Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) IV is being held in Yokohama, Japan, from 28-30 May 2008.

Its purpose is to promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners.

In his opening speech to the conference, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda of Japan made a strong link between improving reproductive health and achieving the Millennium Development Goals. 

TICAD IV comes at the half-way point of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and provides a real opportunity to address the lack of progress being made towards improving maternal and child health enshrined in MDGs 4, 5 and 6.

The dialogue between African leaders and international development partners should help remove bottlenecks and scale up action.

The consensus reached through a broad consultative process leading up to TICAD IV is that there are a number of policy recommendations and 'windows of opportunity for action' that could favorably be supported to realize the vision of a 'Vibrant Africa' over the next 5 years, with African ownership and international partnership. 

IPPF would like to thank the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for inviting civil society groups to attend TICAD IV.

Since its inception in 1993, TICAD has provided fundamental and comprehensive policy and guidelines on African development.

More information:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/africa/ticad/index.html