TOKYO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT (TICAD)
Tokyo International Conference on African Development
(TICAD) is a Summit-level international conference on
Africa’s development initiated by Japan, in 1993.
The first Conference (TICAD I) was held by the
Government of Japan. Since then, TICAD is co-hosted by
the Government of Japan, United Nations, United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank
and African Union Commission (AUC).
TICAD is an open and inclusive forum that brings
together African countries and development partners,
including international and regional organizations, donor
countries, Asian countries, the private sector and civil
society organizations, dealing with African
development.
TICAD aims to :
promote high-level political dialogue between
African leaders and their partners on issues
related to economic growth, trade and
investment, sustainable development, human
security and governance,
integrate African priorities into the international
cooperation agendas of partners and donors,
mobilize support for Africa’s development
initiatives,
provide basic and comprehensive guidelines
on Africa’s development,
promote cooperation between Asia and Africa
with a focus on Africa’s development.
TICAD promotes “African ownership” and international
partnership. It also promotes South-South cooperation
and triangular cooperation within the framework of
national and regional development Programmes.
TICAD promotes human security and people-centered
development, while aligning with Africa’s own agenda.
TICAD has established a three tier follow-up mechanism
(Joint Secretariat, Joint Monitoring Committee and
Follow up Meetings).
TICAD HISTORICAL OVERVIEW :
TICAD meetings were held in Japan every five years till
2013. Since then, the Summits were convened every
three years.
Since 2016, meetings are organized alternately in Japan
and Africa. Tunisia is the second African country to host
the TICAD Conference, after Kenya in 2016.
The first Summits were essentially Government-to-
Government (G2G) meetings. Discussions focused on
many issues such as development, governance,
strategies, policies as well as partnerships in economic,
social and security fields.
TICAD VII took place on 28 th - 30 th August, 2019 in
Yokohama city with the participation of more than 10,000
participants, including 42 African Leaders from 53
African countries, 52 development partner countries, 108
Heads of international and regional organizations, and
representatives of civil society and the private sector.
TICAD I
The First Conference (TICAD I) vowed to reverse the
decline in development assistance for Africa that had
followed the end of the Cold War.
TICAD II
The Second Conference (TICAD II) addressed Africa’s
development challenges with poverty reduction and
the integration of Africa into the global economy as a
main theme.
TICAD III
The Third Conference (TICAD III) made an explicit
commitment to support the African Union’s New
Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as well
as Africa’s socio-economic development and growth.
TICAD IV
The Fourth Conference (TICAD IV) focused on three
priorities: economic growth; “human security” and
environmental issues, in particular climate change.
TICAD V
The Fifth Conference (TICAD V) commemorated the
20th anniversary of the TICAD forum and the 50th
anniversary of the Organization of African
Unity/African Union.
TICAD VI
The Sixth TICAD VI Conference is the first conference
held in the African Continent, in Nairobi, Kenya. It is
also the first to be held after the decision to organize
TICAD every three years.
TICAD VII
The Seventh Conference (TICAD VII) recognized for
the first time, private sector as official partner of the
Conference.