Did you know that as at 2025, nine editions of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) aimed at boosting foreign support for Africa's development have been organised, and that the sixth edition of the conference is the first TICAD to be held in Africa?

Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) is an international summit launched by Japan in 1993 to promote peace, security, and economic development in Africa through high-level dialogue and multilateral cooperation. It serves as a forum for African leaders, development partners, the United Nations, and the African Union to discuss strategies and mobilize support for Africa's development, with an emphasis on African "ownership" and international "partnership".

TICAD is hosted by Japan, alongside the United Nations Office of the Special Advisor on Africa (UN-OSAA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that are co-organisers. The principles of African "ownership" and international "partnership" became essential factors in the launch of the New Economic Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), a strategy for development designed by Africans themselves.

Earlier TICAD meetings have also resulted in key outcomes, in particular when Japan is hosting the G8, as it is in 2008. In 2000, for example, Japan hosted the Okinawa G8 Summit and invited leaders from several African countries to attend. Ideas proposed at TICAD II were also taken up by the G8 in the creation of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

As of 2025, nine conferences have been held. The series has included: TICAD I (1993); TICAD II (1998); TICAD III (2003); TICAD IV (2008); TICAD V (2013), TICAD VI (2016), TICAD VII (2019), TICAD VIII (2022) and TICAD IX (2025).

1️⃣ TICAD I (1993)
In this conference African countries and their development partners discussed strategies for steps toward greater African prosperity. TICAD was formed at a time when the international community's interest in Africa was starting to wane, and donor fatigue was setting in. This conference produced the "Tokyo Declaration on African Development." Delegations from 48 African nations participated in the conference, including four heads of state: Twelve other nations sent delegations; and a number of international organizations also attended as delegates and as observers.

2️⃣ TICAD II (1998)
In this conference African countries and their development partners agreed on the "Tokyo Agenda for Action" (TAA), which was intended to become a commonly understood strategic- and action-oriented set of guidelines. Poverty reduction in Africa and Africa's fuller integration into the global economy were recognized a fundamental goals. Following the TICAD II, a 2001 ministerial conference provided opportunity to discuss NEPAD. Invitations were extended to a number of African countries and others. Some heads of state decided to attend; and a range of government ministers and others were amongst the participants in the conference.

3️⃣ TICAD III (2003)
This conference brought together over 1000 delegates, including 23 heads of state and the Chairperson of the African Union. African countries and their development partners reviewed the achievements of the ten-year TICAD process, and there was discussion about future direction TICAD should take. Invitations were extended to a number of African countries and others. Some heads of state decided to attend; and a range of government ministers and others were amongst the participants in the conference.

4️⃣ TICAD IV (2008) 
This conference was convened in Yokohama. In its 15-year history, this was the first time the conference was convened in a city other than Tokyo. Yokohama was preparing to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of the port and the 120th anniversary of the commencement of the City Administration. In this context, TICAD IV and the slogan, Yokohama Meets Africa were intended to underscore the international character of the port and city.

This was the most heavily attended of the four TICAD events. Responding to the invitation were 51 African nations (all except Somalia), 17 African organisations, 12 Asian nations, 22 donor nations, and 55 international organizations, with a total of about 2,500 delegates. These included 40 presidents or prime ministers of African countries, twice the number of those present at TICAD III (2003). Also in Yokohama were organizers associated with "official side events" and other participants in the conference. Also attending the conference were representatives of the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a number of donor countries, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other relevant agencies.

The shared perspectives of the conference delegates served to underscore the case for immediate assistance to help Africa's vulnerable economies to weather the global food and fuel crisis. Participants agreed that emergency food aid was necessary, but it was also necessary to carry out medium-to-long-term interventions, with special attention on the division of roles and complementarity among various development agencies.

5️⃣ TICAD V (2013)
This conference was held in Yokohama 1–3 June 2013 and 41 African heads of state, along with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, attended. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe opened the conference by announcing a five-year $32 billion package to support infrastructure development and boost economic growth in Africa.

6️⃣ TICAD VI (2016)
The sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) was held in Nairobi, Kenya, on August 27-28, 2016, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre. This was the first time a TICAD summit was held in Africa since the conference's inception in 1993. The conference was co-chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, and President Idriss Déby Itno of Chad. Kenya and Gambia had bid for the chance to hold it, but Gambia withdrew to allow Kenya to win. It was attended by roughly 5,000 delegates.

7️⃣ TICAD VII (2019)
The seventh edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) was held in Yokohama, Japan, from August 28 to 30, 2019. This multilateral forum, co-organized by the Japanese government, the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, and the African Union Commission (AUC), brought together African leaders and international partners to discuss African development.

8️⃣ TICAD VIII (2022)
This was the first conference since the COVID-19 pandemic. It was held in Tunisia from 27 to 28 August 2022. Prime minister Fumio Kishida joined the meeting via video-conference after he tested positive for COVID-19. Then, about 5,000 guests were anticipated to attend the event.

9️⃣ TICAD IX (2025)
This conference is co-hosted by the Government of Japan, the United Nations, UNDP, the World Bank, and the African Union Commission and will take place in Yokohama, Japan, from August 20 to 22, 2025, at the PACIFICO YOKOHAMA Exhibition Hall, Annex Hall.

SOURCE: Wikipedia | Google AI

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