Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan - United Nations University
Waseda Institute of International Strategy

International Symposium
- Capacity Building in Africa and the Role of Japan -

March 16, 2007, Tokyo

09:30-17:30, 16. March (Fri.), 2007
Venue: UN House, U Thant Hall, Jingumae, Tokyo

[Free of charge] [Pre-registration is required]
[Japanese, English, French Simultaneous Interpretation]

Keynote speech
Nagia Mohammed Essayed, Commissionor for Human Resources, Science and Technology of African Union

Traffic Access

5-53-70 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan

  • [JR] Shibuya Station: 8 min walk
  • [Subway] Omotesando Station: 5 min walk

OBJECTIVE

For African countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, such as Goal 1 which aims to halve poverty by 2015, it is necessary to strengthen their institutional capacities, both at the governmental and private sector levels. Despite the fact that building and strengthening institutional and individual capacities is broadly acknowledged as having a strong impact on poverty alleviation, it remains difficult for developing countries to prevent those who are highly educated and skilled, from migrating in large numbers to seek better working and living conditions in other places. The "brain drain" issue has become an important issue and needs to be addressed more thoroughly.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the United Nations University and the Waseda Institute of International Strategy will jointly organize an international symposium on "Capacity Building in Africa and the Role of Japan" that will present an opportunity for analyzing the current situation in Africa and for discussing innovative ideas on how the international community, and most specifically Japan, can positively contribute to reducing "brain drain".

The symposium will feature scholars as well as UN officials who have abundant knowledge and experience in the areas of capacity building and poverty alleviation. The symposium also aims to define policy recommendations that can enable developed countries such as Japan to contribute in an active way, to help reduce "brain drain" and its negative impact on developing countries.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to this important symposium and to benefiting from your constructive participation.

Program (Provisional)

Opening Remarks

- Hans van Ginkel, Rector, United Nations University
- Salah Hannachi, Ambassador of Tunisia to Japan, and Dean of African Diplomatic Corps in Tokyo
- Shuichiro Megata, Director-General for Sub-Saharan African Affairs (MOFA)

Keynote Speech

Nagia Mohammed Essayed
Commissionor for Human Resources, Science and Technology of African Union

Session 1: General Analysis of Capacity Building in Africa

Moderator:
Sadaharu Kataoka, Professor and President of Waseda Institute of International Strategy
Panelists:
Anyang' Nyong'o, Former Minister of Planning and National Development, Kenya
Shinsuke Horiuchi, Former Ambassador of Japan to Kenya
Patrick Bond, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Yasushi Katsuma, Professor, Waseda University

Question and Answer Session, Discussion

Lunch

Session 2: Migration and the 'Brain Drain'

Moderator:
Shinsuke Horiuchi, Former Ambassador of Japan to Kenya
Panelists:
Sadaharu Kataoka, President of Waseda Institute of International Strategy
Noureini Tidjani-Serpos, Assistant Director-General of Africa Department of UNESCO
Mitsugi Endo, Professor, University of Tokyo

Question and Answer Session, Discussion

Session 3: Capacity Building in Africa and the role of International Society

Moderator:
Sadaharu Kataoka, President of Waseda Institute of International Strategy
Panelists:
Kazuyoshi Aoki, Professor, University of Japan
Sumana Sako, Executive Director of ACBF
Makoto Katsumata, Meiji-Gakuin University

Question and Answer Session, Discussion

Closing Remarks

Masayoshi Hamada, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Japan

Pre-registration

It is necessary to pre-register in order to participate. Please send the following information by e-mail to africa@the-convention.co.jp
(1) Your Name
(2) Professional Category or Name of Academic Institution
(3) Title/Affiliation
(4) Email Address (mandatory)

africa@the-convention.co.jp

Deadline: Wednesday 14th March

Enquiries to:

First Africa Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
03-3580-3311 (main number)

  • * A more detailed program will be confirmed in due course.
  • * Please note that the number of simultaneous interpreting receivers are limited.
  • * People who have not pre-registered cannot participate in the symposium.
  • * We will send you the participation certificate by e-mail when you have registered. Please print and bring this certificate and your ID card with you on the day of the symposium.
  • * Any personal information you send to us will only be used for the purpose of this symposium.

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