TICAD IV

2008年5月30日、横浜 - 今回の第四回アフリカ開発会議（TICAD IV）を通じて日本およびアフリカ各国が抱える課題が繰り返し明らかになりました。それは、指導力と行動の欠如です。市民社会は、アフリカの貧困問題の解決につながる各国の行動と説明責任を求め続けます。アフリカ向け援助の倍増は正しい方向への一歩として歓迎すべきです。しかしながら、日本が今回示した全体的なコミットメントは、期待を裏切るものであったと言わざるを得ません。GNI比0.7％をODAに振り分けるとする目標の達成は、G8がいまだ果たしていない約束の履行において、日本が指導性を発揮するにあたって、自ら避けてはいけない目標です。

アフリカで頭をもたげつつある破滅的な食料危機は、緊急の行動と長期的な対策の両方を必要としています。つまり、貧しい人々の苦難を緩和し、援助と貿易ルールの公正化によって、この危機の原因となっている構造的要因を取り除くことです。また、先物穀物市場への投機マネーの流入や、バリュー・チェーンにおける巨大アグリビジネスの支配を抑えるといったことも必要です。これらの行動なくしては、アフリカが再び紛争に陥り、人命が喪失され、TICAD IVがこれまで目指してきた開発への前進も失われかねません。

TICAD IV NGOネットワーク（TNnet）の冨田沓子
「経済成長を追求するとしても、それは貧困削減のアジェンダが主導し、2015年までにミレニアム開発目標を達成するための具体的行動に裏打ちされたものでなければなりません」。

社会的正義と平等を伴わない成長は持続的ではありません。現在、多くの人々（特に女性や少女）が貧しい状態であり、社会的に排除され、脆弱な立場に追いやられています。TICAD IVは技術的な問題だけでなく、貧困層が裨益するよう、政治的意思を確立し、説明責任に対して積極的であるべきです。インフラ開発を追求する際には、本当に現地コミュニティや地域内の開発ニーズにこたえるものである必要があります。

TICAD IV行動計画は、人間の尊厳、平和、よい統治（グッド・ガバナンス）および民主主義をその中心的な課題に据える必要があります。民主主義と人間の安全保障はアフリカ大陸において、未だ脆弱な平和を強固なものにしていく上で、また貧困を削減し、成長を実現するうえでも、最も重要な基準となります。アフリカが「慈善と援助」から「貿易と開発」に移行するためには、絶対的貧困を終わらせ、平等で、参加型かつ民主的なガバナンス制度を国家と国際社会のレベルにおいて確立するというコミットメントに基づく新しいパートナーシップを必要とします。

気候変動について、市民社会は平等と正義に基づいた対策を求めます。温室効果ガス排出国が自国の排出による影響への対策を強化する必要があります。日本がTICADIVを通して先進諸国を主導し、クール・アースを現実のものとするためには、日本自身が積極的な中期的排出削減目標を掲げる必要があります。これなくしては、いかなる適応努力も失敗に終わります。適応には、既存のODA目標に対して追加的な資金が提供される必要があります。TICAD IVで日本が誇らしげに示した巨額の支援策も、アフリカ向けのものは微々たるものにとどまっており、日本の責任に応じた額に比べて大きく下回っているため、失望をもたらしています。市民社会はまた、気候変動対策資金に借款を活用することは貧しい人々を二重に苦しめることになるため、明確な反対の意思を表明します。また、いかなる適応資金も、影響を受ける国々の参画を確保するために、国連の適応基金を通じて拠出されるべきであり、ドナー主導の新たなメカニズムであってはなりません。

アフリカはこれまで、大きな前進を成し遂げてきましたが、まだ十分ではありません。アフリカの政府はTICAD IVにおいて、アフリカが絶対的貧困から解放され、MDGsを達成するという共通のビジョンを持ち、自らのコミットメントを果たさなければなりません。アフリカ連合とそのメカニズムを活用した、大陸レベルでの共同行動が不可欠です。アフリカ諸国政府は、6月のAUサミットにおいて、TICAD IVで示された機会を展望に基づいて行動へのコミットメントを交わす必要があります。その際に、市場を機能させるための良好な環境整備と、人権と社会正義の実現のバランスをとる必要があります。また、官民連携が貧困層にとって利益をもたらすよう、アフリカ諸国政府がビジョンと指導力を発揮しなければなりません。

アフリカ市民委員会　ギュスターブ・アサー
「日本とアフリカの政府は、TICAD IVフォローアップ・メカニズムにおいて市民社会に明確で機構的な役割を与え、市民社会の参画に対するコミットメントを実現することが求められます。市民社会参画を保障することは、TICAD IVプロセスの説明責任を強化する上で中心的な役割を担います」。

以上

本件に関するお問い合わせは、こちらまでお願いいたします：
TICAD IV・NGOネットワーク（TNnet）
（担　当）谷村　美能里（ワールド・ビジョン・ジャパン）　携帯　090-6537-8098
（事務局）住所：169-0051 新宿区西早稲田1-21-1早大西早稲田ビル７F
電話：03-5286-8261

2008年G8サミットNGOフォーラム
（担　当）稲場　雅紀（アフリカ日本協議会）　携帯　090-1264-8110
（事務局）住所：169-0051　新宿区西早稲田2-3-18 アバコビル５F
電話：03-5292-29101

30 May 2008, Yokohama - As TICAD IV draws to a close, the central recurring theme is a demand for leadership and a call to action – both from Japan and from African governments. Civil society reiterates this demand for urgent action and accountability to the commitments that will contribute to addressing poverty in Africa. The doubling of aid to Africa is a welcome step in the right direction. However, Japan’s overall commitment falls short of expectations. A commitment to 0.7% is an imperative that Japan must not shy away from if it is to provide the leadership to the rest of the G8 delivering on their unrealised promises in Toyako in July.

The looming food catastrophe for Africa demands urgent immediate actions as well as long-term measures. This must include immediate measures to relieve pressures on poor people as well as meeting commitments to aid and trade reform that structurally address the underlying causes, including and end to speculative commodity trading and the mitigating the dominance of large-scale agribusinesses in the value chain. Without these actions, we risk conflict, loss of life, and rolling back the development gains that TICAD IV builds on.

“The focus on economic growth must be driven by a poverty-reduction agenda, underpinned by concrete actions that deliver the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015” said Toko Tomita of Japan’s TICAD IV NGO Network (TNnet).

Growth without social justice and equity is not sustainable. Too many people, especially women and girls, remain poor, vulnerable and excluded. TICAD IV must commit to engage not only the technical issues but also on the importance of delivering for the poor, ensuring political will and being open to accountability. The focus of infrastructure development must put real local needs and intra-regional development at its heart.

Human dignity, peace, good governance and democracy are the corner stones upon which the TICAD IV Action Plan must sit. Democracy and Human security are central to building on the fragile peace in the African continent. This is necessary to deliver both poverty reduction and growth. Moving Africa from ‘charity and aid’ to ‘trade and development’ requires a new partnership model that is founded on a commitment to end absolute poverty and build accountability through equitable, participatory and democratic governance systems at national as well as international levels.

On Climate Change, civil society calls for an approach built on equity and justice. Polluting countries must step up to address the impact of their emissions. Japan, through TICAD IV, must lead on setting high mid-term targets on emissions if it is to provide leadership to other developed countries and make Cool Earth a reality. Without this, efforts on adaptation are doomed to failure. New and additional resources (over and above existing ODA commitments) must be provided. As a proportion of the huge commitment announced at TICAD IV by Japan, its contribution to adaptation in Africa is very small, disappointing and falls well short of what is required. Civil society says “NO” to loans for adaptation as these simply punish poor people twice. We call for support to the UN Adaptation Fund, and not another donor-driven mechanism, to ensure full participation of affected countries.

Africa has made significant progress on poverty and growth, but this is not enough. African governments must deliver on their commitments at TICAD IV with a common vision of an Africa that is free from absolute poverty and achieving the MDGs. Concerted action at continental level, through AU and its mechanisms, is imperative. African governments must commit to action at the AU Summit in June to build on the opportunities created by TICAD IV. A balance must also be struck by African states on delivering on human rights and social justice as well as creating an enabling environment for markets. African states must provide vision and leadership to that Public-Private partnerships deliver for the poor.

“Japan and African governments must make true their commitment for civil society participation through a clear and institutionalised role in the TICAD VI follow-up mechanism. Embracing civil society participation is at the core of strengthening accountability of the TICAD IV process”. concluded Gustave Assah of Civic Commission for Africa.

End

For more information, contact:
Minori Tanimura: +81-(0)90-6537－8098 on behalf of:
TICAD IV NGO Network
c/o Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University, Rm 613-6
1-21-1, 7F Soudainishiwaseda, Bldg.
Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Masaki Inaba: +81-(0)90-1264-8110 on behalf of:
2008 G8 Summit NGO Forum
c/o Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC)
Avaco bldg. 5F, 2-3-8 Nishiwaseda, Shinkuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

In the 15-year history of TICAD, the civil society has always fought for its space as a legitimate development actor in the process. The situation did not improve drastically for the on-going TICAD IV: The civil society is participating in this 5-year cyclic event as an observer with limited access to the main conference hall. There was one small progress, however, this time: The civil society session was adopted as an official program – not side event.

The civil society session gathered 160 people from Africa, Japanese and international civil society organizations, Japanese Government, TICAD co-organizers such as the World Bank, UNDP, the world famous singer and advocate for Africa, Bono, and the Roll-back Malaria Good Will Ambassador, Yvonne Chakachaka. The lively discussion was broadcasted live in the internet.

The biggest disparagement raised by the African civil society was the heavy inclination of TICAD IV to the acceleration of the macro economic growth. The superficial, macro economic growth disguises the aggravating poverty and social inequity. The draft output of TICAD IV as they are now, they criticized, does not take into consideration these negative social impacts of economic growth. The participants explored the issue of social inequity by touching upon the recent social disturbances in many African countries resulting from the food price increase. These events were triggered by the acute increase of prices for sure, but the underlying cause is the persisting social divide between the rich and the poor within the African societies. An urgent action was called on to redistribute the gain of the macro economic growth. The practical, concrete actions are needed to support the small farmers and the people who are engaged in the informal sectors.

TICAD IV is taking place in the midst of global discussion about the impending impact of the climate change to the African people. The mid term review revealed that the achievement of the MDGs by African countries is almost impossible. Is TICAD process in general and Japanese’s aid policy for Africa in specific addressing these fundamental issues? Not sure: If not, then for whom, and for what TICAD is meant to be?

The participants from the African civil society were very candid. TICAD IV seems to put much effort to make and keep African Governments happy. It does not, however, seem to care listening to the ordinary African people, and especially most marginalized people who may not necessarily be represented by the Government. They are the drivers of the African Development, and therefore should be in the centre of the TICAD process. The civil society wants TICAD to be owned by the African people, and it is possible. For that to happen, TICAD should recognize that it is no longer only the government that functions in the interest of people.

“Dynamic social movements happen when there is a dynamic individual or group of individuals,” said Bono. These movements are often backed by the true voices that come from within. “(Therefore) we cannot not to consult the Civil Society because they bring these voices of the people to the policy discussion and deliver the commitment to the people” followed Mr. Hartwig Schafer of the World Bank. “African Civil Society must regain its volunteer corps that contributes to the development of their own communities and enhance solidarity,” further added Mr. Thierno Kane of UNDP. All comments reconfirm the opening speech by H.E. Mr. Yasushi Kurokochi, the Chair of TICAD I: The achievement of vibrant Africa depends on the vibrant people and vibrant civil society.

“The paradigm shift in the African development started when G8 including Japan committed for the debt relieve. Now we need to make them keep their words,” added Bono.

Government of course represents its people – if it is legitimately elected and trusted by the public. Otherwise, the role of the civil society becomes even more important. It is imperative for the civil society to engage in the whole process of TICAD – from selection of the agenda, to drafting the output documents to implementation to monitoring. The comment from Mr. Hiroki of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was encouraging. “Japanese Government honors its promise,” he said. “One promise that we make here is that we would work closely with the Civil Society: both African and Japanese.”

Contacts:TICAD IV・NGO Network TNnet）
Ms. Minori Tanimura, World Vision Japan / mobile: =81- (0) 90-6537-8098
Ms. Mariko Yamada, TICAD civil society forum / mobile: +81-(0)90-9623-5205
Address: Sodai Nishi Waseda Building 7th floor
Nishi Waseda 1-21-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0051
Telephone: +81-(0)3-5286-8261

Excellences Monsieur le Premier Ministre du Japon,
Excellences Messieurs les chefs d’Etat et des Gouvernements,
Monsieur le Président de la Conférence,
Mesdames et Messieurs les chefs de délégation
Chers collègues des ONG Africaines, des ONG de la diaspora et Internationales et de la Société Civile Japonaise
Honorables Invités

Je voudrais saisir cette opportunité pour féliciter le gouvernement du JAPON et tous les coorganisateurs pour la bonne organisation de la présente rencontre dans cette merveilleuse ville de YOKOHAMA.

La TICAD IV survient dans un contexte de hausse importante des prix de denrées alimentaires liée a une pénurie généralisée ; et de l’envol du prix du pétrole, en relation avec les conflits dans les pays producteurs.

Ce contexte, ainsi que les défis actuels de développement doivent guider notre approche et nos délibérations de la TICAD IV.

Les Objectifs de développement du Millénaire: OMD

Les OMD mettent en évidence le besoin fondamental d’un développement social pour réduire la pauvreté.
En d’autres termes, la croissance économique en elle seule ne peut assurer aucune réduction durable de la pauvreté.

Excellences Messieurs les chefs d’Etat et des Gouvernements

La question de savoir si les OMD seront atteints ne se pose plus. Mais on doit plutôt se demander si les pays développés et les gouvernements africains ont la volonté politique et le leadership nécessaires de leur réalisation.

Hier, il a été mentionné ici qu’il existe d’importants gaps de ressource par rapport a la réalisation des OMD, y compris la fuite des cerveaux.

Nous espérons que le processus de la TICAD contribuera à réduire ces gaps.

Il n’y a pas d’investissement financier trop grand pour le développement. Rien que pour les problèmes de santé, l’Afrique perd chaque années plus de 8 millions de vie ! Ceci est inacceptable !

Investir dans les OMD, devrait être perçu comme une sorte de plan Marshall pour soutenir un développement accru et durable pendant la période nécessaire.

Il n’est pas exagérer de dire que les OMD ne peuvent être atteints sans une implication et partenariat avec la société civile.

Excellences Messieurs les chefs d’Etat et des Gouvernements,
Monsieur le Président de la conférence,

Beaucoup a été dit hier au sujet de la démocratisation en Afrique. L'Afrique a éprouvé quelques développements positifs pendant la décennie passée, avec au moins douze présidents retraités respectant leurs limites constitutionnelles et remettant paisiblement le pouvoir après des élections.

En outre plusieurs conflits prolongés ont été également résolus. De tels développements positifs démontrent que la démocratisation dépend de plusieurs facteurs.

Le défi pour toutes les démocraties naissantes, particulièrement, ceux en Afrique est de s'assurer que la consolidation démocratique est engagée dans la redistribution. Il ne peut y avoir aucune paix à long terme en Afrique sans développement redistributif.

Excellences Messieurs les chefs d’Etat et des Gouvernements,
Monsieur le Président de la conférence,

TICAD IV doit remettre la question de la démocratisation à son ordre du jour et la lier avec la paix et le développement. Les pays africains et leurs partenaires doivent évoluer de la démocratie de façade vers des formes de gouvernement qui favorisent la participation démocratique et responsable,

Des inquiétudes sérieuses ont été exprimées hier concernant la crise alimentaire actuelle résultant des facteurs comme les nouvelles habitudes de consommation , le prix en hausse de pétrole brut et d'autres sources d'énergie aussi bien que des problèmes structuraux de longue date concernant l’agriculture des pays en voie de développement.

Nous avons entendu hier de plusieurs chefs d'Etat dire que la crise pourrait faire reculer le progrès que l'Afrique a accompli en termes de développement économique, paix et sécurité.

L'augmentation des prix de denrées alimentaires a frappé en particulier les pauvres des villes et dans les milieux ruraux.

Du coup les personnes handicapées, les femmes, les enfants et les personnes vivant avec le HIV/SIDA, la Tuberculose et le paludisme sont de plus en plus vulnérables et marginalisés.

Concernant le changement climatique, nous accueillons avec plaisir l’initiative dénommée TICAD « Cool Earth ».

Nous avons besoin également des nouvelles ressources, en plus de l’APD existante afin que l’impact soit significatif. Nous appelons également la coordination par les Nations Unies pour éviter la duplication et la confusion des efforts.

Les pays africains doivent adopter l’approche « Réduction des Risques de Dégât » et renforcer leur capacité dans ce sens.

Quels sont alors le rôle et la responsabilité de la société civile en tant que partenaire dans le développement, étant donné le contexte actuel ?

La société civile est considérée comme acteur principal de la promotion de la liberté, des valeurs politiques, et comme avocat pour la justice sociale, la participation démocratique, la bonne gouvernance et la résolution des conflits. Elle joue un rôle important dans la transition et la consolidation démocratique.

Pour que la société civile joue effectivement ce rôle, elle doit être autorégulatrice, indépendante de l'état, et être conforme aux règles communes qui guident et réglementent leurs activités. Ils agissent également en tant que canaux par lesquels les citoyens articulent leurs intérêts et soucis.

La société civile influence également le changement social, en encourageant l'état à faire les changements structurels et à élaborer des politiques en faveur des intérêts sociaux communs.

Cependant, le rôle de la société civile dans le processus de la démocratisation peut être entravé par la dépendance aux financements externes, les gouvernements hostiles, et les questions telles que la polarisation d'appartenance ethnique, de religion et de genre.

Le positionnement unique de la société civile parmi les communautés affectées, son travail dans les domaines de recherche et d’analyse aussi bien que des efforts de plaidoyer avec les structures nationales, régionale et internationale, font de la société civile un partenaire crédible et efficace dans beaucoup de cas.

Dans cette perspective, la société civile africaine et japonaise participant au processus de la TICAD réitère les observations soulevées précédemment car notre soucis est que l'aide vers l'Afrique ne devrait plus recréer la crise de dette d’où certaines de nos économies ont récemment émergé, et d’où les autres doivent aussi s’affranchir.

Monsieur le Président de la conférence,

Avec toute la considération que nous avons pour le plan d'action de la TICAD et de son mécanisme de suivi, nous joignons notre voix a celle des nombreux appels de nos chefs d'Etat hier pour que les dits documents soient explicites, avec des objectifs limites dans le temps et mesurables.

Etant donné le point auquel les organisateurs du processus de TICAD ont cherché à faire participer la société civile jusqu'ici, nous avons sans doute que c'était une inadvertance simple et invite avec respect les organisateurs à apporter l'amendement nécessaire et à confirmer la participation de la société civile dans le mécanisme.

Enfin, la TICAD IV doit placer le développement centré sur les personnes au centre de son ordre du jour et de devenir un forum pour un partenariat gagnant gagnant entre l'Etat, le secteur privé et la société civile.

Nous avons l’espoir que nos gouvernants agiront de manière unie avec la richesse de nos diversités africaines, la promotion de la solidarité internationale avec la mise en valeur des besoins des populations pauvres tout comme le renforcement de l’évaluation et l’obligation de rendre compte.

Excellences Messieurs les chefs d’Etat et des Gouvernements,
Monsieur le Président de la Conférence,
Mesdames et Messieurs les chefs de délégation

Nous espérons que le gouvernement japon et les coorganisateurs ainsi que les gouvernements africains considéreront les propositions des peuples africains et japonais pour que les efforts d’aides soient en faveur des plus pauvres.

Je vous remercie.

For more information, contact:
Minori Tanimura: +81-(0)90-6537－8098 on behalf of:
TICAD IV NGO Network
c/o Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University, Rm 613-6
1-21-1, 7F Soudainishiwaseda, Bldg.
Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Masaki Inaba: +81-(0)90-1264-8110 on behalf of:
2008 G8 Summit NGO Forum
c/o Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC)
Avaco bldg. 5F, 2-3-8 Nishiwaseda, Shinkuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

TICAD IV takes place amidst rising food prices as a result of global shortages and runaway oil prices related to conflict in oil producing countries. The consequence of this will be greater strife at the local level resulting in mass protests, leading to conflict and possibly civil war in very fragile states. This context, together with the prevailing development challenges must inform our approach to all the issues at TICAD IV.

MDGs
MDGs underline the fundamental need for social development in poverty reduction. In other words statistical economic growth alone is not enough for the sustainable reduction of poverty. Achieving the MDGs is not an end goal in itself. The associated provision of food security, education, gender equality, improving child and maternal health, reducing or eradicating diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB, will contribute to the reduction of poverty, desperation and misery which fuel instability and conflict thereby undermining development.　

That the MDGs can be met is not in question. What is in question is if both developed countries and African governments can muster the political will to do so. In addition, as we heard yesterday, critical resource gaps stand in the way of the achievement of the MDGs. These resource gaps include the loss of medical personnel as the result of the brain drain experienced by many of our countries. It is our hope that the TICAD process will go a long way towards the bridging of these resource gaps.

No amount is too much to invest in human development. Africa is currently losing over 8 million lives a year to health related reasons and this is unacceptable. Investment in the MDGs should be seen as a kind of Marshall Plan for Africa – increased and sustained development support over the period necessary for the infrastructure for sustainable development to be in place.

It cannot be overstated that the MDGs cannot be achieved without the input and partnership of civil society. This partnership should be based on mutual respect and interdependence. Civil society involvement should not be tokenistic, but strategic and at all stages of key processes.

Much was said yesterday about democratisation in Africa. Africa has experienced some positive developments over the past decade, with at least twelve retired Presidents completing their constitutional terms and peacefully handing over power after elections. In addition several protracted conflicts have also been resolved. Such positive developments are premised on the realisation that democratisation depends on several factors. These include the existence of a leadership that understands and embraces democratic ideals; political institutions who are repositories and guarantors of democratic values; and civil society and international actors playing specific and clearly defined roles.

However, despite this, the recent events in South Africa have also indicated that even in a highly developed country like South Africa, with a relatively strong economy, and institutionalised democratic structures, huge gaps in income, high unemployment and continuing poverty for the majority of people will threaten such strong foundations of democracy.

The challenge therefore for all emerging democracies, especially, those in Africa is to ensure that democratic consolidation is embarked upon alongside redistributive development. There can be no long term peace in Africa without redistributive development. TICAD IV has to put back the issue of democratisation on its agenda and link it with peace and development. African countries and their partners have to evolve developmental agendas complimented by forms of governance that promote democratic, responsible, participation.

Overwhelming concerns were expressed yesterday about the current food crisis resulting from factors including the changing food consumption patterns in the world, the rising price of crude oil and other sources of energy along long term structural issues relating to the agricultural sectors of developing countries. Some of the implications of the current food crisis include rising inflation, unemployment, increased insecurity and social strife. We heard yesterday from several heads of state that the food crisis has the potential to role back the progress which Africa has made in terms of economic development, peace and security.

The increase in food prices has hit particularly the urban poor who are increasingly spending more on food or have reduced the number of meals consumed. The price increases have also affected the rural poor who have to spend more on other commodities and for access to services like transport and communication. Women, children and people living with the diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria are among the most marginalised in the wake of the rising food prices.

What then is the role of civil society as a development partner, given the prevailing context?

Civil Society is regarded as the foundation of liberty, agents for promoting political values, and advocates for social justice, democratic participation, good governance and conflict resolution. They play an important role in both democratic transition and consolidation. In order for civil society to effectively play this role, they need to be self-regulating, autonomous of the State, and need to subscribe to a set of common rules that guide and regulate their activities. They also act as channels through which citizens articulate their interests and concerns. Civil society also influences social change, through encouraging the State to make structural changes and to produce policy outputs that enhance common social interests. However, the role of civil society in the democratisation process can be hampered by dependence on external funding, hostile governments, and issues such as ethnicity, religion and gender bias.

With respect to the current food crisis civil society entities have an important contribution to make in national efforts to address the crisis. The unique positioning of civil society among affected communities, its work in the areas of research and analysis as well as advocacy efforts with national, regional and global policy making institutions, make civil society a credible and effective partner in many instances. We urge the organisers of the TICAD process, national governments and regional organisations to maximise on this partnership opportunity.

Yesterday, our esteemed Excellencies invited the Government of Japan and their development partners in general to partner with African countries in the fight to enhance human security by eradicating poverty and consolidating democracy on the continent. In so doing, African and Japanese civil society participating on the TICAD process have repeated the observations raised previously. Our concerns centre around the fact that assistance to Africa should not recreate the debt crisis from which some of our economies have recently emerged, and from which have yet to emerge.

Esteemed participants, with respect to the TICAD Action Plan and the Follow Up Mechanism; we echo the numerous calls from our heads of States yesterday that the Plan of Action should be comprehensive, time bound, implementable and measurable. With respect to the Follow Up Mechanism, right from its inception at TICAD III, the participation of civil society was always envisioned. However, Japanese and African Civil Society have noted with disappointment the omission of civil society as participants in the proposal for the Follow Up Mechanism which has been distributed here. Given the extent to which the organisers of the TICAD process have sought to involve civil society to date, we have no doubt that this was a simple oversight and respectfully urge the organisers to make the necessary amendment and confirm the participation of civil society in the Mechanism.

Finally, TICAD V must strive to place people centered development at the core of its agenda and become a forum for a true partnership among the State, the private sector and civil society.

For more information, contact:
Minori Tanimura: +81-(0)90-6537－8098 on behalf of:
TICAD IV NGO Network
c/o Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University, Rm 613-6
1-21-1, 7F Soudainishiwaseda, Bldg.
Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Masaki Inaba: +81-(0)90-1264-8110 on behalf of:
2008 G8 Summit NGO Forum
c/o Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC)
Avaco bldg. 5F, 2-3-8 Nishiwaseda, Shinkuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan