Thank you for visiting the JICA Ethiopia office page.
I have been appointed as the Chief Representative of JICA Ethiopia Office from the end of October 2023.
The history of JICA's activities in Ethiopia is relatively long in sub-Saharan Africa, with 2022 marking the 50th anniversary of the deployment of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers and 2023 the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the JICA Ethiopia Office.
I myself started my career in JICA as a country officer of Ethiopia in JICA HQ more than 20 years ago, and I learnt a lot through the development cooperation in Ethiopia. Since then, I served in JICA country offices in Kenya, South Sudan, and South Africa, as well as in agricultural and rural development in Africa.
After a long time, I am now back in Ethiopia and while I am surprised by the vastly transformed cityscape of Addis Ababa, I am also reminded once again of the unchanged diligence of the Ethiopian people and the richness of the culture and history of Ethiopia.
In the context of major changes in Ethiopia, JICA has long been involved in human resource development, and in recent years, JICA has been working to expand the experience and results of its long-standing cooperation in Ethiopia and other African countries, such as the Kaizen and SHEP (Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment) approaches. Some of the knowledge and experience gained by the Ethiopian people from the long history of cooperation between Ethiopia and Japan is now being shared within Africa and around the world, and the further expansion of these efforts is considered important for JICA's future activities in Ethiopia.
On the other hand, Ethiopia is currently facing challenges that JICA has not experienced in Ethiopia before, such as the rehabilitation of conflict-affected areas. JICA Ethiopia Office is also working with the people of Ethiopia to resolve new challenges with the various schemes available to JICA.
Kensuke Oshima
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