TICAD IV Regional Preparatory Meeting in Lusaka
(Southern and East Africa)

Mulugushi International Conference Center in Lusaka

31 October, Lusaka, Zambia

1. From 30 October (Tue) to 31 October (Wed), the fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) Regional Preparatory Meeting (Southern and East Africa) was held in Lusaka, Zambia. This meeting was co-organized by Japan, whose delegation was headed by H.E. Mr. Nobutake ODANO, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for TICAD IV and other co-organizers, namely, UNOSAA (United Nations Office of Special Advisor on Africa), UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) and World Bank. The meeting was attended by around 200 participants who included delegates from 22 Southern and Eastern African countries as well as 15 other countries, 9 regional and sub-regional institutions and 20 international organizations as well as 19 NGOs.
2. The purpose of this meeting was to explain from the co-organizers the current status of preparation for TICAD IV and to hear in particular from the regional participants concrete issues, as well as their views and concerns which were related to the priorities of TICAD IV in order to determine the agenda and produce the desired results at TICAD IV.
3. On the first day of the meeting (30 October), after the opening speech by Hon, Kabinga J Pande, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Zambia, Ambassador Odano explained in the plenary session the purpose and concept of TICAD IV. Mr. Koro Bessho, Director-General of International Cooperation Bureau, MOFA, Japan, emphasized the significance of TICAD IV in its relation to the G8 Summit which Japan will host.
4. In the following four break-out regional sub-group sessions, participants discussed in detail the following topics; Acceleration of Growth, Achieving MDGs, Consolidation of Peace and Democratization, and Addressing Environmental/Climate Change issues.
5. On the second day of the meeting (31 October), under the theme of "Strengthening Partnership", participants discussed issues pertaining to Asia-Africa Cooperation and Intra-Africa/Regional Cooperation.
6. After these discussions, Chairs of regional sub-groups reported back to the Plenary on the outcome of the break-out sessions held the previous day. A representative of the Civil Society also reported on the outcome of the NGO dialogue, which was also held the previous day.
7. At the closing session, H.E. Mr. Kapoma concluded the meeting by reading the message of Prof. Fashion Phiri, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Zambia, in which he underscored the relevance of the meeting as part of preparations for TICAD IV.
8. After this TICAD Eastern and Southern Regional Preparatory Meeting, the Northern, Western and Central Regional Preparatory Meeting is to be held from 21 to 22 November in Tunisia. On the latter half of next March, the TICAD Ministerial Preparatory Meeting is to be held in Gabon to finalize the TICAD IV preparatory process.