Assembly/AU/ /Decl.1(XXIII) Page 2 on Renewed Partnership for a Unified Approach to End Hunger in Africa by 2025 under the CAADP Framework [Assembly/AU/Dec.490-516(XXII)]. Reaffirming our resolve towards ensuring, through deliberate and targeted public support, that all segments of our populations, particularly women, the youth, and other disadvantaged sectors of our societies, must participate and directly benefit from the growth and transformation opportunities to improve their lives and livelihoods. Reflecting that hunger and malnutrition are major causes of poverty and underdevelopment in Africa by causing poor health, low levels of energy, and mental impairment, all leading to low productivity and low educational attainment all of which can in turn lead to even greater hunger and malnutrition, thereby creating a viscous cycle. Noting the progress made towards alignment, harmonisation and coordination of initiatives and activities of stakeholders and partners with our priorities as defined in the National and Regional Agricultural and Food Security Investment Plans that have been developed through the CAADP process, and stressing on the significance of sustaining this momentum. Concerned that there is limited progress made in agro-industries and agribusiness development, which hampers value addition and competitiveness of our products in trade both local, regional, and international; and undermines the potential of the sector in transformation and generation of gainful employment opportunities for the growing African youth and women, hence reaffirming our resolve to the achievement of goals as provided in our Decision on 2010 Abuja Declaration on Development of Agribusiness And Agro-Industries In Africa [Assembly/AU/Decl.] Also concerned over the heavy and growing dependence of our production systems and consumption patterns on external factors (weather, global markets, amongst others,) and their associated vulnerabilities to such external factors as climate variability and change as well as to global economic and political shocks. Stressing the significance of enhancing conservation and sustainable use of all of our natural resources including land, water, plant, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, and forestry, through coherent policies as well as governance and institutional arrangements at national and regional levels, to realise their huge potential to generate wealth, social benefits and contribute to the development of our economies. Recognising the importance of multi-sectoral engagement and co-ownership of this agricultural transformation agenda within our public sectors, including infrastructure, energy, trade, industry, health, science and technology, education, hence the importance of putting in place a coherent inter-sectoral coordination of the efforts and initiatives for optimising resource use, synergy and maximising outcome and impact.