Assembly/AU/Decl.1(XXIX) Page 2 Bearing in Mind the centrality of demographic dynamics in Africa’s development agenda as well as the important role of ensuring voluntary access to family planning and to sexual and reproductive health in speeding up the demographic transition in many of our countries and the urgency to ensure adequate funding in these areas; We hereby: 1. CALL ON the AUC to strengthen the Demographic Dividend coordination mechanisms; including the secretariat and country technical mechanisms frameworks. And further establish an accountability framework for tracking progress within the AUC and Member States; 2. FURTHER CALL UPON all Member States to redouble efforts towards the full implementation of the AU Roadmap on Harnessing the Demographic Dividend in 2017 and beyond, including country launches with clear commitments, creation of demographic dividend profiles and the development of country-specific roadmaps that feed into national development plans, bearing in mind the need for an institutional mechanism for coordinating the activities under the roadmap; 3. COMMIT TO annually report on progress of implementation of the AU Demographic Dividend Roadmap and requests the AU Commission with the support of partners to facilitate the preparation of annual reports; 4. CALL ON the AUC to champion the framing and branding of the Demographic Dividend to reflect the African reality, to build ownership of the concept by Africans from the highest levels of Heads of State and Government, Ministers, Parliamentarians, Policy Makers and Youth. 5. WELCOME i) ii) The creation of the African Youth Fund; The proclamation of the period 2018-2027 "African Decade for Technical Training, Professional and Entrepreneurial and the Employment of Young People. 6. CALL ON the Chairperson of the Union, the Chairperson of the Commission and the Leader of the Theme to mobilize international support for Africa’s efforts towards harnessing the demographic dividend by calling for a special session of the United Nations General Assembly and the creation of a global partnership on the demographic dividend; 7. EXPRESS APPRECIATION to the Chairperson of the Union, H.E. Prof. Alpha CONDE, President of the Republic of Guinea and the Leader for the 2017 AU theme, H.E. Mr. Idris DEBY ITNO, President of the Republic of Chad for their leadership and commitment towards the commemoration of the theme and to key partners and stakeholders who responded to the call of AU Heads of State and Government in providing support to the continent’s efforts towards harnessing the demographic dividend.