The Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) will finally take place in Yokohama from August 20 to 22, 2025. The conference will bring together a wide range of stakeholders—including government officials from Africa and Japan, business leaders, international organizations, and researchers—to engage in dialogue under a shared vision for the sustainable development of Africa. During TICAD 9 period, DFP will host and/or speak at multiple side events to facilitate bridging Japan and Africa for co-creation.

DFP-Hosted / Speaking Events – TICAD Side Events

	Organizer	Event	Date	Organizer
DFP Hosted Event	DFP	The Voice & Value of Japanese VC in Africa	August 20th 13:00～	Pacifico Yokohama
	DFP	Africa-Japan Ventures Connect	August 22nd 15:30～	The Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu
DFP Speaking Event	Ministry of the Environment	Africa Clean Air Programme	August 21st 12:40～	Pacifico Yokohama
	UNDP	Credit Rating in Africa	August 22nd 10:00〜	Pacifico Yokohama (Hybrid)
	Kobe Institute of Computing	Agriculture in Africa under the Era of AI	August 22nd 14:30～	Pacifico Yokohama

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“The Voice & Value of Japanese VC in Africa”

Date: August 20, 2025 (Wednesday) | 13:00–13:45
Venue: Pacifico Yokohama, Exhibition Hall B/C (Stage B)

◆ Overview
For the first time, leading Japanese venture capital firms active in Africa will come together to share real-world experiences, challenges, solutions, and key insights. The session will also explore expectations from various stakeholders regarding collaboration with Japanese VCs.

◆ Program Details
Part 1: On the Ground – Japanese VCs Investing in Africa
Top Japanese VCs investing in African startups will gather to present their investment strategies across key sectors and showcase collaboration cases with Japanese corporates. Through a panel discussion, the session will delve into emerging Japan–Africa collaboration models, led by the private sector and driven by innovation, startup ecosystems, and public-private partnerships.
Part 2: Expectations for Japanese Venture Capital
Stakeholders active in Africa will discuss their experiences and expectations for working with Japanese VCs, including examples of strategic partnerships with Japanese companies and investors.

◆ Guest Speakers (TBC)

◆Registration (Approx. 50 seats available – Standing room permitted)
Please register for access to the JETRO venue via the link above

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“Africa-Japan Ventures Connect“
~Opportunities and Challenges of Collaborations
Between Japanese Corporations and African Startups~

Date: August 22, 2025 (Friday) | 15:30～18:30 (Door open at 15:00)
(Light refreshments and beverages will be served）
Venue: Ambassadors Ballroom S, The Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu

◆ Overview
Held under the TICAD9 theme of “Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa,” this reception event aims to promote value creation through co-innovation between Japanese companies and African startups. As strategic co-innovation partnerships such as JACCI gain increasing attention, the event will spotlight success cases from “Project NINJA,” an initiative implemented in collaboration with JICA. It will offer insights into the opportunities, challenges, and tangible outcomes of Japan–Africa startup collaboration.

◆ Program Details
The event will feature a practical panel discussion with key public and private stakeholders from both Japan and Africa, including NEC which successfully partnered with South African startups Agrilogiq and Locstat through DFP’s facilitation of Project NINJA. The panel will explore what kind of value is created through such co-creation, how challenges were overcome in the collaboration process, and what lessons have emerged from real-world experience.
The latter part of the event will be a networking session, providing an opportunity for participants to explore new forms of public-private partnerships between Japan and Africa.
Guests will also be able to enjoy fair-trade Ethiopian coffee served by Black Samurai Coffee, the trading arm of DFP.

◆ Registration (Capacity: up to 100)

▷ This event is a high-level reception that brings together senior government officials, relevant institutions, and corporate leaders from both Japan and Africa. Accordingly, we will carefully review all applications, and a confirmation email will be sent at a later date to those whose participation has been approved. We appreciate your kind understanding.

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“Africa Clean Air Program” -From Asia to Africa-

• Ms. Martina Otto – Head of the UNEP-Convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition
• Dr. Rose Mwebaza – Regional Director Africa UNEP
• Dr. Patience Gwaze – Director of Air Pollution Control, Department of Forestry, Fishery and Environment, South Africa
• Dr. Peter Justice Dery – MoESTI, Ghana
• Ms. Aminata Mbow Diokhane – Direction of environmental regulation and pollution control, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Senegal
• Ms. Siwaporn Rungsiyanon – Pollution Control Department、Thailand・CCAC Board
• Dr. Hiroaki Takiguchi – JICA Advisor
• Mr. Kohei Muto – CEO, Double Feather Partners, Inc.
• Dr. Eric Zusman – IGES /CCAC SAP
• Mr. James Morris – CCAC
• …and others

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“Credit Rating in Africa” 
– Building a Sustainable Investment Environment and Advancing Development Finance –

◆ Overview
Despite strong growth potential, many African countries face disproportionately low credit ratings, resulting in higher borrowing costs and limited investment in essential sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, and education. TICAD9 offers a critical opportunity to raise global awareness about the credit rating challenge and to foster dialogue on reforms that promote transparent rating processes and sustainable financing.
This session will highlight the Africa Credit Rating Initiative, led by UNDP, along with a pilot case supported by Japan in Tanzania. Government officials, credit rating agencies, and private sector leaders will come together to discuss practical steps toward establishing a credible evaluation framework and improving Africa’s sovereign credit ratings.

◆ Key Speakers（tentative / partial list）

• Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa – ASG/Director of Regional Bureau for Africa 
• Mr. Daouda Sembene – CEO, AfriCatalyst
• Minister-level representatives from African countries (e.g., Guinea)
• Mr. Stanislas Zeze – CEO, Bloomfield Investment
• Dr. Raymond Gilpin – Chief Economist and Head of Strategy, Analysis and Research Team, UNDP 
• Mr. Satoshi Nakagawa – Director of Insights & Strategic Planning, Double Feather Partners Inc.
• Moderator: Ms. Folly Bah Thibault – International Journalist

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Agriculture in Africa under the Era of AI – Opportunities and Issues

◆ Overview
The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) poses both a threat and a major opportunity for the agricultural sector in Africa. This session will explore the latest trends in AI-powered agriculture across Africa, examining both the opportunities and the challenges that come with the digital agricultural revolution.
Bringing together Japanese entrepreneurs and investors leading digital agriculture efforts in Africa, along with local agricultural experts, the session will delve into innovative models that leverage AI, IoT, and mobile technology. It will also discuss practical implementation realities, and barriers such as policy gaps, infrastructure limitations, and digital literacy.

◆ Key Speakers (TBC)

• Mr. Tomoyuki Naito – Vice President & Specially Appointed Professor, Kobe Institute of Computing
• Mr. Makoto Goda – President & CEO, Japan Biofuels Co., Ltd.
• Mr. Kohei Muto – CEO, Double Feather Partners Inc.
• Dr. Cheng Cheng – Director, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa