Kenya - African Heads of State and Government, delegations from Japan, international and regional organizations and representatives of the private sector from both Japan and Africa will meet in Kenya on 27-28 August 2016 for the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI).

IOM Director General, William Lacy Swing, is attending the conference and is expected to hold bilateral talks with IOM’s Japanese private sector partners, namely Poly-Glu Social Business, Panasonic and Nippon Electronic Company (NEC).

The talks are expected to strengthen the strategic tripartite partnerships between IOM, the Government of Japan, and the three Japanese companies to expand on-going public-private partnerships that seek to provide safe water to migrants and host communities, reduce gender-based violence among vulnerable women, and strengthen the border management capacity of governments in the region.

During the summit, IOM will also showcase its achievements from Japan-funded projects, which between 2014 and 2016 have amounted to USD 71 million. The funding has directly assisted millions of vulnerable migrants across Africa and has supported government initiatives.

During the 5th TICAD Conference held in 2013 in Yokohama, Japan identified three challenges for Africa – the decline of commodity prices, vulnerability of health systems, and the rise of violent extremism, terrorist attacks and violent conflicts. IOM continues to support programmes addressing these challenges.

African governments are placing considerable emphasis on community stabilization initiatives and social stability. Consequently Japan has identified these as a priority and they account for 36 percent of Japanese funding for IOM projects.

To improve livelihoods, Japan is investing in Africa and working with governments and international organizations to boost economic transformation. In Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana and Chad, IOM has been able to transform livelihoods among migrant and host communities, through vocational skills training, livelihood and community stabilization support to vulnerable youth and other at risk groups.

Vulnerability of health systems was also identified as a challenge for Africa during the 5th TICAD Conference. Some 8 percent of Japanese funding received by IOM has been to promote resilient health systems in selected countries in Africa.

In West Africa, Japan supported IOM’s response to populations affected by the Ebola crisis. In East and Horn of Africa, it is supporting IOM’s efforts to meet the health needs of internally displaced people in South Sudan and Somalia.

There are 36 Japanese-funded projects currently being implemented by IOM across 23 African countries.

For further information, please contact Chiaki Ito at the IOM Regional Office in Nairobi. Tel: +254 737 860 720, Email: cito@iom.int