water and basic sanitation." Progress in achieving this goal is particularly lagging in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the UNDP Human Development Report 2006 it is estimated that, if the situation remains the same, it will take Sub-Saharan Africa until 2040 to achieve the target with regard to access to safe drinking water and to 2076 for access to sanitary facilities.

Amidst these circumstances, Japan has focused on projects such as those for rural water supply. Its assistance in the sector of drinking water and sanitation accounted for approximately 19% (2001-2005) of bilateral assistance to Africa in the sector (second to Germany (about 23%)).

## (2) Japan's Basic Ideas and Specific Support Measures

In February 2008, then Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura gave a policy speech entitled Global Water Governance: Improving Access to Safe Water and Sanitation, where he called for a global response to the problems of water and sanitation, proposing the following five measures: 1) Pursuing the sustainable use of water resources through water cycle management, 2) sharing the sophisticated techniques and know-how of Japan in the water sector with the rest of the world, 3) access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation facilities in order to ensure human security in addition to improving lifestyle practices such as washing hands, 4) enhancing global efforts for addressing water-related issues, and 5) a participatory approach to be promoted both domestically and internationally through partnerships between central and local governments as well as between public and private sectors.

## (3) TICAD IV and the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit

In light of these ideas, Japan announced at TICAD IV that it would dispatch a Water Security Action Team (W-SAT) comprised of water experts from Japan as technical cooperation to African countries that cannot provide a steady supply of safe water. Concretely, it is envisioned that this team will work with JICA to provide technical instruction on the proper maintenance and management of water-related facilities, including rural water facility management such as for deep wells and leakage control for existing drain pipes. The Yokohama Action Plan announced at TICAD IV includes improving access to water and sanitary facilities to combat infectious diseases and expand educational opportunities, as well as efforts to develop water-

(Source: dpa/PANA)

related infrastructure such as irrigation facilities. The action plan also includes assistance for drafting a water cycle management plan to effectively manage water resources, promoting the transfer of technology and know-how for water resource management, and capacity development assistance for the managers and users of water and sanitation systems. Through these efforts, Japan aims to provide safe drinking water to 6.5 million people in Africa over the next five years, while also providing training for 5,000 water resource managers and users.

Water and sanitation were also discussed at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit held in July 2008, in the context of the summit leaders' declaration Development and Africa. The importance of water cycle management was confirmed, and the leaders agreed to establish a G8 Experts Group Meeting on water and sanitation to discuss necessary actions with a particular focus on Sub-Saharan Africa, along with the Asia-Pacific region.

### Section 5. Rising Food Prices and Development of Agriculture and Rural Communities

The necessity of serious discussion on agricultural and rural development is increasing in response to the steep rise in global food prices. The issue was raised at TICAD IV and the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit in 2008, just as the situation was becoming more severe, to discuss what measures should be taken by the international community to address the issue.