Assembly/AU/Dec.618 (XXVII) Page 2 7. NOTES the progress made in the development the NEPAD Policy Framework on Youth Employment in Africa; 8. COMMENDS the Government of Germany for the support provided to the NEPAD Skills Development Initiative which is expected to act as a catalyst for entrepreneurship development and URGES the NPCA to ensure a speedy implementation of the project; 9. TAKES NOTES of the importance of the African Rural Development Forum as a platform to engage on dialogue on inclusive development and rural transformation as well as on south-south cooperation to be held the second half of 2016. REQUESTS African members states, FAO, IFAD and other development partners to fully support and participate in the Forum; 10. RECALLS Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.579 (XXV) and NOTES WITH APPRECIATION the outcomes of the Dakar and Johannesburg regional dialogues and training on contract negotiation and tax policies and administration in the extractive industry; and REQUESTS the NEPAD Agency to continue the exercise as well as the implementation of the outcomes of Dakar and Johannesburg, including an in-depth understanding of the value chain of the extractive industry; 11. In furtherance of the NEPAD Natural Resources Governance Programme, TAKES NOTE of the NEPAD partnership between OECD, NEPAD and GIZ on the (Strengthening Assistance for Complex Contract Negotiations) CONNEX Initiative and REQUESTS this partnership to strengthen knowledge-generation and exchange as well as capacity development for African countries and AU institutions, in particular the NEPAD Agency; 12. NOTES WITH APPRECIATION the support extended to African Union Member States and Regional Economic Communities under the NEPAD Climate Change Fund and REAFFIRMS full support to NPCA to seek accreditation to the Green Climate Fund as a Regional Implementing Entity. ALSO CALLS ON development partners and member states to contribute financially to the NEPAD Climate Change Fund; 13. WELCOMES the adoption of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and COMMENDS the effective collaboration between the NEPAD Agency, African Union Commission, African Development Bank and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in hosting the African Pavilion at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, France WHILST NOTING the successful outcomes of the Africa Pavilion and Africa’s overall participation at COP 21; 14. APPRECIATES the technical and financial support provided by the NEPAD Agency to Africa’s climate change negotiating bodies, particularly the African Group of Negotiators during its preparatory and consultative meetings towards the 21st UNFCCC Conference of Parties and REQUESTS the NEPAD Agency to continue to provide