The Pan Afrikanist Watchman

The 8^th Tokyo International Conference on African Development（TICAD 8) is set to take place from the 27^th to the 28^th of August this year in Tunisia.

But before the summit conference, an online Ministerial Meeting is taking place today and tomorrow 26-27 March 2022, the objectives of which are to discuss the priority issues on African development at the ministers’ level, ahead of the TICAD8 which has been scheduled for later in the year (August 2022).

The ministers are expected to set out a pathway for African development with an emphasis on “people” and “quality growth”, as well as call for international cooperation.

They will endeavour to further develop the bilateral relations between Japan and African countries; share the priorities of Japan’s diplomacy, such as the realisation of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific“, and address development finance issues.

Looking ahead to the post-COVID-19 era, the participants will discuss African development based on three pillars: Economy, Society, and Peace and Stability. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Ms. SUZUKI Takako, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, are representing the Government of Japan in this meeting.

Earlier on the 16^th March 2022, there was an online briefing on TICAD and the TICAD Ministerial Meeting addressed by the Deputy Director-General, Department of African Affairs, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,, MIYASHITA Tadayuki who gave an overview of TICAD and the TICAD Ministerial Meeting.

The occasion was also graced by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Vice-President, KATO Ryuichi who provided an overview of the agency’s response to the COVID-19 crisis and its efforts to build forward better towards a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous Africa- based on the development achievements gained through the TICAD process.　

For instance, with respect to Covid-19 Vaccine Support through the COVAX Facility, Ryuich reiterated that Japan has provided financial support of US$ 1 billion in total to the COVAX AMC as well as co-hosted the COVAX AMC Summit in 2021.

Japan has also been contributing for the raising of additional funding to secure necessary vaccines for developing countries.

Further, in December 2021, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed Japan’s commitment to donating vaccines to Africa. Japan has provided vaccines of approximately 680,000 doses to Malawi and 860,000 doses to Nigeria, among many other support initiatives.

At the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit in December 2021 which Japan hosted, Japan called for concrete actions to promote the global improvement of nutrition including in Africa. A financial contribution amounting to over US$ 27 billion was announced.

TICAD is a summit-level international conference on Africa’s development initiated by Japan in 1993. Japan has led this forum, with its history of over a quarter-century, to
promote African development while respecting Africa’s ownership.

TICAD is co-organised by the Government of Japan, the UN, UNDP, World Bank,
and African Union Commission (AUC).

What transpired at TICAD 7 in Yokohama 2019?

The then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President El-Sisi of Egypt (AU Chair) co-chaired the conference, with over 10,000 participants, including 42 African leaders from 53 African countries, ministers including Foreign Minister Kono 52 development partner countries, 108 heads of international and regional organizations, and representatives of civil society and the private sector.

The 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) held from the 28^th to the 30^th August 2019 in Yokohama, Japan had the promotion of business as its main focus. Prime Minister Abe announced that Japan will put forth every possible effort to grow Japanese private investment in Africa, which was worth $ 20 billion over the past three years.

In the same vein, the Japanese private sector expressed its commitment to actively promote business in Africa. From August 28th to 31st, 47 Summit meetings were held between Prime Minister Abe and 42 African leaders, the chair of the AU Commission, three (3) heads of international organizations and one (1) private invitee.

The Foreign Minister Taro Kono had 25 meetings with ministers of African countries and heads of international organizations.

At that Summit conference, the number of participating companies doubled compared with the TICAD 6. Private companies had become official partners for the first time, and the Public-Private Business Dialogue between Japan and Africa was held in the plenary session.

The Yokohama Declaration 2019, which refers to the importance of blue economy and “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”, was adopted together with the Yokohama Plan of Actions 2019, which was introduced as an accompanying document.

“Japan’s Contribution To Africa” (annex) was announced.



Under the theme ‘Advancing Africa’s development through people, technology and innovation’, six Plenary Sessions and five Thematic Sessions were held during the TICAD7

special conference.

Each co-organizer gave a keynote speech during the Opening Ceremony/Plenary Session Prime Minister Abe announced human resource development including ABE Initiative 3.0, and promotion of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) including through the Africa Health and Wellbeing Initiative (AfHWIN), the New Approach for Peace and Stability in Africa (NAPSA) and investment among others.

During the Plenary Session on ‘Accelerating economic transformation and improving business environment through private sector development and innovation’ issues such as the entry into force of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), economic diversification and industrialization, the necessity of sound fiscal management including debt transparency and sustainability, quality infrastructure, and human resource development were discussed.

The Plenary Session on Public-Private Business Dialogue was an opportunity to present concrete suggestions on expanding trade and investment between Japan and Africa and Japan’s direct investment as well as the strong expectation of human resource development in Africa.

The business sector committed itself to actively promoting business in Africa.

Healthcare including promotion of Universal Health Coverage, Sexually Transmitted Infections, the environment, disaster risk reduction, climate change, human resource development, and education, and empowerment of women and youth were discussed during the Plenary Session on ‘Deepening sustainable and resilient society.

Participants also discussed support of the international community for Africa’s own efforts during the Plenary Session on Peace and Stability: Japan explained the overview of NAPSA.

Five (5) thematic sessions were held – one on Science, Technology and Innovation, secondly Human Resource Development and Education for Youth, thirdly, agriculture, fourthly Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, and fifthly, the Blue Economy were held while in the Plenary Session 6 each chair reported the result of the discussion.

At the closing ceremony, the Yokohama Declaration 2019 was adopted. Yokohama Plan of Actions 2019 was announced as an accompanying document of the declaration.

The history of TICAD

Ø TICAD（1993）Tokyo: Provided an opportunity to bring back global attention to Africa in Post-Cold War era.

Ø TICADII（1998）Tokyo: Clearly articulated priority policies and actions. Highlighted the importance of ownership and partnership

Ø TICADIII（2003) Tokyo: Agreed on expanding the partnership to include Asian countries. Focused on the concept of human security

Ø TICADIV（2008）Yokohama: Established the follow-up mechanism.

Ø TICADV（2013）Yokohama: Advocated for the Quality Growth and promotion of trade and investment through public-private partnerships.

Ø TICADVI（2016）Nairobi, Kenya: First TICAD Summit Meeting held in Africa. Announced investment for Africa’s future through quality infrastructure investment, human resource development, etc

                                 
Ø TICAD7 (2019) Yokohama: Mainly focused on African business. Debated based on 3 Pillars; Economy, Society and Peace and Stability

TICAD7 (2019）Yokohama