United Nations Second Development Decade

The UN Advisory Committee (UNACASTD) made two main contributions to the programme of action for the Second United Nations Development Decade – these were the World Plan of Action for the Application of Science and Technology for Development, considered “an integral part of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade”, and the report ‘Science and Technology for Development: Proposals for the Second United Nations Development Decade’.

In the 1960s, ‘development’ strategies emphasised economic growth targets and technical ‘fixes’. Though some countries had achieved target growth rates over that decade, by 1970 there was an acknowledgement that problems of poverty, unemployment, hunger and health had not eased as a result, and so the emphasis shifted toward interest in distribution and equity.  The World Plan of Action was based on the conviction “that the more purposeful application of the powers of science and technology to development must be a matter of ‘full international cooperation’ and that the United Nations offered the natural framework for such international cooperation, though not necessarily the only one.” (UN, 1971:3)

Over the 1960s, a gradual shift in development thinking took place from an almost exclusive preoccupation with growth rates to concern also with equity, poverty, and employment. This shift originated in a perception that despite the relatively favourable growth rates being achieved, there often appeared to be inadequate progress in overcoming hunger, malnutrition, and illiteracy. In particular, there was growing concern with the employment problem and worsening income distribution. [Jolly, 2004]

“When the First Development Decade drew to a close, there was an emerging convergence of views on the need for development policies to focus more specifically on employment generation and reduction of poverty and inequalities. […] The UN system responded to these concerns by developing policies and programs for a ‘human-centred pattern of development’. In addition to the 6% growth rate target and targets for flows of aid and resources, the Second Development Decade strategy contained targets for employment, education and health. UNESCO launched a program to eradicate illiteracy and developed targets for moving to universal primary education, the WHO developed a strategy of health for all and adopted the goal of eradicating smallpox, and the FAO initiated the Campaign against Hunger.” (Jolly, 2004: 111)

 

Sources:

World Plan of Action for the Application of Science and Technology for Development, 1971.

Jolly et al (eds) (2004).  UN Contributions to Development Thinking and Practice. Part of the UN Intellectual History Project. Indiana Press, Bloomington.