JAPAN'S INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE POLICY IN AFRICA: RESULTS AND CHALLENGES

Timokhova Ekaterina Grigorievna

This article analyzes Japan's international development assistance policy in Africa in the 21st century within the framework of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). The relevance of this study stems from the growing geopolitical and economic importance of the African continent, intensifying competition between global and regional powers for influence in Africa, and the need to rethink traditional approaches to international development in the face of new challenges—climate change, digital transformation, and post-pandemic recovery. The article examines the evolution of Japan's strategy on the African continent and the main areas of development assistance, including infrastructure projects, human capital development, and technology transfer. Particular attention is paid to competition with other external players, primarily China, India, and the Gulf states. It analyzes the comparative advantages of the Japanese "kaizen" model, which focuses on quality, institutional development, and sustainability, as well as structural constraints: financial capacity, private sector conservatism, corruption, and political instability in African countries. The author concludes that Japan's strategy needs to be adapted with a focus on the digital economy, climate adaptation, and increased coordination between government programs and businesses to enhance the competitiveness of Japan's presence in Africa.

Keywords:Japan, international aid, African development, economic cooperation, socioeconomic growth, investment policy, foreign policy, competition, security, cooperation.