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++++TCSF English Newsletter No.14++++ May 6, 2008

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 support for Africa. We hope to strengthen our network with
you by sharing information about our activities. Thank you.

------------[Index]--------------
1. Feature Stories
-Ethiopian Civil Society submits recommendations to Japan's Former Prime
Minister
-Senior level international conference "Japan's Africa Policy in the Era
of Climate Change and Resource Scarcity"
-Subcommittee on International NGOs: Research Commission on Foreign Affairs,
Liberal Democratic Party
-TCSF White Paper 2007
-Parliament's Special Committee on ODA

2. Topics of Japan-Africa Relations and Japan's Aid Support

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[1] Feature Stories
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* Ethiopian Civil Society submit recommendations to Japan's Former Prime
Minister*
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Ethiopian and Japanese CSO compiled "Voice of Civil Society towards
TICAD IV" and submitted to Mr. Mori, former Prim Minister on January
30th, 2008 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The voice was the outcome of the
Ethiopia-Japan partnership seminar which was held on January 22nd, 2008
in Addis Ababa. Mr. Mori was visiting Ethiopia to attend AU summit. The
voice was handed over by Mrs. Semira, Director, CRDA.

"Voice of Ethiopian and Japanese Civil Society" and "Letter to Mr.
Mori" are found at:
http://www.ticad-csf.net/eng/w-group/advocacy/action/mori-080130.htm

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* Senior level international conference "Japan's Africa Policy in the
Era of Climate Change and Resource Scarcity"*
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The international conference was hosted by the Institute of African
Studies of Waseda University, and the secretariat by TCSF. There were
active discussions by around 90 participants including African
ambassadors in Japan, government officials, corporations, NGOs and the
media. Discussions were consolidated into a form of recommendations for
TICAD IV and G8 Toyako Summit.
Details can be found at:
http://www.ticad-csf.net/eng/index.htm.

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* Subcommittee on International NGOs of Liberal Democratic Party*
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TCSF was invited to Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)'s
subcommittee meeting on International NGOs of the Research Commission on
Foreign Affairs on April 22nd (LDP is one of the ruling parties).
The commission is drafting a proposal for TICAD IV and held a
hearing on the proposal from NGOs. Prof. Minoru Obayashi,
the president of TCSF, made a presentation titled "NGOs'
Proposal for new TICAD".

There were 18 members of parliament, including the Senior Vice Minister,
the director-general for African Affairs and the director-general of
International Cooperation Bureau from MoFA and officials from JICA and
JBIC. Prof. Obayashi emphasized the importance of partnership between
civil societies in Africa and Japan. As a whole, the significance of
civil society's participation African development and NGOs' involvement in
ODA projects was discussed.

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* TCSF White Paper 2007 on Japan's Africa Policy
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TCSF's White Paper 2007 (3rd Issue) has been published in Japanese and
its English version is available from TCSF website.

The paper discusses Japan's Africa policy with specific focus on
"Strategic Recommendations on Tokyo International Conference on African
Development(TICAD)"

Contents:
chapter1 - Before TICAD IV
chapter2 - What is TICAD?
chapter3 - Development in Africa and TICAD
chapter4 - Civil Society and TICAD
chapter5 - Evaluation of TICAD by TCSF
chapter6 - Recommendations
chapter7 - Future of TICAD

Download:
English summary (370KB)
English full version (950KB)
http://www.ticad-csf.net/eng/w-group/white-paper/index.htm

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* The Special Committee on ODA at the Upper House
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The 169th Special Committee on ODA meeting of the Upper House was held
on April 23. The committee requested Prof. Obayashi of TCSF and Ms Ishii
of 2008 G8 Summit NGO Forum to attend the meeting as resource persons.
The committee discussed how Japan's ODA particularly for Africa could be
improved. Prof. Obayashi of TCSF stressed following points to the
committee.

- Increase of Japan's ODA towards Africa by four times from the 2005
level
- Focus on poverty reduction
- Shift from sachem based to area based budget plan
- Establishment of the Partnership Fund
- Coming TICAD IV should reaffirm that "MDGs", "democracy" and "more
participation of civil society in development programme" as important
strategies to make Japan's ODA reaching grassroots people who needs
support.

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* All Party Group-NGO Joint Conference on TICAD
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On April 28, a joint conference between all-party parliament members and
TNnet/2008 G8 Summit NGO Forum was held to discuss on TICAD IV's
Yokohama Declaration and Action Plan. Officials in-charge for TICAD from
MoFA also attended the meeting.

There was a divergence in views between MoFA officials and the civil
society on the documents. While the participating civil society pointed
out that "MDGs", "Democracy" and "Participation of civil society in TICAD
process" were missing from the draft documents, the MoFA officials
expressed their view that those issues are well taken care in the
documents.

The parliament members both of ruling and opposition parties requested
the MoFA officials to listen more to the civil society and let them in
the process of TICAD.

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[2] Topics of Japan-Africa Relation and Japan's Aid Support
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Feb. 20
Japan-Africa Journalists Symposium on African Development
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/event/2008/2/1178010_928.html

Feb.21
The Second Meeting of the Commission on Promotion of
Public-Private Cooperation for TICAD and Japan-Africa Exchange Year
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2008/2/1178101_980.html

Mar. 13
Opening Remarks by Mr. Yasuhide Nakayama, Vice-Minister
for Foreign Affairs, Government of Japan　"Fourth Annual
Meeting of the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa"
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/africa/ticad/remark0803.html

Mar. 18
Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
to attend the TICAD IV Ministerial Preparatory Conference in Gabon
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/event/2008/3/0318.html
Media Response:
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200803210093.html

Mar. 28
The First Laureates of Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Decided
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2008/3/1178660_990.html

Apr. 1
Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2007
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/white/2007/index.htm
Media Responses:
ODA fall poses Africa policy dilemma
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080404f1.html
Japan's declining ODA
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200804050050.html
Africa wants partners, not just handouts
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/rss/nn20080408f1.html

Apr. 2
The Tenth Meeting of the Africa Partnership Forum
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/event/2008/4/1178767_932.html

Apr. 11
The Third 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/2008/4/1179108_1000.html

Apr. 22
The "Fifth Africa Clearinghouse Tokyo Conference": G8-related Experts
Meeting for Strengthening Activities to Support Peace in Africa
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/event/2008/4/1179407_932.html

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*This newsletter was edited by the TCSF network working group.

*TCSF operates an English mailing list to facilitate communication between
TCSF and African CSOs and among African CSOs.
Please contact network@ticad-csf.net if you are interested in joining.

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To subscribe/unsubscribe from this list or change your e-mail,
please contact office@ticad-csf.net
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TICAD Civil Society Forum (TCSF)
http://ticad-csf.net/eng/index.htm
news@ticad-csf.net
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