Nairobi, Kenya — An African Development Bank (AfDB) Group delegation led by the Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, will attend the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi from August 27-28, 2016. This will be the first time TICAD is being held in Africa since its inception in 1993, demonstrating the strong African ownership and deepening partnership among TICAD stakeholders.

Co-organised by the Government of Japan, the United Nations Office of the Special Advisor on Africa (UN-OSAA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), African Union Commission (AUC) and the World Bank, the event will bring together over 6,000 participants, including representatives of African countries, international organizations and civil society.

Japan is a very strong supporter of the African Development Bank, and also contributes significantly to the African Development Fund. The TICAD meetings will see President Adesina hold talks with senior Japanese officials from government, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and others, during which partnerships opportunities will be discussed with the aim of increasing support for Africa's transformation. The Bank is also organizing several side events.

Since 2005, the Government of Japan (GOJ) has provided USD 4 billion under the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance (EPSA) for Africa. Drawing on successful development experience in Asia and around the globe, EPSA is an innovative, multi-component, multi-donor partnership framework between the GOJ and the AfDB for resource mobilization and development partnership to support implementation of the AfDB's Strategy for Private Sector Development. Under the current phase (EPSA II), projects in infrastructure, agriculture and irrigation, water and health sectors are being considered for sovereign co-financing, non-sovereign loans and technical assistance. The latter is aimed at strengthening SMEs. A third phase of EPSA is being negotiated and will be announced during TICAD VI.

Japan's Bold Infrastructural Plan for Africa - TICAD 6 Roundup

At the end of the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi on August 28, the highlight was the announcement by the visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of a bold new African infrastructure plan worth US $10 billion over the next three years to be implemented by the African Development Bank (AfDB). Other highlights include AfDB's signing a Letter of Intent with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation to promote Africa's economic development and a MOU with the Sasakawa Africa Association to boost agriculture in Africa. More about the AfDB in this BRIEFING. 

The Government of Japan prioritizes cooperation with Africa and puts emphasis on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and the role of the private sector. In 2015, the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that the Government of Japan intended to promote "quality infrastructure investments" that are environmentally friendly, disaster resilient, and cost-effective in the long run. TICAD VI is an opportunity for participants to underscore the centrality of quality national and regional infrastructure development on the continent, under five pillars: Industrialization, Health, Water and Sanitation, Women and Youth, and Social Security. All pillars are aligned to the Bank's High 5 strategic priorities: Light up and Power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialise Africa; Integrate Africa; and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa.