This background note emphasises the important role that TICAD plays in allowing greater African ownership in the development process and mobilising strategic partnerships with Africa from the international community. It then discusses how these core values could provide the driving force behind the policy positions that TICAD IV will develop along its key pillars of ‘Boosting Economic Growth’, ‘Ensuring Human Security’ and ‘Addressing Environmental Issues/Climate change’. The note ends with suggestions on how the TICAD process could evolve into a more robust mechanism for continuous partnership.