(period 2001- 2003)
Japan
has been promoting, in collaboration with the UN, the TICAD (Tokyo
International Conference on African Development) process since 1993 to raise
awareness of African development issue in the international community, to
promote ownership of Africa and partnership in the international community, and
to mobilize wide range of support including not only development assistance
from developed countries and International organizations but also cooperation
within Africa and with Asian countries. Japan held TICAD Ministerial level
Meeting in December, 2001 just after the establishment of NEPAD and set the
first opportunity to discuss NEPAD in the international arenas with the
participation of 52 African countries, 28 developed and Asian countries, and 32
international / regional organizations. In order to further enhance the global
partnership in support of NEPAD.
Japan is going to hold TICAD III from 29 September to
1 October. Toward TICAD III, Japan has
the participation of 5 NEPAD steering committee member countries (namely South
Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Senegal, Egypt) in TICAD steering committee meetings
and thus deeply involves Africa in the preparatory process of TICAD III.
Japanese
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, on 14 May, announced "The Japan's
Initiative for cooperation for Africa" explaining the Japanese policy for
cooperation for Africa. The basic policy of the initiative is to support NEPAD.
A copy of the related documents is attached herewith.
Debt
Relief
Japan has changed the way of cancellation of the
relevant ODA debts of African HIPCs and non‑HIPC eligible countries in
Africa owed to Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) from April 2003
with a view to achieving an earlier solution of debt problems of developing
countries, reducing burden on debtor countries, and enhancing transparency and
efficiency of Japan's ODA. The approximate total amount of debt to be cancelled
reaches US$ 3 billions.
Market Access
With a view to further contributing to the
development of developing countries, especially LDCs including 34 African
countries, Japan expanded coverage under duty‑free and quota free
treatment for LDCs products in April 2003. This measure provides the duty free
and quota- free market access to Japan’s market for approximately 93% of total
import value from LDCs.
Promotion of Trade and Investment
Japan
has been extending various supports to NEPAD to promote investment in Africa.
These include: (1) Asia‑Africa Business ‑Forum (1999 in Malaysia
and 2001 in South Africa); (2) Asia‑Africa Investment and Technology
Promotion Center (Hippalos Center, in Malaysia) (two investment missions sent
to Africa in 2000 and 2002); and (3) Tokyo International Conference on
investment in Africa in February 2003. Japan also provided overseas investment
loans to Japanese companies that invest in Africa (approximately US$200 million
in 2001). Furthermore, Japan has been providing trade‑related capacity
building for African countries.
South‑south Cooperation
Japan has been eagerly promoting South‑South
cooperation, especially Asia- Africa cooperation through the TICAD process,
the contributions of which to the promotion of South‑South cooperation
was globally and fairly acknowledged in paragraph 56 of the implementation
document of WSSD in 2002. There are MOUs or frameworks between Japan and some
Northern African countries as well as Asian countries to promote triangular
cooperation for African development especially for human resource development.
Support for NEPAD Priorities
Japan
has supported all the priorities listed below:
Governance
‑ Political, Economic & Corporate
Peace
and Security
Infrastructure,
(Energy, Water & Sanitation, ICTs)
Agriculture
and Market Access
Human
Resources Development (Health, Education)
Environment
Resource
Flows
Approximate financial assistance to African countries
since 2001
Japan
provided African countries bilaterally with its ODA amounting to more than US$1
billion in the period of April 2001- March 2002 (FY2001 only: the amount for
FY2002 is not yet available). The approximate financial assistance from Denmark
to Africa since 2001 is approximately USD 993 million.
Support for sub-regional and regional programmes of
NEPAD
Japan
has made the following financial contributions to African regional and sub‑regional
organizations in FY 2001 and 2002, which should substantially contribute to the
implementation of NEPAD.
AU
(US$ 400, 000)
UNECA
(US$ 200,000)
AfDB
(US$
10,000,000, approximately)
AfDF
(US$
182,000,000, approximately)
SADC
(US$ 152, 000)
ECOWAS
(US$ 200,000)
In total, approximately US$ 193 million
Comments/ observations on the implementation of NEPAD
Japan's
initiative for Cooperation for Africa
14 May 2003
Basic Policy: To Support the New Partnership
for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) through
the Tokyo International Conference on
African Development (TICAD) process,
which is based on "partnership" in support of African "ownership
(self‑help efforts)."
Steady Progress: In October 1998 at TICAD II, Japan made a commitment to extend
assistance worth about US$750 million (90 billion yen) over a five‑year
period in the fields of basic human needs, of which amount about US$697 million
(83.6 billion yen) has already been disbursed. This cooperation has encouraged
African efforts to realize the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
As
a result, health and medical conditions of more than 244.87 million people are
to be improved through measures such as vaccination; roughly 3 million people
are to be provided with a safe water supply, and, approximately 2.6 million
children are to be provided with educational opportunities through the
construction of schools and other measures.
Novel
Perspective: Japan attaches much
importance to "human security,"
which is to be achieved in Africa as elsewhere through protection from
threats to human dignity and empowerment of individuals and communities, so
that they may tackle problems effectively.
Strengthening
cooperation with international organizations through the use of the "Trust
Fund for Human Security"‑Japan has contributed approximately US$200
million to the fund, and considers Africa as a priority region of application
of the fund.
Supporting
development of comprehensive and participatory community‑building t1yough
the use of "Grant Assistance for Grass‑roots Human Security
Projects. This aid scheme is endowed with about US$120 million for FY 2003, and
is to be allocated to Africa as a priority area.
TICAD III 29 September ‑
I October, 2003 (in Tokyo)
§
Mobilizing and
integrating international support for NEPAD
§
Expanding development
partnership‑promotion of "South‑South cooperation,"
including Asia‑Africa and intra‑Africa cooperation
Concrete
Actions Taken by Japan to Advance Cooperation
for Africa: Three Pillars
§
Human‑centered
Development
§
Poverty Reduction
through Economic Growth
§
Consolidation of Peace
1)
Human‑centered Development
§
Human Resources Development and Information
Communication Technology (ICT)
Education ‑Human
resources development is the foundation of nation building:
Japan engages in steady
implementation of the "Basic Education for Growth Initiative
(BEGIN)." It will actively utilize approximately US$2 billion (250 billion
yen) of its ODA to low‑income countries including African countries in
the education sector.
Professional Training‑creation
of job opportunities and contribution to economic growth:
Japan will help develop the "Senegalese‑Japanese
Professional Training Center" as a center of excellence for professional
training in West Africa, which will expand training opportunities for engineers
in such fields as electricity and automobile technology.
ICT to realize people’s potential:
Japan will promote use of ICT in education, health,
and other fields by helping to develop basic infrastructure such as telephone
and radio networks as well as human resources in the information and
communication technology sector.
§
Water: Ensuring the success of the World Water Forum will result in
tangible benefits for Africa
Providing safe drinking
water to people:
Japan launched "Grant
Aid for Water Security," a fund amounting to about US$130 million (16
billion yen) for FY 2003, which will be used to support areas including Africa.
Japan will provide assistance for capacity‑building for approximately
1,000 people, including African nationals over the five‑year period
beginning FY 2003.
River‑basin
development:
Japan will seek ways to cooperate in developing the basins of international rivers in Africa, recognizing the importance of such development.
Strengthening cooperation
with development partners:
Japan will strengthen international partnership in the water sector with the United States and France, through such measures as eradication of the guinea worm in West Africa and water resources management in the Senegal River basin, respectively.
§
Health and Medical Care
For the future of
children:
Reflecting on its own experiences in eradicating polio in the western Pacific region, Japan will aim to provide funding of approximately US$80 million through FY 2005 for polio eradication in Africa and elsewhere in the world.
Japan will continue to
implement the "Okinawa infectious Diseases Initiative" and pursue
effective collaboration with the "Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis
and Malaria."
Promoting action via
centers of excellence:
Japan will promote support
for neighboring countries via centers of excellence such as those in Kenya,
Ghana, and Zambia.
2)
Poverty Reduction through Economic Growth
§
Food, Agriculture, and Rural Development
Tackling Famine:
Japan extended US$30 million in assistance to combat the food crisis in southern Africa in the latter half of 2002. It provided further food aid amounting to approximately US$11 million for Ethiopia and Eritrea in February 2003, and decided to provide additional food aid amounting to approximately US$55 million to other African countries.
Contribution to food
security:
Japan will contribute human and financial resources to the West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA) and other institutions that are in charge of research, development, and dissemination of "New Rice for Africa (NERICA)."
Promoting rural
development with citizen participation:
Japan will consider ways to develop rural infrastructure, augment food self‑sufficiency, and combat desertification and also support projects such as "Food‑for‑Work” implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP).
§
Infrastructure
Continued support for
developing infrastructure:
Japan has committed
approximately US$2.4 billion in assistance to Africa over the past five years
in four infrastructure sectors: transportation, communication, energy, and
water. In recognition of the importance of infrastructure development in the
coming years Japan plans to disburse up to approximately US$1.06 billion (130
billion yen) in accordance with this commitment and continues to provide
assistance. For the promotion of the NEPAD program, Japan is also studying ways
to contribute to infrastructure development that would boost regional
cooperation.
§
Promotion of Trade and Investment
Expanding market access:
Japan has expanded by 198 items duty‑free and
quota‑free access to LDCs' products. As a result, approximately 93% of
imports from LDCs will be duty‑free and quota‑free in value terms,
starting April 2003.
Promoting "Public and Private Partnerships:
With a view to facilitating investment by Japanese
companies in Africa, Japan will utilize overseas investment loans managed by
the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Its target amount for
Africa is about US$300 million for the next five years.
Support for enhancing trade‑related
capacities:
In active cooperation with the WTO, Japan will help
to enhance the ability of African countries' capacities to deal with trade
issues.
Promoting Asia‑Africa economic exchanges:
In July 2003, Japan will hold the "Asia‑Africa
Joint Forum" inviting participants from the public and private sectors of
Asia and Africa.
§
Debt Relief
Japan will forgive the debts of HIPCs and other
eligible countries in Africa by canceling yen‑loan ODA debts amounting to
approximately US$3 billion. Corresponding to this measure, through
international frameworks such as Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP),
Japan will seek to intensify policy dialogue with the countries concerned in
order that these countries will invest in socio‑economic development
priorities including education, health, and development in economic and social
infrastructure.
§
Support through Multilateral Development Banks
Japan, through its contribution to the Poverty
Reduction Strategies Trust Fund (PRSTF) at the World Bank and other measures,
proactively supports the formulation and implementation of PRSP in African and
other developing countries, promoting an appropriate focus in PRSPs on the role
of economic growth. The PRSTF was established with initial contributions of
US$10 million each from Japan and the Netherlands.
3)
Consolidation of
Peace
§
Support for Revitalizing Conflict‑torn Communities and Domestic
Reconciliation
Japan will
promote cooperation in the fields of reintegration of ex‑soldiers into
civil society, de‑mining, small arms, assistance to refugees and IDPs, as
well as assistance to neighboring countries affected by conflicts. For that
purpose, Japan will continue to make the most of "Grant Aid for Conflict
Prevention and Peace Building" in the amount of approximately US$100
million (12 billion yen) and the "Trust Fund for Human Security," and
promote cooperation with international organizations and civil societies.
Utilizing
"Grant Aid for Conflict Prevention and Peace Building" and other
funds, Japan has already extended about US$7 million of support to Sierra Leone
to contribute to reintegration of ex‑soldiers, revitalization of local
communities, and other objectives. Japan is considering support for the project
to reintegrate ex‑child soldiers into civil society through peace
education, training, and other means in Angola, Sierra Leone, Burundi, and
Mozambique through the "Trust Fund for Human Security."
With respect to Angola, Japan is currently
considering cooperation in areas including de‑mining, reintegration of ex‑soldiers,
and return and rehabilitation of IDPs and refugees.
§
Supporting efforts by African countries to resolve conflicts and promote
peace
Fostering cooperation with
African regional organizations:
Japan will
continue to actively support activities of African regional organizations
including the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) in the areas of conflict prevention, management and resolution.