n June 7, 2022, Raphael Obonyo interviewed Ryuichi Kato, Vice President, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), about the Asian nation’s role in promoting development in Africa and what the country is doing to differentiate its approach from other Asian nations.
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
What is the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and why is it important?
JICA is Japan’s governmental institution for bilateral development cooperation. As Japan takes a peaceful approach in its diplomacy, development cooperation is Japan’s most important diplomatic instrument for developing countries, especially in Africa.
JICA is one of the largest bilateral development assistance agencies in the world—delivering $16.7 billion of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the form of ODA Loans, Grant Aid, and Technical Cooperation to 150 developing countries in the 2020 fiscal year. Our activities rest on two fundamental philosophies. The first is “Human Security,” which aims to build societies where all people can protect themselves from threats and live their daily lives in security and with dignity. The second is “Quality Growth,” meaning that we promote sustainable growth with less disparity and without harming the environment.
What is the role of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD)?
TICAD is an open, multilateral platform for discussing how to promote Africa’s Development and for agreeing on action plans for TICAD partners. TICAD invites African governments, international organizations, bilateral donor countries—including emerging economies—private sector representatives, civil society organizations, academia, and others.
In the 1990s, TICAD formulated “Ownership and Partnership” as its basic principle, meaning that Africa should lead its own development—with donor countries and institutions supporting Africa as development partners to empower African governments’ and people’s own development initiatives. This notion strongly reflects Japan’s long-standing philosophy of supporting self-help efforts for development cooperation. Based on this principle, Japan has committed to contributing to Africa’s development.
While JICA is not a co-organizer of TICAD, we play an important role in implementing Japan’s ODA through a wide range of activities across Africa—spanning healthcare, education, industrial development, agriculture, infrastructure, environmental conservation and peace building. We also help build public awareness by organizing side-events and promoting TICAD’s public relationship with the people of Japan, Africa, and other regions.
What is your take on the effectiveness of JICA and TICAD in Africa and how has Japan’s development assistance evolved?
Japan organized the first TICAD in 1993—a time when attention toward Africa was low among the international community. Over the last 30 years, African countries’ expectations and trust of TICAD are increasing as witnessed by the number of heads of state who participate. Only five African heads of state and government participated in the first TICAD. The seventh TICAD in 2019 welcomed 42 heads of state and government from 53 participating African countries. Together with TICAD, JICA has been increasing development cooperation programs and initiatives in Africa, reflecting the outcomes of each TICAD summit.
Reflecting the discussions and consensus built over TICAD summits, Japan—and consequently JICA—has shifted its priority for Africa to respond to Africa’s development needs. In 1990s, when Africa was suffering from stagnating economic growth and marginalization in the international community, Japan worked to highlight the importance of Africa to the international community and build an open and broad partnership with the continent. In parallel, JICA focused primarily on responding to social development needs such as primary education, primary health, and safe drinking water.
In the 2000s, when Africa began undergoing rapid economic growth, JICA launched broader economic development and regional infrastructure development programs. In 2010s, when the private sector became aware of Africa’s business potential, JICA scaled-up economic development programs. We are also seeking to expand partnerships with business sectors to promote Japanese investment in Africa that could benefit people across the continent as well as in Japan.
The next TICAD will take place in Africa for the second time. What do you hope to achieve?
Because this is the first TICAD after the pandemic, we want to use TICAD8 as an opportunity to reinforce our partnership with African countries to better overcome the social and economic difficulties and build long-term resilient societies. By that we mean societies that can withstand external shocks without collapse—whether from issues like climate change or crises originating outside the continent. With Africa facing post-COVID-19 economic recovery, climate change, and food insecurity caused by the Ukrainian crisis, our focus will be on building resilience in Africa’s socio-economic frameworks.
The international community has demonstrated strong solidarity to protect and support those affected by the Ukraine Crisis. The massive levels of assistance being delivered to Ukraine and its neighboring countries are necessary, but as we support Ukraine, let us not forget about Africa. I would like to emphasize that now is the time that we, as an international community, must come together to help Africa build-back-better from COVID-19 and the Ukraine crisis if we are to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In addition, it would be our hope that the people of Africa consider the value of Japan’s cooperation and deepen mutual trust. In the post-COVID era there will necessarily be adjustments. I believe that JICA’s unchanging principle of Human Security based on democratic values is more important than ever for Africa.
JICA adds further value to its approach by utilizing digital techniques and innovation, especially through strong private sector partnerships to meet the needs of emerging challenges. TICAD8 is an excellent opportunity for JICA to share and discuss both traditional and new values with our African partners to deepen our relationship in this new era.
With the presence of foreign competitors like China and India, who have committed billions of dollars in support of African affairs, what is Japan doing differently?
I believe our role in Africa is not to compete with emerging donors, such as China and India, but to meet the needs of the African people—who want to develop sustainably, inclusively, and peacefully through their own initiatives and efforts. To achieve this, we have three strong and unique points that are different from other countries—respecting Africa’s ownership and empowering their capacity; focusing on people and ensuring human security; and utilizing Japan’s experience.
I would like to add to the first point that this is why we describe our engagement as "cooperation" rather than "aid" or "assistance."
The second point means that JICA promotes cooperation so that each individual can live with dignity and have opportunities to realize their own potential. We believe it is critical for people to connect with each other and build mutual trust.
On the third point, I mean that JICA's cooperation is largely underpinned by Japan's own development experience as a free, democratic, peaceful, and prosperous nation under the rule of law without losing our traditions and identity. We believe the lessons of Japanese modernization can help African countries today in creating their own development strategies while maintaining their cultures and traditions.
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A Conversation with JICA’s Ryuichi Kato
Photo by Roméo A. via Unsplash.
July 4, 2022
Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Ryuichi Kato tells Raphael Obonyo about the role Japan plays an important role in shaping development outcomes in Africa.
O
n June 7, 2022, Raphael Obonyo interviewed Ryuichi Kato, Vice President, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), about the Asian nation’s role in promoting development in Africa and what the country is doing to differentiate its approach from other Asian nations.
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
What is the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and why is it important?
JICA is Japan’s governmental institution for bilateral development cooperation. As Japan takes a peaceful approach in its diplomacy, development cooperation is Japan’s most important diplomatic instrument for developing countries, especially in Africa.
JICA is one of the largest bilateral development assistance agencies in the world—delivering $16.7 billion of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the form of ODA Loans, Grant Aid, and Technical Cooperation to 150 developing countries in the 2020 fiscal year. Our activities rest on two fundamental philosophies. The first is “Human Security,” which aims to build societies where all people can protect themselves from threats and live their daily lives in security and with dignity. The second is “Quality Growth,” meaning that we promote sustainable growth with less disparity and without harming the environment.
What is the role of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD)?
TICAD is an open, multilateral platform for discussing how to promote Africa’s Development and for agreeing on action plans for TICAD partners. TICAD invites African governments, international organizations, bilateral donor countries—including emerging economies—private sector representatives, civil society organizations, academia, and others.
In the 1990s, TICAD formulated “Ownership and Partnership” as its basic principle, meaning that Africa should lead its own development—with donor countries and institutions supporting Africa as development partners to empower African governments’ and people’s own development initiatives. This notion strongly reflects Japan’s long-standing philosophy of supporting self-help efforts for development cooperation. Based on this principle, Japan has committed to contributing to Africa’s development.
While JICA is not a co-organizer of TICAD, we play an important role in implementing Japan’s ODA through a wide range of activities across Africa—spanning healthcare, education, industrial development, agriculture, infrastructure, environmental conservation and peace building. We also help build public awareness by organizing side-events and promoting TICAD’s public relationship with the people of Japan, Africa, and other regions.
What is your take on the effectiveness of JICA and TICAD in Africa and how has Japan’s development assistance evolved?
Japan organized the first TICAD in 1993—a time when attention toward Africa was low among the international community. Over the last 30 years, African countries’ expectations and trust of TICAD are increasing as witnessed by the number of heads of state who participate. Only five African heads of state and government participated in the first TICAD. The seventh TICAD in 2019 welcomed 42 heads of state and government from 53 participating African countries. Together with TICAD, JICA has been increasing development cooperation programs and initiatives in Africa, reflecting the outcomes of each TICAD summit.
Reflecting the discussions and consensus built over TICAD summits, Japan—and consequently JICA—has shifted its priority for Africa to respond to Africa’s development needs. In 1990s, when Africa was suffering from stagnating economic growth and marginalization in the international community, Japan worked to highlight the importance of Africa to the international community and build an open and broad partnership with the continent. In parallel, JICA focused primarily on responding to social development needs such as primary education, primary health, and safe drinking water.
In the 2000s, when Africa began undergoing rapid economic growth, JICA launched broader economic development and regional infrastructure development programs. In 2010s, when the private sector became aware of Africa’s business potential, JICA scaled-up economic development programs. We are also seeking to expand partnerships with business sectors to promote Japanese investment in Africa that could benefit people across the continent as well as in Japan.
The next TICAD will take place in Africa for the second time. What do you hope to achieve?
Because this is the first TICAD after the pandemic, we want to use TICAD8 as an opportunity to reinforce our partnership with African countries to better overcome the social and economic difficulties and build long-term resilient societies. By that we mean societies that can withstand external shocks without collapse—whether from issues like climate change or crises originating outside the continent. With Africa facing post-COVID-19 economic recovery, climate change, and food insecurity caused by the Ukrainian crisis, our focus will be on building resilience in Africa’s socio-economic frameworks.
The international community has demonstrated strong solidarity to protect and support those affected by the Ukraine Crisis. The massive levels of assistance being delivered to Ukraine and its neighboring countries are necessary, but as we support Ukraine, let us not forget about Africa. I would like to emphasize that now is the time that we, as an international community, must come together to help Africa build-back-better from COVID-19 and the Ukraine crisis if we are to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In addition, it would be our hope that the people of Africa consider the value of Japan’s cooperation and deepen mutual trust. In the post-COVID era there will necessarily be adjustments. I believe that JICA’s unchanging principle of Human Security based on democratic values is more important than ever for Africa.
JICA adds further value to its approach by utilizing digital techniques and innovation, especially through strong private sector partnerships to meet the needs of emerging challenges. TICAD8 is an excellent opportunity for JICA to share and discuss both traditional and new values with our African partners to deepen our relationship in this new era.
With the presence of foreign competitors like China and India, who have committed billions of dollars in support of African affairs, what is Japan doing differently?
I believe our role in Africa is not to compete with emerging donors, such as China and India, but to meet the needs of the African people—who want to develop sustainably, inclusively, and peacefully through their own initiatives and efforts. To achieve this, we have three strong and unique points that are different from other countries—respecting Africa’s ownership and empowering their capacity; focusing on people and ensuring human security; and utilizing Japan’s experience.
I would like to add to the first point that this is why we describe our engagement as "cooperation" rather than "aid" or "assistance."
The second point means that JICA promotes cooperation so that each individual can live with dignity and have opportunities to realize their own potential. We believe it is critical for people to connect with each other and build mutual trust.
On the third point, I mean that JICA's cooperation is largely underpinned by Japan's own development experience as a free, democratic, peaceful, and prosperous nation under the rule of law without losing our traditions and identity. We believe the lessons of Japanese modernization can help African countries today in creating their own development strategies while maintaining their cultures and traditions.
