16 October 2007

TICAD Civil Society Forum

TICAD IV International Symposium for NGOs

 

When:             27 October, 2007, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

 

Where:            U Thant Conference Hall, 3F, UN House

 

Who:               Representatives from African NGOs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, UNDP, the World Bank, UNHCR and The Tokyo-based African Diplomatic Corps

 

“Re-thinking African development from the point of view of Civil Society – What can the TICAD Process do to help African countries in their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)” is the theme of an International Symposium organized by the TICAD IV NGO Network (Tnnet), a group of 26 Japanese NGOs working in socio-economic development in Africa. The symposium is being held in the framework of the TICAD IV global conference of heads of State and government scheduled for 28 to 30 May, 2008, in Yokohama, Japan.

 

Co-organized by UNDP in cooperation with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the World Bank, Mainichi Newspaper, and Asahi Shimbun, two of the five major national newspapers in Japan, the three hour-long discussion will foster the following priority areas of TICAD IV: Boosting economic growth; Ensuring “Human Security”, including the attainment of the MDGs and the consolidation of peace and democratization; and Addressing environmental issues and climate change.

 

The Master of Ceremony of the event, which will be attended by representatives from 14 African NGOs, is Mr. Baudouin Euloge ADOGONY, the highly-acclaimed and popular comedian and actor from the West African State of Benin.

 

A Press conference immediately follows the International Symposium from 5:15 to 5:45 p.m. The venue is: 5F Committee Room 2-3.

Prior to the International Symposium, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Secretariat of the TICAD Civil Society Forum will hold a workshop from 24 to 26 October, 2007, at the JICA Global Plaza, Hiroo, to deepen the participants’ understanding of Africa and African NGOs and to promote Africa-Japan communication. Representatives from 13 African NGOs have been invited to Japan.