News

Date:

June 21, 2022

Time:

QR code to Zoom Meeting Link

14:00-15:30 (SAST)
13:00-14:30 (WAT)
15:00-16:30 (EAT)
21:00-22:30 (JST)
12:00-13:30 (UTC)

Location:

Hybrid event (Zoom webinar / Onsite venue in South Africa)

*General public can join online (no registration required)
*Meeting link:

Language:

English, French (simultaneous interpretation available)

Organizers:

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),
African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD),
African Development Bank (AfDB)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Background and Objective:

Africa has been making continuous strides towards economic integration, a key pan-African aspiration stated in the African Union's development vision Agenda 2063. The signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2018 shows Africa's strong commitment to move towards an integrated continent. However, challenges such as Covid-19 and the Ukraine crisis have severely affected Africa's socio-economic development. Tackling these challenges and building a resilient and inclusive socio-economy is critically important for a prosperous future for Africa. To achieve such a future, economic integration is the key to moving forward on that pathway.
Ahead of the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD8) to be held this August, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in collaboration with key partners including the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is hosting a high-level event to discuss the path for African economic integration and how TICAD8 can help resolve the complex challenges ahead.

Programme

14:00 - Opening
Keynote speech:
- H. E. Mr. MARUYAMA Norio, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of South Africa
14:10 - Panel discussion
15:05 - Q&A session
15:25 - Announcement of launch of OSBP sourcebook third edition
15:30 - Closing

Panelists and moderators

Panelists
- Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD)
- Mr. NAKAMURA Toshiyuki, Senior Vice-President, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
- Ms. Leïla Farah Mokadem, Director General, Southern Africa Region, African Development Bank (AfDB)
- Dr. Ayodele Odusola, Resident Representative for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) South Africa and Director of the UNDP Africa, Finance Sector Hub

Moderators
- Mr. Martin Bwalya, Director, Knowledge Management and Program Evaluation Directorate, African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD)

Contact:

Kreab Tokyo (PR agency) jicaevent@kreab.com