African and Japanese civil society held a symposium towards TICAD III in Tokyo on the 3rd and 4th of August 2003, to examine the TICAD III process, in terms of its philosophy and civil society participation in the process and came up with the following proposals.

 Viva, Africa!

The voices from African and Japanese civil society organizations called for an effective ownership of the African development priorities by African people. The voice for a democratic, participatory, and community-based development hoped that the TICAD III process would contribute to enhancing the empowerment of civil society organizations in Africa and Japan.

After almost 10 years of the TICAD process in the making, the understanding of the concept of ownership remains elusive and needs to be given serious attentions. The support of TICAD for New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and African development in general, should be seen to accelerate deeper and broader involvement of civil society organizations into various decision-making processes. More importantly, TICAD process should be a driving force that should ensure that implementation of NEPAD is cast in a framework that guarantees equity and sustainable development for the majority of the African people.

The 9 priority areas of TICAD III are definitely crucial issues to be considered for African development. However, the problem of debt, an issue which presents a barrier to the implementation of all social development programs, is also fundamental for the development perspective of the region. In addition, the two main approaches of TICAD III (intra-African cooperation, and Asia-African cooperation), as well as full participation of civil society organizations of the two regions in the process, are of paramount importance for the success of the TICAD process.

 The TICAD process needs an honest assessment of the progress made during the past ten years in order to take stock of what has been done, and the difficulties and barriers encountered. The assessment should be carried out, not only by the co-organizers, but also by civil society organizations. This will result in a new mechanism for future assessment.

 Partnership is not easily built, and ownership is only affirmed when it is asserted by people living in the grass-root community. Development is people themselves, not the conferences, or the nations. All the participants of the TICAD III may be with people in every community. The success of the TICAD III process lies primarily in the aspirations of the African governments and their people, and also the support of people by other nations like Japan. Civil society needs to take advantage of this process to ensure that their relationship with governments is strengthened, but most importantly to ensure that the voices of the African people are heard.

Viva, Africa!

The list of African NGO participants of symposium of ACT2003 in Tokyo

Ms. Esperence Kayirebe / ARTCF
Ms. Morolake Nwagwu / TAM
Ms. Barbara Masengu Kalima / AFRODAD
Mr. Albino Forquilha / CCM
Ms. Asunta Wagura / KENWA
Ms. Silvia Angey / CDRN
Mr. Reginald Mandola Mentoor / SOMOHO
Ms. Yvonne Khamati / Africa Youth Forum
Mr. Youba Sokona / ENDA-TM
Ms. Lougue Bamba Maria / Pag-La-Yiri

Prior thematic proposals

African and Japanese civil society participants working on thematic prior issues on African development recommend the following;

1: Debt cancellation and Fair and Transparent Arbitration mechanisms

2: HIV/AIDS

3: Agriculture with the concept of rural development

4: Peace building

5: Education

6: TICAD spirit project

1: Proposal for Debt cancellation and Fair and Transparent Arbitration mechanisms

The debt problems facing most countries of the world today should not be seen in isolation of other development processes. There is general agreement among different stakeholders that debt and heavy debt servicing obligations have impacted quite negatively on development, especially on basic social services, such as education and health, of most countries. The debts make development unsustainable and cannot be paid at the expense of human lives. Thus, it is strongly urged that the debt issue be brought back to the TICADIII agenda and be given the attention that it truly deserves.

Since development cannot be sustained for long unless the beneficiaries address the challenges as their own, African development has to be initiated and led by Africans themselves. And for such efforts to bear fruit, the international community should respect the initiatives of Africa and support its efforts from an equal position.

It is the prime responsibility of every country to ensure sound economic, social and environmental conditions and to put in place domestic policies aimed at effective poverty reduction. Poor domestic management, overburdened and inefficient administrative systems, outright corruption, and more generally the lack of the rule of law are among the reasons why in the past indigenous development has frequently remained disappointing, and why official development aid has often not fulfilled its expectations.

African Governments must create mechanisms to establish and improve regular consultations with authentic civil society organizations throughout the process of governance and to practise open, transparent and accountable government.

Recommendations:

1) Change the power balance

TICAD process should create a basis that should address the power imbalances between the creditors and the debtors in resolving the illegitimate debt problems of Africa and other less developed countries. There is NEED to create a global governance structure such as the fair and transparent arbitration mechanism that will ensure that the weaker players (Debtors) seek redress in resolution of the debt crisis. This mechanism would be best situated within the UN system, a global governance body that already has enacted protocols and conventions that accordingly enable states to settle their international disputes by negotiation, arbitration, inquiry, mediation, conciliation or other arrangements or other peaceful means of their choice. There is need to explore this possibility of establishing this Debt arbitration mechanism.

 TICAD process should consider;

# Abolition of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) Initiative by the IMF and the World Bank. HIPC Initiative has not been fast and deep enough to deliver genuine debt relief and has failed on the basis that it does not focus on human development. To date, only a few countries have received debt cancellation which also has not seriously addressed the needs of the people.

# Delinking of any debt relief initiatives from the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) processes. PRSP should not be a form of new conditionality for debt relief imposed by the creditors.

2) As financial sources of development

Debt cancellation should be seen as one of the important financial sources of development. An immediate and total debt cancellation is called for, and sizable increase of Official Development Assistance (grant and untied) to Africa and other severely indebted countries should be implemented with less conditionalities that may undermine their development process.

# TICAD process should also consider the implementation of Currency Transaction Tax (CTT), as a new financial resource for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

3) Directly for social development, especially for poverty elimination

It is urged to build a framework where the money freed by debt cancellation will be used for basic social services such as education and health. The proposed Jubilee framework, namely "Fair and Transparent Arbitration Processes (FTAP)", is a comprehensive process, whose impartial arbitration panel is composed of the debtor government, the creditor government, and representatives from the civil societies of both debtor and creditor communities. FTAP should seek redress of illegitimate debts and retrieval of stolen wealth by despotic regimes. 

2: Proposal for HIV/AIDS and other Infectious Diseases

Tokyo Agenda for Action of TICAD II(*1), adopted in Tokyo Japan in 1998, states that "Ownership is derived when development priorities, as set by Africa, are pursued". In light of the above, the representatives of African and Japanese civil societies working on HIV/AIDS and People　living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), including the Pan-African Treatment Access　Movement (PATAM), recommend the following; 

1) Integrated approaches needed

TICAD process should recognize the importance of a comprehensive continuum of care, which incorporates HIV prevention, voluntary and confidential counseling and testing with care, support and treatment. This should include the management of opportunistic infections and provision of antiretroviral therapy, and should remove all barriers to accessing essential drugs. South-south cooperation of transferring pharmaceutical technology should be supported by TICAD process. And these efforts should be accompanied with treatment education and literacy programs and activities. 

2) Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS programs supported by Africa and its development partners consistently act in line with GIPA (Greater Involvement of People living with HIV/AIDS) and UNGASS Declaration, which both advocate for the greater and meaningful involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS. 

3) The Socio-Economic Needs of Poor and Vulnerable Communities

TICAD process should recognize and address the socio-economic needs of poor and vulnerable communities that are burdened more by the effects of HIV/AIDS. 

4) Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

The Japanese Government and other development partners should honor their commitment to support and strengthen the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which can reach a wider and diverse group of people whom individual partners might not have the mandate to reach directly.

<Note>
*1 Tokyo Agenda for Action, Second Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD II) 19-21 October 1998

 3: Proposal for agricultural development for sustainable livelihood

In Africa, a greater proportion of the poor population resides in the rural area. It is of primary importance for these people to be released from chronic shortage of food and receive increased income without destroying the environment for leading a safe and stable life. However, the problem lies in the vulnerability of the rural community which appears to be stable at a glance.

Therefore, food security should be regarded as one of the daily issues at various levels, so that sustainable agriculture can prevent a sudden food crisis, as well as complete the objective of food sufficiency as soon as possible. 

For the above purpose, the following points are to be taken into account.

1) Aspect of rural development
Rural development should not be taken to mean only food production.

Rural development should target not only the expansion of production in agriculture, forestry, livestock and fishery, but also the problem from a comprehensive viewpoint covering health, environment, water, education and gender. It should also be noted that a widening gap between the rich and the poor undermines the development efforts.

2) Aspect of the development adjusted to the variety of area
African agriculture has lots of varieties. It is necessary to promote development which is based on the characters of the varieties; soil, rainfall and the farming system, historically established.

 Recommendation:

1) Assistance to agricultural development in a comprehensive Agriculture and Rural Development Survey

The accumulation of data concerning the farmers' situation in each country or region is needed for the farmers and the government. This survey should be based on five capitals (natural, social, human, physical and financial) in each region. The survey should cover major crops selected by local farmers and seed, soil activation, optimum combination of organic farming and inorganic fertilizers, agricultural cooperative, farmers' organizations including water management, processing and marketing of farm products en route to the main purpose of better life for farmers. Development partners should support this survey. 

2) Assistance to agricultural extension in promotion of farming dissemination

This should be based on the varieties of African agriculture. In the flow of privatization, 'dissemination' promoted by the multinational enterprise is frequently not suitable to the local condition. Farming dissemination should primarily be promoted by the government and local/International NGOs, so that farmers who are parties concerned, can select the best way among other options. Development partners should support this policy. 

3) Long-term assistance to soil activation, including organic farming.

Soil activation is fundamental in agriculture as well as water management. For many communities of rural areas in Africa, organic farming, characterized by small input and low cost, is to be utilized more positively from the viewpoint of variety and stability of food production. Development partners should support this. 

4) Total assistance to agricultural research on varieties of crop; the crops should be suitable for Africa and selected by local farmers.

In order to achieve African Food Security, it is necessary to promote the kind of development, research and extension of the crop where its possibility is visible. However, genetically modified organisms (GMO) are dangerous, with serious repercussions to the environment. Development partners should support policies leading to sustainable agriculture. This should also be applied for NERICA. 

5) Food Aid: Its two sides

Food aid in emergency is crucial. However, perpetuated food aid frequently poses problems, such as a reduction of food prices on the market because of excess food supply. African governments and development partners should consider the need of food aid so that farmers and producers of food can lead stable lives.

 6) Long-term cooperation from the macro point of view, between Africa and Development partners other than short-term and disintegrated projects.

In order to achieve the " Millennium Development Goal " including the target of reducing the ratio of starvation and poor population to half by 2015, enormous funding and the expertise are necessary. Development partners should accelerate the " north - south dialogue momentum, " so that the necessary financial cooperation, private investment and trade promotion can be enhanced, corresponding to the spirit of African Ownership presented with the NEPAD. 

4: Proposal for conflict prevention and peace building

First of all, enormous human and physical suffering caused by armed conflicts must be restored immediately. However, restoration of pre-war condition is not sufficient for conflict prevention. Only through restructuring of social structures that were the ultimate causes of conflicts would post-conflict peace building and conflict prevention in general be possible.

Hereby is put forth a proposal for conflict prevention and peace building in terms of:

1) Reactive Peace Building actions reacting the results caused by violent conflicts.
2) Structural Peace Building political, economic and social system to prevent armed conflicts and their recurrence.

1) Reactive Peace Building Actions Reacting the Results Caused by Violent Conflicts

1)-1. Humanitarian assistance for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs)

To implement humanitarian assistance for refugees and IDPs, TICAD process should emphasize that foreign governments and international organizations must respect the principle of neutrality to avoid benefiting particular political groups.

1)-2. Repatriation of refugees and IDPs

In order to facilitate the return and settlement of the refugees and IDPs, and to prevent the recurrence of conflicts, TICAD process should emphasize that foreign assistance must be provided to improve social, economic and security environment for resettlement. 

1)-3. Disarmament and demobilization

The process of disarmament and demobilization is not only military operations but involves long-term political and social issues. Confidence building between the parties is essential for the process to be successful. TICAD process should emphasize that international society should respect the neutrality of civil society in the process.

1)-4. Collection of Small Arms and Light Weapons

TICAD process should emphasize that the struggle by impartial local NGOs must be supported by international society to collect weapons during demobilization period. Their neutrality can promote dialogue, reconciliation and civic education, and lead communities to denounce weapons and strive for peace. 

1)-5. Reconstruction of houses, public facilities

TICAD process should emphasize that the decision-making process on the reconstruction plan should be done democratically with the concept of poverty reduction, social equality, economic development, human rights, education, social welfare and respect of traditional culture.

2). "Structural" Peace Building - political, economic and social system to prevent armed conflicts and their recurrence.

2)-1. Recovery of the judicial system (reconstruction of civil and criminal justice) and security (police) in the post-conflict countries, maintaining public order and security is needed.

TICAD process should emphasize that African governments must maintain the due process of civil and criminal law by which people resolve conflicts by peaceful means. TICAD process should also emphasize that international society must carefully monitor the behavior of national army and police and influence the newly established post war governments to regulate irregular paramilitary groups.

2)-2. Reconstruction of administrative sector and democratization

TICAD process should emphasize that newly established post war governments must keep the objective standard in recruitment for the administrative sector.

TICAD process should also emphasize that international society and international/local NGOs should warn of the threat or harassment on the process of elections.

2)-3. Regulation of the illicit trafficking of small arms & light weapons and scarce natural resources

a) Small arms & light weapons
In addition to the regulation of the buyers, TICAD process should emphasize that the supplier countries should control the transfer of arms including lawful export and promote disarmament and reforms of armaments industry of their own.

b) Scarce natural resources
TICAD process should emphasize that natural resources such as timber, oil and mineral ore must be controlled and monitored, as in the case of conflict diamonds. Concrete process for the realization of the principles such as good governance corporate governance and settlement of democracy should be discussed in TICAD III.

 2)-4. Regulating Private Military Companies (PMCs).

The existence of mercenary and PMCs stuns consolidation of peace in the society and could lead to easy armament and arms race. Thus, TICAD process should give the international society pressure to ban mercenary and PMCs in the regions where political conflict tends to become a violent one.

2)-5. National reconciliation, social harmonization and restorative justice.

TICAD process should emphasize that development partners should respect the initiative of newly established post war government when it constructs the systems for conflict resolution. At the same time, it is an important role of the development partners and international NGOs to provide logistic and monitoring support for the management of such systems. TICAD process should also emphasize that development partners and international development NGOs should be conscious of national and communal reconciliation in their development programs. 

2)-6. Promoting peace culture through education and other cultural activities.

TICAD process should emphasize that the central and local governments should promote an education system by which citizens could learn a variety of subjects and acquire skills and knowledge necessary for establishing peace culture and democracy. TICAD process should emphasize that activities by NGOs to promote peace education should be supported.

2)-7. Economic and social re-integration of refugees, IDPs, returnees and ex-combatants.

TICAD process should emphasize that it is important for economic and social re-integration to encourage the programs for agriculture, forestry and fishery, small enterprises and communities. As well, TICAD process should emphasize that newly established post-war government must respect the land ownership. So-called compulsory assimilation policy must not be adopted. 

5: Proposal for education

1) Right to education
TICAD process should affirm the importance of Dakar adult literacy, quality improvement, early childhood education and life skills goals as fundamental dimensions of the right to education, crucial weapons against poverty and inequality and necessary complements to universal primary education.

2) Resources on basic education
African governments should mobilize resources on basic education and take steps to remove or reduce the array of charges and fees including hidden costs that keep poor children out of school to make basic education free and compulsory by 2005. 

3) Support to the government Fast Track strategy.
Bilateral and multilateral agencies should significantly increase the support to basic education for African countries with a strong policy and financial commitment to the sector to achieve the goals of basic education and to immediately release the financing required to implement the Fast Track strategies that have qualified, and to finance new elements of the education sector especially recurrent costs and to adapt their existing projects to support the government Fast Track strategy.

4) Expansion of FTI and removal of barriers.
TICAD process should expand the FTI (Fast Track Initiative) to address all six of EFA (Education For All) goals and expansion of the FTI to a broader range of countries. For this to happen, the existing eligibility criteria must be made more flexible and the selection process more transparent. In particular, the requirement for full PRSP is a barrier to expansion, and excludes many countries that have a strong track record on education development.

6: Proposal for TICAD spirit projects for future assessment

10 years ago, the Tokyo Declaration clearly mentioned that the Sprit to be advanced through effective policies and actions. "TICAD 10th Anniversary Declaration" should not forget the spirit of the TICAD or TICAD-Spirit, which states, quote: We, the participants of TICAD, pledge to take, in our respective spheres of responsibility, measures aimed at advancing the spirit of this Declaration through effective policies and actions unquote.

In this respect, TICAD organizers are requested to identify the TICAD spirit project and invite African countries and civil society into its monitoring and evaluation process. The following points are presented for consideration by TICAD III.

 [Defining TICAD spirit projects]
Eligibility: Proposals will be invited from all the African governments and NGOs, as well as from governments and NGOs of other continents, from international organizations, to select appropriate projects. Selection criteria: "Which projects clearly manifest the spirit of TICAD" will be determined through discussions. 

[Selection Committee]
Committee members will consist of personnel of government and NGO from Japan and Africa.

 [Budget]
Budget will be provided for at least five years for the selected projects as TICAD spirit projects (the budget will be appropriated from forthcoming ODA for Africa, financial contributions to the international agencies, NGO budget and others. The appropriation will be made inside the existing budgetary framework.)

 [Monitoring and evaluation]
Similar to the Selecting Committee, members for this purpose will be invited from a wider range of the stakeholders and the entire process of monitoring and evaluation will be disclosed to the public.

 It is high time that TICAD process established a mechanism to implement a number of TICAD-spirit projects so that the discussions at the past three TICAD meetings will be put into practice and contribute to the development of Africa.

 [Summary]
TICAD III supports NEPAD. TICAD III is called upon to hear diverse proposals, make the process more transparent and participatory, and make NEPAD truly meaningful for unity of Africa for the sake of all the grass-root people living in the African continent, and fighting for social justice and well-being.

End