Tenth Meting Of The Scientific Council

Abstract

The trends previously reported have become more marked in the last year, particularly in West Africa. The African countries are progressively taking over control of their affairs. Whether in a context of independence or of very wide internal autonomy, they are assuming responsibility in all technical and scientific spheres. It is accordingly to them that the Commission now addresses itself in matters concerning its activities. This development is not without its difficulties and obstacles from a technical angle. Urgent needs arise which must be met immediately. Administrative and technical structures are upset and often thoroughly disrupted. Frequent changes of personnel occur, and the newcomers at times find difficulty in laying down a long-term policy in regard to technical matters because of the multifarious day-to-day problems and the lack of experience on the part of some junior officials. Finally, the nature of the relations between the countries of Europe and of Africa is changing and these relations are becoming less closely knit at the technical level. At the same time, the interest displayed in Mrica by other continents continues to increase. The international world organisations receive a succession of urgent, virtually unanimous directives from their members, for assistance to be given to Africa. Thus the outside technical resources available to the African countries are becoming more numerous, although awkward problems at times arise in co-ordinating and integrating them with the existing resources.