TICAD Civil Society Forum Home Page

■□ 　What is Advocacy WG?

TCSF has been working for changes and improvement of national policies, the ultimate goal of TCSF. This is considered a better direction from a citizen's perspective. TCSF has been petitioning related agencies and people by using results from the partnership seminars, TICAD citizen's paper, and Africa Alert newsletters.
We send messages to the important motion related to African aid and lobby for related agencies.

[Activities]

～　What 's NEW　～

　【2008】

■□ The Urgent Request on the Access Pass for the TICAD IV Main Meetings

-20th May, 2008

► The Details Concerning the Participation of NGOs to the Main Meetings of TICAD IV　[pdf: 99kb]
► "The Urgent Request on the Access Pass for the TICAD IV Main Meetings" 　[pdf: 97kb]

■□ Resolution on the Desirable Form of Japan’s International Aid toward the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit and the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV)

-May 16, 2008
Special Committee of the House of Councillors on Official Development Assistance and Related Matters-

(Main Points) 10 Measures Required of the Government
1. Need to Increase ODA and Set Numerical Targets
2. Cooperation for Achieving the MDGs
3. Promotion of Well-Modulated Assistance to Africa
4. Achievement of “Poverty Reduction and Economic Growth” in African Assistance
5. Strengthening of Relationship with UN Aid Organizations and Ensuring Financial Contributions
6. Active Utilization of ODA to solve Environmental and Climate Change Problems
7. Quick Response to Rise in Food Prices
8. Need for Urgent Efforts by the Government Toward the Fostering of Aid-Related Human Resources
9. Need for Aid Philosophy, Aid Strategy, and Regional Strategic Policies and Involvement of the National Diet
10. Ensuring the Necessity, Rationality, Transparency, and Fairness of Assistance

► Main Points (pdf)
► In　Detail(pdf)

■□ Voices 2008：Recommendations from African and Japanese Civil Society to TICAD

Voices 2008：
    ► "Voices" (summary)　[pdf: 46kb]
    ► "Voices" (full text)　[pdf: 149kb]
    ► "Voices" (french summary)　[pdf: 48kb]

This "Voices" has been produced by African and Japanese civil society to make specific recommendations to TICAD IV. The original opinions have been collected from Africa. African and Japanese civil society has made unrelenting discussions to finalise "Voices". In total more than 65 African and 50 Japanese Civil Society Organizations took part in these discussion and the outcomes has been summarized in this document.

■□ The Recommendations towards TICAD IV and G8 Summit in Toyako - Responding to climate change and resource development by People-Driven approaches-
A senior level conference entitled "Senior Level International Conference: Japan’s Africa Policy in the Era of Climate Change and Resource Scarcity – Towards People-driven sustainable development in Africa –" was held at Waseda University on 21st of February, 2008(organised by Institute of African Studies, Waseda Univ., secretariat: TCSF).

Discussions of the participants were consolidated into a form of recommendations for TICAD IV and G8 Toyako Summit.

The conference was referred in NHK news on the day.

　　 [Proposals]
    ► the Recommendations(pdf)

　　 [Powerpoint Presentations]
    ► Point raising: "Challenges of African Development in the Era of Climate Change and Resource Scarcity　– Expectations towards TICAD IV and Toyako Summit", by Mr. Joseph Ssuuna (Board Member, Civic Commission for Africa / Director, PELUM Association) (pdf)
    ► (same as above) by Dr. Njeri Wamukonya (Energy Programme Officer of Division of Technology, Economics and Industry-Regional Office for Africa (DTIE-ROA), UNEP)(pdf)

    ► Discussion Point 1: "Climate Change and the Poor" by Ms. Amie Gaye (the author of Human Development Report 2007/2008, UNDP) (pdf)
    ► Discussion Point 2: "Resource Scarcity and Poverty Issues in Africa" by Mr. Tommy Garnett　(West Africa Regional Coordinator, Environmental Foundation for Africa（EFA）) (pdf)

■□ Ethiopian Civil Society submit recommendations to Japan's Former Prime Minister
Mr. Mori, the former Prime Minister of Japan represented Japanese Government at AU Summit in Addis Ababa met the representative of Ethiopian Civil Society and received recommendations for Japan's ODA.

Mrs Semira, Acting Director of Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA) met Mr. Mori on 30th of January 2008 and handed over him the message from Ethiopian Civil Society. Mr. Nakayama, a ministerial aid at MoFA, and Mr. Komano, the Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia were present at the event.

The recommendations are the output of the "Etiopia-Japan Partnership Seminar" held in Addis Ababa on 22nd of January (co-organised by CRDA, TCSF, Embassy of Japan in Ethiopia, JICA Ethiopia Office) where about 30 local organisations gathered and discussed Japan's ODA and roles of civil society in development of Ethiopia.

► Please read the letter of recommendations

　【2007】

■□ TCSF position paper toward TICAD IV and the 2008 G8 Summit
TCSF has released on August 10th of 2007 a position paper toward TICAD IV and the 2008 G8 Summit, under the title of "Now is the time to bring ownership of the development of Africa back to Africa and its Civil Society and create a new partnership with them".

Four recommendations from TCSF
Recommendation 1.	African citizens should be the main beneficiary of ODA for Africa by the Japanese government
Recommendation 2.	The ownership for the development of Africa should be returned to Africa
Recommendation 3.	African citizens should play the major role in African development
Recommendation 4.	TICAD IV should be made as an opportunity to reflect the opinion of African citizens and to design practical measures for poverty reduction and elimination of inequality in Africa.

[TCSF Position Paper]
► TCSF Position Paper toward TICAD IV and the 2008 G8 Summit（PDF）

■□ Dialogue between OECD/DAC and Japanese Civil Society - Towards 2008 TICAD and G8 Summit
This dialogue is to follow-up the symposium last year titled "Can Japan's ODA Save the World Poor?". It aims to exchange information and views towards 2008 TICAD and G8 Summit.

  Date: 3 September 2007 (Mon.) 14:00-16:00
  Expected participants: 40 NGO staffs belong to "TICAD IV NGO Network" and "2008 G8 NGO Forum" and 5 journalists (closed)
  ► Please see this document for the details and application form（PDF）

■□ TCSF, together with Africa Japan Forum, has addressed appeals to TICAD co-organizers, claiming the importance of having civil socieites as an equal partner at the Forums of TICAD Process.

[Appeals]
► Appeals to the TICAD Co-organizers(English)（PDF）

■□ TCSF held a seminar with African civil society organizations at World Social Forum (WSF) held in Nairobi, Kenya from Jan. 19 toJan.25, this year.

nd
It is to discuss how to create effective coopeartion between African and Japanese Civil Society looking toward 2008, the year that the 4th TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development) and G8 Summit will be held.

　　　►　Here is the leaflet on our activities (including details on our seminar at WSF).(PDF)

During the seminar, we are going to give a presentation about the concept of creating "Civic Commission　 for Africa"towards the 4th TICAD and G8 Summit.
　　　►　Please click here for the concept paper.
　　　(Please note that this is still a concept. and the details will be discussed with African civil society organizations during WSF.)

　【2006】

■□ Series Lecture on Following Up the International Symposium “Can Japan’s ODA save the world’s poor?”
　　　Study Session on Aid to Africa with DFID Tanzania

Date: 18 July 2006 (Tue) 　15:00-17:00 　　►　 In　Detail
Venue：The Second Meeting room, International Conference Center, at Center for　Scholarly Information,18th Building at Nishi-waseda Campus, Waseda University,Tokyo

Organizers: JANIC, TCSF, ODA Reform Net

■□ 　International Symposium 　"Can Japan's ODA Save the World Poor?"　

-　Japanese ODA Reform, New Directions in International Aid, and the View Point of the Poor　-
Dialogue among OECD/DAC, the Japanese Government, Other Donors, and Civil Society

Organizers: JANIC, TCSF, ODA Reform Net,Kansai NGO Council and Nagoya NGO Center
Coordination with: OECD Tokyo Center

Date: 27 May 2006 (Sat) 10:00-13:00　
Venue: Conference hall, Institute for International Cooperation, Tokyo, Japan

►　The program （pdf）　　　　　　　　　　　　►　 Summary report

■　No more participation is possible.　Those who are interested in this symposium can attend to it alive on Internet

　　　Please click the following address.　
　　 【Our Planet-TV】 http://www.ourplanet-tv.org/main/contents/live_f.html　

■□ 　30th　Apr 2006　　Open Request to Prime Minister Koizumi from TCSF

■□ Report of the TICAD Conference on Consolidation of Peacein Africa held in Ethiopia

Two observers from TCSF attended the “TICAD Conference on Consolidation of Peace in Africa”
This conference, part of the preparatory meetings for TICAD IV that will be held in 2008, provided opportunities to share experiences regarding the consolidation of peace in Africa and Asia.

►　In　Detail

　■□ 　TICAD Conference on Consolidation of Peace　in Africa　that was held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on the 16th and 17th of February.

　►　What is our commitment? 　Two reports have been released.

　　「Message from TICAD Civil Society Forum for TICAD Conference on Consolidation of Peace in Africa」 (PDF)

　　　「Activities and Messages of Japanese & African NGOs involved in the Consolidation of Peace in Africa」(PDF)

　【2005】

　■□ 　Our appeal for the World Summit 2005 　September.13.2005

　■□ Press Briefing Information
　　- Voice from Civil Society: 　toward G8 Summit and Japan's Approach to African Poverty -

　　　　Date: July 8, 2005 Time: 14:00 - 16:00
　　　　Place: FPC Press Conference Room ，Foreign Press Center Japan 　►　　In Detail

►　 Civil Societies’ Joint Statement on Gleneagles Summit

"Hottokenai, Sekai no Mazushisa" Office （Global Call to Action Against Poverty；G-CAP）
Tatsuo Hayashi (President, Africa-Japan Forum)
Minoru Obayashi (President, TICAD Civil Society Form)

This year will be called the "Year for Africa", since several international conferences that discuss "Africa Issue"l have been held in 2005. The 6th Annual Meeting of Global Development Network in Senegal and the Bandung Conference in Indonesia have been already organized, and during 6th-8th July, G8 Summit will be held in Gleneagles, United Kingdom, and UN "Millennium plus 5" Summit will be held on 14th September.

Africa-Japan Forum (AJF) and TICAD Civil Society Forum, Japan (TCSF) published the joint statement titled "Turning Africa in Distress to Africa with Riches and Possibilities - Now is the Time for Japan to Expand Aid Dramatically to Africa with a New Methodology - on 21st April 2005 (see the reference).

2005 G8 Summit takes up the question of "African issue" as a main agenda. Civil Societies take actions for more efficient aid for Africa. We, "Hottokenai, Sekai no Mazushisa", AJF, and TCSF would like to analyze the poverty reduction and aid policy for Africa that will be discussed at the G8 Summit, and make a statement from the point of view of the Civil Society.

■□　Hottokenai, Sekai no Mazushisa / Don't Let It Be: World Poverty　is a Japanese campaign of Global Call to Action Against Poverty (G-CAP　http://www.whiteband.org/), and carries out　activities in Japan coordinating with the world wide　activities. Both TCSF take part in its activities.

　　　　　　