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TICAD Side events

The UNDP’s involvement in TICAD side events from TICAD V (2013) to TICAD VIII (2022) is examined in detail.

📖 TICAD V (Yokohama, May–June 2013)

Co-hosts: Government of Japan, UNDP, World Bank. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered keynote remarks at a high-level luncheon titled “Building Climate and Disaster Resilience for African Development”, focusing on climate adaptation and resilience strategies for African nations

🌍 TICAD VI (Nairobi, August 2016)

Co-organizers: Ministry of Environment (Japan), JICA, UNEP, UN‑Habitat.

  • Side event on solid waste management, highlighting Kenya’s Kiambu County landfill built using Japan’s Fukuoka Method. Participants included local government and representatives from nine African countries, UN-Habitat, JICA, and UNEP

🚀 TICAD VII (Yokohama, August 2019)

Lead partners: UNDP, AUC, World Bank, JICA, JETRO. UNDP organized several flagship side events.

  • “Partnering for Progress: Innovation & Access for Neglected Diseases in furtherance of UHC” (28 Aug) – spotlighted UNDP’s ADP and GHIT Fund collaboration, with participation from AU and Japanese government.

  • “Leveraging Blue Economy for Inclusive Growth in Africa” (29 Aug) – Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta delivered the keynote.

  • “Driving Multi‑Sectoral Partnership for the SDGs: Localization & Innovation” – local governments and innovators from Gambia and Japan.

  • “Africa‑Japan Start‑ups Pitch: Innovation & New Partnerships for SDGs” (30 Aug) – joint with JICA and JETRO; pitched 17 African and 7 Japanese start-ups to investors.

Additional related side events (organized by World Bank, AUC, etc., with UNDP involvement):

  • Sports for Africa

  • African Food Security in context of urbanization and climate

  • Fostering Africa–Japan university partnerships in STI

  • From Idea to Action: Harnessing STI in African Development

Notable cross‑sector event:

  • Latf–UNDP/AWF/Japanese partners event on addressing human‑nature conflicts in Africa (illegal wildlife trade, spatial data infrastructure), opened by DRC’s President Felix Tshisekedi

🧭 TICAD VIII (Tunis, 27–28 August 2022)

UNDP-hosted side events per official UNDP listing

  • “Revisiting Human Security in Africa” – rethinking vulnerability, human dignity, resilience.

  • “Strengthening health systems for pandemic preparedness and human security” – health delivery innovation.

  • “Trust and peace building: pathways to resilience in an insecure world” – social cohesion and resilience.

  • “Understanding and ensuring just energy transitions in Africa” – equitable decarbonization and energy access.

  • “Women and justice in Africa: a transformative people‑centered approach” – gender, justice, people‑centered governance.

  • “Africa Continental Investor Convening: Partnering for SDG investments in the Green & Blue Economy” – investor forum led with AfDB, targeting green‑blue economy funding.

Preparatory virtual ministerial side events held in March–April 2022 included:

  • “High‑Level Side Event on Peace, Governance, and Development in Africa” (31 March 2022) co-hosted with ISS‑Africa focusing on democratic governance and peace‑development linkage

  • “Multi‑Sectoral Dialogue” (5 April 2022) engaging civil society and private sector to chart inclusive growth, human security, and sustainable peace priorities aligned with TICAD8 themes

🌐 TICAD Side Events

Showcasing Africa-Japan Collaboration at the Highest Level Since 2012

Overview

Afrijapan-Africasia International has actively participated in and co-hosted side events at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) since 2012. These side events serve as strategic platforms to highlight African perspectives, mobilize partnerships, and advance people-centered development through Japan-Africa cooperation.

Our TICAD side events align with the broader goals of Japan’s foreign policy in Africa, especially around:

  • Human resource development

  • Health systems strengthening

  • SME growth and innovation

  • Youth and gender empowerment

  • Sustainable agriculture and food systems

📅 TICAD Participation Timeline

🔹 TICAD V (2013) – Yokohama, Japan

Theme: “People, Technology, and Innovation for Africa’s Growth”
Afrijapan facilitated dialogues on youth education, entrepreneurship, and community-driven development. We hosted cultural exhibitions and introduced the Afrijapan model of decentralized cooperation.

🔹 TICAD VI (2016) – Nairobi, Kenya

Theme: “Advancing Africa’s Social Stability and Economic Transformation”
As the first TICAD held in Africa, Afrijapan hosted a side event on Africa-Japan Educational Exchange, highlighting success stories of students from both regions. We initiated discussions on private sector participation in Africa’s health and agriculture sectors.

🔹 TICAD VII (2019) – Yokohama, Japan

Theme: “Africa and Yokohama: Sharing Solutions for the SDGs”
Afrijapan co-organized a side session focused on SME partnerships and financing mechanisms for African entrepreneurs. The event brought together government representatives, Japanese investors, and African startups.

🔹 TICAD 8 (2022) – Tunis, Tunisia

Theme: “Building Resilient, Inclusive, and Prosperous Societies”
Afrijapan led a hybrid panel on Resilient Health Systems Post-COVID in collaboration with Japanese foundations. Special emphasis was placed on vaccine equity, nutrition partnerships (with Ajinomoto Foundation), and digital health initiatives.

🤝 Our TICAD Side Events Deliver:

  • Policy dialogue between African leaders and Japanese partners

  • Mobilization of funding for grassroots projects

  • Platform for African youth and SMEs to connect with Japanese expertise

  • Showcasing African culture, arts, and innovation to the Japanese public

🎯 Strategic Impact

Through these side events, Afrijapan has successfully:

  • Secured cross-border partnerships for technical cooperation

  • Brokered institutional linkages between African universities and Japanese counterparts

  • Promoted visibility for African solutions on a global stage

  • Contributed to shaping TICAD’s development agenda

🔗 Let’s Collaborate at TICAD 9

Afrijapan-Africasia International invites new partners—NGOs, universities, agencies, and businesses—to join us in shaping our next TICAD engagement.

Contact:
📧 info@afrijapan-africasia.org