Development cooperation: the human dimension.

I have spent my entire working life in the area of development cooperation. However, my appointment at the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) brought me for the first time into the United Nations working environment.

It is too early, after only two months, to attempt to comment on ESCAP as a whole. The Commissions work is so broad that it is sometimes difficult to reply succinctly when asked, "What does ESCAP do?" There are so many gatherings, ranging from the ministerial-level meeting to the "humble" workshop that human dimension sometimes seems remote. However, when I attended the various sessions and workshops, I found the human dimension to be very evident. Even the sophisticated discussions on space technology have their human dimension.

ESCAP is unique in that it covers a vast area, populations of great diversity, and countries representing almost every stage of development, which means there is a vast reservoir of experience and know-how. It can thus provide an invaluable forum for the exchange of information and experience among member countries and for working together on new ideas.

One such example was a recent workshop implemented by ESCAP in Bangkok on the subject of "Environmental/Social Impact Assessment and Public Participation for Electricity Generation Projects" for participants from the lower Mekong River basin countries. The workshop was complemented by a visit to the Thai countryside to see a project, being implemented by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). This was a "pumped storage project" whereby water was to be pumped up to an artificial reservoir at night and used to generate electric power at peak times. As the water is reused every day, a large reservoir is not required and the environmental impact is slight. Also, some farmers were using the land up the mountain to produce cashew nuts. EGAT bought their land at a good price after tough negotiation. Moreover, EGAT made a sustained effort to help the villagers find and learn new activities.

Several projects were tried and some were not successful. However, the commitment of EGAT meant that after various attempts, viable activities were found which, of course, required investment - for example, the construction of buildings for growing mushrooms. The most important aspect was getting the people enthusiastic, as well as provide them training. As a result, the villages have prospered. An impressive aspect is that the villagers - women, as well as men - have, to a certain extent, been empowered and are able to start doing new things, including investing in other activities that they could not have envisaged before. Initially, they had for the most part been highly dubious, but now their confidence is remarkable.

I think there are lessons to be learned from this. Notably, that there is much that can be achieved in human terms with a committed effort at the local level and that success, even with a relatively simple farming activities, does not come easily. Trial and error are required.

One participant in a workshop who worked on hydroelectric schemes in Laos wanted to make a return visit with his colleagues and even farmers if possible, as there was so much to be learnt from this Thai experience as regards both to winning over the farmers and introducing new profitable activities. Then the villagers offered, with pleasure, to tell their experiences to visitors.

We, in ESCAP, hold many conferences, seminars and workshops. I think we should not forget people's actual living situation and their power however high level the meeting.