On the occasion of TICAD III, several African heads of state pointed out that now it'd been ten years since the TICAD process started. It needed to be further institutionalized through some concrete monitoring mechanism. High expectations as such for the follow-up activities of the TICAD process were expressed.
In the keynote address of then Prime Minister Koizumi at TICAD III, he mentioned that "Japan will move to institutionalize TICAD follow-up systems." Subsequently, Japanese government has held Ministerial Conferences based upon various specific themes per year, from the perspective of following up the discussions at TICAD III.
On the other hand, documents and contributions that had been announced in the TICAD process encompass a broad range and involve a number of stakeholders, and careful follow-up actions are necessary to look at the impact which is made by TICAD process.
2. Significance of Establishment of Follow-up Mechanism
To contribute to steady implementation of related initiatives.
To be able to discuss openly with not only African states but with relevant countries and organizations about the concept/ way of thinking promoted by the TICAD process and its concrete outcomes.
To improve transparency and accountability of TICAD activities.
Based upon above, TICAD Follow-up Mechanism will be established with a Three-Tier structure as below.
(1) Organizational Composition
(i) First Tier: Secretariat
Actor
Secretariat inside MOFA (the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau).
Objective/Outline
To conduct information gathering / analysis / public relations activities, in collaboration with related governmental agencies, regarding the current status of implementation of the priorities under the TIACD process, especially Yokohama Action Plan and Appendix in the follow-up process of TICAD IV.
Action
Information transmission through web-sites (positive linkage with UNDP web-site)
Establish a consultation service of TICAD, through which interaction with civil society is possible.
ADC will make use of the Secretariat.
(ii) Second Tier: Joint Monitoring Committee of the TICAD process (expected to be held in Japan)
Actor
African states (Members of TICAD committee from ADCs), Japanese government and related governmental organizations, TICAD co-organizers, AU Commission (incl. NEPAD Secretariat), donor countries, international organizations (embassies and liaison offices in Japan)
Objective/ Outline
Produce an annual Progress Report. (do not conduct review or assessment of the report, which will be the main task of TICAD Follow-up meetings)
Frequency
Hold Joint Monitoring Committee meetings once a year as a rule.
(iii) Third Tier: TICAD Follow-up meetings
Actor
TICAD Participants including Japanese government (and related governmental organizations where necessary), TICAD co-organizers, African states, AU Commission (incl. NEPAD Secretariat), RECs, donor countries, international organizations, etc.
Objective/ Significance
Take advantage of TICAD related Ministerial Conferences on specific themes to review and assess on-going TICAD activities based upon the annual progress report, and to instruct accelerated implementation where necessary, at Ministerial level (or high level officials).
Frequency
Hold TICAD Follow-up meetings once a year as a rule.