05 June 2026, Geneva, Switzerland / Hiroshima, Japan — With the support of the Government and people of Japan, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) has launched a new Tokyo International Conference on African Development 9 (TICAD9) follow-up programme aimed at strengthening innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership and strategic partnerships among African youth and women.

Ms. Chisa Mikami, Head of UNITAR Hiroshima Office, welcomes the participants in Hiroshima.
UNITAR

The programme, “Empowering Youth and Women for Inclusive Growth and Strategic Partnerships between Africa and Japan,” will support 2,000 participants from 11 Anglophone countries in sub-Saharan Africa through a multi-phase learning and venture development journey running from 2026 to 2027.

The initiative responds to a growing wave of innovation across Africa, where young people are developing solutions to challenges related to food security, climate resilience, employment, healthcare, digital transformation, trade and sustainable livelihoods. Despite their potential, many innovators face barriers in accessing technical support, strategic partnerships, professional networks and opportunities to scale their ideas.

Media briefing in Harare, Zimbabwe, with government ministry officials and the Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Shinichi Yamanaka.
UNITAR

To help address these challenges, the programme will provide practical training, mentorship and project development support, enabling participants to strengthen their competencies in entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, leadership, partnership development and investment readiness. Participants will also receive guidance to develop scalable, implementation-oriented projects aligned with national and regional development priorities.

Throughout the programme, participants will engage with experts, mentors and innovation ecosystem actors while gaining access to specialized learning opportunities and resources. Particular attention will be given to initiatives with strong potential for economic and social impact across sectors such as agri-food innovation, AI and digital technologies, climate solutions, fintech, healthcare, manufacturing, the blue economy, creative industries and sustainable development.

A participant attending the Satake Corporation field visit in Hiroshima, Japan.
UNITAR

A limited number of high-performing participants will be selected for an advanced engagement phase in Japan. This phase will provide additional mentorship, exposure to Japanese innovation ecosystems and opportunities for dialogue with public- and private-sector stakeholders, further strengthening collaboration and partnership opportunities between Africa and Japan.

The programme is open to youth and women aged 18–35 from Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The programme is designed to help young innovators and entrepreneurs move beyond ideas and build practical solutions with real impact. With the support of the Government and the people of Japan, we hope to strengthen long-term collaboration, innovation, and sustainable economic opportunities between Africa and Japan. - Ms. Mihoko Kumamoto, Director of the Prosperity Division at UNITAR. 

Application Form and Other Information

Participants completing the Japan Programme.
UNITAR

Eligible applicants include aspiring entrepreneurs, founders of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), innovators, professionals, social entrepreneurs, researchers and individuals developing practical solutions with demonstrated economic or social impact potential.

Applications for the programme are now open. Additional information and the official application form are available on the UNITAR Event Page: TICAD9 Programme.

UNITAR encourages interested individuals and organizations to apply early and to share this opportunity widely through institutions, youth networks, innovation hubs, professional associations and community platforms across Africa.

Photos from the previous Africa Programme

A courtesy visit to the Hiroshima Prefectural Government.
UNITAR
Engagement with the Japanese private sector - Eukarya Inc. - a Japanese technology company.
UNITAR
Japanese private sector visit to Satake Corporation in Hiroshima, focusing on technologies and equipment for the processing of agricultural products.
UNITAR
Participants visit the Memorial Cenotaph at the Peace Memorial Park of Hiroshima.
UNITAR
Participants engage with community representatives in Hiroshima to learn about the local culture and strengthen the message of peace.
UNITAR
Mid-programme review in Harare with Ministry Officials and the Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Shinichi Yamanaka.
UNITAR
Round-table discussion and engagement between programme participants, senior government ministry officials, and the Japanese Ambassador.
UNITAR
Media briefing in Harare with the Head of UNITAR Hiroshima Office Ms Chisa Mikami, Ministry Officials and the Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Shinichi Yamanaka.
UNITAR

About UNITAR-Japan Partnership

For more than two decades, the partnership between the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Government and people of Japan has demonstrated the power of international cooperation in advancing peace, resilience, and sustainable development. Through the establishment of the UNITAR Hiroshima Office in 2003 and continued Japanese support for global capacity-building initiatives, the partnership has empowered tens of thousands of leaders, youth, government officials, and communities across Asia, Africa, the Pacific, and beyond. Rooted in Hiroshima’s enduring legacy of peace and recovery, the UNITAR–Japan partnership continues to serve as a global model for human-centered development, innovation, and multilateral solidarity in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.

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