Toshihiko Horiuchi
Former Director-General for African Department

Japan hosted TICAD 9, the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, in Yokohama from August 20 to 22. This article first explains what TICAD is, then introduces the outcomes of TICAD 9 while touching on what changes in the world were considered for its hosting, and finally offers my personal views on the future of the TICAD process.

What is TICAD?

In short, TICAD is a summit-level international conference initiated by Japan in 1993 to address African development, including its associated processes. In 1993, immediately after the Cold War ended, the international community’s attention had shifted away from Africa, leaving the continent “marginalized.” Amidst this, Japan took the global lead in calling for serious discussions on Africa, and TICAD subsequently created a global trend of prioritizing Africa. I feel deep respect for the pioneers who initiated this process, one that may be judged favorably by history.
Since then, for over 30 years, Japan has walked side by side with Africa. Guided by the fundamental principle of finding the best mix of “African ownership” and the corresponding “international partnership,” Japan has leveraged its strengths (unique expertise) in areas like human resources development while also engaging the broader international community.
Subsequently, various countries and regions established their own partnership frameworks with Africa, launching what might be called “TICAD-like” initiatives. Nevertheless, TICAD’s pioneering spirit, inclusiveness, and respect for African ownership remain distinctive features from other partnerships. (although Japan has no intention to impose its ways on others just because they have worked well).

Japan’s Response for 2025

1．Africa, the World, and Japan Have Changed
Since the first TICAD in 1993, TICAD has evolved, adapting its agenda and stakeholders to shifts in Africa’s challenges and aspirations, as well as changes in global and Japan’s circumstances. Key changes considered for hosting TICAD 9 include the following.
First and foremost, Africa has grown stronger, gained confidence, and its voice has become louder. The African Union (AU)’s membership in the G20 is symbolic. However, it is also important to note that this African voice often carries a tone of resentment.
The world has also changed. There is now talk of a crisis in multilateralism (international cooperation, multilateralism). Japan advocates for “inclusive governance underpinned by shared responsibility” (as stated in Japan’s general debate speech at the 2024 UN General Assembly). This presupposes solidarity and partnership-building with diverse nations. Africa, with its 54 nations, accounts for over a quarter of the member states of the United Nations. By mid-century, its population of 2.5 billion will represent about a quarter of the world’s total. When discussing global governance, Africa’s constructive engagement is essential to sustain it, both in terms of procedures and substance.
What about Japan? Compared to 1993 when TICAD began, it is undeniable that Japan’s national strength has declined, at least relatively. Nevertheless, Japan still possesses assets such as the trust it has earned from Africa and strengths like its brilliance in science and technology. Identifying a “winning strategy” that leverages these strengths was also considered crucial in the TICAD process.

2．TICAD Has Also Evolved
Therefore, taking these changing circumstances into account, TICAD 9 incorporated several new agenda and approaches.
First, the theme of TICAD 9 was set as “Co-creating Innovative Solutions.” On top of the layers of development and business, we introduced the layer of co-creation. Japan has long faced Africa’s challenges, jointly devising and implementing solutions. This time, we more clearly articulated the direction of co-creating solutions to various global issues together with Africa.
Global issues affect every corner of the world, but their effects are most pronounced in specific localities, such as Africa, which is vulnerable to external shocks. Africa is indeed the greatest victim of many global issues. At the same time, it should also be a key stakeholder in their solution. Africa, which has historically been underrepresented and undervalued in the international community, possesses local knowledge and endogenous know-how that it can contribute to the world.
And in tackling these challenges, we called for Africa to join hands with Japan in creating solutions “Made with Japan.” While Japan may sometimes seems to do better with a bit more of animal spirits, it still possesses, and will continue to possess, many excellent products, services, technologies, wisdom, ethics, and people. We aimed to leverage these “Made with Japan” solutions, created with Japan’s involvement, to co-create solutions for the various challenges facing the world, particularly Africa. This involved engaging not only Africa but also diverse stakeholders across the international community.
In terms of content, we outlined initiatives Japan will spearhead, as always, along the three pillars of economy, society, and peace & stability. However, in addition to these three pillars, we also emphasized cross-cutting themes, including the leading role of the private sector, youth and women, and connectivity. Specifically, we proposed establishing a public-private-academic council to strengthen cooperation with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), keeping in mind the AfCFTA’s role in enhancing regional integration and connectivity both within and beyond the continent.
Through these concrete initiatives, we aim to create youth employment—Africa’s most pressing challenge—while harnessing the vitality of Africa’s young and dynamic population (with a median age of 19) for Japan.
Another key focus this time was thematic events (previously called side events). At TICAD 9, over 200 seminars and symposiums, along with approximately 300 booth exhibitions, were held by government agencies, international organizations, research institutions, NGOs (civil societies), local governments, private companies, and others. Historically, TICAD has featured numerous thematic events, which I believe have contributed to raising awareness and interest in Africa within Japan. Amidst information about Africa often focusing on negative aspects like conflict and disasters, it was positive that the thematic events allowed many people to see the real, vibrant Africa through the “Opportunity Lens.”
Furthermore, many thematic events covered topics like science and technology, space, art, and culture – areas not necessarily explored in depth during the main TICAD meetings themselves – projecting agenda of the future. The fact that many of the organizers of these thematic events were young people and youth organizations gives us hope.

Japanese and African Youth at the Thematic Event “Youth Drive”

Furthermore, public-private partnerships are key to achieving the economic and social transformation in Africa envisioned by the AU’s top-level development strategy, “Agenda 2063,” which sets goals such as inclusive growth and economic integration. Africa itself recognizes that business and public-private partnerships are essential for sustainable, self-reliant prosperity. At TICAD 9, many private sector representatives participated, showcasing and introducing examples of innovation utilization at JETRO’s TICAD Business EXPO & Conference. Furthermore, over 300 cooperation documents were signed at TICAD 9 by diverse stakeholders, including Japan, Africa, and international organizations. We hope TICAD, as a free and open “marketplace” where people, goods, services, and ideas circulate and interact, has become a place to gain concrete hints for solving various challenges, an opportunity for speed matching, and a venue leading to new job creation.
While establishing these new pillars, the three key messages we wanted to convey to each target audience were as follows.
For Japanese society, it was a wake-up call: the “cost of inaction” by not engaging with Africa is growing ever larger.
For Africa, it was “Choose your Partner.” Amid the reality of Africa “cherry-picking” among various partners, we sought to impress upon them that Japan remains a uniquely reliable partner.
For the international community, the message is “Japan: A Trustworthy Country” and “Japan: A Kind Yet Strong Country.”
Prime Minister Ishiba spoke from the heart, and that was truly effective. For example, the Prime Minister drew on his own experience of visiting Senegal in his opening speech. Equally important were the Prime Minister Ishiba’s 34 marathon bilateral meetings and Foreign Minister Iwaya’s 30 such meetings, where each counterpart was treated with great care.
I believe the messages were conveyed to a considerable extent. They must be translated into actions from now on. Their follow-up—including within the bilateral context—is also crucial to ensure that these actions are taken.

And Then, What?

While I wrote that TICAD has evolved with the times, designing the future should inherently be far more effective. TICAD pioneered the discussion on Africa, an endeavor no one was undertaking at the time. This avant-garde spirit represents the very origin of TICAD.
I am aware of opinions suggesting TICAD should be reevaluated. I have been questioning what should be done and engaging in dialogue with various individuals myself. Building upon the trust Japan has cultivated with Africa over more than 30 years under the TICAD banner, we must now confront the changes unfolding globally. Specifically, we must face Africa’s growing strength, the world’s confrontation with various “devaluations of values” deepening divisions, disparities, and conflicts, and Japan’s downsizing. We must design a desirable future and determine how to shape Japanese diplomacy, including the role of TICAD as part of that effort. That is the question at hand.
If defending TICAD, one could argue that it has become an asset of Japanese diplomacy, both in name and substance. Particularly as many partners flock to Africa and the cost of joining the “Africa club” rises, the question is what to do with TICAD, which, in a sense, still functions as a platinum ticket.
On the other hand, from a critical stance toward the current TICAD, the question is whether it is still operating in an outdated manner. I also feel that perhaps not only continuous kaizen (improvement) but also discontinuous self-renewal is necessary.
I have no clear-cut answers, either. However, whatever form TICAD takes, I believe it is best not to change the style of doing things in a typically Japanese, stubbornly diligent way: listening carefully to the concerns of the other party, proposing sound ideas, and “translating” those ideas into concrete actions, and provide conscientious aftercare.
Will Africa become a resentment-driven, troublesome “bloc”/“international standard” of a gigantic scale with its massive population, which is estimated to reach 2.5 billion by the mid-century and 3.4 billion by the end of this century? Or will Africa harness its inherent humanitarianism (the philosophy of Ubuntu, as referenced by Prime Minister Ishiba in his closing address at TICAD 9) to transcend its victimhood of colonialism, both materially and spiritually, and embody open regionalism? We are standing at this crossroads. Japanese diplomacy still has many catalytic roles to play.

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HORIUCHI Toshihiko is former Director-General for African Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan at the time of writing and currently serving as Japanese Ambassador to Ecuador.

Reference: https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/africa/ticad/index.html