Assembly/AU/ /Decl.1(XXIII) Page 1 MALABO DECLARATION ON ACCELERATED AGRICULTURAL GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION FOR SHARED PROSPERITY AND IMPROVED LIVELIHOODS Doc. Assembly/AU/2(XXIII) We, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, having met at our Twenty Third Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, from 26-27 June 2014, on the Theme of the African Year of Agriculture and Food Security: “Transforming Africa’s Agriculture for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods through Harnessing Opportunities for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development, also marking the tenth Anniversary of the Adoption of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)”. Recalling our previous Decisions and Declarations on agriculture and food and nutrition security, in particular the 2003 Maputo Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security in Africa [Assembly/AU/Decl.7 (II)]; the 2004 Sirte Declaration on the Challenges Of Implementing Integrated and Sustainable Development in Agriculture and Water in Africa [Ex/Assembly/AU/Decl. 1 (II)]; the 2009 Sirte Declaration on Investing in Agriculture for Economic Growth and Food Security [Assembly/AU/12 (VIII)]; the 2007 Decision on Abuja Special Summit of the AU on Fertilisers [Assembly/AU/Dec.117 (VII); the 2007 Decision on the Abuja Summit on Food Security in Africa [Assembly/AU/Dec.135 (VIII); among others. Acknowledging the persistent efforts made in implementation of the CAADP at national and regional levels, and the positive growth performance that our agricultural sector has been registering in recent years. Also acknowledging the challenges faced in the implementation of many of those Decisions and Declarations, in particular on progress made in attaining the minimum targets of public investment in agriculture that should demonstrate Africa‟s ownership and leadership to the achievement of goals as enshrined in the 2003 Maputo commitments. Recognising the dire situations that obtain with regard to Africa‟s capacity to generate analyse and manage data and information to facilitate evidence based policy development and tracking of progress of implementation, and hence affirming our commitment to enhance such a capacity. Noting with Concern that the results of the Cost of Hunger Study in Africa (COHA) conducted by the AUC revealed the degree to which child under-nutrition influences health and educational outcomes; the additional barrier it has on children's ability to achieve their full potential; and the impact it has on national productivity. Concerned that a significant proportion of our population still remains vulnerable to the challenges of economic marginalization, hunger and malnutrition, despite the positive achievements registered recently in agriculture and economic growth; and reiterating our resolve to ending hunger and improving nutrition consistent with our 2013 Decision