Seminar "Towards TICAD 7: Consolidating the African Voices “will be held on Wednesday, December 5th, 2018.

2018.11.05

The Seminar Concept
On the aftermath of cold war, Japan initiated an engagement with the African frontier through the Tokyo International Conference for Africa Development (TICAD). Since then, Japan had hosted TICAD from 1993 to 2013 after every five years before embarking on three year duration alternating between Africa and Japan as hosts. Besides Japan, there has been a proliferation of similar other actors imitating TICAD process in the recent past whose engagement has emerged as somewhat challenging to Japan's presence in Africa. Perhaps as a counter measure, or strategic plan to promote inclusion and ownership of TICAD process by the Africans, TICAD 6 was held on African soil for the first time in its history. Whereas the fruits of such measures remains unexplored, and as more other players seems to be taking dominance in Africa, Japan has not relented in her pursuit to engage Africa for achieving sustainable development in the vast and rapidly changing continent.
TICAD's own origins depicts Japan's initiative as a pioneer in her relations to Africa. The 2016 TICAD in Nairobi reverberated with symbolism of Africa ownership. Discussions of ownership of development initiatives by Africa are both complex and scarce. When present, elitism pervades prominence. Often, voices of the majority poor who are victims of Africa's most pressing challenges, are overshadowed by the elite agenda. The disconnect between African ruling class and the majority poor (and the diminishing middle class) is apparent in the so called "African voices". Since "African voices" is about addressing the challenges unique to majority of Africa, it is important that discussions to comprehend the African voices underscore strategies from the peripheries. In this respect, TICAD process, in upholding its foundational principles, will become a platform that not only incorporates the voices that have historically been disenfranchised, but also opening up new possibilities in mutual engagement.
Thus, this forum will discuss ownership of Africa growth through exploring the foundational principles of agenda 2063 spearheaded by the African Union. An overview of Japan-Africa relations will lay a foundation to two important approaches in exploring ownership. On one hand, a comparative analysis with Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), focusing on the points of convergence and divergence, and outlining new possibilities thereof. On the other hand, a pertinent question on Japan-Africa engagement in trade and business will be addressed to shed light on emerging possibilities in Japan-Africa ties. Thus, an agenda will be set to explore means through which Japan can deepen its relationship with growing and changing Africa before TICAD 7 in 2019 through an appeal to recognize and appropriate ownership by Africa and her voice thereof.
In sum, this seminar will draw upon comparative cases and case studies to illuminate means of strengthening ownership, partnerships, and improvement on the relationship between the public and private sectors. (Kinyua Laban Kithinji)

organizerInstitute of Asian, African, and Middle Eastern Studies Sophia University
date and timeDecember 5, 2018 (Wednesday) 17:00-19:45(door opens at 16:45)
titleTowards TICAD 7: Consolidating the African Voices
programRegistration: Doors open at 1645

Welcome remarks:
Dr. Maki Momoka,
(Associate Professor, Faculty of Global Studies - Sophia University)

Keynote Speeches: 1700 - 1810
a) The Necessity for Japanese Private Sector Involvement in the TICAD Process
Prof. Kweku Ampiah (Associate Professor, Department of East Asian Studies - University of Leeds)
b) The Economic Approaches for African Partners from the East (FOCAC and TICAD): Divergences and Convergences from a personnel point of view
Prof. Oussouby Sacko (President - Kyoto Seika University)

Overview of Keynote Speeches in Japanese

Panel: 1810 - 1850
c) Navigating the tides of a corrupt state: Rural youths' engagement with SMEs, and ICTs
Dr. Kinyua Laban Kithinji
(Research Fellow, Institute of African, Asian, and Middle Eastern Studies-Sophia University)
d) Human resource development or brain-drain of Africa? Feedback from African scholars sponsored by the Japanese Government
Mr Nico de Wet (ABE Initiative Participant at SoftBank, & COO of Kakehashi Africa).

Overview of Panel Presentations in Japanese
Break: 1850-1900
Collect Questions sheets
Q&A Floor Discussion 1900 - 1945
Panel commentators and general comments: Kweku Ampiah, Oussouby Sacko

Closing Remarks 1940 - 1945
Dr. Toda Mikako, (Assistant Professor, Faculty of Global Studies - Sophia University)
venueSophia University, Yotsuya Campus
Building no.6, 1F Room 101
https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/info/access/map/map_yotsuya.html#yotsuya_direction
languageEnglish (partly with Japanese translation)
admissionFree admittance. No reservation required. All who are interested are welcome to attend.