Assembly/AU/Dec.681(XXX) Page 1 DECISION ON THE AFRICAN LEADERS FOR NUTRITION (ALN) INITIATIVE The Assembly, 1. RECALLS Declaration Assembly/AU/Decl.4(XXIII) on Nutrition Security for Inclusive Economic Growth and sustainable development in Africa; and Declaration Assembly/AU/Decl.1(XXIII) - the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods; 2. MINDFUL that food security without improved nutrition will not deliver the desired inclusive socio-economic outcomes; as the number of those affected by hunger and malnutrition has not decreased over the past few years; 3. COMMENDS Member States that have made progress in ending child stunting and addressing underweight and ENCOURAGES others to do the same; 4. REAFFIRMS its commitment to end hunger by 2025 through strengthening development policies as an effective investment in the human capital of Member States; and RECOMMIT to end child stunting by reducing stunting to 10% and underweight to 5% by 2025 and in particular, focusing on the first 1000 Days as the only window of opportunity during which permanent and irreversible physical and mental damage would be avoided; 5. ACKNOWLEDGES the on-going advocacy efforts by the African Union Nutrition Champion, His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho; 6. ENDORSES the African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) Initiative by the African Development Bank and the Commission, as laid out in the concept document, which will establish the political leaders’ initiative to overcome all forms of malnutrition on the continent and elevate nutrition-related matters on the continental and global political agenda as driver for economic growth and sustainable development in Africa. RECOMMENDS the ALN to establish dialogue with African Leaders for new financial and policy commitments on Nutrition to deliver the socio-economic, and health returns; 7. URGES the ALN to continue the dialogue and strengthen the advocacy efforts in support of improved nutrition, including through supporting the AU Nutrition Champion, His Majesty King Letsie III of the Kingdom of Lesotho to advance the Implementation of the Africa Regional Nutrition Strategy (2015-2025) and the ARISE Initiative; 8. REQUESTS the Commission to submit biennial report to the Assembly on the activities and progress made by the ALN. 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, 28- 29 January 2018, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia