Population information activities of the ESCAP Population Division Clearing-House and Information Section.

The main function of the ESCAP Population Division Clearing House and Information Section is the collection building and dissemination of population information is ESCAP member countries. Objectives include the development of an improved information exchange system and the stimulation of the information component of the population infrastructure. Technical assistance and training are provided at the request of governments. The population correspondents network has been restructured in order to improve its effectiveness as an instrument in strengthening population programs. Documents are being translated into English and local languages. The Reference Centre provides a number of services including: retrospective searching document delivery current awareness annotation of bibliographies and consultation. Publications emanating from the Clearing House are designed to keep agencies informed of program developments and reports of regional meetings and research studies. Selective dissemination of information (SDI) is conducted by the Dissemination Unit of the Section. Other Clearing House activities include the evaluation of current awareness services and the compilation of an inventory of current research on mortality and family planning. Automation of many of these functions is now taking place; the compatibility of information programs with each other both among nations and among UN organizations is a future goal.