The cash will fund developmental efforts and counter-terrorism measures.

Japan has announced a plan to provide 100 billion yen ($1 billion) in aid over the next five years to northern Africa for economic development and humanitarian efforts.

The announcement made on Sunday, said the money will also help fund security and counter-terrorism measures.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the assistance in a speech at a conference in Yokohama, near Tokyo, where officials from 50 African nations have gathered to talk about trade, growth and other issues, the Associated Press reported.

Japan has earmarked 3.2 trillion yen ($32 billion) in government and private-sector, and the $1 billion is part of that sum.

The sum will make Japan Asia’s second biggest aid provider to the region after China.