December 17th: FUKUOKA × AFRICA = INNOVATION "Know, Connect; The Africa of Now" Seminar

Kyushu University Faculty of Design collaborates with JICA Kyushu to accomplish Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In preparation for The Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development was held in Yokohama in August of 2019, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Kyushu University SDGs Design Unit are holding a series of events with two parts, which combines information and experience from Africa and the creativity of Fukuoka’s citizens and businesses to create innovation in Fukuoka for Africa.
The first part was a seminar called “Know, Connect; The Africa of Now,” where we invited guests who conduct business in Africa with the purpose of sharing knowledge of the dynamism going on in Africa. We are also scheduled to utilize this seminar to create the “Africa Innovation Community.” In a sudden decision, the chief economist from The Regional Bureau Africa of the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) New York headquarters participated in the seminar.
The second part, “Africa x STI Ideathon in FUKUOKA,” which is scheduled for next spring, is ideation for creating specific new ideas for Fukuoka to provide to Africa, mainly from the “African Innovation Community,” and will be conducted in Fukuoka before the rest of the nation. We are considering developing the specific ideas brought about in this event for the TICAD7.

[Speakers]
Motoharu Wakabayashi (JICA Deputy General Director, Africa Department)
Tomoyuki Naito (JICA Senior Advisor at Japan International Cooperation Agency)
Abdoulaye Dieye (UNDP, Regional Bureau for Africa, chief economist)
Tsugunobu Ogino (KJS Company Ltd., Representative Director)
Makoto Aida (Nippon Biodiesel Fuel Co., Ltd, Representative Director)
[Host]
JICA Kyushu
[Collaborators]
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) / Kyushu University Faculty of Design, SDGs Design Unit / Center for Designed Futures of Kyushu University
[Support]
Fukuoka city / Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade, and Industry / Fukuoka Directive Council (FDC)