Resolution A.965(23)

DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENTS FOR TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION

(Adopted on 5 December 2003)

THE ASSEMBLY,

RECALLING Article 2(e) and 15(k) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Organization in relation to the facilitation and promotion of technical co-operation,

RECALLING ALSO resolution A.873(20), in operative paragraph 1 of which the Assembly reaffirmed that technical co-operation is an essential part of the Organization s work to achieve the ratification and implementation of IMO s global standards,

RECALLING ALSO resolution A.900(21) on Objectives of the Organization in the 2000s, through which the Assembly, inter alia:

- directed the Committees, under the co-ordination of the Council, to focus their attention on, among other subjects, strengthening the Organization s technical co-operation programme and delivery to achieve sustainable development and effective implementation of the Integrated Technical Co-operation Programme (ITCP),

RECALLING ALSO resolution A.901(21), in operative paragraph 5 of which the Assembly urges:

(a) the Organization s development partners to acknowledge and respond to the direct relationship between IMO s regulatory and technical co-operation work and the promotion of sustainable development and, accordingly, to give increased priority to the maritime sector within national and multilateral development aid programmes; and

(b) Member States to take that linkage into account in the preparation and delivery of their national development plans.

RECALLING FURTHER resolution A.901(21), in operative paragraph 7 of which the Assembly invites Member States and partner organizations to use IMO as the mechanism for co-ordination in relation to technical co-operation in the maritime sector, so as to prevent the duplication of efforts and resources and thereby ensure the maximum impact of the assistance being provided and the effective promotion of IMO objectives,

RECALLING IN PARTICULAR that, by paragraph 8 of the same resolution, the Assembly reaffirms its mandate to the Technical Co-operation Committee to devise effective and innovative means of attracting and securing further financial and in-kind support for the ITCP, and, in this context, invites Member States and the Secretariat to contribute to such work,

BEING AWARE OF the challenge for IMO in the future to develop the capacity to meet the increased demands for technical assistance in the most cost-effective and efficient manner,

RECOGNIZING the limited resources available to IMO for implementing its technical co-operation programmes, as well as the limited IMO regional presence for implementing the ITCP activities at the regional level,

RECOGNIZING FURTHER the overriding need to ensure that all stakeholders in the maritime sector fully support the implementation of global maritime standards,

NOTING the success of the partnership arrangements that IMO has established with national authorities, regional organizations and institutions, non-governmental organizations and industry for the delivery of the ITCP activities,

NOTING FURTHER the success of the IMO Workshop on Partnership Building, held at IMO Headquarters, London, from 9 to 10 June 2003, which highlighted the diversity and value of IMO s partnership arrangements as a tool for enhancing the capacity of the Organization to assist developing countries,

NOTING ALSO the success of the pilot scheme on regional co-ordinators in Africa and the establishment of the regional co-ordinators in South Asia and East Asia,

1. ENCOURAGES the IMO Member States that have not established effective technical co-operation partnership arrangements to consider doing so and those Member States that have already entered into such arrangements to consider strengthening them;

2. INVITES Member States, international and regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and industry to provide financial and in-kind support for implementation of ITCP activities through the development of effective partnership arrangements with IMO;

3. REQUESTS the Secretary-General to continue to develop and