GA/EF/3134
24 November 2005
Second Committee Approves Draft Proposal Asking General Assembly to Take Note of Report on Efforts to Develop Comprehensive ICT Strategy
NEW YORK, 23 November (UN Headquarters) -- The General Assembly would take note of the Secretary-General's report on efforts to develop a comprehensive information and communication technology (ICT) strategy in the framework of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB), according to a draft proposal approved today by the Second Committee (Economic and Financial).
According to the report, on information and communication technology for development (document A/60/323), the CEB's Information and Communication Technology Network had made significant progress in laying down the ICT strategy, drawing up specific initiatives and projects, including a knowledge-sharing and knowledge-management strategy, as well as preparing business case analyses for eight priority initiatives to be implemented by United Nations bodies. Those initiatives included an ICT services sourcing strategy; ICT development network; common applications solutions; knowledge-sharing; enterprise resource planning systems; ICT governance and best practices; business case development and costing; and ICT training.
The ICT Network had focused on steps to achieve the strategy at a meeting in the spring of 2004, the report stated, highlighting the need to address high-value initiatives; obtain agency commitments; identify and implement selected initiatives; obtain sponsorship and establish governance; and plan implementation details. Given that system-wide strategy efforts had remained uncoordinated, with limited knowledge-sharing and knowledge management, the ICT Network had begun work on a strategy to link and guide individual efforts.
Also today, Byron Blake (Jamaica), speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, introduced three draft resolutions relating to poverty eradication, beginning with a text on implementation of the First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006) (document A/C.2/60/L.41). That draft reviewed efforts to implement the Millennium Declaration and international determination to deal decisively with poverty by 2015. It also noted that the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty had played a major role in raising awareness of poverty, and recommended that it be continued.
Introducing a second draft, on women and development (document A/C.2/60/L.43), he said it was similar to past resolutions and focused on issues affecting women's circumstances. It requested that the World Survey on Women in Development be updated under the theme "Access of women to finance, including through microfinance". The third text, on human resources development (document A/C.2/60/L.40), also replicated previous resolutions, as well as the Secretary-General's report on that subject, drawing attention to the importance of human resources in eradicating poverty.
He then introduced a draft resolution on the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (document A/C.2/60/L.39), calling attention to a request in the text that reporting about the Institute take place biennially, so that the Assembly could resolve outstanding issues over rent and other financial considerations in the current year.
Rachel Brazier (United Kingdom) introduced, on behalf of the European Union, another draft resolution on the United Nations System Staff College in Turin, Italy (document A/C.2/60/L.42), saying that it acknowledged that institution's efforts to seek multilateral solutions to problems of international security, and to establish system-wide coherence among United Nations entities. It also called for the College to report to the Economic and Social Council rather than the General Assembly, as well as for a more coordinated approach to reporting on all sub-items under the "Training and research" agenda item.
Finally, Alice Walpole (United Kingdom) introduced, also on behalf of the European Union, a text relating to global partnerships (document A/C.2/60/L.38), saying it promoted public-private partnerships across the United Nations system. The Organization had a particular role to play in supporting sustainable development and poverty eradication, which would only be possible with the active participation of all stakeholders, including Governments, business and civil society, among others.
The Second Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. on Friday, 2 December, to take action on several draft resolutions.
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