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S-1928 · Series · 1948 - 1959
Part of Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) (1955-present)

Records in S-1928 document the coordination of projects between the Bureau of Social Affairs of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), UN agencies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The records date from 1948 to 1959 and include minutes and reports of conferences, meetings, and working groups on the subject of migration.

A small amount of records dates prior to the 1955 merger of the Department of Social Affairs and Department of Economic Affairs into DESA. Prior to the existence of DESA, the topic of migration was handled by the Division of Social Welfare, headed by Julia Henderson. In 1955, Henderson became the director of the Bureau of Social Affairs within DESA.

The bulk of the records in S-1928 document the International Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Interested in Migration from 1952 to 1959. First conceived in 1948, the goal of the conference was to coordinate efforts between NGOs and the UN to meet the needs of migrants. The Liaison Committee, made up of fifteen members, was responsible for planning future conferences and securing financing. Additionally, working parties were established to discuss and develop reports and resolutions for specific issues in the field of migration. Examples of working parties include: the Working Party on Migrants in Professional Categories; the Working Party on Non-European Migrants; and the Working Party on Simplification and Admissibility. The records include: minutes from conference sessions and planning meetings; minutes and reports of working parties; and correspondence and memoranda exchanged between NGOs, the Liaison Committee, UN agencies, such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Bureau of Social Affairs.

S-1928 also includes minutes, reports, correspondence and memoranda of the Technical Working Group on Migration of the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC); the Inter-Agency Regional Coordination Committee on Migration in Latin America; and the International Economic Association Round Table on International Migration.

S-1931 · Series · 1951 - 1971
Part of Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) (1955-present)

The records in S-1931 contain chronological files of the Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Philippe de Seynes, dating from 1954 through 1971. De Seynes held the title of Under-Secretary for DESA until January 1968 when his title was changed to Under-Secretary-General to reflect the reorganization of the top echelon of the Secretariat as defined by General Assembly Resolution 2369 (XXII), 19 December 1967.

Under de Seynes, the following organizations were established: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Conference on Science and Technology (UNCSAT), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the regional economic commissions. Under his stewardship, the United Nations initiated a series of Development Decades and a unified approach with the merger of the Technical Assistance Administration (TAA) and DESA. De Seynes left DESA in 1974 and became the Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Project on the Future.

De Seynes’ chronological files reflect the organizational changes and administrative arrangements within DESA including coordination between DESA and the regional economic commissions and his responsibilities to the Secretary-General. During his tenure, de Seynes was responsible for overseeing the Bureau of Technical Assistance Operations (BTAO) and the Office of Technical Co-operation (OTC), as well as the substantive offices of DESA including: the Centre for Development Planning, Projections and Policies (CDPPP); Social Development Division; Statistical Office; Population Division; and the Centre for Housing, Building and Planning. S-1931 records contain correspondence; memoranda; cables; and agendas of meetings. A limited number of records also document de Seynes’ 1956 appointment as Under-Secretary in charge of Relief to the Hungarian People with responsibility for coordinating aid and relief efforts for refugees of the Hungarian Revolution.

S-1931 records include memoranda, correspondence and cables that document administrative arrangements, such as appointments, promotions and congratulatory letters for DESA posts; requests to the UN Controller for additional funding and budget planning; coordination with the Executive Secretaries of the regional economic commissions; travel arrangements and summaries of travel activities for DESA personnel; and organizational changes within DESA and the UN Secretariat. The files also document the decentralization of social defence activities, when some staff from DESA’s Bureau of Social Affairs were transferred to the UN Geneva Office to form the Social Defence Unit within the Office of Social Affairs. S-1931 also contains agendas of meetings with the Executive Secretaries of the regional economic commissions; and form letters with attachments including agendas and/or directives. For example, one form letter regarding the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities was sent to member states with attached directives relating to the preparations of and recommendations for producing reports. The chronological files also contain correspondence and cables exchanged between de Seynes and the Officer-in-Charge of DESA at Headquarters in New York while de Seynes attended the annual summer session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in Geneva.

The records in S-1931 contain correspondence between de Seynes, during his tenure as the Under-Secretary-General for DESA, and Secretary-Generals Dag Hammarskjöld (1954-1961) and U Thant (1961-1971). Many of these records contain correspondence between Secretary-General Hammarskjöld concerning the integration of the TAA and DESA in 1958. There are also invitations to member states requesting their attendance at meetings and congratulatory letters regarding appointments and promotions of UN personnel from de Seynes on behalf of the Secretary-General.

Other files document the United Nations Conference on Science and Technology (UNCSAT) held in Geneva from 4-20 February 1963. This conference was the first of its kind, an international meeting of scientists, economists, statesmen and administrators from 87 countries to discuss how scientific and technological advances could be used and applied in developing countries. UNCSAT records include correspondence, memoranda, meeting minutes, information bulletins and reports.

There are also a small number of chronological files of Ralph Townley from his tenure as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary-General for the Department of Economic Affairs (under David Owens) and as Special Assistant to the Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Social and Economic Affairs (under Philippe de Seynes). These records include correspondence and memoranda on a personal and professional nature.

S-1917 · Series · 1965 - 1979
Part of Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) (1955-present)

The records in S-1917 document the project files and training and study activities of the Office of Technical Co-operation (OTC) with United Nations member states, in the regions of Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.. The bulk of the records dates from 1973 to 1978 and details the planning and implementation of fellowships and training programmes for developing countries. The function of S-1917 is derived from DESA.DEV.062 and DESA.DEV.063 of the retention schedule of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), dated 21 January 2013.

The records largely consist of country files documenting the Technical Assistance Fellowship Programme, in addition to records related to interregional seminars, as well as regional and interregional training centres.

Technical Assistance Fellowship Programme

The OTC’s Fellowship Section oversaw the Technical Assistance Fellowship Programme for developing countries. Nominated by country governments, individuals were awarded fellowships under the Technical Assistance and Regular Programmes of the OTC for study in academic institutions, participation in training courses, observation studies and seminars. The fellowship programme encompassed the following fields: economic development, environmental development, social development, demography, public administration, narcotics control and human rights. Following the completion of the fellowship, fellows were required to submit a final report evaluating the course to the OTC Fellowship Section. The records are arranged alphabetically by country and include memoranda, correspondence, project documents, and final reports.

S-1917 also documents fellows who attended the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Commercial Policy courses. The GATT Commercial Policy courses were established in 1955 and held twice a year, once for English-speaking fellows and once for French-speaking fellows. The principal aim of the courses was to give the participants a better understanding of trade policy matters and to provide them with full, up-to-date knowledge of the work undertaken by GATT and other international bodies to assist with their work within their own administrations. The records include schedules and programmes of the courses as well as the final reports written by fellows.

Interregional Seminars

The OTC’s Interregional and Regional Projects Section oversaw the planning and implementation of interregional seminars, symposiums, workshops, training courses, study tours and expert group meetings. Participants included fellows and experts intending to gain more experience in their field. The level of knowledge and ability of participants ranged from the novice to junior and senior levels and determined the type of meeting. For example, senior experts would participate in an expert group meeting, such as the meetings of the United Nations Group of Experts for the Establishment of an Investment Bank of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of Countries.

The records in S-1917 document interregional seminars in the fields of economic planning, public administration, finance, statistics, demographics, housing, natural resources, energy and water resources and include: the Interregional Seminar on Petroleum Refining in Developing Countries(New Delhi, India, 22 January-3 February 1973); United Nations Meeting on Co-operation among Developing Countries in Petroleum (Geneva, Switzerland, 10-21 November 1975); and the Interregional Seminar on Development and Management of Resources of Coastal Areas (Berlin, Hamburg, Kiel and Cuxhaven, Federal Republic of Germany, 31 May-14 June 1976). The files include correspondence and memoranda pertaining to implementation and planning of interregional seminars, country monographs and final reports.

Regional and Interregional Training Centres

The files contain documentation related to UN regional and interregional demographic training and research centres including: Institut de Formation et de Recherches Démographiques (IFORD), Yaoundé, Cameroon; Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS), University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Centre Demographique ONU-Roumanie (CEDOR), Bucharest, Romania; International Institute for Population Studies (IIPS), Bombay, India; and the Interregional Demographic Research and Training Centre, Cairo, Egypt where training courses and seminars were held.

In addition to documenting the recruitment of fellows, consultants, associate experts, professors and directors to training centres, the records include job descriptions; course syllabi; work programmes; project budgets and revisions; cables detailing travel arrangements; and reports.

These records contain correspondence and memoranda between the UN and the training centres’ country’s government addressing, for example, the agreement between the UN and the Government of Cameroon regarding continued support of IFORD as well as draft versions of the 1977 renewal of the agreement between the UN and the Government of Egypt for the Interregional Demographic Research and Training Centre. In addition to drafts and finalized agreements , these records document project and training activities, such as: Demographic Surveys to Estimate the Initial Population and Future Growth of Nigeria’s New Federal Capital City project document; a 1976 request for additional funding to RIPS submitted by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and the Government of Ghana; and correspondence and memoranda concerning fellowships for the IIPS course in demography.

S-1917 also contains files related to the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), Nagoya Japan which was established in June 1971 under the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Resolution 1086-C (XXXIX) through a Funds-in-Trust arrangement with the Government of Japan. UNCRD provided training in regional development to officials who were engaged in the planning, management and implementation of development activities in developing countries in the Asian region. Training and staffing of the UNCRD was provided by UN consultants and experts.

The UNCRD records include: budget plans and proposals; reports; job descriptions; correspondence and memoranda regarding the planning and implementation of advisory meetings, expert group meetings, and seminars; as well as administrative records regarding arrangements for UNCRD experts and consultants.

S-0388 · Series · 1962 - 1987
Part of Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) (1955-present)

The series consists of records which deal with the origination, formulation, execution and evaluation of the relevant projects. The types of records include any of the following: proposals, preparatory documentation, agreements, plans of operation and various reports such as progress, technical, mission, evaluation, etc. There are also departmental supporting documents which comprise background data, guidelines, studies, terms of reference and other relevant papers that bear elements further elucidating project activities. The department which is responsible for providing the necessary advisory services and assistance to the governments of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to strengthen their national capacities has been re-organized several times under the following names:
Dept. of Economic Affairs, ca 1946-1954
Dept. of Economic and Social Council, ca 1955
Technical Assistance Administration, ca 1955-1958
Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1955-1978
Office of Technical Co-operation, ca 1967-1977
Dept. of International Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1979-1993
Dept. of Technical Co-operation for Development, ca 1979-1993
United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations, ca 1985-1993
Dept. for Policy Co-ordination and Sustainable Development, ca1994-1997
Dept. for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis, ca 1994-1997
Dept. for Development Support and Management Services, ca 1994-1997
Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1998 up to present.
To preserve their identity, the records of the various technical assistance projects are maintained according to their provenance, i.e. the actual name of the organizational element which originated the records forms a part of the series title.Accession numbers - 77/0072; 83/0149; 84/0273; 85/0271

S-0392 · Series · 1970 - 1979
Part of Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) (1955-present)

The series consists of records which deal with the origination, formulation, execution and evaluation of the relevant projects. The types of records include any of the following: proposals, preparatory documentation, agreements, plans of operation and various reports such as progress, technical, mission, evaluation, etc. There are also departmental supporting documents which comprise background data, guidelines, studies, terms of reference and other relevant papers that bear elements further elucidating project activities. The department which is responsible for providing the necessary advisory services and assistance to the governments of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to strengthen their national capacities has been re-organized several times under the following names:
Dept. of Economic Affairs, ca 1946-1954
Dept. of Economic and Social Council, ca 1955
Technical Assistance Administration, ca 1955-1958
Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1955-1978
Office of Technical Co-operation, ca 1967-1977
Dept. of International Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1979-1993
Dept. of Technical Co-operation for Development, ca 1979-1993
United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations, ca 1985-1993
Dept. for Policy Co-ordination and Sustainable Development, ca1994-1997
Dept. for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis, ca 1994-1997
Dept. for Development Support and Management Services, ca 1994-1997
Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1998 up to present.
To preserve their identity, the records of the various technical assistance projects are maintained according to their provenance, i.e. the actual name of the organizational element which originated the records forms a part of the series title.Accession numbers - 78/22; 79/32

S-0146 · Series · 1966 - 1978
Part of Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) (1955-present)

The series consists of records which deal with the origination, formulation, execution and evaluation of the relevant projects. The types of records include any of the following: proposals, preparatory documentation, agreements, plans of operation and various reports such as progress, technical, mission, evaluation, etc. There are also departmental supporting documents which comprise background data, guidelines, studies, terms of reference and other relevant papers that bear elements further elucidating project activities. The department which is responsible for providing the necessary advisory services and assistance to the governments of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to strengthen their national capacities has been re-organized several times under the following names:
Dept. of Economic Affairs, ca 1946-1954
Dept. of Economic and Social Council, ca 1955
Technical Assistance Administration, ca 1955-1958
Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1955-1978
Office of Technical Co-operation, ca 1967-1977
Dept. of International Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1979-1993
Dept. of Technical Co-operation for Development, ca 1979-1993
United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations, ca 1985-1993
Dept. for Policy Co-ordination and Sustainable Development, ca1994-1997
Dept. for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis, ca 1994-1997
Dept. for Development Support and Management Services, ca 1994-1997
Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1998 up to present.
To preserve their identity, the records of the various technical assistance projects are maintained according to their provenance, i.e. the actual name of the organizational element which originated the records forms a part of the series title.Accession numbers - 74/17; 75/14

S-0155 · Series · 1962 - 1980
Part of Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) (1955-present)

The series consists of records which deal with the origination, formulation, execution and evaluation of the relevant projects. The types of records include any of the following: proposals, preparatory documentation, agreements, plans of operation and various reports such as progress, technical, mission, evaluation, etc. There are also departmental supporting documents which comprise background data, guidelines, studies, terms of reference and other relevant papers that bear elements further elucidating project activities. The department which is responsible for providing the necessary advisory services and assistance to the governments of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to strengthen their national capacities has been re-organized several times under the following names:
Dept. of Economic Affairs, ca 1946-1954
Dept. of Economic and Social Council, ca 1955
Technical Assistance Administration, ca 1955-1958
Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1955-1978
Office of Technical Co-operation, ca 1967-1977
Dept. of International Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1979-1993
Dept. of Technical Co-operation for Development, ca 1979-1993
United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations, ca 1985-1993
Dept. for Policy Co-ordination and Sustainable Development, ca1994-1997
Dept. for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis, ca 1994-1997
Dept. for Development Support and Management Services, ca 1994-1997
Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1998 up to present.
To preserve their identity, the records of the various technical assistance projects are maintained according to their provenance, i.e. the actual name of the organizational element which originated the records forms a part of the series title.Accession numbers - 76/0149; 83/0021

S-0133 · Series · 1961 - 1990
Part of Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) (1955-present)

The series consists of published reports of various projects which deal with the origin, formulation, execution and evaluation of the relevant projects. The types of records include any of the following: proposals, preparatory documentation, agreements, plans of operation and various reports such as progress, technical, mission, evaluation, etc. There are also departmental supporting documents which comprise background data, guidelines, studies, terms of reference and other relevant papers that bear elements further elucidating project activities. The department which is responsible for providing the necessary advisory services and assistance to the governments of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to strengthen their national capacities has been re-organized several times under the following names:
Dept. of Economic Affairs, ca 1946-1954
Dept. of Economic and Social Council, ca 1955
Technical Assistance Administration, ca 1955-1958
Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1955-1978
Office of Technical Co-operation, ca 1967-1977
Dept. of International Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1979-1993
Dept. of Technical Co-operation for Development, ca 1979-1993
United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations, ca 1985-1993
Dept. for Policy Co-ordination and Sustainable Development, ca1994-1997
Dept. for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis, ca 1994-1997
Dept. for Development Support and Management Services, ca 1994-1997
Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1998 up to present.
To preserve their identity, the records of the various technical assistance projects are maintained according to their provenance, i.e. the actual name of the organizational element which originated the records forms a part of the series title. Accession numbers - 1974/0078; 1981/0016; 1982/0074

S-0604 · Series · 1960 - 1962
Part of Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) (1955-present)

Series consists of cables which were originally with the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, but were created by Sture Linner in his initial capacity as Chief of the United Nations Civilian Operations, then as of 25 May 1961, as Officer-in-Charge ONUC. Arranged chronologically.

S-0024 · Series · 1970 - 1997
Part of Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) (1955-present)

The series consists of records which deal with the origination, formulation, execution and evaluation of the relevant projects. The types of records include any of the following: proposals, preparatory documentation, agreements, plans of operation and various reports such as progress, technical, mission, evaluation, etc. There are also departmental supporting documents which comprise background data, guidelines, studies, terms of reference and other relevant papers that bear elements further elucidating project activities. The department which is responsible for providing the necessary advisory services and assistance to the governments of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to strengthen their national capacities has been re-organized several times under the following names:
Dept. of Economic Affairs, ca 1946-1954
Dept. of Economic and Social Council, ca 1955
Technical Assistance Administration, ca 1955-1958
Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1955-1978
Office of Technical Co-operation, ca 1967-1977
Dept. of International Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1979-1993
Dept. of Technical Co-operation for Development, ca 1979-1993
United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations, ca 1985-1993
Dept. for Policy Co-ordination and Sustainable Development, ca1994-1997
Dept. for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis, ca 1994-1997
Dept. for Development Support and Management Services, ca 1994-1997
Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs, ca 1998 up to present.
To preserve their identity, the records of the various technical assistance projects are maintained according to their provenance, i.e. the actual name of the organizational element which originated the records forms a part of the series title.