Assembly/AU/Decl.6(XXIV) Page 1 DECLARATION ON EMPLOYMENT, POVERTY ERADICATION, INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA Doc. Assembly/AU/20(XXIV) The Assembly, Recalling the objectives of the Constitutive Act of the African Union as well as the Vision and Mission of the African Union, the African Common Position on post-2015 Development Agenda for Africa and the AU 2063 Agenda; Recalling all relevant declarations, decisions and policy guidelines that we adopted in the area of poverty eradication and political and socio-economic development since 2004 in particular instruments such as the Migration Policy Framework for Africa (2006), the Social Policy Framework for Africa (2008), the Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Policy-PCRD (2006); the African Youth Decade Plan of Action, 20092018, the African Women Decade 2010-2020,; the African Charter on Statistics, the Productivity Agenda for Africa (2010), the Yaoundé Declaration on Social Protection (2010), the Social Protection Plan for the Informal Economy and Rural WorkersSPIREWORK (2011), the Malabo Declaration on Creating Employment for Accelerating Youth Development and Empowerment (2011), the Action Plan for Industrial Development in Africa (AIDA), the Labour Market Information Harmonization and Coordination Framework (2012); Recognizing that the last two decades Africa experienced sustainable and high growth rates that did not translate into proportionate job creation, thereby contributing to significantly reduce unemployment, underemployment and poverty; Acknowledging that high political engagement in some countries complemented by increased commitment of international partners, Social Partners and other Non-State Actors, has yielded significant progress in the implementation of the 2004 Ouagadougou Agenda, while Recognizing the imperative to scale up the political leadership and commitment; Affirming the private sector as engine for jobs and wealth creation, and Mindful that productive investment, micro, small and medium size enterprises (MSMEs), the rural sector and social economy are the main sources to create jobs;; Noting with Concern the very high level of structural underemployment associated with limited social protection coverage, low productivity and income generating capacity and poor occupational health and safety conditions which affect particularly women and youth in the informal economy and rural sectors, and the most vulnerable groups, people living with HIV&AIDS and persons with disabilities.; Noting with Concern that the high levels of unemployment, underemployment and poverty are among the principal factors fuelling conflict and civil strife in the continent;