TICAD Ministerial Thematic Event] “Africa-Japan Youth Drive: Co-creating the Future We Want” was held ｜ News / Media

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Date: August 24, 2024

Cosponsoring Agency:

African Diaspora Network Japan (ADNJ)

Africa Asia Youth Nest (AAYN)

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

United Nations Volunteer Programme (UNV)

Location:

Hotel New Otani (in Tokyo) and Zoom

Main Participants

Participants:

About 100 participants of the TICAD Ministerial Meeting, officials from co-organizers, media, etc.

Speakers:

Opening Remarks: Naoki Ando, Director, JICA

Representative of the TICAD 9 Youth Advocacy Project

Yuuki Yasuuba Co-founder, AAYN

David Pondew, ADNJ President

Moderator

Fatoumata Mbogeva, Special Advisor to UNDP Africa Director

Shuhei Ueno, Deputy Director for Planning and TICAD Promotion, Africa Division, JICA

Panelists

Kabarebe James, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Rwanda

Afuna Ezakonwa, UNDP Assistant to the President and Director, Africa Bureau

Takako Suzuki, Member of the House of Representatives

Mutsuo Iwai, First Vice President, Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives)

Gwei Michael Wawa CEO and Founder, Wanda Prep LLC

Sachie Fujioka, Peacebuilding Specialist (UNV), UNDP Gambia Office

Anzu Nishijima, Co-founder, AAYN

David Pondew, ADNJ President

Naruh Yamagishi Representative of Uzuri Limited Liability Company

Message to Youth: Kinuko Yamamoto, Vice President, Pasona Group

Closing Remarks: Yoichi Fukazawa, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs

Background and Objectives

Africa Asia Youth Nest (AAYN) and Africa Diaspora Network Japan (ADNJ), which are organizations mainly consisting of young people from Africa and Japan, have been working toward “youth advocacy” for TICAD 9, and JICA, together with other organizations JICA has been supporting these activities together with other organizations.

AAYN and ADNJ have interviewed about 300 people about their vision for the future of Japan and Africa through an online questionnaire, and have held a series of discussions to derive action plans and policy proposals for TICAD 9 from the future vision using the Future Design methodology.

In order to further improve the draft proposals from young people for TICAD 9 that are the result of this series of activities, we have decided to hold this event, which will be an intergenerational panel discussion.

1. opening remarks

After explaining the importance of “youth” in African development, JICA Director Naoki Ando emphasized the importance of “co-creation” between Japan and Africa, between the private and public sectors, and between the youth and the senior generation.

(From left to right: AAYN co-founder at rest, ADNJ President Pondew)

1. power of youth; representative of TICAD Youth Advocacy Project

ADNJ President PONDEAU and co-founder of AAYN, Mr. PONDEAU, explained that they have been working on a draft proposal based on a questionnaire and discussions with 50 Japanese and African youths using Future Design, and that based on today’s event, they would like to improve the proposal for next year’s TICAD 9 as “Future We Want (Ideal Future)”. Based on today’s event, we would like to improve the proposal for next year’s TICAD 9 as “Future We Want (Ideal Future)”.

(Panel Discussion in its entirety)

1. Future Talk: Intergenerational Panel Discussion

The panelists, five representatives of Japanese and African youth and four representatives of middle and senior generations, discussed the following three themes derived from the series of youth advocacy processes to date. The following three themes, drawn from the series of youth advocacy processes to date, were discussed.

Investment in and development of youth as change agents

Strengthening people-to-people relationships through the promotion of mobility and social cohesion (coexistence)

Empowerment of youth through participation in decision-making processes

(From left to right: Mr. Fujioka, AAYN co-founder Nishijima)

The panelists representing young people spoke on each of the themes, including the following: promoting investment in young people who have a lot of potential; the importance of allowing for failure when doing so; the usefulness of mentors with experience; the need to bring Japan and Africa closer physically and mentally, as much learning and co-creation can take place through exchange; the need for a mechanism to listen to the voices of young people and incorporate them into decision-making; the desirability of youth councils in African countries and Japan-Africa Youth Councils. It would be beneficial to have mentors with experience.

(From left to right: Kabale Berwanda, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Afuna, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director-General for Africa; Suzuki, Member of the House of Representatives; Iwai, First Vice President of Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives).

The representatives of the middle and senior generations emphasized the importance of investing in young people in response to the voices of the representatives of the younger generation, and also said that voice, value, and volunteerism (voice, value, and volunteerism) should be respected based on their experiences in their youth, that Japanese companies should co-create with young people, and that the ABE initiative and Tobitate study abroad programs that provide opportunities for young people should be continued and expanded, more efforts should be made to promote exchanges, and TICAD by young people should be considered.

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1. message to young people

At the end of the panel discussion, Mr. Yamamoto, Vice President of Pasona Group, gave a message that his company is also actively supporting young people, that the private sector and others must respond to the enthusiasm of young people, and that he hopes young people will continue such activities to make their “voice” heard.

Closing remarks

Mr. Fukasawa, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, concluded the event, which was filled with the energy of young people from Japan and Africa, by stating that he looked forward to policy proposals by young people and that the Japanese government would like to support the activities of young people in Japan and Africa toward TICAD 9.

(Kimono fashion show)

Kimono Fashion Show

After the closing remarks, an African cloth kimono fashion show was held to express the fusion of Japanese and African cultures, brightening the venue.

JICA will continue to support such activities of Japanese and African youths in preparation for the TICAD 9 main meeting next August.

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