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The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said Tuesday it is organising 26 side events on the theme "Towards a Resilient, Inclusive and Prosperous Africa," as part of the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Tunisia.

Online webinars are scheduled on August 22-26; they will focus on such themes as agriculture, climate change, education, regional integration, health/vaccines.

Leaders and experts from Africa, international organisations and Japan will dicuss challenges facing Africa and possible solutions.

The JICA, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, other regional organisations and African countries will debate the path that needs to be taken to build more resilient and inclusive socioeconomic infrastructures in Africa.

"Africa is confronted with a complex crisis," JICA said. The Russian invasion of Ukraine gave rise to an energy and food crisis coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic induced economic stagnation and the serious impact of climate change.

Under these circumstances, JICA "is cooperating with African countries to build up the resilience of the continent" so as "to build back better" in the wake of these crises.

"Refocusing on individuals," ownership by Africa" and "tapping into the Japanese experience" are the thrusts of the support given by the Japan International Cooperation Agency to development in Africa.

JICA supports projects aimed to foster the structural transformation of the economy and help entrepreneurs create innovations, notably through the Africa Kaizen initiative and NINJA project.

The agency is also working on transition to the green energy as a way to fight climate change. Its promotion of the rice-growing sector comes as a response to food shortage.

The agency is committed to reinforcing health systems, including the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines.

JICA President TANAKA Akihiko said it is " time for us, as international community, to come together to help Africa build back better in the wake of several crises and achieve SDGs. We are strongly committed to supporting Africa in its reconstruction towards a resilient, inclusive and prosperous continent."