, replace “an unstable explosive” by “too sensitive to assign a division”. In box 17, delete “unstable” and, at the end, add “No division assigned”.