October 29, 2008. Tokyo. The Dean of ADC and Members of the TICAD IV Committee met with the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Mr. Donald KABERUKA at Hotel Okura to discuss issues relating to the TICAD IV Action Plan and cooperation between the ADC and the AfDB. The Dean, H.E. Mr. Elly E.E. Mtango, Ambassador of Tanzania to Japan, briefed the President of AfDB on the ADC’s crucial role in preparation, substance and outcomes of last May’s Tokyo International Conference for African Development IV (TICAD IV).  Indeed, a great achievement which resulted in a significant increase of the Official Development Assistance (ODA), doubled from the previous one in the adoption of an Action Plan and a TICAD IV Follow-up Mechanism.

 Originally, the main purpose of President’s visit to Japan is to speak with JICA’s (Japan International Cooperation Agency) head Ms. Ogata on the possibilities of co-financing and/or parallel financing of development projects of the continent. A framework agreement for such cooperation between AfDB and JICA was discussed and he was pleased to announce that he will be signing that agreement with Ms. Ogata later that afternoon.

He also noted concerns of the current financial crisis on Japan’s commitment to Africa, but said in his sense that there was a strong political will within the government of Japan to keep those commitments. Naturally, he said, it was more important than ever for each dollar to be spent effectively, and, in this sense, for there to be a clear understanding and a clear vision of labor between and among the various aid agencies and institutions – i.e. to avoid overlapping and/or duplication of efforts and less than the optimum use of resources.

The President said that he had found that for every dollar of official assistance available, the Bank was able to leverage an additional 5 or 6 dollars of funding from the private sector. He gave the construction of a dam in Uganda as an example, saying that the Bank had provided some grant funding to facilitate one element of the project, and that this had then attracted far more significant funding in other elements of the project from the private sector.

The President acknowledged the need for the Bank to do more to promote information about Africa in Japan and coincidentally, the ADC Website is almost up and with this tool, promotion of Africa will be easier. The AfDB expressed its support for the ADC Website which will become the hub of information flow of Africa and Japan. As such, a link between the ADC and of AfDB’s existing website was proposed.

Truly, a fruitful meeting which provided the opportunity of information exchange with the promise of a tri-lateral/triangular cooperation between the AfDB, Japan and the ADC.