Date:   Friday 27^th August 2021, 6.30-8.00 a.m. (NY) / 7.30-9.00 p.m. (JPN) / 11.30 a.m.-1.00 p.m. (Niger)

Venue：Online (Zoom)

Language：English/French (simultaneous interpretation)

Co-organizer：JICA, UNDP, the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) Development Forum (GDF)

Registration: http://bit.ly/AC2021-5

Programme：

6.30-6.35 a.m. (NY)　Introduction

6.35-7.05 a.m. (NY)　Primary remarks/presentation by each speaker 

7.05-7.30 a.m. (NY)　Interaction with a moderator

7.30-8.00 a.m. (NY)　Q&A

Background:

The Sahel, the vast semi-arid region of Africa separating the Sahara Desert to the north and tropical savannas to the south, is as much a land of opportunities as of challenges. It is endowed with abundant human, cultural and natural resources, offering tremendous potential for rapid growth. For instance, the region is known for youthfulness with about 65% of population being under 25 years. The region’s population growth rate is among the highest in the world. International partners have been working assiduously with its people to meet their objective to establish a peaceful and prosperous Sahel by transforming the assets into engines for sustainable growth.

The intervention by the UN system is implemented under the auspices of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS), which is at the center of the international response in the Sahel in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2391 (2017). The strategy focuses on key priorities in governance, security and resilience and addresses the root causes of the crisis while supporting national and regional capacities for peace building.

The situation in the region is worsening because of escalating conflict and COVID-19. In 2021, almost 29 million people in the Sahel will need assistance and protection, 5 million more than at the start of 2020. Insecurity has increased dramatically. From 2015 to 2020 for example, violent attacks increased eight-fold in the Central Sahel and tripled in the Lake Chad Basin. About 30 million people have been pushed into poverty this year due to border closures and reduced activity. Human tragedies like violence and food and physical insecurity continue to push people into exile.

Urgent and comprehensive action is needed in the Sahel, with a differentiated approach that considers countries' various development trajectories. The magnitude of the challenges requires significant changes, eagerly hoped for and already driven mainly by communities in the region, especially women and youth. Faced with the risk of contagion of armed conflicts including terrorist groups and self-defense militias, investing in human capital, local governance, peace and prosperity seem more urgent than ever. For the repercussions of the situation in the Sahel are not only African but global agenda. Investment in prevention, addressing the drivers of fragility, building sustainable peace, and expediting recovery from crises and shocks are entailed.

The 5^th session of AFRI CONVERSE in 2021 will examine best practices and lessons learnt through the multi-dimensional approaches initiated by national, bilateral, and international organizations and discuss about way-forward with a foresight of post-COVID, looking ahead of TICAD8 in 2022, where key stakeholders including heads of states will agree on a pathway to pursue sustainable growth of the continent.  

Speakers:　

●Ms. Asako Okai, Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Crisis Bureau, UNDP

●Mr. Ryuichi Kato, Vice President, JICA

●Ms. Sayoko Uesu, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) Japan

●H.E. Mr. Issa Lamine, Governor of Diffa, Niger (tbc)

●Mr. Bakary KONE, Head of the Twinning Cooperation Division, Sub-Directorate of Cooperation and Partnership,

General Directorate of Local Authorities

Moderator

Mr. Tetsuo Kondo, Director, Representation Office in Tokyo, UNDP