Africa and Japan: Co-creating a future through youth, innovation, and partnership

As the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Develop­ment (TICAD9) convenes in Yokohama, the world turns its attention once again to Africa—a continent rich in diversity, resil­ience, and promise. This year’s conference arrives at a critical juncture. Global challenges such as climate change, geopolitical frag­mentation, and economic inequal­ity are intensifying. In this context, TICAD9 offers a vital platform to reimagine development coop­eration—one rooted in mutual respect, innovation, and strategic partnership.

At the heart of this vision lies Africa’s youth. By 2050, one in four people globally will be African. This demographic shift presents a historic opportunity: a “demographic dividend” powered by a young, dynamic workforce. But this potential can only be real­ised through sustained investment in education, healthcare, and job creation. Without it, the same demographic forces could deepen poverty and instability.

JICA’s vision: Homegrown

development and human

security

Since the launch of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 1954, the Japan Interna­tional Cooperation Agency (JICA) has worked in over 190 countries, fostering development through infrastructure, human resource development, and technical coop­eration.

Japan’s ODA, led by JICA, has long championed the principle of “homegrown development.” This approach emphasizes empowering local communities to create their own solutions, rather than impos­ing external models.

JICA’s programmes in Africa exemplify this philosophy. The Coalition for African Rice De­velopment (CARD), launched at TICAD IV in 2008, doubled rice production across the continent in a decade.

Now expanded to 32 countries, CARD aims to double produc­tion again to 56 million tonnes by 2030—transforming Africa from a food-dependent region to one of self-suffi­ciency.

Other initiatives like SHEP (Smallholder Horticulture Empower­ment and Promotion) and KAIZEN (a productivity improvement method adapted from Japanese busi­ness practices) have empow­ered farmers and workers to improve their liveli­hoods and productivity with minimal resources. These pro­grammes are now led by African train­ers, spreading sustainable development across the continent.

Underlying all of JICA’s efforts is the concept of human securi­ty—a guiding principle reaffirmed in Japan’s revised Development Cooperation Charter in 2023. Hu­man security means ensuring that individuals are free from fear and want, and can live with dignity. In a world facing compounded crises, from pandemics to climate shocks, this principle is more relevant than ever.

Innovation and

entrepreneurship: A new

era of collaboration

Africa’s youth are not just beneficiaries—they are innova­tors. Across the continent, young entrepreneurs are leveraging digital technologies to solve local problems and launch startups. Recognising this, JICA launched Project NINJA (Next Innovation with Japan) in 2020, connecting African startups with Japanese investors and expertise.

In 2025, JICA signed its first Grant Aid agreement with Nigeria to support local startups, marking a new chapter in Africa-Japan innovation collaboration.

At TICAD9, JICA will unveil the IDEA (Impact Investing for Development of Emerging Afri­ca) Initiative, designed to mobilise private capital for socio-economic development and climate action. Complementing this, Japanese government amended the JICA Act in April 2025, enabling JICA to take financial risks and catalyse private investment—an unprece­dented move in Japan’s develop­ment cooperation history.

Youth exchange: Building trust and shared futures

Human exchange is central to the Africa-Japan partnership. Since 2013, the ABE Initiative (African Business Education Ini­tiative for Youth) has enabled over 1,900 African students to study in Japan and intern with Japanese companies.

One standout alumna is Ms. Pelonomi Moiloa from South Af­rica, who founded “Lelapa AI” to develop language technologies for under-resourced African languag­es. Her work earned her a spot on TIME’s 100 AI talents of 2023.

Building on ABE, JICA will launch TOMONI Africa at TI­CAD9. “Tomoni” means “to­gether” and “friends” in Japanese, symbolising the spirit of mutual learning and collaboration. TO­MONI Africa will expand face-to-face exchanges between African and Japanese youth, fostering friendships and joint ventures.

This spirit is already alive. In May 2025, JICA and Sapporo Kaisei High School hosted the “Japan-Afri­ca Youth Camp,” where 300 Japanese students met 20 African peers to discuss culture, development, and future cooperation. Such interactions break down barriers and build lasting understanding.

Volunteers and

multilateralism: A legacy

of partnership

Since 1965, over 16,000 Japanese Overseas Cooper­ation Volunteers (JOCV) have served in Africa, contrib­uting across sectors from educa­tion to agriculture. Many return to Japan with renewed purpose, launching social enterprises and revitalising local communities. One example is Ms Aya Tsuboi, who founded SUNDA Technol­ogy after her service as a JOCV in Uganda. Her IoT-based water payment system ensures sustain­able access to clean water in Afri­ca and was recognised by Forbes Japan NEXT 100 in 2023.

TICAD’s multilateral format—bringing together governments, civil society, and international organisations—remains a cor­nerstone of its success. JICA’s partnership with the African Continental Free Trade Area (Af­CFTA) Secretariat, signed in 2022, aims to create a unified trade zone across the continent. JICA also promotes Corridor Development, connecting cities to boost eco­nomic activity, and supports One Stop Border Posts to streamline trade.

Beyond Africa, JICA facilitates triangular cooperation with coun­tries like Egypt and Brazil to share their expertise across continents. In 2024, JICA and Indonesia signed a memorandum to jointly support African development, highlighting the growing potential of South-South collaboration.

A Shared Future Built on Respect and Co-Creation

Africa stands at a crossroads. Its challenges—poverty, conflict, governance—are real. But its opportunities—youth, innovation, resilience—are equally powerful. For Japan, engaging with Africa is not charity, but a strategic invest­ment in a shared future.

As TICAD9 unfolds, the message is clear: Africa and Japan can co-create solutions to global challenges.

Guided by human security, powered by youth, and built on mutual respect, this partnership offers a model for inclusive, sus­tainable development.

The future is not something to be given—it is something to be built, together.

Message from Chief

Representative of JICA Ghana

In Ghana, JICA has been active over 60 years since 1963. We have been working in various fields including Infrastructure, Agricul­ture, Industry/SME, Health, Edu­cation and Governance. Through­out our operation and in all our projects, JICA has continuously valued people centered approach and emphasized the importance of capacity development, self-reli­ance and sustainability.

More than 300 Ghanaians have benefited from JICA’s scholar­ship programme (ABE Initiative, JDS, etc.) and studied in Japanese Universities.

More than 33,000 SMEs has received KAIZEN trainings to enhance their business. KAIZEN is also introduced in hospitals, and public sectors to improve their service delivery. Since 1977, 1,554 JOCV has been dispatched to Ghana. These are just a few examples of JICA beneficiaries.

As development issues becomes more global and complex, it is our hope that these beneficiaries of JICA projects will become the bridge bringing Ghana and Japan together, to co-create innovative solutions, as this TICAD 9 theme promotes.

The writer is the President, Japan International Coopera­tion Agency (JICA)

BY TANAKA AKIHIKO