Tokyo International Conference on African Development

is a conference held regularly with the objective "to promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners." Japan is a co-host of these conferences. Other co-organizers of TICAD are the United Nations Office of the Special Advisor on Africa (UN-OSAA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).Japan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: What is TICAD? The series has included: TICAD I (1993); TICAD II (1998); TICAD III (2003); TICAD IV (2008); TICAD V (2013). The next conference was scheduled for Kenya in August 2016.Kenya to host TICAD July 16, 2015 Daily Nation Retrieved January 29, 2016 It was the first time the event will be held in Africa while previous conferences were all held in Japan.

TICAD has been an evolving element in Japan's long-term commitment to fostering peace and stability in Africa through collaborative partnerships. "Japan to Increase Asian-African Aid," New York Times. September 14, 1966. In this context, Japan has stressed the importance of "Africa's ownership" of its development as well as of the "partnership" between Africa and the international community. The exchange of views amongst the conference delegates serves to underscore the case for more, not less assistance from the major world economies.Attah, Haruna. "TICAD ends today Kufuor to close proceedings," Acra Daily Mail. May 29, 2008.

Conference chronology The TICAD conferences were intended to help to promote high-level policy dialogue amongst African leaders and their development partners. It emerged in 1993 after the end of the Cold War in an era of 'aid fatigue' among donor countries, and was critical in regenerating strong donor interest in Africa.Tembo, Fletcher (2008) "Where next for TICAD: Building lasting partnerships", London: Overseas Development Institute. TICAD has evolved into a major global forum to promote development on the continent under the principles of African "ownership" and international "partnership." These concepts became essential factors in the launch of the New Economic Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), a strategy for development designed by Africans themselves.Adisa, Banji. "Japan to promote Africa's growth at Tokyo confab," Nigeria Daily News. March 25, 2008. Earlier TICAD meetings have also resulted in key outcomes, in particular when Japan is hosting the G8, as it is in 2008. In 2000, for example, Japan hosted the Okinawa G8 Summit and invited leaders from several African countries to attend. Ideas proposed at TICAD II were also taken up by the G8 in the creation of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

TICAD-I TICAD I was held in 1993. African countries and their development partners discussed strategies for steps toward greater African prosperity. TICAD was formed at a time when the international community's interest in Africa was starting to wane, and donor fatigue was setting in.Blay, Gina. "Japan-African Forum Begins," Daily Guide (Accra). May 27, 2008. This conference produced the "Tokyo Declaration on African Development."Juma, Monica Kathina et al. (2006). Compendium of Key Documents Relating to Peace and Security in Africa, p. 491-505.

Delegations from 48 African nations participated in the conference, including four heads of state:Japan, MOFA: 28 African nations Twelve other nations sent delegations; and a number of international organizations also attended as delegates and as observers.

Analysis The conference was considered promising, but prospects remained uncertain. In the decades since that beginning, TICAD's quality has evolved in both complexity and quality. The emphasis has shifted from TICAD-I's relatively simple issues of direct aid to more multi-faceted and inter-related topics which combine in sustainable development programs.Cazzaniga, Pino. "From TICAD IV, a new model for fostering African development," Asia News (PIME - Pontificio Istituto Missioni Estere, Rome). June 3, 2008.

TICAD-II TICAD II in 1998. African countries and their development partners agreed on the "Tokyo Agenda for Action" (TAA), which was intended to become a commonly understood strategic- and action-oriented set of guidelines. Poverty reduction in Africa and Africa's fuller integration into the global economy were recognized a fundamental goals. Following the TICAD II, a 2001 ministerial conference provided opportunity to discuss NEPAD.

Invitations were extended to a number of African countries and others. Some heads of state decided to attend; and a range of government ministers and others were amongst the participants in the conference.

Analysis The agreement on an agenda was only considered a first step.

TICAD-III TICAD III was held in 2003, bringing together over 1000 delegates, including 23 heads of state and the Chairperson of the African Union. African countries and their development partners reviewed the achievements of the ten-year TICAD process, and there was discussion about future direction TICAD should take.

Invitations were extended to a number of African countries and others. Some heads of state decided to attend; and a range of government ministers and others were amongst the participants in the conference.

Analysis The increase in numbers of heads of state attending signaled the modest acceptance of the forum as a potentially effective venue. Participants reaffirmed the contributions of the TICAD process to African development, noting its role in mobilizing the international community's interest and commitment to African development. "Africa: TICAD Participants Resolve to Improve Food Security, Economic Growth," The News (Monrovia). June 3, 2008. In the years since TICAD-III, there has been the Africa-China,Africa-China summit: Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2006. Africa-India and EU-AU summits, among others. "Japan seeks trade, not politics in Africa," SABCnews. May 27, 2008.

TICAD-IV

TICAD IV (May 2008) was convened in Yokohama. In its 15-year history, this was the first time the conference was convened in a city other than Tokyo. Yokohama was preparing to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of the port and the 120th anniversary of the commencement of the City Administration. In this context, TICAD IV and the slogan, Yokohama Meets Africa were intended to underscore the international character of the port and city. "Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) Sets Agenda for Hope and Opportunity," JCNnetwork (Japan's Corporate News). May 26, 2008.

This was the most heavily attended of the four TICAD events. Responding to the invitation were 51 African nations (all except Somalia), 17 African organisations, 12 Asian nations, 22 donor nations, and 55 international organizations, with a total of about 2,500 delegates. These included 40 presidents or prime ministers of African countries, twice the number of those present at TICAD III (2003). Also in Yokohama were organizers associated with "official side events" and other participants in the conference.

TICAD IV consisted of plenary sessions and twenty-four "thematic" sessions.SANGONet: "NGOs Frustration at TICAD IV in Japan." May 26, 2008. TICAD focused on strategies for better mobilizing the knowledge and resources of the international community in the core areas of: (a) economic growth; (b) human security, including achieving the UN's Millennium Development Goals; and (c) environment/climate change issues. In addition, TICAD IV tried to identify possible inter-linkages within the context of the G8 Hokkaidō Tōyako Summit in July 2008. In this context, World Bank and International Monetary Fund Development Committee Executive Secretary, Kiyoshi Kodera, spoke at a pre-event meeting in which he argued that everyone needs to "accept the harsh reality" that sub-Saharan African countries will remain heavily dependent on foreign aid until they find a new growth path. "Fukuda begins marathon talks with African leaders ahead of TICAD," World Bank News & Broadcast. May 27, 2008.

Attending the conference were representatives of the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a number of donor countries, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other relevant agencies. The shared perspectives of the conference delegates served to underscore the case for immediate assistance to help Africa's vulnerable economies to weather the global food and fuel crisis. Participants agreed that emergency food aid was necessary, but it was also necessary to carry out medium-to-long-term interventions, with special attention on the division of roles and complementarity among various development agencies. "Bank Group Participates in TICAD IV," African Development Bank (Tunis). June 3, 2008.

Smaller scale projects were also included in the TICAD agenda. The Japanese introduced a projected JICA investment in replicating the "One Village One Product movement" (OVOP) in African contexts. In this context, the President of Malawi's visit to Japan also included a visit to OVOP headquarters in Osaka.Khunga, Suzgo. "Malawi could be OVOP headquarters," Daily Times (Lilongwe, Malawi). May 27, 2008.

Making a difference In a speech delivered at TICAD-IV, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda committed the government to extending yen-denominated loans worth up to ¥415-billion (US$4-billion) and financial assistance totalling about ¥260-billion (US$2.5-billion) over the next five years. Fukuda also committed the government to establishing a fund at the Japan Bank for International Cooperation aimed at doubling investment in Africa. The financial assistance would be provided through the fund over the next five years to help develop road networks and other traffic infrastructure. The Japanese Prime Minister also announced plans to deploy a "water defense force" tasked with providing instruction in water management. Moreover, Fukuda explained that his government aimed to help foster as many as 100,000 experts in the health and medicine fields. "Fukuda to promise aid, loan package for Africa," Yomiuri Shimbun. May 24, 2008.

Fukuda's announcement that Japan would extend generous assistance to African countries in spite of its tight financial condition is aimed at burnishing Japan's credentials in the international community. Prime Minister Fukuda's speech was designed to strengthen Japan's leadership as host of the G-8 meeting because aid to Africa would be an important item on the meeting's agenda. Another reason for the government's magnanimity is that Japan is trying to strengthen its relations with African countries to win their support for its bid to gain a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The Japanese government learned a lesson from the failure of its 2005 campaign for permanent membership at the Security Council: Support from African countries, which account for one-fourth of U.N. membership, is construed as indispensable if Japan is to succeed in its bid. In his speech, Fukuda said, "Japan would like to work on U.N. Security Council reform in cooperation with its African friends."