1．Background

• Japan hosts two important international conferences, G8 summit and TICAD IV (Tokyo

  International Conference on African Development) in 2008, and its policy of African development

  is being watched with keen interest and expectations not only from African countries but from

  other donors.

  　

• The theme of TICAD IV is Towards a vibrant Africa: A continent of hope and opportunity, with

  the three pillars: 1) boosting economic growth; 2) ensuring Human Security, including the

  achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and consolidation of peace and

  democratization; and 3) addressing environmental issues and climate change. The results of the

  discussions will be fed into the G8 summit.

  　

• Domestically, active discussions of Japan's policy for development of Africa are taking place. For

  instance, regarding the above pillar 1), various proposals suggest similar direction, including

  JICA/JBIC study on African Development and Asian Economic Growth (started in July 2007),

  the interim report by the Advisory Council to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on International

  Cooperation (January, 2008), and the private ODA Manifesto "by the Group for Renovating

  Japanese ODA" (October 2007, pdf file 327KB). The thrust of these proposals is consistent with

  the recommendations by the African Diplomatic Corps (March 2007).

  　

• Japan should take this opportunity to concretize these proposals and put them into actions. This

  means: 1) deciding the target countries/areas from the view of "Selection and Concentration,"

  while paying attention to the recent resurgence of growth agenda (e.g., growth diagnostics and

  regional infrastructure development by the DFID or the World Bank); and 2) making long-term

  commitment to conducting policy dialogue with African countries, through the formulation and

  implementation of industrial development strategy, based on its aid and development

  experiences in East Asia. Under the current fiscal stringency, it is indispensable that Japan

  strengthen strategic partnership with other donors and focus its bilateral aid resources on a

  limited number of countriesif it were to initiate effective growth support in Africa.

　2．Objective

• Share the information on the current global/domestic discussions on African growth support (e.g.,

  growth diagnostics, regional infrastructure, public-private partnerships, strategies of key donors,

  and Japan's policy for TICAD IV), examine and propose actions to be taken by Japan to

  implement effective growth support in Africa.

  　

• Special attention will be paid to: the degree of interests in the aid and development experiences

in East Asia by respective African countries; global development trends; Japan's achievements

(or plans) of aid, and Japan's field-level aid implementation system.

　3. Participants

• Professionals interested in African growth support, from the Japanese government, aid implementing agencies, international agencies and academia, etc.

• Participation on a voluntary basis, in a personal capacity.

　4．Agenda

• Date & venue: monthly meeting (for 1.5-2hours) at GRIPS Roppongi Campus, from April to July

  2008

• Organized by GRIPS Development Forum

  Secretariat: Kenichi Ohno, Izumi Ohno, Elumba Jean Denis and Sayoko Uesu

  Contact person: Michiko Iwahashi and Harumi Misono