This seminar was held in accordance with a resolution of the third session of the Economic Commission for Africa, which sponsored it jointly with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations; it was the first U.N. activity in the field of public administration in Africa. The participants included representatives from 17 African countries, and from the following specialised organisations: F.A.O., I.C.A.O., I.L.O., W.H.O., E.C.A., and the International Union of Local Authorities.