What's New: Conference to address new global partnerships

23 September 2003: The much-anticipated third Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD III) finally begins in Tokyo on Monday. It brings together delegations from virtually every African country, including more than 20 Heads of State, to hammer out new approaches to global partnership with Africa for the continent's development.

The three-day conference marks the tenth anniversary of the TICAD process, which began as an initiative of the Government of Japan, in collaboration with the United Nations and the Global Coalition for Africa (GCA).

As well as African countries, Asia will be strongly represented at TICAD III, since the initiative has been very largely built upon the notion of Africa-Asia cooperation. At least 13 Asian countries will send delegations. In addition some 22 donor countries will attend, plus 32 international organizations, as well as 15 regional and pan-African organizations.

After tackling a range of issues vital for the future of Africa, in plenary session and in six specially focused sessions, the conference is expected to adopt the TICAD Tenth Anniversary Declaration. This will pledge all participants to solidarity with Africans' ownership of the development process in their continent and to global partnerships that affirm such ownership. The Declaration is a reflection of TICAD's close identification with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the continent's own home-grown framework for development, to be accomplished through African-led initiatives and with international collaboration.

A series of intense and wide-ranging consultations throughout Africa this year helped to establish the choice of priorities being addressed in Tokyo. After a senior officials' meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in March, three regional gatherings were held in Pretoria, South Africa, for southern Africa (22-23 May 2003); in Nairobi, Kenya, for east and north Africa (5-6 June); and in Yaounde, Cameroon, for west and central Africa (23-24 June).

The six focused sessions in Tokyo will substantially follow recommendations that emerged from the regional consultations. Scheduled for the second day, they will address these issue areas:
• Consolidation of peace
• Capacity building
• Human-centred development
• Infrastructure (including ICT)
• Agricultural development
• Private sector development

The co-organizers of TICAD III — the Government of Japan, Global Coalition for Africa, the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Africa, the United Nations Development Programme, and the World Bank — will all be taking a leading role, with their senior representatives chairing or moderating the sessions.

Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Junichiro Koizumi will make the opening speech. The high-powered collection of African Heads of State will lead a plenary session on the first day devoted to poverty reduction through economic growth.