The Nippon Foundation Hosts Second African Eminent Persons Meeting to Discuss Blue Economy, Food Security for Sustainable Development (3)
Published on September 15, 2026
The text of a statement issued at the end of the second African Eminent Persons Meeting held in Nikko on June 24-25 continues:
7. Building upon regional and sub-regional policy and institutional frameworks for promoting sustainable blue economies in Africa
The African Union provides an important policy and institutional framework for promoting sustainable blue economies in Africa, including through the Africa Blue Economy Strategy (2019). The African Development Bank supports these efforts by providing financial resources for initiatives aimed at advancing sustainable blue economies.
In relation to capacity development, maritime corridors and connectivity, and transboundary coastal and marine ecosystem management, it is important to facilitate activities through sub-regional organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Indian Ocean Commission, the Gulf of Guinea Commission and the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC).
8. Developing human resources, leadership and entrepreneurship
Human resources must be developed through the provision of practical knowledge and skills required to engage in activities that promote sustainable blue economies.
This contributes to job creation, enhanced employment opportunities, and income generation, particularly for young people. Vocational training should therefore be promoted. Innovative approaches are also essential for advancing sustainable blue economies. It is important to pursue pragmatic and interdisciplinary leadership and entrepreneurship development programs with the design of financing mechanisms to support start-ups and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
9. Fostering science and technology
Sustainable blue economies need to be pursued based on science-based approaches with the engagement of local stakeholders. Educational and academic exchanges are beneficial to facilitating capacity development and international partnership. A Japan -Africa partnership platform for sustainable blue economies can be pursued such as a Japan–Africa blue economy academy.
10. Unlocking financing and investment
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is a pivotal regional financing institution for sustainable development. It is important that AfDB increases and diversify its portfolio to support sustainable blue economies including through financing windows and supporting schemes such as Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund (YEI MDTF), Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab, African Education, Science and Technology Innovation Fund (AESTIF), and Venture Capital & Seed Funding.
It is important to promote the development of sovereign blue-economy asset-backed financial securities and list them on national and regional capital markets to mobilize institutional capital to unlock the value of Africa’s vast Blue-economy assets.
It is also a key to facilitate the scaling-up of youth entrepreneurship investment banks across Africa to accelerate access to finance in support of the businesses of the youth in Africa. It is proposed to examine the modalities of setting up an Africa blue innovation fund and/or establishing a Japan-Africa blue economy fund and invites the government of Japan and its partners to do so.
11. Enhancing the effectiveness of TICAD
The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) continues to serve as an important platform for fostering partnerships between Japan and Africa in pursuit of sustainable development. A sustainable blue economy should be identified as a key theme for the upcoming TICAD 10.
The practice of alternating the TICAD venue between Japan and African countries is deemed sensible. Direct, hands-on learning experiences are invaluable in inspiring stakeholders, strengthening partnerships, and facilitating concrete actions. It is therefore important to invite African private sector representatives and other stakeholders to Japan to observe and engage in practical learning opportunities when TICAD is held in Japan. Likewise, it is equally important to encourage the active participation of Japanese business leaders and other stakeholders in initiatives in Africa when TICAD takes place there.
12. Future steps
Concrete measures should be pursued to materialize the potential of promoting sustainable blue economies in Africa and to promote partnership between Japan and Africa in this respect through partnership between governments, private sector and relevant organizations in both Japan and Africa.
The Sasakawa Peace Foundation through its Ocean Policy Research Institute is encouraged with the support of its partners including The Nippon Foundation to continue to undertake research, policy dialogues, good practice sharing, experimental activities in leadership/entrepreneurship development, and others relevant to promoting sustainable blue economies.
SPF is encouraged to report its activities, their progress and future perspectives at relevant meetings including the Third Eminent Persons Meeting on Sustainable Blue Economies and Food Security in Africa to be held in 2027.
Adopted at Nikko, Tochigi, Japan on 25 June 2026
H.E. Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Former President of Mauritius
H.E. Mr. Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye, Former Prime Minister of Senegal
H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Hassane Mayaki, Former Prime Minister of Niger
H.E. Mr. Mehdi Jomaa, Former Prime Minister of Tunisia
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, former President of the African Development Bank
Dr. Yohei Sasakawa, Honorary Chairman, The Nippon Foundation and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation
Dr. Asushi Sunami, President, Sasakawa Peace Foundation
Mr. Shuichi Suzuki, President, Sasakawa Africa Association
(End)