Symposium on "Sustainable Development and Governance in Africa"

Symposium on
"Sustainable Development and Governance in Africa"

On August 31, 2002, a Symposium on "Sustainable Development and Governance in Africa" was held as part of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The event was co-organized by the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) and the Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA), with an aim to explore the problems of governance in Africa in historical context and to devise concrete, African solutions.

After opening remarks by representatives of the co-organizers, Former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto gave the first Keynote Speech. Mr. Hashimoto remarked on the different circumstances underlying the nation-building process in Africa and contributing to the severe difficulties Africans have faced in constructing stable governance. He noted positive steps towards good governance in Africa, and reiterated Japan's pledge to continue providing support to Africa, by passing on lessons learned from mistakes Japan had made in its own development and by promoting partnership, emphasizing ownership of the process by Africans.

Mr. Amara Essy, Interim Chairperson of the African Union (AU), delivered the second Keynote Speech. He spoke on the history behind the AU and on the role and responsibilities that the AU will take in establishing good governance in a democratic Africa. He made reference to the example of Japan's development experience, offering this as proof of Africa's own potential. He further spoke on the importance of good governance in globalization, and stressed that establishing good governance would provide alternatives and opportunities for Africa's advancement.

Comments and presentations by representatives from Japan and African nations followed. Japanese contributors such as Prof. Owada reiterated the lessons learned from Japan's development experience, highlighting the importance of governance as well as market forces. Prof. Owada and Dr. Horiuchi regarded poor governance to be the principle factor in Africa's low development and persistent conflicts, and that effective governmental institutions are prerequisite for Africa's advancement. Panelists from Africa urged that governance not be made a conditionality for assistance from the developed world. Representatives from Africa highlighted the industrialized nations' past and present responsibility for Africa's predicament. African panelists went on to discuss the necessity for African's themselves to work towards instilling good governance in their respective nations, emphasizing the importance of democracy and human rights.