TICAD Civil Society Forum Home Page

　　TCSF English Newsletter No.12

++++TCSF English Newsletter No.12++++ December 14, 2007

Viva! Africa: People's Network across Continents
Published by TICAD Civil Society Forum (TCSF)
http://ticad-csf.net/eng/index.htm
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Dear colleagues,
Our English newsletter contains information about TCSF's Activities
and Japanese aid support toward Africa. We hope to strengthen our
network with you by sharing information about our activities.
Thank you.
------------[Index]--------------

1. Feature Stories
- Africa-Asia NGO network Tokyo workshop
- TICAD IV・NGO network Symposium “Re-thinking African Development
from Point of View of Civil Society”
- TICAD IV Regional Preparatory Meeting in Lusaka, Zambia
- TICAD IV Regional Preparatory Meeting in Tunis, Tunisia
2. Topics of Japan-Africa Relation and Japan's Aid support
- Yokohama International Festival 2007
- "Voices" from Ghana toward Africa 2008 Campaign
- The Japanese Government supports the science technology study in
Asia-Africa district for the next year.
- Other Topics
3. Correction

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[1] Feature Stories
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* Africa-Asia NGO Network Workshop*
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THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY?!

It was probably the first time in Japanese history that so many African
NGOs were represented in Tokyo. This was made possible by JICA
sponsoring the travel, accommodation and daily expenses of 13 NGOs from
across the continent. Representatives from Benin, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya
(2), Madagascar, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia
(2) contributed in a workshop designed to produce recommendations of
African and Japanese civil societies towards International Conference on
African Development (TICAD IV) and the G8 Summit to be held in Japan
next year in May and July respectively. TCSF played as a secretariat of
the Africa Asia NGO network workshops in Nairobi (September 17-18, 2007)
and Tokyo (October 24-26, 2007).

Half of the sponsored participants came with the products of the Nairobi
workshop, ie; 1) the working group summaries on investment and economic
growth, human security, environmental conservation and climate change, 2)
the Africa-Asia joint statement towards development partners and 3) Voices
of African civil society. The other half which were invited to Japan, were
implementing partners of Japanese NGOs working in Africa. A few Japanese
NGOs participated in both the Nairobi and Tokyo workshops too!

It might be worth mentioning that it was the first time in history 1)
Japanese NGOs connected with African civil society and 2) African NGOs
connected with other African NGOs through the TV screen. The video conference
held at the very end of the three day workshop was designed to provide an
instant feedback of the outcomes of the Tokyo workshop to the Nairobi workshop
participants as well as newcomers to the Africa-Asia NGO network.

Finally, last but not least, this was the first time JICA sponsored
workshops 1) to promote networking amongst African, Asian (represented by
Bangladesh and the Philippines) and Japanese civil societies. JICA and TCSF
have learned many lessons in planning and realizing these workshops and are
open to any suggestions for improvement in the future. Please visit
http://www.ticad-csf.net/blog/AANGO or contact TCSF office for more
information.

Voices of African and Japanese Civil Society towards TICAD IV
http://www.ticad-csf.net/TNnet/download/20071027Symposium/ConsolidatedStatement.pdf

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* TICAD IV・NGO network Symposium “Re-thinking African Development
from Point of View of Civil Society”*
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TICAD IV・NGO network(TNnet), of which TCSF runs the secretariat,
organised an international symposium towards TICAD IV "Re-thinking
African Development from Point of View of Civil Society: What can TICAD
do to achieve the Millennium Development Goals?" at the UN house in Tokyo
October 27, 2007. It was presided by Adogony Lolo, a popular TV
personality from Benin. Following an opening remarks by Mr. Osamu
Uno, vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA),
presetations were given by the representatives of Japanese and African
civil societies, and on behalf of TICAD co-organizers, Mr. Shuichiro
Megata (MoFA), Mr. Shunchi Murata(UNDP), Mr. E.E.E. Mtango (Dean of
Africa Diplomatic Corps), and Ms. Marjon Kamara (UNHCR) gave comments.
More than 300 participants attended, including TICAD co-organizers and
Africa Diplomatic Corps. The symposium was introduced on The Asahi
Shimbun newspaper, November 26th issue and is streamed on demand at
http://www.ourplanet-tv.org/video/works/

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* TICAD IV Regional Preparatory Meeting in Lusaka, Zambia*
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Civil society sessions were organised by TNnet during TICAD IV Regional
Preparatory Meeting held on October 30-31 in Lusaka, Zambia.
The sessions were attended by representatives from TNnet,
Japanese NGOs operating in Zambia, Africa civil societies (Kenya,
Zimbabwe, Madagascar Mauritius and Zambia). The civil society
representatives compiled recommendations and presented it to the plenary
session at the end of the preparatory meeting.

Mr. Nobutake Odano, the ambassador for TICAD who chaired the meeting,
had a remark of the meaning that civil society would take an important
role in development. Zambian newspaper 'Post' dated on November 3rd
took the civil society's claim, "they (organizers) should let civil
society participate in TICAD", with the title of "TICAD should be
discussed more frankly".

Civil society recommendations at TICAD IV Regional Preparatory Meeting
inZambia
http://www.ticad-csf.net/TNnet/download/TICADPreparatoryMtg/Recom_PreparatoryZambia_eng.pdf

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* TICAD IV Regional Preparatory Meeting in Tunis, Tunisia*
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TICAD IV Regional Preparatory Meeting in Tunis, Tunisia was held on November
21-22 in Tunis, Tunisia. The session was realized by an appeal of
TNnet. The session participants included TNnet (2), northwest African
civil societies (Tunisia, Benin, Senegal, Nigeria and Cameroon) and Japanese
NGOs (2). The session compiled recommendations for the realisation of
concrete participation of the civil society in the TICAD process, based
on "Voices of African and Japanese Civil Society towards TICAD IV" which
was presented during TICAD IV・NGO network Symposium Re-thinking African
Development from Point of View of Civil Society”held on October 27.

Civil society recommendations at TICAD IV Regional Preparatory Meeting
in Tunisia
http://www.ticad-csf.net/TNnet/download/TICADPreparatoryMtg/Report_PreparatoryTunisia.pdf

Briefing Paper at the Regional Preparatory Meeting in Tunisia
http://www.ticad-csf.net/TNnet/download/TICADPreparatoryMtg/TNnetBriefingPaper_eng.pdf

MOFA has announced that the 3rd Regional Preparatory Meeting will be held
in Gabon on March 20-21, 2008.

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[2] Topics of Japan-Africa Relation and Japan's Aid support
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*Yokohama International Festival 2007*
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Yokohama International Festival 2007 was held on October 27-28. About
250 organisations including NGOs/NPOs, international organizations,
schools, companies and government agencies participated, and displayed
their activities.

TCSF introduced its activities to the visitors who counted 730,000.

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*"Voices" from Ghana toward Africa 2008 Campaign*
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Africa 2008 Campaign has received voices of 60 people from Ghana.
Ms. Mika Nanko who works on HIV/AIDS in Ghana as a member of Japan
Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV), collected the voices and sent
them to our office. The messages include a video message which can be
accessed from the link below.
http://www.africa2008.jp/voicefromghana.html

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* The Japanese Government supports the science technology research in
Asia-Africa for the next year*
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The Japanese Government is going to support science technology
research in Asia-Africa to deal with environmental problem. The support
will be offered to promising persons in the field of environment,
infectious diseases and disaster prevention. The Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
demand about 2.6 billion yen for the support.

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* Other topics *
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December 12
Assistance through the World Food Programme (WFP) to HIV/AIDS
Affected and Infected People in Malawi
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2007/12/1176618_840.html

Statement by Foreign Minister Koumura on the Bombing Attacks in
Alger, the capital of Algeria
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2007/12/1176612_840.html

The First Meeting of the Commission on Promotion of Public-Private
Cooperation for TICAD and the Japan-Africa Exchange Year
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2007/12/1176606_840.html

November 28
Assistance by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security
to the project “Support child friendly environment through community
participation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo”
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2007/11/1176456_838.html

November 16
Establishment of the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African
Development (TICAD IV) secretariat
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/fm_press/2007/11/1116.html

November 13
Attendance of Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Itsunori Onodera
at the 9th meeting of the African Partnership Forum
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/press/2007/11/1113.html

November 6
Assistance in Kind for the Afflicted in Sudan
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2007/11/1176150_838.html

October 26
Attendance of Mr. Keitaro Sato, Ambassador in Charge of Conflict
and Refugee-related Issues in Africa, at the peace talks on the Darfur conflict
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/press/2007/10/1026.html

October 2
Holding of Global Festa Japan 2007
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/event/2007/10/1175656_858.html

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[3] Correction
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Please be advised that we have wrong information in
TCSF English Newsletter No.11 issued on 16th October.
In the article of Africa-Asia NGO Networking Workshop,
we correct the date which Africa-Asia NGO Networking Workshop
was held on "Oct 24th- 26th in Tokyo" from "Sep 24th-25th in Tokyo".
Our apologies for the error.

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