5 . African countries have also been involved in a number of external partnerships , which the continent has endeavoured to deal with collectively . Among these external partnerships are : ( a ) multilateral partnerships in the framework of the World Trade Organization ( WTO ) ; ( b ) the African , Caribbean and Pacific Group of States ( ACP ) - European Union ( EU ) partnership , through Economic Partnership Agreements ( EPAs ) ; and ( c ) a growing number of bilateral initiatives in support of African development , such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act ( AGOA , United States ) , the Tokyo International Conference on African Development ( TICAD , Japan ) , and initiatives from Brazil , China , India and Turkey .