By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider
The 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) was held in Yokohama from the 20th-22nd of August 2025, under the guided theme “People,Planet, and Prosperity in a Changing World”. President Cyril Ramaphosa was in attendance to address the summit.
The TICAD Summit was established by Japan in 1993 and is co-hosted by the United Nations (UN), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), The World Bank, and African Union Commission and has become a leading forum for African Development conversations.
This 9th conference brings together 20 heads of state and governments, The Prime Minister of Japan, and delegates from the hosting entities as well bilateral partners such as the G7, G20 and BRICS.
At the conference Japan announced a $5.5 billion plan for Artificial Intelligence (AI) training in order to strengthen African ties which will be allocated through the African Development Bank.
The funds are also intended to help African countries overcome major debt and to advance sustainable development. AI training will be given to 30,000 people in order to enhance job creation across the African landscape.
Angola’s President and African Union Chair, Joao Lourenco, has expressed that the African continent is plagued by a financial crisis.
“The African continent continues to face persistent barriers and limited, complex access to international financing…many African countries have been rated as high-risk borrowers, making them barely eligible for low-cost capital. Yet such capital is absolutely essential for investment in infrastructure, electrification, industrialisation and technological advancement.” said Lourenco.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the summit on health for adolescent youth and women.
“The reality that we must confront is that too many women still die in childbirth and preventable causes,” said Ramaphosa in his address.
“We believe that every woman has autonomy over her sexuality and reproductive choices. Every adolescent should get comprehensive sexual education. Every person should be free from sexually transmitted diseases” added Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa continued to outline that multilateral financing is imperative to solving the looming health crisis.
“We must continue to foster the principle of solidarity through multilateral financing solutions. This includes the consideration of a gap financing mechanism to address the needs of countries and communities most affected by the withdrawal of official development assistance.”