Throughout TICAD, Japan has cooperated with various organizations in the development of Africa. Among them, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has long cooperated with Japan in Africa’s development and has supported the process as a co-sponsor of TICAD. In this interview, we asked Ms. Afuna Ezakonwa, UNDP Africa Bureau Chief, about the current challenges facing Africa, the efforts made so far through the TICAD process, and her vision for Africa’s future.
Afuna Ezakonwa, Director, Africa Bureau, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Challenges facing Africa and UNDP’s role in unlocking the potential for the future
-What are your thoughts on the challenges that Africa is currently facing?
The combined crises of a new coronavirus pandemic, the protracted war between Russia and Ukraine, and climate change are increasing Africa’s vulnerability. A major challenge is Africa’s over-reliance on excessive imports of critical strategic resources such as food, energy, and fertilizer, despite its abundance of the world’s most needed minerals and natural resources. This situation must change if the continent’s human, agricultural, energy, and mineral and natural resource wealth is to be harnessed for its own sustainable development.
We are now on the cusp of the 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, we are only on track to achieve 15% of that goal. Africa needs about $1.3 trillion per year to meet the SDG targets. The current global financial system presents challenges for African countries in attracting investment to advance the SDGs. For example, UNDP highlighted that credit rating agencies’ assessment of the creditworthiness of African countries can be an obstacle to investment to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.
Currently, the credit ratings of most African countries, with the exception of Botswana and Mauritius, are at speculative (non-investment) levels. However, the latest report, “Reducing Borrowing Costs in Africa,” notes that due to somewhat subjective credit ratings, African countries are estimated to have lost $46 billion in lost financing, in addition to $28 billion in extra interest. In other words, it states that African countries could save up to $74.5 billion for development. In other words, we believe that the development finance mechanism needs to be reviewed and reformed.
-What do you think of Africa’s potential despite the challenges it faces? And what initiatives is UNDP taking to tap this potential?
We see three major possibilities for Africa.
First, Africa has the youngest population in the world: more than 60% are under the age of 25, and it is estimated that by 2050, approximately 25% of the world’s population will be from the continent. Africa’s young population holds the key to our global future.
To this end, UNDP has placed youth at the center of its development programs. For example, in cooperation with the African Union Commission, UNDP has launched the African Young Women Leaders Fellowship Program, which promotes human resource development programs that contribute to the continent’s development through practical experience in the field of development.
Second, Africa is the richest continent in the world. It has about 60% of the world’s arable farmland. It is also rich in natural resources such as gold, cobalt, diamonds, and uranium. About half of Africa’s 55 countries have natural gas reserves, and about 40% of the world’s newly discovered natural gas in the past decade has been concentrated primarily in Senegal, Mauritania, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
We believe that this abundance of natural and human resources will play an important role in Africa’s ability to achieve economic growth. Africa currently accounts for only 2% of world trade, but a 1% increase in Africa’s share of world trade would generate approximately $70 billion in additional revenue annually for Africa as a whole. This is three times the total amount of development aid Africa currently receives from the rest of the world.
The African Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), launched in 2021, will also link to global value chains, boosting intra-African trade and stimulating economic growth; a functioning AfCFTA is expected to increase incomes across Africa by 7% by 2035 and lift some 40 million people out of extreme poverty. and about 40 million people out of extreme poverty by 2035.
Third, Africa is a highly innovative continent. According to the African Development Bank, 22% of Africa’s labor force has established a business, which is the highest percentage of entrepreneurship in the world.UNDP has launched a new initiative called “timbuktou” to support innovative businesses to solve social issues through investments in African entrepreneurs. through investments in African entrepreneurs.
Speaker at the AFRI CONVERSE 2023 3rd Annual “Investing in Africa’s Youth: developing a new generation of leaders and professionals”. With participating international students from Africa.
The Role of TICAD and Prospects for the Future
-Looking back on 30 years of TICAD, please tell us about the achievements and importance of TICAD from UNDP’s perspective.
At this year’s G7 Hiroshima Summit, Japan demonstrated its commitment to Africa and its recognition of Africa’s impact on the global economy.TICAD is unique in that it is an ongoing forum that emphasizes African ownership and is linked to many global and regional frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Promoting investment in Africa and building capacity in private sector development, technology transfer, and organization are also important elements of Japan’s cooperation. We believe that sharing expertise in advanced technologies and other sustainable solutions, such as Japan’s Green Growth Initiative, which promotes support for a green economy and equitable energy transition, will remain key to the TICAD process.
-What role do you think TICAD will have in the future?
As we look to the future of TICAD, we believe it is important to maintain the unique value that TICAD holds. To this end, the following five points are important.
1 . Maintain African ownership: it is also important to have African involvement and a greater say not only in the talks at TICAD, but also in the implementation beyond that. it is also welcome that TICAD is taking place on the African continent, and this must continue.
Maintain African ownership: it is also important to have African involvement and a greater say not only in the talks at TICAD, but also in the implementation beyond that. it is also welcome that TICAD will take place on the African continent and this must be continued. 2 . That TICAD be held regularly every three years: this will allow for in-depth follow-up.
TICAD to be held regularly every three years: this will allow for in-depth follow-up. 3 . Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063: Linking to international frameworks and a long-term vision for inclusive growth in Africa will demonstrate comprehensive, long-term engagement, and will enable a shift from a project-based approach to a more strategic direction, involving a wider range of stakeholders. It will allow for a shift from a project-based approach to a more strategic direction, involving a wider range of stakeholders.
Align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063: Linking to international frameworks and a long-term vision for Africa’s inclusive growth will demonstrate comprehensive, long-term engagement, shift from a project-based approach to a more strategic direction, and engage a wider range of stakeholders. shift from a project-based approach to a more strategic one, and to engage stakeholders more broadly. 4 . Enhanced follow-up and monitoring: Accountability for TICAD commitments is also important. This will help ensure that development cooperation is effectively implemented and
Enhanced follow-up and monitoring: Accountability regarding TICAD commitments is also important. This will ensure effective implementation of development cooperation and its effectiveness. 5 . Deeper promotion of public-private partnerships: stimulating private investment will boost regional integration and the progress of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which will also lead to opportunities to capitalize on intra-regional trade, a talented youth population, and rapid digital evolution.
Furthermore, for TICAD to be future-oriented, it needs to reach out to the next generation of youth. For example, we need to support the next generation of youth to improve their skills, vocational training programs to develop industrial talent, expand access to digital skills training, and support youth entrepreneurship.
Speaker at the TICAD 30th anniversary event hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in August 2023
JICA’s Added Value in African Development through TICAD
-What do you see as the characteristics and added value of JICA’s cooperation in African development?
JICA has been one of Africa’s closest development cooperation agencies for the past 30 years. As reaffirmed at TICAD 8 in 2022, the cooperation between the Japanese government and JICA in Africa is centered on investment in people.
Among other things, support for entrepreneurship development in Africa is currently expanding. With improved access to technology, the younger generation is thinking outside the box and leading the way in innovation, and African startups are experiencing significant growth.
Meanwhile, according to a survey analysis of 427 African women entrepreneurs, 70% of them cited financing as the biggest obstacle to starting a business. It is expected that JICA and the private sector will further promote the expansion of investment by utilizing the TICAD platform.
JICA and UNDP, Toward Future Collaboration
-In terms of African development, what kind of initiatives does UNDP hope to work on with JICA in the future?
In September of this year, President Steiner and JICA President Tanaka met at UNDP’s New York headquarters. At that meeting, UNDP and JICA agreed that private sector involvement is essential in Africa’s development and that it is important to strengthen the capacity of governments and human capital to attract private capital. Through the promotion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), UNDP hopes to unlock opportunities to promote “Made in Africa” and “Enterprise Africa” with JICA. and “Enterprise Africa” with JICA.
Africa is one of the youngest countries in the world, its population continues to expand, and innovations are happening in a variety of fields, such as fintech and clean energy.
Meeting between UNDP Director Ezakonwa and JICA Executive Director Ando
-What is your vision for the future of Africa?
We believe the following three points are important to promote Africa-led development.
First, we must reduce our dependence on development aid. The trend toward African development must shift from aid to investment. This requires the creation of equitable international financial and trade mechanisms that enable Africa to attract investment in high value-added industries.
Second, we need to develop a system to manage our abundant natural resources. It is important to strengthen management capacity so that Africans benefit more from Africa’s resources.
Third, human capital development. We must increase investment in youth, especially as it relates to health care, education, and technical skills. By 2050, Africa will have 460 million young people, double its current population. To benefit from this demographic composition, access to and quality of education must be improved. There is also a need to close the digital gap, as only 43.2% of the continent’s population currently has access to the Internet, well below the global average of 67.9%.
I believe that Africa is leading the way in promoting “multilateralism,” in which countries work together to solve global issues. Multilateralism” is essential for accelerating development, prosperity, and peace, and I hope that TICAD, which respects African ownership and encourages African-led development, will also play a role in creating co-creation with various partner organizations on the African continent in the future.
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