CM/Res.1633 (LXIII)
RESOLUTION ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AS AN ESSENTIAL INSTRUMENT FOR THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, meeting in its Sixty-Third Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 26 to 28 February 1996,
Reaffirming its commitment to the principles and purposes of the OAU Charter, the Lagos Plan of Action and its Final Act and the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community,
Aware of the role Science and Technology play and should continue to play in the process of socio- economic development of Member States,
Convinced that priority should be given to the practical aspects of Science and Technology in order to attain improved living conditions for African peoples,
Noting that only a small proportion of the organizations budget is appropriated for Scientific and Technology programmes of the Secretariat,
Recalling its Resolution CM/Res.1570(LXI) adopted by its Sixty-first Ordinary Session:
URGES the General Secretariat in collaboration with ECA and ADB to take the necessary measures to include Science and Technology in all its programmes and development activities especially those with a practical field component;
REQUESTS that a re-allocation of appropriations be carried out within the 1996/98 Programme Budget in order to allocate increased resources to programmes and activities relating to Science and Technology within the limit of the ceiling of the Budget in question;
REQUESTS the Secretary-General to ensure that during the preparation of future Programme/Budgets greater attention be paid to this sector of activities of the Secretariat by allocating adequate financial resources to this sector;
CALLS on the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps to commission a team of experts external to the Secretariat, to undertake a strategic study of scientific and technological activities an(! programmes of the OAU and the structures responsible for their implementation bearing in mind existing realities and the priorities defined by the organization;
REQUESTS the Secretary General to submit a report on this issue to its Sixty-fifth Ordinary Session.