[Title] TICAD9: Plenary Session 3 (Society), Remarks by H.E. Mr. Kishida, Representative of the Government of Japan

The topic of Plenary Session 3 is "society." What can we do now to create together with Africa a society that leaves no one behind and contribute to future generations? Japan is set to work actively on solving social challenges and developing human resources by utilizing innovative technologies of Japanese companies. Let me introduce Japan's initiatives in a few areas that will lead to innovative solutions to social challenges.

The first area is the investments in people through education and human resource development. It is important to ensure that opportunities for high-quality education are accessible at various levels of society. Japan will cooperate in improving learning for 10 million children in Africa. In Egypt where I have visited in the past, Japanese-style education has already been widely practiced. We will focus on developing the competencies of teachers in conflict-affected areas by utilizing DX.

We will also focus on further promoting people-to-people exchange for the purpose of developing future leaders and human resources in Japan and Africa who will take on the task of resolving challenges. Inter- university partnerships will be strengthened to develop 150 thousand high-level human resources and conduct collaborative teaching and research with ten countries. In Hiroshima, my hometown, research and educational exchanges have made strides. One example is Hiroshima University's inter-university agreement with Pan-African University, which is the PAU's first agreement of this kind with any university in the world.

The second area is health-related initiatives. Japan will support initiatives by African countries in the field of health, including those for improving governance and developing the investment environment, by utilizing the "Investment Promotion Package for Sustainable Health in Africa".

Japan will also support the promotion of universal health coverage (UHC) across the region as well as the improvement of Africa's health systems and capacities to respond to health crises. As part of our efforts for these objectives, we will help improve the region's production capacity of medical supplies made in Africa, develop digital health companies, and strengthen health financing by using the UHC Knowledge Hub to be established in Japan. We will also promote the enhancement of the region's capabilities to respond to infectious diseases through collaboration with research centers in Africa.

The third area is the initiatives in the fields of environment and disaster risk reduction. The African Clean Cities Platform, which is the framework to improve public health through waste management, has been introduced to 200 cities in 47 countries. We will promote infrastructure development and other initiatives by collaborating with international organizations.

It is also important to ensure preparedness for disasters, which have been increasing due to climate change. Japan will help Africa prepare for disasters by collaborating with international organizations and utilizing AI, satellite monitoring, and other technologies.

In the following discussion, I hope that you will have an active exchange of ideas on human resource development and other forms of investment in people, empowerment of women and youth, and on measures to achieve the SDGs based on the human security principles including those for health and disaster risk reduction.It is also important to ensure preparedness for disasters, which have been increasing due to climate change. Japan will help Africa prepare for disasters by collaborating with international organizations and utilizing AI, satellite monitoring, and other technologies.

In the following discussion, I hope that you will have an active exchange of ideas on human resource development and other forms of investment in people, empowerment of women and youth, and on measures to achieve the SDGs based on the human security principles including those for health and disaster risk reduction.