We, Ministers in charge of Social Development of AU Member States, meeting at the First Session of the AU Conference of Ministers in charge of Social Development, in Windhoek, Republic of Namibia from 27 to 31 October, 2008;

RECOGNIZING that, despite significant strides in some areas of political, social and economic development in Africa during the last decade, these developments have not made significant impact on the lives of the majority of the African people, especially the vulnerable and marginalized groups;

CONCERNED that although Africa is well endowed with natural and human resources, African countries continue to lag behind other countries as concerns development indicators;

FURTHER CONCERNED about the prevailing marginalization and exclusion experienced by some groups, such as children, youth, women, persons with disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS, older persons, refugees and displaced persons, migrants, and the unemployed as well as challenges, posed by chronic, poverty, violence, violation of human rights, inadequate access to social services and basic income ,prevalent social disparities and other social injustices;

RECALLING the commitments made in various regional and international Charters, Common Positions, Declarations, Frameworks, Decisions and the Millennium Development Goals, aimed at improving the well being of African people and enhancing sustainable social development;

RECOGNIZING that the social development programme of the AU Commission is based on a human-centered approach seeking to promote human rights and dignity, promote employment, alleviate poverty and improve access to social services, thus improving the quality of life of the African people, in particular, the vulnerable and marginalized groups;

DETERMINED to promote human empowerment, mainstream sound and sustainable social development in all development policies, and address the challenges that are impeding sustainable development on the continent;

FURTHER RECOGNIZING the need to develop and implement social policies that combine social integration, economic growth, social protection, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for diversity and participation.

CONVINCED that developing sound and sustainable social and economic development policies and partnerships are prerequisites in achieving the MDGs and realizing the vision and mission of the African Union;

RECOGNIZING the importance of cooperation at all levels and sharing of experiences and best practices among countries on social development policies and programmes.