Assembly/AU/Dec.234(XII) Page 1 DECISION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AFRICAN PERMANENT SECRETARIAT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE AFRICAN FUND FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Doc. Assembly/AU/8(XII) Add.4 The Assembly: 1. TAKES NOTE of the conclusions and recommendations of the Sixth World Forum on Sustainable Development held in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, from 27 to 30 October 2008; 2. ENCOURAGES Member States to take into account the initiatives to promote the harmonious and sustainable development of the Continent; 3. ENCOURAGES Member States to be represented by a single delegation in order to negotiate with one voice at international conferences on sustainable development related issues; 4. ENDORSES the recommendations of the Sixth World Forum on Sustainable Development concerning the establishment of an African Permanent Secretariat for Sustainable Development and an African Fund for Sustainable Development; 5. WELCOMES the offer by the Republic of Congo to host the Headquarters of the African Permanent Secretariat for Sustainable Development and the offer by Burkina Faso to host the Second Session of the African Forum on Sustainable Development in October 2009, and URGES Member States to participate in the Forum; 6. REQUESTS the Commission, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other relevant institutions to carry out feasibility studies on the establishment of an African Permanent Secretariat for Sustainable Development as well as the African Fund for Sustainable Development and report thereon to the Ordinary Session of the Assembly in January 2010.