J I C A E v e r y d a y

A u g u s t – S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 8

V o l u m e I I , I s s u e I I I

J I C A E T H I O P I A

N E W S L E T T E R

A r e a s o f

C o o p e r a t i o n :

J I C A

E v e r y d a y

1

A g r i c u l t u r e 2

E d u c a t i o n 2

I n d u s t r i a l

P r o m o t i o n

3

K n o w l e d g e

C o - C r e a t i o n

P r o g r a m

4

Ucat W a t e r 5

V o l u n t e e r s 6 - 7

U p - N e x t w i t h J I C A 8

Adey Abeba flowers ushering in the new Ethiopian Year.

R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m U N D P , E m b a s s y o f C h i n a

JICA’s kaizen project team has been working with the Ethiopian Kaizen Insti-tute (EKI) since 2012 to build the capaci-ty of the Institution as well as to develop human capital by developing training programs for kaizen consultants.

The team provided a briefing and a tour of its kaizen practices at Yekatit Paper Converting PLC to Ms. Louise Chamber-

lain, Country Director, UNDP Ethiopia and Ms. Liu Yu, Counsellor, Embassy of China.

JICA is committed to disseminating the kaizen management philosophy to im-prove quality, productivity and competi-tiveness in the Ethiopian public and private sector.

Thus far, organizations working with EKI have saved over 54 million USD by imple-menting kaizen, in the last five years.

The month of September is officially Kai-zen Month in Ethiopia and the manage-ment philosophy is heavily promoted throughout the country.

v i s i t K a i z e n P r o j e c t

One of the

fundamental

principles of the Ethio-SHEP

project is changing the mind-

set of farmers from trying to

sell their produce after har-

vest (without conducting any

market surveys) to growing

products that are in demand

and selling them at fair mar-

ket price.

Therefore, in the SHEP pro-

gram, farmers groups visit

local markets, communicate

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J I C A E T H I O P I A N E W S L E T T E R

B u s i n e s s L i n k a g e F o r u m s f o r F a r m e r s C o n d u c t e d

J I C A V o l u n t e e r s u s e S p o r t s a n d A r t t o C o n n e c t

For two weeks this August,

four Japanese volunteers

spent their days teaching

sports and art to refugee

children at Jewi Camp in

Gambella Region. Jewi Camp,

located at the border of Ethi-

opia and South Sudan, is the

fourth largest camp in the

region and home to around

60,000 South Sudanese refu-

gees who have fled their

homes due to violence.

In April 2018, the Govern-

ment of Japan committed

50,000 USD to support the

United Nations Development

Programme (UNDP) with its

work with the Ethiopia Peace

Support Training Center. The

Center addresses critical

training gaps on peacebuild-

ing, conflict prevention, post

conflict recovery and conflict

management and resolution.

In a collaborative effort to

cultivate peace through crea-

tive art, aesthetics and

sports, JICA, UNDP, UNHCR

(the UN refugee agency) and

ARRA (Ethiopia’s Administra-

tion for Refugee and Returnee

Affairs), agreed to send JICA

volunteers to Jewi camp to

interact with refugee children

through the community’s

Peace Club.

Mr. Shinji Okada and Mr

Taichi Sano (cycling and table

tennis trainers in Addis Aba-

ba) were assigned 20 children

each day to play and teach

sports with, reaching 120

children during their time at

the camp.

Ms. Kaori Hashimoto (a pri-

mary school education teach-

er based in Addis Ababa ) and Mr.

Kazuma Tanabe (a physical edu-

cation teacher in Tigray Region)

were assigned 20 children per

day, to paint and draw with; they

taught 300 children in two weeks.

Together they created collages of

the words love, dream, peace and

friends (along with the corre-

sponding word in the Nuer lan-

guage) with each of the groups.

with traders and consumers

and then formulate their own

action plans on what they

would like to plant in the

coming season.

In August, the JICA project

team arranged for the first

three input linkage forums to

be held in Amhara and Oro-

mia regions, whereby farmers

were able to meet with un-

ions, cooperatives, farm ser-

vice centers, agriculture re-

search centers and private

input suppliers.

Vibrant discussions took place

to solve the problems that

farmers were facing, such as,

access to inputs, the availabil-

ity and delivery of seeds,

fertilizers, chemicals and the

quality of inputs.

Input suppliers had the op-

portunity to showcase their Farmers learning about various

inputs.

Ethio-SHEP Facts:

Project Title: The Project for Small-

holder Horticulture Farmer Empow-

erment through Promotion of Market

-Oriented Agriculture

Duration: Jan 2017 ~ Jan 2022

Target Area: Amhara and Oromia

Region

Counterparts: Ministry of Agricul-

ture and Livestock Resources

(MoALR), Amhara Bureau of Agricul-

ture (ABoA) and Oromia Irrigation

Development Authority (OIDA)

samples to the farmers and to

explain their products and

services.

One farmer expressed his

appreciation at being able to

meet and exchange ideas and

information with recognized

input suppliers and coopera-

tive unions. Other farmers

were grateful to have re-

ceived professional advice on

their input usage.

The Forum created a win-win

situation for all sides as input

suppliers received the oppor-

tunity to speak with potential

customers and also began

looking into the possibility of

providing inputs to the farmer

groups in bulk.

Now that the farmers have a

better understanding of their

inputs and the demands of

the market, they are ready to

plant. The project team will be

monitoring them throughout the

season and will track their yield and

the market value of their produce in

the next harvest season.

w i t h R e f u g e e C a m p K i d s

Mr. Okada starts a class with various stretching exercises. Mr. Tanabe oversees a collage art project.

Read the volunteer’s impressions from their time in Gambella on page 6

The unique Japanese scholar-ship started by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2013 to provide 1,000 African youth with the opportunity to study and intern at Japanese universities and companies in five years, will send its fifth group of students to Japan.

This year, six candidates quali-fied for the program from Ethio-pia, out of a total 120 partici-pants from 54 African countries. The candidates have been working in the public sector and all hope to return to Ethiopia to enhance their workplaces and to create business links with Japan.

“I am confident that the pro-gram will help me achieve my educational pursuits and con-tribute to the strategic goals of my country,” said Mr. Mesay Woldesemayat speaking at a send-off dinner for the candi-dates. Mr. Woldesemayat will be heading to Kansai University in Osaka, Japan to attend the Graduate School of Law.

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J I C A E T H I O P I A N E W S L E T T E R

5 t h Y e a r o f A B E S c h o l a r s h i p R e c i p i e n t s

The ABE Initiative program differs from other scholar-ship programs due to its in-built internship program with Japanese companies. During the March 2017 net-working fair in Tokyo, 100 companies were able to meet with ABE participants and discuss possibilities for internships. The goal of the Initiative, beyond the acqui-si tion of ski l ls and knowledge is to cultivate

outstanding personnel who can comprehend integrate into Japanese society and work culture. One of the expected outcomes of the program is to build a network of potential contributors to the develop-ment of African industries, who will also lead Japanese companies who wish to en-gage in economic activities in Africa.

Currently, there are only eight

Japanese companies operating in Ethiopia, according to Mr. Hiroyuki Tanaka, Senior Representative at JICA Ethiopia. The Governments of Ethiopia and Japan would like to see that number growing. “The fact that there aren’t many com-panies in Ethiopia presents and opportunity; it means that there is a lot of room to work together and big potential for business,” Mr. Tanaka told those gathered at the dinner.

The sentiment to work together was echoed by Mr. Teka Gebreye-sus, Deputy Commissioner, Ethio-pian Investment Commission, who noted that the Ethiopian Govern-ment is working hard to bring more Japanese companies to Ethi-opia. A recent addition to the in-vestment landscape is a Japanese company which will be manufac-turing its products at Bole Lemi Industrial park.

The presence of ABE Initiative graduates when Japanese compa-nies enter the Ethiopian market is expected to simplify the transi-tion, with the graduates acting as business and cultural bridges.

M e e t o u r N e w P r o j e c t F o r m u l a t i o n A d v i s o r

H e a d i n g t o J a p a n

Fifth batch of ABE Initiative candidates with members of the Ethiopia

and Japanese business community.

Ms. Emi Kurita, who was

heading up our Champion

Product Approach has re-

turned to Japan after three

years in Ethiopia.

We would like to introduce you

to her successor Mr. Hiroyuki

Amaya who is joining us from

Japan.

We asked him three questions

to help us get to know him a

bit better.

1. Have you previously worked

in other African countries? And

if so, can you share one of

your favorite experiences?

I have been to five countries

(Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania,

Namibia and South Africa) on

vacations with my family. So

Ethiopia is the sixth country,

but it is the first one that I will

be working in.

My favorite experience in

Africa so far has been seeing

the Big 5 animals in the

savannah in Tanzania.

2. Where was your last job

posting and what did your

job entail?

I was a secretariat at the

International Department

within the Tokyo Chamber of

Commerce and Industry

until this July.

I worked closely with the

governments of Indonesia

and Brazil facilitating indus-

trial policy dialogues with

100 Japanese companies

seeking to invest in the two

countries.

My role in my current posi-

tion will be to respectfully

support the Ethiopian Gov-

ernment in attracting invest-

ment from Japanese compa-

nies. My past experience will

also enable me to be a

spokesperson for Japanese

companies wishing to invest in

Ethiopia.

3. Which cultural or historical as-

pects of Ethiopia are you most

looking forward to exploring?

I am looking forward to exploring

Ethiopian culture through music

and videos, like I did in Indonesia

and Brazil.

Top: Mr. Amaya took a photo in front of classic cars on a

trip to Havana, Cuba.

This past May I had the oppor-tunity to go to Kobe City, Japan to participate in a training pro-gram organized by JICA. The training, which lasted 17 days, was directly linked to my work in Jimma as a horticulture crop production expert at the Oromia Irrigation Development Authori-ty (OIDA).

In January 2017, JICA launched its Smallholder Horticulture Farmer Empowerment project, commonly referred to as Ethio-SHEP, to equip smallholder farmers with the tools they need to increase their yields and to shift their mindsets from “Grow and Sell” to “Grow to Sell”.

I have spent the last three years in Jimma working to scale-up horticulture production within Jimma Zone, and when the opportunity arose to travel to Japan and take part in JICA’s Knowledge Co-Creation Pro-gram (KCCP) I thought it was the ideal occasion to under-stand the challenges of horticul-ture cultivation, distribution and marketing.

Upon arriving at the Kansai International Center I received a thorough technical explana-tion about the SHEP approach. It is a holistic development approach which ensures that farmers receive various train-ings to acquire agriculture and managerial skills that will grant them access to a competitive market. Traditionally, farmers grew whatever was available, or easy to grow, without partic-ular regard to the market de-mand. However, with the SHEP Approach, farmers create net-works in the marketplace and conduct surveys to determine the crop needs of the communi-ty and to find out the value of crops. After this, they are able to tailor the crops that they grow to meet the demand.

I learnt that the intensive tech-nical support that my team provides to farmers can help them increase their productivity

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J I C A E T H I O P I A N E W S L E T T E R

J a p a n H e l p e d m e S e e ; T e c h n i c a l A i d i s m o r e

and quality, which I am already witnessing in two farmers groups in Dety-Duke and Birbisa areas. The two groups have been able to harvest 540kg/100m2 of tomatoes and 122kg/100m2 of green peppers, respec-tively.

My time was also spent learning new methods such as bokashi composting, which is a Japanese method of turning food waste into

compost. Additional instruc-

tion was provided on soil sterilization, crop pest and disease control mechanisms, and women’s empowerment. However, the most impactful

aspect of my training was learning about the theoretical base that the SHEP Approach is built on. SHEP raises the intrinsic (internal) motivation of farmers to guarantee that the necessary activities for success are continuously im-plemented. Based on the theory of self-determination, three psychological needs motivate people: autonomy – farmers need to feel in con-trol of their goals, which they are able to do by going into the marketplace and interact-ing with other farmers and consumers and deciding what they want to grow; compe-tence – farmers learn differ-ent skills and gain mastery

through the trainings provided by the Ethio-SHEP project; and re-latedness – farmers experience a sense of belonging and attach-ment to their farmer groups and their communities through in-creased interactions and the Farmer Business Linkage Forums are discussion spaces for famers with buyers, brokers, processors, transporters, extension service providers and financial institu-tions.

Before going to Japan, I always questioned why JICA was not simply providing the farmers with financial assistance, why were they going to the trouble of train-ing all these farmers? Now I am able to understand how technical assistance is far more impactful than financial aid alone. When employing the intrinsic motivation approach, people act based on their internal feelings and inter-ests and do not do things for fleeting social and psychological satisfaction; they do it for sustain-able mental and physical satisfac-tion. I believe this is good; I have seen a couple of organizations that have provided financial assis-tance for the community I work with, and the people are happy for a short time, until the money runs out, and then they are back in the same position again.

Hence, I have understood that we need sustainable methods for development and the SHEP Ap-proach is a good method for farm-ers to learn. My commitment to serving my community has been raised and I have learnt a lot of time management tools, as well as planning and management skills, which will help me imple-ment market-oriented agriculture promotion with the farmers.

Mr. Abate Kedida is a horticul-ture crop production expert based in Jimma Ethiopia. He has a degree in Natural Re-source Management from Jim-ma University, College of Agri-culture and Veterinary Medi-cine.

I m p a c t f u l t h a n F i n a n c i a l A i d

Hands-on training in Japan. Mr. Abate can be seen in the white

Group photo of KCCP trainees.

shirt.

The Government of Ethiopia has been implementing the same water policy since 1999, which is now outdated and unable to serve a wide range of water resource affiliated issues that have an impact on improving access and services to commu-nities, as well as addressing demand management and sus-tainability of resources.

It is imperative, at this time, to update the nation’s water policy and strategy to coordinate and integrate it with the situation on the ground. The Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity (MoWIE) has drafted a compre-hensive document examining the various challenges within the water sector, such as socio-economic development and environmental changes, so as to update the existing policy.

The recommended updates to the water policy and strategy are cognizant of:

● The socio-economic structure of the community and settle-ment pattern – over 80 percent of the Ethiopian population is still living in fragmented rural areas;

● Schools and health posts that are established without consid-ering the availability of water resources, which ends up leav-ing the facilities without ser-vices;

● The government’s target of all citizens accessing water, cou-pled with the global commit-ment of meeting the sustaina-ble development goals (SDGs);

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J I C A E T H I O P I A N E W S L E T T E R

N e w l y D r a f t e d W a t e r P o l i c y P l e d g e s I n s t i t u t i o n a l

● Access to water supply and sanitation achieved the targets set by the millenni-um development goals (MDGs); however, water supply (57% by 2015) and improved latrines (27%) have not improved by much since then;

● The 75 percent national functionality rate of schemes for rural water supply - indi-cating that some 25 percent of beneficiaries have missed the opportunity to obtain water;

● The growth observed in the urban population (3.8%) and urbanization (5.4%) - there is a need to establish systems to serve these growing needs;

● The growing concerns of gender, equity and inclusion of people with different de-mands is an area that needs to be further developed;

● Substantial concerns brought about by climate change and the measures that need to be taken to address the concerns of people living in arid, semi-arid and urban areas;

● Recent study findings which are highlighting the huge challenges associated with water quality and the need for pollution control;

● Sanitation as a key devel-opment intervention area, requiring a well-developed and enabling environment,

including institutional set up, policy, financing, as well as monitoring and evaluation.

These challenges will have to be addressed either in the short, medium or long term to achieve rapid socio-economic development through better healthcare and productivity of the Ethiopian people. Interna-tional government and non-government actors are ex-pected to support the sector in its endeavors to achieve the goals it has set out.

Hence, JICA has a significant role to play in the implemen-tation process, both with stra-tegic and technical support. JICA has already begun align-ing its efforts with urban wa-ter supply and sanitation sec-tors, such as the Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority (AAWSA) and the Addis Ababa city Solid Waste Management Authority (AASWMA). It is also enhancing the institution-al capacity of the Ethiopian Water Technology Institute (EWTI) and Knowledge Co-Creation Programs (KCCP) which provide the opportunity for water engineers and offi-cials to train overseas. The Government of Japan is com-mitted to improving access to water and sanitation, not only to meet the SDGs but out of an inherent commitment to transform the lives of people.

T r a n s f o r m a t i o n t o T a c k l e C h a l l e n g e s

SDG Goal 6: Clean Water

and Sanitation

At the current time, more than 2 billion people are living with the risk of reduced access to freshwater resources and by 2050, at least one in four people is likely to live in a country affected by chronic or recurring shortages of fresh water. Drought in specific afflicts some of the world’s poorest countries, worsening hunger and malnutrition. For-tunately, there has been great progress made in the past decade regarding drink-ing sources and sanitation, whereby over 90% of the world’s population now has access to improved sources of drinking water.

To improve sanitation and access to drinking water, there needs to be increased investment in management of freshwater ecosystems and sanitation facilities on a local level in several developing countries within Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, Southern Asia, Eastern Asia and South-Eastern Asia.

EWTI training participants on water drilling machinery. Rope-pump water installed in remote villages.

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J I C A E T H I O P I A N E W S L E T T E R

I n s i g h t s i n t o w o r k i n g w i t h R e f u g e e C a m p K i d s

Four volunteers share some of their impressions after returning from Jewi Camp in Gambella (continued from page 2 )

OKADA: We started each class by separating the children into two

equal teams, boys vs. girls and we would do the same exercises and

play games. What I noticed was the boys were always stronger and

faster and when I asked our interpreters why, they told me that the

girls never had the opportunity to participate in sports back home. It

made me happy that I was able to provide this opportunity for them

to play sports and to the see them happy.

TANABE: For our dream poster collage we asked 160 students

to write down their dreams (aspirations) for the future on a

piece of leaf and to post it to the poster. The most surprising

thing is that there were only 8 or 9 different kinds of dreams

from 160 people! They all wanted to be either teachers, drivers,

doctors or pastors.

I am hoping that our activity there has expanded their horizons

and that they can dream bigger!

SANO: We really wanted to inspire the children so we printed out

photos of refugee athletes like Anjelina Nadai Lohalith and told

them their stories. Anjelina is a track and field athlete from South

Sudan who fled to Kenya as a refugee. In 2016 she competed in

the Rio Summer 2016 Olympics as part of the refugee team. I

thought they would know her but none of them did, but I think

they really liked hearing about what she was able to achieve.

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J I C A E T H I O P I A N E W S L E T T E R

SANO: As a table tennis instructor, I was very eager to teach

the children how to play, but once there I found that they do

not have access to any sports equipment. Therefore, we looked

for ways to make balls out of paper and tape and we played

other games. I saw that since it is not possible purchase expen-

sive equipment, it would be better to teach them games and to

use materials that can be found in the Camp. This would make

our activity sustainable and replicable. From now on they can

continue to make balls and play when we are not around.

OKADA: Our very first day we asked the kids to name all the

different types of sports they knew. It was surprising to me that

they named only four types of sports: football, volleyball, bas-

ketball and running. I saw this as an opportunity to tell them

about other sports and to teach them different games that they

can play. Every child should have the right to enjoy sports and

to dream. Sport is a good way to connect people and to build

peaceful relationships.

HASHIMOTO: I have been working on a sanitation campaign with

other volunteers in Addis Abeba, and during breaks we shared the

proper ways of handwashing and the negative effects of eating

without washing our hands. The children at the camp all wanted to

take part and usually we had children that were not in our classes

participating in the handwashing exercises.

M e e t o u r N e w V o l u n t e e r C o o r d i n a t o r s !

In August we bid farewell to two of our volunteer coordinators, Mr.

Nakamoto and Ms. Ikuko Wakai, who have returned to Japan after

working in Ethiopia for almost three years and six months, respec-

tively.

We also welcomed their successors; Mr. Naoki Isaji, will be working

with volunteers assigned in the areas of marketing, community de-

velopment, tourism, water, agriculture and industrial promotion,

while Ms. Rieko Hara will be managing incoming volunteers, public

relations and volunteers who will be teaching physical education and

training students in various sports.

Below are three questions that we asked to get to know our new

team members better:

1. Have you previously worked in other African countries? And if

so, can you share one of your favorite experiences?

Mr. Isaji: I worked in Kenya for a total of nine years. The first time

there I was a volunteer and then I returned two more times as a

Volunteer Coordinator. Kenya was the first foreign country that I

visited in my life. Everything was a refreshing surprise! It was all

exciting and fun, even when I lost money and my things.

Ms. Hara: I have worked in Ethiopia and Rwanda before. I love

getting to learn new cultures and exchanging ideas with people .

2. Where was your last job posting and briefly tell us what your job

entailed?

Mr. Isaji: My previous position was as a Volunteer Coordinator in

JICA Vietnam, where I was in charge of Senior Volunteers.

Ms. Hara: I was working at the NGO desk at the JICA Philippines

Office before coming to Ethiopia. I was in charge of supervising the

projects implemented by Japanese NGOs and I provided information

and advice as necessary.

3. Which cultural or historical aspects of Ethiopia are you most look-

ing forward to exploring?

Mr. Isaji: I do not know yet. I am still studying the history and

culture of Ethiopia. But so far I really like Ethiopian food!

Ms. Hara: During my last visit to Ethiopia I did not have the oppor-

tunity to visit any cultural or historical places; therefore, I would

really like to see wildlife and visit places with indigenous tribes.

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J I C A E T H I O P I A N E W S L E T T E R

Top: Mr. Isaji tried a traditional Vietnam-

ese bamboo pipe during his time in Hanoi

Vietnam.

Top: While in the Philippines, Ms. Hara went

scuba diving.

Japan International Cooperation Agency

Ethiopia Office

Mina Building 6th & 7th Floor

P.O.Box 5384

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Phone: +251 115 50 47 55

Fax: +251 115 50 44 65

Mission: JICA, in accordance with the Development Cooperation Charter, will work on human security and quality growth.

Vision:

Leading the World with Trust JICA, with its partners, will take the lead in forging bonds of trust across the world, aspiring for a free, peaceful and prosper-ous world where people can hope for a better future and ex-plore their diverse potentials.

Actions 1. Commitment: Commit ourselves with pride and passion to achieving our mission and vision.

2. Gemba: Dive into the field ("gemba") and work together with the people.

3. Strategy: Think and act strategically with broad and long-term perspectives

4. Co-creation: Bring together diverse wisdom and resources.

5. Innovation: Innovate to bring about unprecedented

impacts.

J I C A E T H I O P I A O F F I C E

October

Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD) will hold its

annual rice promotion meeting (in Japan) October 2-4, 2018.

TICAD VII Ministerial Meeting (in Japan) October 5-7, 2018

National Kaizen Month Ceremony, hosted by the Ethiopian

Kaizen Institute , October 09, 2018.

Japan Festival—join us for a day of exploring Japanese food

and culture at Juventus Club on October 21, 2018 from 10am

to 3:00pm

C o m i n g u p i n O c t o b e r 2 0 1 8

L e a d i n g t h e W o r l d w i t h T r u s t

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