TICAD V Ministerial Meeting concluded successfully its proceedings

By on March 19, 2013

ticadvAfrican & Japanese Civil society express warn organizers that any financial assistance for peace and security should not be at the expense of development and  economic growth

The TICAD V Ministerial Preparatory Meeting has concluded its proceedings on the 17th March in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Participants has included Ministers and delegations of African countries and TICAD co-organizers, namely the African Union Commission (AUC), Government of Japan, the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Office of the Under Secretary General and Special Advisor on Africa (UNOSSA) and the World Bank, along with representatives of other partner countries, international and regional organizations, the private sector and civil society organizations.

The Meeting has been co-chaired by the Government of Ethiopia and the Government of Japan. It consists of four plenary sessions, namely “ Outcome documents of TICAD V”, “Inclusive and Resilient Society-Contribution of TICAD to the MDGs process-“, “Peace and Stability in Africa-Pressing issues-“, “Trade and Investment in Africa-Opportunities and Challenges-“.

During this meeting TICAD has developed new option for more involvement into the assistance of African development.

Private investment and trade will be one of the focus of Japan’s support to meet the various needs of African countries.

The meeting has approved also the need to extend new programs that take into account the uncompleted achievements of MDGs by 2015.

The two-day preparatory meeting for TICAD, have witnessed strong debates about the drafting of the content of Yokohama Declaration and the TICAD action plan to be adopted at the TICAD V Heads of the State summit in June.

African and Japanese Civil society, who took place in this meeting have expressed in their statement presented at the third plenary by Dr. El Mostafa Rezrazi – Secretary General of the Civic Commission of Africa- , has called for more active involvement of Civil Society in  the planning, execution and monitoring and evaluation stages of TICAD process

Civil society has expressed also its concern about the 8 goals of the MDGs that were not yet achieved, especially in the area of health.

“Under the leadership of TICAD, Japan and African governments must fully give priority to projects that endeavor to put an end to several diseases such as HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and disease related to maternal, newborn and child health, as well as various non-communicable diseases.”

On the issue of African peace and security, Japanese and African civil society noted that they look positively to the TICAD support of the existing initiatives of the AU mainly in the area of peace and security. However, they are concerned that any financial assistance for peace and security should not be at the expense of any other sector of development, economic growth, environment and climate change.

 

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