【Close】Book Launch "From Divided Pasts to Cohesive Futures – African Development in Post-TICAD 7"

The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, signifies the importance of political commitment to reconciling ethnic conflicts and building social cohesion and stability in Africa, as well as in the world.

Over the years, the JICA Research Institute, in a joint study with Kobe University, has comprehensively examined the correlation between ethnic diversity and economic instability in Africa from an interdisciplinary perspective such as economics, political science, anthropology, and history. This research so far has been published in two books* and this September we are very pleased to have released the third book, “From Divided Pasts to Cohesive Futures Reflections on Africa” (Cambridge University Press). In commemoration of this publication, we will organize a seminar, together with the Institute for Economics and Business Administration at Kobe University, to share the findings of this book and to discuss social cohesion/integration and development in African multi-ethnic societies.

What future can African countries build by taking advantage of ethnic and other diversity when these are used as a strength to drive growth and development, rather than as forces for division and instability? Dr. Hiroyuki Hino, Duke University and Dr. Motoki Takahashi, Kyoto University, who led the joint study, and other prominent experts of African and global development will discuss future prospects and challenges for sustainable development. We sincerely hope that the seminar will provide a fruitful opportunity to exchange views on cohesive futures for Africa, as well as the role of the international community, including TICAD, in these.

* ‘Ethnic Diversity and Economic Instability in Africa: Interdisciplinary Perspectives’ (2012, Cambridge University Press);
‘How Can Africa Flourish with Ethnic Diversity? Synopsis of the Fifth Kobe University/JICA Conference on Ethnic Diversity and Economic Instability in Africa.’ (2013, Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration, Kobe University).

15:00-15:05 Opening Remarks
Nobuko KAYASHIMA
Senior Vice President (in charge of Africa), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

15:05-15:45 Keynote Speech
‘From Divided Pasts to Cohesive Futures: Reflections on Africa’
Hiroyuki HINO
Visiting Research Scholar, Center for International & Global Studies, Duke University (DUCIGS)
Ex-Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister of Kenya (as a JICA Expert)
Ex-Director of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, IMF

15:45-16:45 Panel Discussion Session

Panelists: (Alphabetical Order)

Teshome EMANA
Head and Assistant Professor, Department of Social Anthropology, Addis Ababa University

Hiroyuki HINO
Visiting Research Scholar, DUCIGS

Kaoru ISHIKAWA
Specially Appointed Professor, Kawamura Gakuen Women's University
Board member, Kawamura Gakuen
Visiting Professor, Akita International University
Ex-Director-General, Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Ex-Ambassador, Embassy of Japan in Canada and Egypt

Motoki TAKAHASHI
Professor, Division of African Area Studies, Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University
Professor Emeritus, Kobe University

Rintaro TAMAKI
President, Japan Center for International Finance
Ex-Deputy Secretary General, OECD
Ex-Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs of the Ministry of Finance

Moderator: Izumi OHNO, Director, JICA Research Institute

16:45-17:10 Q&A

17:10-17:15 Closing Remarks
Nobuaki HAMAGUCHI
Director, Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration, Kobe University

JICA Research Institute (Ms.Nakamura)
E-mail：ditas-rsunit@jica.go.jp　

This event has ended.