Assembly/AU/Dec.618 (XXVII) Page 1 DECISION ON THE NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT (NEPAD) Doc. Assembly/AU/7(XXVII) The Assembly, 1. NOTES WITH APPRECIATION the Report by the Chairperson of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC), H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal; 2. ENDORSES the conclusions of the Thirty Fourth and Thirty Fifth Sessions of the NEPAD HSGOC Meeting; 3. REAFFIRMS the continued relevance and uniqueness of the vision, sector priorities and core values enshrined in NEPAD as the flagship programme of the African Union (AU) and as a shared vision to advance regional, political and economic integration for the economic emancipation of African people; 4. RECALLS Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.283 (VIV) on the need for the NEPAD Agency as the technical body of the African Union to have the required flexibility to carry out its mandate and THEREFORE CALLS on the African Union Commission to facilitate the implementation of that decision in line with the aspirations of NEPAD and its initiators; 5. ENDORSES the implementation of key regional and continental programmes and projects as reflected in the NEPAD Agency Results-based Performance Report for January-December 2015 SPECIFICALLY NOTING the progress on African Science Technology and Innovation Indicators (ASTII); African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization Programme (AMRH); the NEPAD Agency’s contribution to the fight against Ebola Virus Disease; Strategic engagements on natural resources governance; technical support to Africa’s participation in the global climate change negotiations; technical support to Regional Economic Communities (RECs) under the Partnership for African Fisheries (PAF); National Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plans (NAFSIPs); National Gender Climate Change Agriculture programmes and Capacity Development for Women in Agribusiness under CAADP; institutional development support to member states and RECs under the Capacity Development Strategic Framework (CDSF) and the design of the Youth and Skills Project under the Rural Futures Programme; 6. APPRECIATES the progress recorded to date relating to the implementation of the Rural Futures Program which is promoting multi-sectorial approach for rural transformation by creating an enabling environment through a people-centred development based on equity and inclusiveness; FURTHER COMMENDS the NEPAD Agency for the commencement of the Decent Job for Rural Areas Project in four (4) AU Member States and CALLS FOR Member States to support the Rural Futures Program as it provides opportunities for youth employment and fosters rural transformation;