Japan
Japan is one of the founders of the Global Fund partnership and paved the way for its establishment at the G8 Summit in Okinawa in 2000. A December 2017 Report “Japan and the Global Fund” documents the partnership between Japan and the Global Fund which has achieved tremendous impact on global health.
Japan is the fifth largest public donor to the Global Fund, contributing a total of US$ 4.13 billion to date. For the Global Fund’s Sixth Replenishment, Japan pledged US$ 840 million.
As a leader on global health and Universal Health Coverage, the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment is a unique opportunity for Japan to contribute to building back better from the COVID-19 pandemic through strengthening health and community systems for effective HIV, TB and malaria responses and pandemic preparedness, and closing the funding gap to get the world back on track to end AIDS, TB and malaria as epidemics, is aligned with Japan’s commitments with the 2030 SDGs, and achieving Universal Health Coverage.
The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) is also an initiative of the Government of Japan, who has led this conference since 1993 – cohosted with the United Nations, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank and African Union Commission (AUC). TICAD8 will be held in 2022, hosted by the Republic of Tunisia. TICAD is a multilateral forum whose participants include not only African countries but also international organisations, partner countries, private companies and civil society organisations involved in development, and provides an open forum that generates innovative discussion, amongst various stakeholders on African development.
Action
About the action
We worked with Africa Japan Forum for inputs to the letters sent by communities and civil society colleagues to Japanese Embassies around the world.
Civil society colleagues in Japan are calling for Japan to pledge US$ 1.08 billion, or 6% of the financial target of the Seventh Replenishment.
The action in Japan is led by Africa Japan Forum.

Action
united states
On the 10th March from 13:00 – 14:00 (Tokyo), colleagues from Africa Japan Forum – Mr Masaki Inaba and Mr Takakiyo Koizumi met virtually with representatives of the Embassy of the United States – Mr Heath Gregory Cosgrove, Development Councillor to Japan and Korea; Ms Rie Yamaki, USAID; and Ms Sachiko Yoshida, Economic and Commerce.
The meeting was moderated by Mr Takakiyo Kozumi with Masaki explaining the purpose of the meeting and highlighting the importance of the United States meeting one-third of the minimum financing target of US$ 18 billion at US$ 6 billion, and requested for supporting Japanese and global civil society for the Government of Japan to meet the minimum financial target of US$ 1.08 million (or 6% of the minimum financial target) set by civil society for the Seventh Replenishment. In addition, colleagues from Africa Japan Forum welcomed the decision of the United States Government and President Joe Biden to host the Seventh Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund.
Discussions followed on understanding better the advocacy strategies and targets of Japanese civil society, as well as the civil society involved on advocacy to the United States government in the United States as members of GFAN; the current level of involvement of civil society for the TICAD8 process, and if similar activities would be held..
Action
Germany
On 18th March, colleagues from Africa Japan Forum – Mr Masaki Inaba and Mr Takakiyo Koizumi met wth Dr Martin Pohl, the Counsellor of Labour and Health of the German Embassy in Japan.
Action
Canada
On the 25th March from 16:00 – 17:00 (Tokyo), colleagues from Africa Japan Forum – Mr Masaki Inaba and Mr Takakiyo Koizumi met virtually with representatives of the Embassy of Canada of the Political Section – Mr Denault Sebatastian and Ms Sayaka Noguchi.
The meeting started with welcome and introductions and discussions on the Seventh Replenishment of the Global Fund, including the request from AJF for the Canadian government to contribute proportionately to raise at least US$18 billion for its Seventh Replenishment, as well as the mutual support needed among G7 governments including Japan to meet this target. AJF also requested the Canadian Embassy to support civil society efforts for the C7 Summit which will be hosted by Japan in 2023 as Canada is one of the G7 countries.
A discussion on the Global Fund Seventh Replenishment and the G7/C7 next year followed, as well as understanding the relationship of Japanese civil society with Canadian civil society.
The meeting established a relationship between Japanese civil society and the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo for further cooperation and collaborations in the future.
Action
Netherlands
On 28th March from 13:30 – 14:30 Tokyo, colleagues from Africa Japan Forum – Mr Masaki Inaba and Mr Takakiyo Koizumi met with representatives from the Embassy of the Netherlands in Japan – Mr Paul Zwetsloot (Minister Counsellor, Economic Affairs), Ms Kazuyo Komatsubara (Project Officer, Economic Affairs), and Mr John Mike Jager (Trade Secretary, Economic Affairs).
The meeting started off with key highlights of issues relating to the Seventh Replenishment of the Global Fund, and AJF requested for the Netherlands to contribute proportionately to achieve a fully replenished Global Fund and requested mutual support among the donor-community including Japan to achieve the minimum target amount of US$18 billion, and explained the rationale for the increase.
Mr Zwetsloot informed that capital is currently discussing the contribution for the Seventh Replenishment and has yet to decide on its pledge, and committed to share the key messages from the meeting with AJF to colleagues in capital. A discussion followed around the positions of China and Republic of Korea on the Global Fund Replenishment, the preparation of TICAD 8, Japan’s current policy on Africa and focus on pandemics amongst others.
The meeting established a relationship between Japanese civil society and the Dutch Embassy in Tokyo for further cooperation and collaborations in the future.
Action
Norway
On the 29th March from 11:00 – 11:30 (Tokyo), colleagues from Africa Japan Forum – Mr Masaki Inaba and Mr Takakiyo Koizumi met virtually with representatives of the Embassy of Norway – Ambassador Ms Inga Nihamal and Mr Øyvind Fossum Vangberg (First Secretary).
The meeting started with welcome and introductions and discussions on the Seventh Replenishment of the Global Fund, including the request from AJF for the Norwegian government to contribute proportionately to raise at least US$18 billion for the Global Fund, as well as the mutual support needed among the donor community including Japan to meet this target. AJF also requested the Norwegian Embassy to support civil society efforts for the C7 Summit which will be hosted by Japan in 2023.
Ambassador Nimahal welcomed the initiative of Japanese civil society, and assured positively of Norway’s support of the Global Fund for its Seventh Replenishment as it has traditionally done so in the global health sector.
A discussion followed around Japanese ODA for health systems strengthening, as well as the prospective pledge from Japan for the Seventh Replenishment of the Global Fund.
The meeting established a relationship between Japanese civil society and the Norwegian Embassy in Tokyo for further cooperation and collaborations in the future.

Action
United Kingdom
On 30th March from 15:00 – 16:00 Tokyo, colleagues from Africa Japan Forum – Mr Masaki Inaba and Mr Takakiyo Koizumi met with Ms Izumi Wakugawa, Political Policy Officer (Foreign and Security Policy) from the United Kingdom Embassy in Japan.
The meeting started off with key highlights of issues relating to the Seventh Replenishment of the Global Fund, and AJF requested for the United Kingdom to contribute proportionately to achieve a fully replenished Global Fund and requested mutual support among the donor-community including Japan to achieve the minimum target amount of US$18 billion as the community of G7 countries, and explained the rationale for the increase.
The discussions that followed centred around the impacts on TB and HIV in Ukraine given the current circumstances, relations between the Global Fund and Japanese civil Society, contributions of the private sector to the Global Fund, cooperation between the UK Embassy and Japanese Civil Society for the Global fund, Japanese politicians and the Global Fund and preparations for TICAD 8.
The meeting established a relationship between Japanese civil society and the United Kingdom Embassy in Tokyo for further cooperation and collaborations in the future.