At TICAD9 (the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development), held in Yokohama in August 2025 under the theme “Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa,” the rise of AI drew particularly strong attention. In the opening remarks, Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru highlighted the key areas of AI, DX, GX, and satellite data, stating that Japan would advance public–private partnerships and strengthen private investment in those fields. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also emphasized that “AI must stand for Africa included,” calling for greater investment in youth and women, the promotion of digital innovation, and reforms in international governance and sustainable financing. Furthermore, the Yokohama Declaration adopted at the conference underscored the need to create an inclusive and transformative environment for human-centric, safe, secure, and trustworthy AI.

Against this backdrop, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced the “Human Resource Development in AI/Data Science for Africa’s Economic Growth Initiative” at TICAD9, and a related partnership was concluded between the Matsuo Lab at the University of Tokyo and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This initiative aims to provide AI capacity building for 30,000 people in Africa over the next three years, promote research collaboration, and expand job opportunities where AI talent can thrive. In addition, the Government of Japan announced its commitment to train 500 core AI personnel through the platformization of the African AI Center of Excellence. Also at TICAD9, JICA, the World Bank, and UNDP co-organized a thematic event titled “AI Transformation for Africa – AI talent development and Ecosystem strengthening,” where experts comprehensively discussed the potential of AI, including its benefits, challenges, and business opportunities.

At the same time, the importance of AI governance has been gaining global momentum. In Africa, efforts to strengthen inclusive and sustainable AI governance are accelerating through initiatives such as the G20’s “AI for Africa,” the Global Digital Compact (GDC), and the African Union (AU) Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy (CAIS). At TICAD9, the United Nations University (UNU), together with the Government of Egypt, organized the event “Governance in the Digital Era: Lessons for Africa,” which highlighted the importance of governing emerging technologies such as AI through ethical, inclusive, and context-specific frameworks.

In addition, the 2025 Human Development Report (HDR 2025) by UNDP is themed “A matter of choice: People and possibilities in the age of AI,” positioning the evolution of AI as a matter of “choice” for humanity. According to the report, about 20% of people worldwide already use AI in their daily lives, and roughly two-thirds of people across countries at different development levels are expected to use AI within a year. Furthermore, 61% of respondents believe that AI will augment rather than replace their work, reflecting a growing recognition that AI should be used in ways that enhance inclusiveness and equity.

Building on these global developments in AI, this event will invite experts from JICA and UNDP, as well as entrepreneurs and students from both Japan and Africa, to discuss the potential of AI in the context of African development, not viewing Africa as a beneficiary, but as a continent that leads the world. The event will also explore further opportunities for collaboration between Africa and Japan in the field of AI.

〈Event Details〉

• Time：Friday, December 12th, 2025, 17:30～19:00 (Japan Standard Time)
• Co-Organization：Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• Format：Hybrid (In-person, Online)
  ・In-person Location：United Nations University 1F Annex Space (5 Chome-53-70 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-8925)
  ・Online Location：Zoom
• Attendance Fee：Free
• Language：Japanese / English / French
• Registration：In-person Registration Form

 Online Registration Form

Programme:

17:30～17:35     Opening
17:35～17:40     Congratulatory Remarks
17:40～17:55     Scene Setting (GCI Global Programme by Matsuo Lab, University of Tokyo)
17:55～18:55     Panel Discussion
18:55～19:00     Closing

Speakers (titles omitted):

• Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University; Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
• Erin Hirakawa, Global Team Leader, Matsuo-Iwasawa Laboratory, the University of Tokyo

• Brian T. Chirima, Information Security and Assurance Student, Harare Institute Of Technology

• Robert Opp, Chief Digital Officer, UNDP
• Tomoyuki Yamada, Senior Director, Office for STI & DX, Governance and Peacebuilding Dept., JICA
• Kotone Nishigohri, CEO, Ready to Bloom Inc.
• Rachel Kimweri Makumba, Innovation and Emerging Markets Researcher, KiAI Inc.

Moderator:

• Shuhei Ueno, Deputy Director General (for Planning and TICAD Process), Africa Department, JICA

About AFRI CONVERSE：

This is a public seminar series related to TICAD launched by UNDP in 2018. Since 2020, it has been co-organized by UNDP and JICA as part of their collaborative efforts. The series is held three to four times a year as an outreach event leading up to the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), aiming to inform audiences in Japan and across Africa about development challenges on the continent and the responses of Japan, UNDP, and other partners.

In 2025, the first session was hosted at Hiroshima University, the second at the Osaka–Kansai Expo, and the third in Yokohama on the sidelines of TICAD9.

Contact Information：

• Ryohei Tanaka, Planning and TICAD Process Division, Africa Department, JICA Tanaka.Ryohei@jica.go.jp
• Chika Kondoh, TICAD Partnership Specialist, Regional Bureau for Africa, UNDP chika.kondoh@undp.org