Tokyo International Conference on African Development

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The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) is a conference held every five years in Tokyo, Japan, 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-OSSA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).^[1] The series has included: TICAD I (1993); TICAD II (1998); TICAD III (2003); and TICAD IV (2008). The next conference is scheduled for 2013.

TICAD has been an evolving element in Japan's long-term commitment to fostering peace and stability in Africa through collaborative partnerships.^[2] 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.^[1] The exchange of views amongst the conference delegates serves to underscore the case for more, not less assistance from the major world economies.^[3]

[edit] 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.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[4]

[edit] TICAD-I

TICAD I was held in 1993. African countries and their development partners discussed strategies for taking steps toward greater African stability and prosperity.^[1] TICAD was formed at a time when the international community’s interest in Africa was starting to wane, and donor fatigue was setting in.^[6] This conference produced the "Tokyo Declaration on African Development."^[7]

Main article: TICAD-I Delegations

Delegations from 48 African nations participated in the conference, including four heads of state:^[8] Twelve other nations sent delegations; and a number of international organizations also attended as delegates and as observers.

[edit] 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.^[9]

[edit] 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.^[1] Following the TICAD II, a 2001 ministerial conference provided opportunity to discuss NEPAD.^[5]

Main article: TICAD-II Delegations

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.

[edit] Analysis

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

[edit] 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.^[5] 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.^[1]

Main article: TICAD-III Delegations

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.

[edit] 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.^[10] In the years since TICAD-III, there has been the Africa-China,^[11] Africa-India and EU-AU summits, among others.^[12]

[edit] TICAD-IV

The crisp TICAD-IV banners become something of a bright token of welcome as Yokohama Meets Africa.

The TICAD-IV venue is Pacifico Yokohama, a centrally-located waterside complex. The Minato Mirai area's most recognizable feature is the bold architectural plane of the grand InterContinental Hotel -- a stark, white, sail-shaped structure silhouetted against the contrasting expanse of the harbor.

TICAD IV (May 2008) was convened in Yokohama.^[13] In its 15-year history, this was the first time the conference was be convened in a city other than Tokyo. Yokohama is 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.^[14]

Main article: TICAD-IV Delegations

This year's meeting 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).^[9] 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.^[15] 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.^[16] In this context, World Bank and International Monetary Fund Development Committee Executive Secretary Kiyoshi Kodera spoke at a pre-event meeting in which he arguing 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.^[17]

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.^[5] The shared perspectives of the conference delegates serves to underscore the case for immediate assistance to help Africa’s vulnerable economies to weather the current global food and fuel crisis.^[3] 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.^[18]

Smaller scale projects were also included in the TICAD agenda. At this year's conference, 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.^[19]

[edit] 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 totaling 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 will 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 aims to help foster as many as 100,000 experts in the health and medicine fields.^[20]

Fukuda's announcement that Japan will extend generous assistance to African countries in spite of its tight financial condition is aimed at burnishing Japan's credentials in the international community.^[20] Prime Minister Fukuda's speech was designed to strengthen Japan's leadership as host of the G-8 meeting because aid to Africa will 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." ^[20]

Fukuda's actions during TICAD atracted media attention for what some journalists called the "marathon of mini-summits." In two days, the 71-year-old Prime Minister of Japan met one by one with 40 leaders of African nations, dedicating approximately twenty minutes to each one;^[9] and he also met with seven private sector Africa supporters.^[21] In addition, the Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari met with African leaders in an effort to work towards developing closer relationships with countries participating in the conference.^[22]

During TICAD week, Amari met with the leaders of Angola, Gabon and Uganda on Tuesday and Wednesday (May 27-28). Amari met with the leaders of Madagascar, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa and Namibia on Thursday (May 29); and he met on Friday (may 30) with the leader of Nigeria. These Africa leaders are mainly exporters of resources necessary for manufacturers in Japan. For example, Nigeria is the biggest oil producer in Africa, and Angola has promising oil reserves. South Africa produces zirconium that is used for nuclear fuel rods, while the Democratic Republic of Congo produces cobalt, which is used by many industries for various purposes.^[22]

[edit] Analysis

TICAD IV logo

Japan has long used aid as a key diplomatic tool. It was the world's top donor in 1991, but its overall assistance has been slipping as its debts increased. As China and India seeking to forge closer ties with the African continent, the conference is a key opportunity for Japan to maintain its diplomatic clout. According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Africa accounts for 89 percent of the world's total reserves of platinum, 60 percent of its diamonds, 53 percent of the cobalt, 37 percent of the zirconium and 34 percent of the chrome.^[23] The African continent remains a potential markets for Japan; and both China and India recognized an urgent need to secure commodities to fuel their economic booms.^[24]

In this context, the recent Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2006 can be said to have marked a watershed for Africa’s economic relations.^[21] The summit re-awakened the world’s major powers not only to China’s growing strategic influence in Africa but also highlighted Africa’s increasing importance.^[25] In recent years, China has been providing large-scale assistance to African countries with the aim of securing a stake in the rich natural resources in the African continent; and India has been doing the same.^[20]

The conference provided a venue for non-governmental entities to expand a range of high-level contacts. In addition to the World Bank, an African Development Bank (AfDB) group delegation led by the institution's president, Donald Kaberuka, attended TICAD-IV. Also amongst the 2,500 attendees were academics, such as the president of Tsukuba University in Japan and Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz of Columbia University.^[18]

There were instances when the conference did not go as Japan expected. For instance, the Japanese government planned to include a statement in the Yokohama Declaration to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent from current levels by 2050. However, the government withdrew this provision after encountering fierce opposition from South Africa, a major polluter.^[21]

TICAD summits underscore the importance Asian economic and political competitors place on getting on the right side of African leaders many of whom are sitting on huge mineral, oil and other resources. Africa is also emerging as a last frontier for financial investors. The continent also offers a growing market for low-end manufactured goods that are no longer exportable to the developed countries of Europe and America.^[26]

African perspective
The Africans arrived in Yokohama with a number of their own well-thought out agendas. Some voices argued that it would be better if Africa attended TICAD-V (2113) with a continental-wide agenda which could then be broken up into country-specific strategies which could be more fully explored during the subsequent bilateral meetings. Drawing up a common agenda detailing the trade and investment issues would seem a plausible strategy because the nations of the continent are grappling with similar challenge which include poor infrastructure and trade terms that are weighted heavily against Africa. ^[27] In a sense, Thabo Mbeki embraced this continental strategy as he suggested that Africa's future economic growth should happen through trade and not aid. Mbeki said, "Without discounting the importance of aid, improved terms of trade for Africa are critical to ensure its full integration into the global economy."^[28] He also observed that "market access alone does not always translate in the ability for the developing countries to penetrate competative world markets."^[29]

[edit] Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize

The first awards of the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize were planned to coincide with TICAD IV;^[30] and the conference venue was moved from Tokyo to Yokohama as another way of honoring the man after whom the prize was named. In 1899, Dr. Noguchi worked at the Yokohama Port Quarantine Office as an assistant quarantine doctor.^[31]

The initial Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize were conferred in conjunction with TICAD IV. This prize was created in honor of Hideyo Noguchi, who was a prominent Japanese bacteriologist who discovered the agent of syphilis in 1911,^[32] and who died in Africa while working towards the development of a vaccine for virulent yellow fever.^[33]

The first laureates of the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize, like Noguchi himself, are both medical doctors with an career-long interest in epidemiology and public health. They are Dr. Brian Greenwood and Dr. Miriam Were.^[34] For the honorees, the Prize represents both an acknowledgment of their past accomplishments and an investment in their prospective contributions in the years ahead. Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda made the actual award presentation; and the Emperor and Empress were present at the 2008 ceremony along with a large number of African heads of state.^[35]

With significantly large money prizes attending this award, the Noguchi Prize already rivals the major established scientific awards.^[36] From the outset, the 2008 Noguchi Prizes -- consisting of a citation, a medal and an honorarium of 100 million yen (US$843,668) -- were only intended to be the first in a continuing series; and subsequent prizes are expected to be awarded every five years.^[37] The prize, officially named "The Prize in Recognition of Outstanding Achievements in the Fields of Medical Research and Medical Services in Africa Awarded in Memory of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi," is managed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).^[5]

[edit] TICAD-V

As TICAD-IV ended, plans were already being formulated for TICAD-V in 2013. Prime Minister Fukuda Anounced told delegates at TICAD-IV, "I pledge that by 2012-five years from now-Japan will have doubled its official development assistance (ODA) to Africa, increasing it gradually over these years." At the same time, Fukuda said his government would double its grand aid and technical cooperation for Africa by 2012.^[38]

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Hook, Glenn D., Julie Gilson, Christopher W. Hughes, Hugo Dobson. (2005). Japan's International Relations: Politics, Economics and Security. London: Routledge. 10-ISBN 0-415-33638-4
• Juma, Monica Kathina, Rafael Velásquez García, and Brittany Kesselman. (2006). Compendium of Key Documents Relating to Peace and Security in Africa. Praetoria: Praetoria University Law Press. 10-ISBN 0-958-50973-5
• Taylor, Ian and Paul Williams. (2004). Africa in International Politics: External Involvement on the Continent. London: Routledge. 10-ISBN 0-415-35836-1

[edit] External links

• G8, Hokaidō Tōyako Summit: 34th G8 summit official website
• TICAD-I: Index
  • Tokyo Declaration on African Development
• TICAD-II: Index
  • Tokyo Agenda for Action
• TICAD-III: Index
  • TICAD Tenth Anniversary Declaration
  • Summary by the Chair of TICAD-III
• TICAD-IV: Index
  • Yokohama Declaration
  • Yokohama Action Plan (HTML), {PDF)
  • TICAD Follow-up Mechanism
  • Summary by the Chair of TICAD-IV
• TICAD-V: [Ministry for Foreign Affairs web site -- to be constructed]