(Provisional Translation)
14 September 2007
Right Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura,
c/o Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Letter of Request on the Citizens’Participation in TICAD Process
Right Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs,
We have the honour to present our compliments and express our profoundest respect for the dedication and enthusiasm with which you are applying yourself to demands of official duties, both domestic and external. The government of Japan has in recent years been deepening its interest in and involvement with African affairs, setting its sight on the approaching TICAD IV (The fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development) and G8 Summit both expected in 2008 and universally mounting are expectations on development of Japan’s cooperation with Africa under your illustrations and dynamic leadership. It goes without saying that the role of the government in promoting African development is broad but in the same breath we would add that the private sector and civil society organizations can and actually do contribute a great deal to Africa’s development, as the instances of NGOs of advanced countries indicate, drawing on their capability as well as their own knowledge and expertise. To this point we beg to draw your attention and seek your understanding.
We, the undersigned Japanese NGOs long interested and involved in the development of Africa, decided to take joint action toward TICAD IV expected to take place in Yokohama between May 28 and 30, 2008. We decided on March 9, 2007, to form an alliance with the official title of “TICAD IV・NGO Network”, in brief “TNnet”. We are determined to follow up on activities of African and Japanese Civil Society Organizations on the occasion of, and in preparation for, the last three sessions of TICAD and wish to play an important role in rejuvenating and revolutionizing TICAD in its up-coming fourth session now only a year away, with a view to creating a new partnership in a new era.
To our great regret, the last TICAD sessions were not quite open to citizens. The main player of African development is each and every individual member of the African public. In Africa, the civil society organizations —and nothing else— are struggling with, and convey effectively the voices of, the people on the grass-roots level to the authorities.
When representatives of such organizations are formally invited and participate, TICAD will make a genuine contribution to African development. And many civil society organizations in Japan have for many years grappled with the objectives of grass-roots assistance in Africa. It is only when such African and Japanese civil society organizations are given seats at the meeting places that TICAD will become the forum to take up with concerted efforts the question of African development. And TICAD where citizens are welcomed as partners will win the support and sympathy from a wide range of citizens in both Africa and Japan.
TICAD is soon to meet for the fourth time and, while promoting and expanding the historical significance of TICAD I, is expected to face and introduce bold reforms on the basis of various changes in environments inside and outside Africa, in such sectors as furtherance of democracy, economic reforms, expansion of cooperation with Asian countries and reform of international cooperation. We are convinced that TICAD open to citizens is the precondition of a “TICAD in the new era”.
In order for TICAD process to be truly meaningful for African people who are engaged in their fight against poverty, injustice and conflicts and aim to carve out a promising future, partnership between the government and civil society is indispensable. We are thus desirous that the process toward TICAD IV will be open to African and Japanese civil society and hence take the liberty to put forth the following requests.
1. We request that African and Japanese NGOs be given seats as full-fledged members at various occasion of preparations leading up to TICAD IV.
2. TICAD is scheduled to convene Regional Meetings in October and November 2007 in Africa and a ministerial meeting between January and March 2008 and in this connection we present the following requests for your favourable consideration:
(1) The Regional Meetings allow the participation of African and Japanese NGOs as full-fledged participants.
N.B. In the past TICAD sessions they were allowed to be present only as observers.
(2) The co-organizers bear the cost of participation and transportation for NGOs of Japan and Africa.
(3) TNnet be consulted on the selection of NGO participants to be invited to the Regional Meetings.
N.B. TNnet includes many NGOs engaged in cooperation activities in Africa and co-ordinates regular consultation meetings between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NGOs. And in October, TNnet will organize a symposium in Tokyo with the participation of African NGOs.
(4) The Regional Meetings plan and programme a Civil Society Session organized by the African and Japanese NGOs as one of the Committee Meetings, not as a mere side event.
(5) Like in the TICAD Ministerial Meeting of last March, the Regional Meetings arrange for a summary report of the Civil Society Session (cf. the preceding sub-paragraph) to be introduced to the plenary session.
3. Concerning TICAD IV, we permit ourselves to set forth the following 7-point request.
(1) NGOs of Africa and Japan be accepted, not as observers but as full-fledged participants.
(2) Like in the previous instance, ten African NGO representatives be invited at the expense of the TICAD co-organizers insofar as their travel costs and incidentals are concerned.
(3) On the selection of participating NGOs, TNnet be consulted.
(4) As one of TICAD Committee Meetings there be a Civil Society Session managed by NGOs of Africa, Japan and Asia themselves, not as a side-event of TICAD.
(5) Like in the TICAD ministerial meeting, the Plenary Meeting hear the presentation of the summary report of the Civil Society Session.
(6) Consultation be held with NGOs on the programme of any side events involving NGOs.
(7) The side events be made open to the citizens.
In concluding the present letter of request, we avail ourselves of this opportunity to extend assurances of our respect and to renew our sincere wishes for the best of health.
TICAD IV・NGO Network
Composed of:
ASHINAGA
ADEO Japan
Community Action Development Organization
Africa Shumpei Kambe Fellowship
Africa Japan Forum
Africa Reconciliation Committee
Africa-Rikai Project
Association for Field Research information and Collaboration in Africa
AIDS orphans support NGO ・PLAS
Oxfam Japan
CARE International Japan
Japan NGO Centre for International Cooperation
Space Allies
TICAD Civil Society Forum
Association for Aid and Relief, Japan
Foster Parents Plan of Japan (Plan Japan)
RESULTS Japan
Japan Association of NGOs for Agriculture and Rural Development
HUNGER FREE WORLD
Peace Winds Japan
Hottokenai, Sekai no Mazushisa / Don’t Let It Be: World Poverty / GCAP Japan
Action for Greening Sahel
World Clean Project
World Vision Japan