Japanese leadership in 2008 is essential to keep African development high on the international agenda. A spate of natural disasters, the food price crisis, the oil shock and continuing turbulence in the financial markets are piling on the pressure for the international humanitarian and development communities. There are also a number of opportunities in 2008 to make real progress towards sustainable African development.
More than 50 leaders from Africa and Asia will gather in Yokohama, Japan, this week for the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV, 28-30 May). This event is an essential space for African participation in high-level international discussions. Japan also hosts the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit (7-9 July), an opportunity to raise critical African issues: aid, a renewed commitment to the MDGs and climate change mitigation. But it cannot end there. The TICAD process should also inform the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Accra, Ghana, and the UN-supported MDG Summit in New York, USA, both in September.
Recognising this important year for Japan, ODI has worked to bring together policy-makers, researchers and civil society to help inform this process. The resulting resources and events can be seen below.
G8 is Gr8?
This article discusses the results of the recent G8 Summit, some of which may actually prove beneficial.
Renewing commitment to the MDGs: A five point plan for action for the G8 in 2008
Yasmeen Khwaja argues for a renewed commitment to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and offers a five point plan for the G8 in 2008.
Development results, not just promises: Sweating the details in Japan's G8
Fletcher Tembo argues that Japan should take the lead at the G8 to put aid practice on the international community's agenda.
Reforming aid in 2008: An agenda for Japanese leadership
In this project briefing, seven ebpdn partners look to Japan for leadership on setting the aid agenda in 2008.
Rising food prices: Cause for concern
The current spike in food prices needs prompt reaction through various forms of social protection to avert hunger.
Africa and the G8: what the academics say
In 2008, no country is better placed than Japan to provide strong leadership on development.
From Gleneagles to Hokkaido: Monitoring G8 commitments on aid to Africa
This blog welcomes the DATA 2008 report, which monitors progress towards commitments made by the G8 at the Gleneagles summit in July 2005.
Rome exceeded expectations: will the G8 do the same?
Simon Maxwell assesses the results of the recent Food Summit in Rome.
Where next for TICAD: Building lasting partnerships
This background note considers the potential impacts of the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development and Japan’s influence on the development agenda in 2008.
Donor support to private sector development in sub-Saharan Africa
This study examines how one type of Japanese support, the one-village one-product (OVOP) approach, fits with other donor approaches and how it relates to the development of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). It also presents some preliminary findings...
Japan and Africa in 2008: Opportunities and challenges for development
How and where could Japan bring its influence to bear this year, particularly with regard to African development?