UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network / 03 June 2008 -- Tokyo - Japan concluded the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) setting a framework for a "century of African growth".

Convening in Yokohama, Japan last week, representatives from 51 African countries, including 40 Heads of State and Government, deliberated over a series of issues to mark the African continent's future development, among which water and sanitation figured prominently. 

In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Fukuda of Japan stated Japan's intent to double Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Africa over the next five years, in an effort to enhance African development and help achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of 2015.

This year's TICAD meeting focused on three priorities: 1) boosting economic growth; 2) ensuring Human Security, including the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and consolidation of peace and democratization; and 3) addressing environmental issues and climate change. 

The Yokohama Declaration, the Yokohama Action Plan, and the Yokohama Follow-up Mechanism constitute the substantive set of outcome documents crafted to serve as the roadmap for action-oriented initiatives with measurable targets. The first two documents, which comprise the more substantive principles for advancing African Development among TICAD stakeholders contain numerous references to water and sanitation. 

The following are highlights to water and sanitation, excerpted from the Yokohama Action Plan (http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/Africa/ticad/ticad4/doc/action.html): 

Boosting Economic Growth 

Infrastructure: Support agricultural water-development initiatives to rapidly expand the share of land under irrigation, and other improved water control and management infrastructure.

Agriculture and Rural Development: Promote development, rehabilitation and maintenance of water resources management infrastructure to contribute to the joint efforts aiming at expanding the irrigated area by 20% in five years; enhance water resources management capacity through better tillage methods and water harvesting and storage, introduction of new technologies and capacity building of local governments and farmers' organizations; provide finance for small-scale community-managed irrigation and water management schemes for local markets, and individual smallholder schemes for high-value markets.

Achieving MDGs

Community based approach: provide a comprehensive package of services at schools and community learning centers, including water supply and sanitation; support water resource management by local co-operatives to generate income for education, health and agriculture initiatives.

Education: Establish child-friendly school environment through comprehensive packages of assistance including safe water and sanitation facilities with separate toilets for boys and girls

Health: Make efforts to control or eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases through awareness raising, treatment and access to safe water and sanitation.

Addressing Environmental/Climate Change Issues

Assist the development and dissemination of new and existing technologies for utilization of water resources; promote the transfer of technology and expertise on water resources management with due consideration to the specific situation of each region; promote the development of water and sanitation facilities with affordable technologies; support capacity building of managers and users of water and sanitation system and promote awareness raising campaigns to improve hygiene practices including hand washing.

Labels: United Nations, U.N., MaximsNews WATER, water, sanitation, water and sanitation, TICAD IV, Tokyo International Conference on International Development, Japan, Africa, Prime Minister Fukuda, Official Development Assistance, Marisha Wojciechowska-Shibuya, international development, environment, water news, water sustainability, water resource, water management, global water crisis, sustainable development

 

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