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The Eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD8) is due next August 27-28 in Tunisia.

The format of the meeting will be determined in due course while taking into account a number of factors, such as the COVID-19 situation, Japan's ministry of foreign affairs Tuesday said in a press release. A TICAD Ministerial Meeting will be held online on March 26- 27

It is time to engage in international action given the considerable socio-economic impact of the pandemic in Africa, further reads the press release. Japan seeks through TICAD8 to support the development process of the African continent ahead of the post- COVID-19 era .

A presidential decree on the creation of a TICAD8 national organisation committee was published in the Official Journal of the Tunisian Republic on February 3.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) announced on February 2 the launch of a special website for TICAD. The move is designed to present the highlights of cooperation with Africa, including efforts made since the last TICAD conference in 2019, projects underway in each country and future contribution. The website also sheds light on events to be organised by the JICA during TICAD8.

Tunisia is the second African country to play host to TICAD after Kenya in 2016. The official announcement was made by the Japanese embassy in Tunis on July 16, 2020.

Tunisia obtained the approval to play host to the conference at the end of the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union held in Addis Ababa on February 9-10.

The conference, launched by Japan in 1993, is intended to speed up political dialogue between African leaders and development partners on challenges facing the continent. This multilateral forum also includes international organisations, development partners, private sector enterprises and civil society organisations.