jica 独立行政法人 国際協力機構 jica 独立行政法人 国際協力機構

Report on the outcome of the Action Plan~ Happy news from an ex-participant who has been awarded a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering ~

Organization: Ministry of Housing, Utilities & Urban Communities of Arab Republic of Egypt
Name: Dr. Jehan Elsamni
Name of the program: Enhancement of Solid Waste Management Capacity (Advance, Planning, and Policy) (D)
Program period:From August 22 to September 17, 2016

My carrer development after return from Japan and current work and study

Upon completing the JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program (KCCP) course in Japan, I was working at The General Authority for Construction & Housing Cooperatives, Ministry of Housing. At that time, I had already earned a Master's degree in Civil Engineering. Following my return, I enrolled in a Ph.D. program at Ain Shams University, specializing in Civil Engineering with a focus on Project Management, specifically in the construction of sustainable buildings.

Degree conferment ceremony

My action plan and its implementation

The action plan focused on establishing an Integrated and sustainable Society in New Atfieh City. I further developed this plan by studying how to transform the city into a sustainable city and proposing criteria to achieve this goal. I utilized the Egyptian sustainability assessment system, the Green Pyramid, to assess the city. If the proposed measures are implemented, the city could achieve a golden rating according to this assessment system. This aligns with Egypt's commitment to sustainability as outlined in its Vision Egypt 2030. Recently, I successfully defended my Ph.D. dissertation titled "Developing a Framework for Construction of Sustainable Building Projects in Egypt Using Value Engineering Techniques.

Some Excerpts from the action plan at the time

How I am using the knowledge acquired in Japan into my work

The program allowed me to benefit from the experiences, knowledge, and technology related to solid waste management in Japan and to broaden my awareness towards the implementation of sustainable eco-friendly systems, and I had access to the experience of the Nishinomiya city that was chosen as an environmental education city in 2003.
This experience made me think better about the environment and therefore I am currently working on sustainable construction that has a better impact on the environment.
I am working on the improvement of solid waste management of my country by using two methods: Theoretically: studying sustainability in Egypt and how to implement that and Practically: starting to implement sustainability in my work.

Impressive memories in Nishinomiya city and other places in Japan

Meeting the friendly Japanese family who kindly accompanied me to the enchanting Nishinomiya Jinja Shrine, nestled among lush pine trees and a tranquil koi pond, was a delightful experience. This stunning and historic Shinto shrine in Nishinomiya City, Japan, is renowned for its picturesque setting and traditional Japanese architecture.

Nishinomiya Shrine

Exchangde with the members of Koto Eco Community

During our trip to Japan, we had the pleasure of meeting a voluntary group of Japanese women dedicated to house hold waste reduction activity in their community. These women were truly inspiring with their unwavering commitment to serving the community and aiding others. They shared heartwarming stories and invaluable wisdom drawn from their diverse experiences in fields such as healthcare, education, and social work. Our time with them was enriching and left a lasting positive impact on us.

Our visit to the Nishinomiya City Hall provided us with insights into the local government's initiatives and the city's development plans. We were impressed by the council officials' dedication and their focus on community service. The city hall's modern and efficient facilities reflected the city's progressive approach to governance. Overall, the experience was enlightening and offered a glimpse into the inner workings of local government in Nishinomiya.

At Nishinomiya City Hall

My dream for the future

Is to achieve a balance between development and preservation of the environment, by producing sustainable and environmentally compatible systems that conserve natural resources, reduce waste, and reduce environmental impacts, so that the world will become a better place for future generations.