Africa Optimistic of Future in Partnership with TICAD

The Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) kicked off for the 1st time in Africa in 20 years in Nairobi Kenya, ‘taking place in the first year implementation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’ according to Madame Sahle-Work Zewde Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON).

The theme of the summit is,” “Advancing Africa’s Sustainable Development Agenda — TICAD Partnership for Prosperity”.

President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a joint statement on Friday vowed to deliver a successful two-day summit to promote Africa’s development beginningSaturday.

“Tomorrow (Saturday), these preparations pay off. We will welcome many Heads of State, and thousands of delegates, for the very first TICAD to be held on African soil. With the very gracious help of Mr. Abe, TICAD has finally come home — and it is about time,” Said Uhuru.

“TICAD has been a key forum for informed discussion of African development between Africa, Japan and other partners. It has matured into a first-class multilateral forum, attracting leaders in business and industry, as well as government and civil society.  At these discussions, a wide range of expertise and experience is represented, united under a single guiding principle: partnership,” he added. Abe arrived in Nairobi on Thursday stressed that Japan will join hands with Africa to help the region realize its dreams.

Further, when officially opening the Africa Peer Review Mechanism Summit (APRM) Kenya’s Head of State said, “The Summit is proof that Africa’s leaders are reaching out to each other, and to foreign partners and friends. We have learned that continental unity and strong multilateral partnerships are the paths to fulfilling the potential of Africa and its people.” The summit will be discussing its five-year strategic plan.

TICAD VI is being organised by the government of Japan, the African Union Commission, the World Bank, the UNDP, the UN Office of Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) and the government of Kenya. In other words, much more than Japan–Africa, this is a summit to calibrate Japanese engagement around Africa’s global agenda.

Read: Role Of The Private Sector In Africa’s Economic Transformation

Separately during the roundtable meeting on the role of private sector in Africa’s economic transformation on the sidelines of the TICAD VI, President Uhuru said Kenya is going to great lengths to provide the conducive environment in which the private sector can flourish.

“I don’t think anyone necessarily needs to make a case for the promise of Africa anymore; I don’t think anyone needs to make a case for the possibilities that exist on the continent and the untapped potential just waiting to be harnessed and unleashed. But even so, for the avoidance of all doubt, allow me to offer a brief pitch nonetheless.

The landscape across the continent is rapidly changing: investments in infrastructure, energy, and education are unlocking the value of Africa’s abundant natural resources—including our dynamic youth. Economies are growing, diversifying, becoming more resilient and attracting investment from around the world.”

TICAD VI will be convening three years after TICAD V this will present an opportunity to review the status of implementation of the TICAD V Yokohama Action Plan. Further, it will provide room to open up discussion on the emerging trends of security and sustainability, violet extremism, social stability and democracy ion Africa.

The African Union is also implementing its Agenda 2063 framework, “The Africa We Want,” thus providing a platform on how to symbiotically partner for each other’s progress – Africa and Japan.

Nairobi declaration

At the end of the two day’s summit, they will adopt the Nairobi declaration on Sunday.

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed already indicated that the Nairobi Declaration Draft document has already been adopted and will be considers by Heads of State on Saturday.

Addressing #TICADVI Ministerial meeting that ratified ' Draft Nairobi Declaration' to be considered by HOS tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/5wIvuNGxGk

— AMB.(Dr.) Amina C. Mohamed (@AMB_A_Mohammed) August 26, 2016

 The Nairobi Declaration once adopted will commit leaders to developmental agenda that advances economic growth issues including industrialisation, resilient health systems as well as social stability for shared prosperity between Japan and Africa.

This will be the first time TICAD is being held in Africa since its inception in 1993.

The decision to host TICAD VI Summit in Africa was reached during the TICAD V Summit in 2013 when it was agreed that the venue of subsequent TICAD Summits be alternated between Japan and Africa. The interval of summit Meetings was also shortened from every 5 years to three (3) years.