Policy Updates

On April 14, 2024, the C7 published a statement ahead of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Capri from April 17-19, 2024, where the group called on the foreign ministers to take concrete action to promote human rights as well as the common interests of humanity and the planet.

The C7 advocated that the G7 ministers reaffirm their commitment to developing long-term peace-building strategies that address persistent structural challenges at the basis of conflicts, ensure food security even in fragile settings, and address a profound transformation of food systems. The group also called upon their governmental counterparts to ensure safe and regular migration channels and commit to protecting migrant rights.

On March 27, 2024, Japan announced a grant of JPY5 billion (US$34 million) to the WFP to support emergency food assistance in 15 partner countries in Africa.\
This assistance was announced in response to worsening food insecurity due to conflicts, terrorism, natural disasters, and other factors exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine.

The grant will enable WFP to distribute food assistance, including cereals, pulses, vegetable oil, and food vouchers, to address severe hunger, food shortages, and malnutrition in the region. Specifically, funds will be allocated to assist crisis-affected populations in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, and Mali, where millions face hunger due to conflict, climate crises, and economic challenges.

The contribution reflected Japan’s commitment to addressing food security and sustainable agriculture, as outlined in previous TICADs. With TICAD9 scheduled for 2025, Japan aims to further improve food insecurity in Africa.

On March 22, 2024, it was announced that TICAD 9 will be held in Yokohama, Japan from August 20-25, 2025.

TICAD is an international conference led by the Japanese government in collaboration with various international organizations such as the UN, the UNDP, the African Union Commission, and the World Bank. The conference aims to promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners, including Japan, to address the developmental challenges facing Africa.

In previous iterations, the conference focused on key issues such as economic development, poverty reduction, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and sustainable development in Africa. TICAD has been held regularly since its inception in 1993 and is considered one of the most significant platforms for African development cooperation.

On February 29, 2024, Japan committed approximately US$42 million to enhance food security in 15 countries.

The contribution aimed to support WFP efforts to reach those most vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition due to conflicts, terrorism, political instability, natural disasters, price hikes from the Ukraine invasion, climate change, and diseases.

The initiative aims to provide essential food supplies and vouchers to those facing extreme food insecurity and malnutrition in these regions, targeting refugees, internally displaced persons, women, and children. It seeks to alleviate food shortages and stabilize the food supply, contributing significantly to the food security of the affected nations.

While the contribution targeted 15 countries in SSA, the press release did not name specific countries.

The contribution is part of Japan’s ongoing commitment to addressing food crises and supporting sustainable agricultural production in Africa, as affirmed at the TICAD8 and the G7 Hiroshima Summit, embodying Japan’s dedication to aiding vulnerable regions in food and nutrition sectors.

On November 1, 2023, the Japanese government announced the reopening of the JICA Ukraine office.

The office had been closed since the January 2022 lead-up to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Staff from the office have since been working from neighboring countries.

JICA is responsible for over US$1.1 billion of assistance provided by Japan. It noted plans to use its Kyiv office to facilitate projects in the areas of agriculture, education, and industry. The organization will increase its presence in Ukraine and is expected to commence fully-fledged operations next year.

Throughout the month of September 2023, the Japanese government made a series of commitments totaling JPY2 billion (US$14 million) to promote food security in seven countries.

The funds were allocated as follows:

• JPY300 million (US$2 million) to Guinea to improve food security and nutritional conditions through the WFP;
• JPY200 million (US$1.4 million) to Palestine to improve food security through the WFP;
• JPY150 million (US$1 million) to Cabo Verde to support rice donations and to improve food security;
• JPY250 million (US$1.7 million) to the Central African Republic to improve food security and promote development through the WFP;
• JPY200 million (US$1.4 million) to Cameroon to improve food security and promote development through the WFP;
• JPY280 million (US$1.9 million) to Uzbekistan for the construction of a climate-resilient agricultural system in the Aral Sea region; and
• JPY602 million (US$4.1 million) to Mauritania to improve food security and support the fishing industry.

Japan reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the ongoing food crisis exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

From September 9-10, 2023, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida participated in the G20 Summit in India and spoke on issues including agriculture and food security, climate, and global health.

Kishida stressed that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated the global food crisis. He emphasized the importance of concrete efforts such as the AMIS and MAHARISHI, both of which received support from G7 members at the 2023 summit in Hiroshima. Kishida also reconfirmed Japan’s commitment to strengthening agricultural and food systems.

In regard to climate and energy, Kishida verbalized his support for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s LiFE initiative, which aims to facilitate more environmentally conscious lifestyles. Kishida committed to reducing plastic pollution and developing a treaty addressing this issue. He further emphasized the need to reduce emissions and meet targets established by the Paris Agreement. Japan committed to supporting countries in their effort to reach net-zero carbon emissions and called on other HICs to contribute financially as well.

Kishida highlighted the value of achieving UHC and strengthening PPR, and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to working with G20 members, international organizations, and other parties to achieve improved global health outcomes.

On August 28, 2023, Japan announced a contribution of US$10 million to a four-year agricultural project in collaboration with the Government of Japan and JICA to improve agricultural productivity, food security, and livelihoods for more than 12,600 vulnerable individuals in the Kunar province of eastern Afghanistan.

The project, led by the FAO, is meant to rehabilitate the Nurgal irrigation canal in the Kunar province of Afghanistan. The rehabilitation aims to increase the area of irrigated agricultural land by 70 hectares, which is projected to result in higher agricultural production and a minimum 12% increase in productivity. Over 70% of Afghanistan's food production is reliant on irrigation and is vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

The initiative aims to help rural households cultivate two crops annually, improving their income and food security. It is also intended to protect fragile rangelands and replenish groundwater resources.

The project aligns with the Green Ground Project's legacy, initiated by Dr. Tetsu Nakamura and PMS.

Japanese Ambassador to Afghanistan Takashi Okada emphasized Japan's commitment to supporting self-reliance and recovery in Afghanistan. Richard Trenchard, FAO Representative in Afghanistan, praised Japan's contribution to enhance food security and livelihoods.

On August 11, 2023, Japan reached an agreement with Burundi to disburse JPY3.9 billion (US$35 million) to further developments in food security and seaport infrastructure.

The first initiative, with a grant limit of JPY350 million (US$3 million), was aimed at alleviating Burundi's food security crisis caused by limited arable land, rudimentary agricultural practices, and susceptibility to natural disasters and economic difficulties. Japan also offered support through rice donations to improve nutrition and food access.

The second initiative centered on the Bujumbura Port Improvement Project and recognized Burundi's role as a key trading hub in central Africa. The project initially set a budget of JPY3.4 billion (US$30 million), but later increased to JPY3.5 billion (US$32 million). It stated the goal of enhancing logistical efficacy by renovating and expanding Bujumbura Port's facilities.

The new facilities are meant to accommodate increased cargo demand and contribute to broader transportation infrastructure improvements.

On August 11, 2023, Japan and Madagascar signed an agreement in Antananarivo to disburse JPY1.4 billion (US$14 million) for initiatives focused on improving healthcare and food security in Madagascar.

The first initiative, totaling JPY1.1 billion (US$10 million), focused on enhancing medical equipment at core regional hospitals in Madagascar. The initiative was meant to overcome the challenges posed by limited diagnostic capabilities, enabling better healthcare access for patients in remote areas.

The second initiative, totaling JPY300 million (US$3 million), addressed food insecurity heightened by recurrent natural disasters. The southern region of Madagascar in particular frequently experiences severe droughts, which has caused an ongoing crisis in food availability and nutrition. Japan sought to alleviate this crisis and enhance food security with the initiative.

The initiatives reflected Japan's commitments from the 8^th Tokyo International Conference on African Development in 2022, particularly in the areas of healthcare promotion and sustainable agricultural support combating food security crises.