Assembly/AU/Dec.540(XXIII) Page 4 20. APPROVES the establishment of the proposed Africa Global Partnership Platform as a new partnership mechanism premised on Africa‟s regional integration agenda and a coalition-building forum comprising AU Member States represented in the NEPAD HSGOC, NPCA, AU Commission, RECs, lead regional institutions and Africa‟s major trade, investment and aid partners countries from the G8, G20 and OECD; 21. IN RE-EMPHASIZING the rationale for the partnership vehicle to reflect the changing global political and economic architecture, especially the pivotal role of the G20, WELCOMES the platform as an Africa-owned and led „umbrella formation‟ bringing together the continent‟s existing international partners to concretely support Africa‟s transformation under the auspices of the AU, thereby fostering greater coherence in the continent‟s partnerships. RE-AFFIRMS that the new platform will not replace the existing bilateral partnership arrangements, but serve to complement them; 22. ENDORSES the terms of reference prepared by the NPCA and submitted through the NEPAD Steering Committee, highlighting the proposed rationale, objectives, format and membership of the platform, WHILE NOTING that the new platform will engage on issues of economic cooperation of strategic nature to Africa, globalization and the defined priorities embodied in the African Union, NEPAD and Agenda 2063; 23. HEREBY MANDATES the HSGOC Chairperson with the support of the NPCA Chief Executive Officer and NEPAD Steering Committee to formally approach the identified and potential partner governments and institutions to determine their interest and readiness to join and nominate appropriate senior level officials to the Platform. ALSO REQUESTS NPCA Chief Executive Officer to engage Germany as the current G7 Presidency on possibly revamping the G7-Africa partnership outreach during its term and CALLS UPON the Governments of Senegal, South Africa and Mauritania to approach Australia as the current G20 Presidency on the proposed G20-Africa partnership track possibly through the G20 Development Working Group; 24. NOTES AND WELCOMES the launch of the African Innovation Outlook-2 Report by the NPCA which captures the status of science, technology and innovation in the African Union Member Stated and requested Member States, the AU Commission, and NPCA along with the private sector and development partners to increase the roll-out of the surveys to all African countries.