Assembly/AU/Dec.235(XII) Page 1 DECISION ON THE PROPOSAL BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA TO HOST THE AFRICAN OBSERVATORY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION Doc. Assembly/AU/8(XII) Add.5 The Assembly: 1. TAKES NOTE of the proposal by the Government of Equatorial Guinea to host the African Observatory of Science, Technology and Innovation; 2. RECALLS the AU Assembly Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.161 (VIII) declaring 2007 as the launching year of building constituencies and champions for science, technology and innovation in Africa; 3. ACKNOWLEDGES that Member States and the RECs, as the chief stakeholders, should take the lead in the domestication of Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA) and foster its implementation throughout its Lighthouse Projects; 4. RECOGNIZES the need to establish an African Observatory of Science, Technology and Innovation and its role in promoting science and technology for the sustainable development of the Continent; 5. WELCOMES the commitment and proposal by the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to host the African Observatory of science, technology and innovation as part of the Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA) implementation, as approved by the AU Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, in January 2007; 6. APPRECIATES the offer of Equatorial Guinea consisting in providing office space and a financial contribution in the amount of US$3,600,000 for the implementation of the African Observatory project under the supervision and management of the AUC; 7. INVITES Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), UNESCO, the European Union (EU), non-governmental organizations and partners to support this African initiative including with financial assistance in order to ensure its sustainability; 8. REQUESTS the Commission to work closely with the Government of Equatorial Guinea, UN agencies and other stakeholders to supervise and manage the establishment of the African Observatory of science, technology and innovation in Equatorial Guinea.