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++++TCSF English Newsletter Extra++++ May 29, 2008

Viva! Africa: People's Network across Continents
Published by TICAD Civil Society Forum (TCSF)
http://ticad-csf.net/eng/
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Following statement was presented by Mr. Gustave Assah at the TICAD IV
plenary session

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Statement of the African, Japanese and International Civil Society
Organisations at TICAD IV

Yokohama, 29th May, 2008

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

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