Japan is strengthening its strategic partnership with Africa as TICAD 9 approaches in August 2025. The summit will be hosted in Yokohama and will gather leaders, innovators, and business figures from both regions.
Its goal is to co-create practical solutions for Africa’s challenges, from economic growth and industrialization to climate resilience and sustainable development.
For over three decades, the Tokyo International Conference on African Development has built a foundation of trust, combining Japan’s advanced technology and expertise with Africa’s vast potential.
TICAD 9 will focus on public-private partnerships, youth empowerment, women’s leadership, and African-led strategies for peace and stability.
Taking place before the UN’s 80th anniversary and the historic G20 Summit in South Africa, it is set to influence global policy and amplify Africa’s voice on the world stage.
This event promises to deepen Japan-Africa relations and redefine global cooperation for a more inclusive and resilient future.
Introduction: Why 2025 Is Africa’s Year on the Global Stage
The year 2025 is shaping up to be a defining moment for Africa’s place in the world. In August, Yokohama, Japan, will host the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), a summit that could reshape the trajectory of Japan-Africa relations for decades to come.
This conference is not happening in isolation. It will directly precede the United Nations General Assembly’s High-Level Week in September, marking the 80th anniversary of the UN, and set the stage for the G20 Summit in November, which will take place in South Africa, the first time the African continent hosts this prestigious gathering.
For Japan, TICAD 9 is an opportunity to reaffirm its role as a strategic partner in African development, leveraging its technological expertise, policy experience, and commitment to human security. For Africa, it is a chance to engage with a partner that has consistently promoted ownership, partnership, and sustainable growth.
The Evolution of TICAD: More Than Just a Summit
When TICAD was first launched in 1993, it was a pioneering multilateral platform aimed at placing Africa at the heart of global development discussions. At that time, Africa was often overlooked in major international economic dialogues. TICAD changed that, becoming a critical space where African leaders, international organizations, donor countries, and private sector stakeholders could engage as equals.
Over the past three decades, TICAD has maintained several characteristics that set it apart from other development conferences.
African Ownership: Japan has emphasized the principle that development in Africa must be led by Africans themselves, with partners supporting their priorities rather than imposing outside agendas.
Inclusivity: TICAD invites participation from a broad range of actors, including NGOs, academic institutions, and private enterprises, ensuring the conversation is not limited to governments.
Consistency: While many development initiatives fade over time, TICAD has been held regularly and has built a track record of delivering concrete commitments.
Senegal’s Prime Minister Amadou Ba once praised Japan’s approach as a “teach a man to fish” model, a philosophy that focuses not only on providing aid but also on empowering African nations to solve their own challenges.
Japan’s Vision for TICAD 9: Innovation, Partnership, and Shared Growth
The central theme of TICAD 9 is “Co-Create Innovative Solutions with Africa”, a reflection of Japan’s desire to combine its cutting-edge technology with Africa’s dynamism to generate solutions to shared challenges.
From artificial intelligence and digital healthcare to the deployment of hydrogen and ammonia energy technologies, Japan is looking to deploy innovation not as a luxury but as a necessity in tackling pressing issues like climate change, healthcare gaps, and economic transformation.
This vision aligns closely with Africa’s own Agenda 2063, which outlines the African Union’s goals for inclusive growth, industrialization, and regional integration. Public-private partnerships are expected to play a central role, with Japan working to attract investment by improving the business environment and supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Public-Private Partnerships: A Catalyst for African Transformation
Economic transformation requires more than government-to-government cooperation. Japan sees the private sector as a crucial driver of growth in Africa, bringing investment, expertise, and market access.
At TICAD 9, numerous Japanese and African companies will participate in business-focused forums aimed at showcasing innovative applications in industries ranging from renewable energy to advanced manufacturing. By connecting entrepreneurs from both regions, the conference hopes to foster mutually beneficial business ventures that create jobs and transfer skills.
Japan also aims to strengthen regional connectivity, both physically through infrastructure projects and economically through trade agreements and cross-border investment. This is not just about helping Africa; it is about building a relationship where Japan also benefits through expanded markets and shared prosperity.
Human Capital: Empowering Youth and Women
One of Japan’s most consistent messages has been that human capital development is the foundation of long-term growth. By 2050, one in three young people in the world will be African, making the continent’s youth a powerful demographic force.
Japan’s programs emphasize education, vocational training, and leadership development for young Africans, as well as targeted initiatives to empower women as entrepreneurs, policymakers, and community leaders. The idea is simple: innovation thrives when talent is nurtured, and Africa’s future will depend on its ability to harness the potential of its people.
Cultural and academic exchanges will also be part of TICAD 9, with events designed to strengthen mutual understanding between African and Japanese societies.
Peace, Stability, and Governance: The Foundation for Sustainable Growth
No matter how ambitious development plans are, they cannot succeed without peace and stability. Japan recognizes that conflict, weak governance, and political instability are among the most significant barriers to economic growth in Africa.
Through TICAD, Japan advocates for African-led solutions to African conflicts, focusing on conflict prevention, post-conflict reconstruction, and the strengthening of democratic institutions. The concept of human security, which places individual well-being at the center of policy, will be a guiding principle in these discussions.
By supporting better governance and inclusive political processes, Japan hopes to create an environment where businesses can invest with confidence and societies can thrive.
From Policy to Practice: Japan’s Track Record in Africa
Japan’s relationship with Africa is not just theoretical; it has delivered tangible results over the past three decades.
Infrastructure Development: Japan has supported the construction of roads, bridges, and ports that are vital for trade and regional integration.
Healthcare Systems: Japanese aid has strengthened hospital networks, supplied medical equipment, and provided training for healthcare workers.
Disaster Risk Management: Leveraging its own expertise, Japan has helped African nations improve disaster preparedness and response, from early warning systems to community-based resilience programs.
These efforts are designed to have a lasting impact by building local capacity and ensuring that progress continues even after specific projects end.
TICAD 9 in the Context of Global Diplomacy
TICAD 9 is strategically positioned within a year packed with significant international events. By holding the summit just before the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week and a few months before the G20 Summit in South Africa, Japan aims to ensure that African priorities are front and center in global discussions.
This timing allows commitments made at TICAD 9 to influence broader international agendas, including climate policy, development financing, and trade reform. It also reinforces Japan’s role as a bridge between Africa and other major economies.
Challenges Ahead: Navigating a Complex Geopolitical Landscape
While the vision for TICAD 9 is ambitious, the path ahead is not without obstacles. Africa faces debt pressures, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the disruptions of climate change. Geopolitical competition between major powers also risks turning development partnerships into arenas for strategic rivalry.
Japan’s challenge will be to maintain its reputation as a trusted, neutral partner that focuses on genuine cooperation rather than political leverage. Achieving this will require transparency, long-term commitment, and responsiveness to African leaders’ concerns.
Why TICAD 9 Matters for Both Japan and Africa
The stakes for TICAD 9 go beyond the traditional development agenda. For Japan, it is an opportunity to strengthen its global influence, diversify its partnerships, and support an increasingly multipolar world order. For Africa, it is a chance to secure investment, technology, and knowledge that can accelerate its path toward the goals outlined in Agenda 2063.
The mutual benefits are clear: Japan gains access to emerging markets and resources, while Africa gains a committed partner with advanced technology and a track record of capacity building.
A Vision for the Future: Co-Creation as a Guiding Principle
The phrase “co-create” in the TICAD 9 theme is not just a slogan; it reflects a philosophy of partnership where both sides contribute equally. This is a departure from traditional donor-recipient models and moves toward a relationship based on shared responsibility and shared rewards.
This approach recognizes that Africa brings not only natural resources and markets but also innovation, creativity, and resilience. By combining these strengths with Japan’s technology and expertise, the partnership can produce solutions that have global relevance.
Conclusion: Building a Shared Future
As the world grapples with complex, interconnected challenges, the importance of cooperation between regions like Japan and Africa cannot be overstated. TICAD 9 is not just another diplomatic gathering; it is a strategic opportunity to set a course for inclusive, sustainable, and mutually beneficial development.
In August, leaders, entrepreneurs, and citizens from across Africa and Japan will converge in Yokohama with the goal of transforming bold ideas into actionable plans. If successful, this summit could mark a new chapter in global cooperation, one that sees Africa not as a recipient of aid but as an equal partner in shaping the future.
For more insights into Africa’s long-term development vision, you can explore the African Union’s Agenda 2063 framework.
