The Second Meeting of the Africa Partnership Forum (Overview and Evaluation)

April 21, 2004

1. The second meeting of the Africa Partnership Forum (APF) was held in Mozambique on April 16-17. Representing Japan at the meeting was Director-General of Sub-Saharan African Affairs Masaharu Kono, Personal Representative of the Prime Minister for Africa.
2. In support of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), APF is a process intended by Personal Representatives of concerned countries and organizations for Africa (APR) to give fresh political and strategic impetus to the currents of cooperation for Africa. Participants engaged in free discussion in response to reports from NEPAD and other organizations on the situation in Africa concerning peace and security, HIV/AIDS, education, economic growth, food security and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The main points of the discussion are as follows:

   (1)On peace and security, participants shared their observations on the mutual inseparability of peace and development, and on positive developments including the advancement of peace processes in Africa and the enhancement of the organization of the African Union (AU). They highlighted the importance of cooperation in strengthening the capabilities of regional institutions in Africa, DDRR (disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation) and other support for the consolidation of peace as well as reconstruction assistance.

   (2)With regard to HIV/AIDS, the delegates recognized the importance of tackling issues strongly associated with the epidemic such as the improvement of healthcare systems, HIV/AIDS education and gender.

   (3)Regarding education, participants raised the issues of expanding school feeding programs, enhancing vocational training and improving the quality of education.

   (4)On the issue of economic growth and wealth creation, delegates underlined the importance of private investment, improvement to domestic laws and institutions to facilitate the investment and national savings. The announcement by Japan that it is planning to hold the TICAD Asia-Africa Trade and Investment Conference this autumn in Tokyo attracted much attention.

   (5)As far as food security was concerned, participants acknowledged the central role of agriculture in the economies of African countries.

   (6)On all topics, there were repeated assertions of the need to improve the capabilities at the level of African regional institutions, countries and corporations, as well as partners' support to them.

3. The third meeting of the APF is scheduled for October in the United States.