EVENTS
The 94th Public Policy Seminar – From Campus to Community University Collaboration between Africa and Japan for Real-World Change: TICAD 9 Partnership Project
Details
| Type | Lecture |
|---|---|
| Intended for | General public / Enrolled students / Applying students / International students / Alumni / Companies / High school students / University students / Academic and Administrative Staff |
| Date(s) | August 23, 2025 09:00 — 12:00 |
| Location | Hongo Area Campus |
| Venue | Lecture Room 3, 1st Floor, International Academic Research Building |
| Entrance Fee | No charge |
| Registration Method | Advance registration required
Required by August 21, 2025 |
| Registration Period | August 6, 2025 — August 21, 2025 |
| Contact | GraSPP Public Policy Seminar Secretariat Email: graspp_eventinfo*pp.u-tokyo.ac.jp (Please replace * with @.) |
Background
In the face of complex and interdependent global challenges, the need for inclusive and pragmatic approaches to sustainable development has become ever more pressing. Across Africa, urgent social issues—from inadequate access to education and basic infrastructure, to the consequences of rapid urbanization and climate vulnerability—require not only strategic public-sector planning but also the efficient implementation capacity and innovation of the private sector.
While governments are responsible for setting the grand design for addressing social challenges, the private sector is often best positioned to deliver scalable and cost-effective solutions.
The ideal model is one in which public and private actors in both Africa and Japan collaborate to create solutions. Yet, significant geographic, institutional, and informational distances remain. Japanese companies, though increasingly aware of the growing importance of African markets, often lack a clear understanding of what specific social problems exist, what business models might effectively address them, what barriers to implementation may arise, and how those barriers can be overcome. Conversely, African institutions may face difficulties in identifying, engaging, or aligning with appropriate foreign partners to implement context-sensitive solutions.
Universities, with their capacity for interdisciplinary knowledge production, local and global networks, and role as neutral conveners, are uniquely positioned to bridge these gaps. Through collaborative partnerships, African and Japanese universities can work together to bring public and private stakeholders into dialogue, co-produce policy-relevant knowledge, and foster ecosystems for innovation that address real-world challenges.
This event explores how university-based collaboration between Africa and Asia can catalyze public-private cooperation in solving social issues. It aims to identify actionable strategies to narrow the distance between distant stakeholders, enhance mutual understanding, and accelerate inclusive development through knowledge-driven partnerships.
In the face of complex and interdependent global challenges, the need for inclusive and pragmatic approaches to sustainable development has become ever more pressing. Across Africa, urgent social issues—from inadequate access to education and basic infrastructure, to the consequences of rapid urbanization and climate vulnerability—require not only strategic public-sector planning but also the efficient implementation capacity and innovation of the private sector.
While governments are responsible for setting the grand design for addressing social challenges, the private sector is often best positioned to deliver scalable and cost-effective solutions.
The ideal model is one in which public and private actors in both Africa and Japan collaborate to create solutions. Yet, significant geographic, institutional, and informational distances remain. Japanese companies, though increasingly aware of the growing importance of African markets, often lack a clear understanding of what specific social problems exist, what business models might effectively address them, what barriers to implementation may arise, and how those barriers can be overcome. Conversely, African institutions may face difficulties in identifying, engaging, or aligning with appropriate foreign partners to implement context-sensitive solutions.
Universities, with their capacity for interdisciplinary knowledge production, local and global networks, and role as neutral conveners, are uniquely positioned to bridge these gaps. Through collaborative partnerships, African and Japanese universities can work together to bring public and private stakeholders into dialogue, co-produce policy-relevant knowledge, and foster ecosystems for innovation that address real-world challenges.
This event explores how university-based collaboration between Africa and Asia can catalyze public-private cooperation in solving social issues. It aims to identify actionable strategies to narrow the distance between distant stakeholders, enhance mutual understanding, and accelerate inclusive development through knowledge-driven partnerships.
Hosting organization:
The University of Tokyo
Co-hosting organizations:
African Development Bank
University of Pretoria
Program coordinators:
Prof. Daiji Kawaguchi (Dean, Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP), The University of Tokyo)
Prof. Keiko Takei (Chief Education Analyst, Human Development Department, African Development Bank/Visiting Associate Professor, GraSPP, The University of Tokyo)
Prof. Masafumi Nagao (Visiting Fellow, Future Africa, University of Pretoria; Project Coordinator, Africa-Asia Platform Project)
Program
Seminar MC: Prof. Yasutora Watanabe (GraSPP, The University of Tokyo)
09:00-09:05 Opening remarks by Prof. Daiji Kawaguchi (Dean, GraSPP, The University of Tokyo)
09:05-10:00 Session 1: Envisioning University Collaboration between Africa and Japan for Real-World Change
Moderator: Prof. Aya Suzuki (Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo)
Theme: Top-level management shares ideas on what the development agency expects from universities, and what universities can offer for social impact in the context of Africa – Japan collaboration.
Keynote 1 (15 minutes) Dr. Sidi Ould Tah (Incoming President, African Development Bank)
Keynote 2 (15 minutes) Dr. Teruo Fujii (President, The University of Tokyo)
Keynote 3 (15 minutes) Dr. Francis Petersen (Vice Chancellor & Principal, University of Pretoria)
Q&A (10 minutes)
10:00-10:15 Group photo with Keynote speakers
10:15-11:15 Session 2: Fostering youth entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa through Africa-Asia Partnership
Moderator: Prof. Keiko Takei (Chief Education Analyst, Human Development Department, African Development Bank/Visiting Associate Professor, GraSPP, The University of Tokyo)
Theme: We aim to identify the skills that are required to be entrepreneurs and innovators and how these skills are acquired through university education. Share the idea why universities and development banks should play a role in developing those skills to foster young entrepreneurs and innovators.
Presentation 1 (10 minutes) Prof. Frans Swanepoel (University of Pretoria) on University role for A-A Platform project
Presentation 2 (10 minutes) Ms. Hendrina Doroba (African Development Bank) on AfDB’s programs to promote youth entrepreneurship and Innovation
Panel discussion (30 minutes)
Mr. Shohei Naito (CEO, Nihon Agri, Inc.)
Ms. Mary Asantewaa (JADS Scholar Alumni)
Mr. Makhtar Tall (DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.)
Reflection from
Mr. Takaaki Nomoto (Director, Multilateral Development Banks Division, Ministry of Finance, Government of Japan) 10 minutes
11:15-11:25 Break
11:25-11:55 Session 3: Collaboration of public policy schools to promote public-private partnership
Moderator: Prof. Daiji Kawaguchi (Dean, GraSPP, The University of Tokyo)
Theme: Share ideas of how GraSPP could contribute to filling the skills gap proposed in Section 2.
Presentation 1 (10 minutes) Prof. Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu (Dean, Economic and Management Sciences, University of Pretoria)
Presentation 2 (10 minutes) Prof. Naomi Aoki (GraSPP, The University of Tokyo) on Future Perspective on Africa-Asia Joint Executive Leadership Program
Q&A (10 minutes)
11:55-12:00 Closing remarks by Mr. Kentaro Ogata (Director General of the International Bureau, Ministry of Finance, Government of Japan)
12:00 Adjourn
The University of Tokyo
Co-hosting organizations:
African Development Bank
University of Pretoria
Program coordinators:
Prof. Daiji Kawaguchi (Dean, Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP), The University of Tokyo)
Prof. Keiko Takei (Chief Education Analyst, Human Development Department, African Development Bank/Visiting Associate Professor, GraSPP, The University of Tokyo)
Prof. Masafumi Nagao (Visiting Fellow, Future Africa, University of Pretoria; Project Coordinator, Africa-Asia Platform Project)
Program
Seminar MC: Prof. Yasutora Watanabe (GraSPP, The University of Tokyo)
09:00-09:05 Opening remarks by Prof. Daiji Kawaguchi (Dean, GraSPP, The University of Tokyo)
09:05-10:00 Session 1: Envisioning University Collaboration between Africa and Japan for Real-World Change
Moderator: Prof. Aya Suzuki (Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo)
Theme: Top-level management shares ideas on what the development agency expects from universities, and what universities can offer for social impact in the context of Africa – Japan collaboration.
Keynote 1 (15 minutes) Dr. Sidi Ould Tah (Incoming President, African Development Bank)
Keynote 2 (15 minutes) Dr. Teruo Fujii (President, The University of Tokyo)
Keynote 3 (15 minutes) Dr. Francis Petersen (Vice Chancellor & Principal, University of Pretoria)
Q&A (10 minutes)
10:00-10:15 Group photo with Keynote speakers
10:15-11:15 Session 2: Fostering youth entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa through Africa-Asia Partnership
Moderator: Prof. Keiko Takei (Chief Education Analyst, Human Development Department, African Development Bank/Visiting Associate Professor, GraSPP, The University of Tokyo)
Theme: We aim to identify the skills that are required to be entrepreneurs and innovators and how these skills are acquired through university education. Share the idea why universities and development banks should play a role in developing those skills to foster young entrepreneurs and innovators.
Presentation 1 (10 minutes) Prof. Frans Swanepoel (University of Pretoria) on University role for A-A Platform project
Presentation 2 (10 minutes) Ms. Hendrina Doroba (African Development Bank) on AfDB’s programs to promote youth entrepreneurship and Innovation
Panel discussion (30 minutes)
Mr. Shohei Naito (CEO, Nihon Agri, Inc.)
Ms. Mary Asantewaa (JADS Scholar Alumni)
Mr. Makhtar Tall (DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.)
Reflection from
Mr. Takaaki Nomoto (Director, Multilateral Development Banks Division, Ministry of Finance, Government of Japan) 10 minutes
11:15-11:25 Break
11:25-11:55 Session 3: Collaboration of public policy schools to promote public-private partnership
Moderator: Prof. Daiji Kawaguchi (Dean, GraSPP, The University of Tokyo)
Theme: Share ideas of how GraSPP could contribute to filling the skills gap proposed in Section 2.
Presentation 1 (10 minutes) Prof. Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu (Dean, Economic and Management Sciences, University of Pretoria)
Presentation 2 (10 minutes) Prof. Naomi Aoki (GraSPP, The University of Tokyo) on Future Perspective on Africa-Asia Joint Executive Leadership Program
Q&A (10 minutes)
11:55-12:00 Closing remarks by Mr. Kentaro Ogata (Director General of the International Bureau, Ministry of Finance, Government of Japan)
12:00 Adjourn
