JICA Tokyo conducted a survey on the KCCP programs. To understand the impact of programs, we followed up with the participants after their return to their home countries.
The key question we sought to answer was: "How is the knowledge gained in Japan being applied in their countries today?"

JICA Tokyo’s KCCP program, “Quality Improvement of Health Services through KAIZEN Approach” focuses on applying the 5S Kaizen to enhance the quality of healthcare services in the developing countries. The goal is for participants to return to their countries with the knowledge gained in Japan and use it to improve healthcare service standards.

In this survey, we visited the Republic of Uganda in East Africa to monitor the activities of participants after their return. The purpose of the visit was to assess how the knowledge and experience gained during the training were being applied in the field and to ensure that future training content aligns more closely with the needs on the ground.

During our visit to the Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital in the western part of Uganda, we interviewed two participants: Ms. MASIKA Gertude, a nurse from the 2023 cohort, and Dr. KICONCO Gloria, a physician from the 2024 cohort. Both shared their experiences, stating, "We were amazed by the high motivation of hospital staff and the well-organized working environment in Japanese hospitals. While it's difficult to replicate the exact same environment, we realized that there are improvements we can implement in our own country."

Additionally, they reflected on how the training allowed them to share challenges with participants from other countries, broadening their perspectives by learning that similar issues exist globally.

Since returning, they have been actively promoting 5S Kaizen initiatives within the hospital, and have also conducted online lectures for healthcare staff in surrounding regions. Their efforts to spread the knowledge they gained in Japan are ongoing, contributing to a broader impact on healthcare practices in Uganda.

Supporting the improvement of water supply services in Uganda and Tanzania
The “Administration and Management of Water Supply Services” is a training program for executive officers from water supply implementing organizations to learn about the experiences and initiatives of water supply administration in Japan, and has been conducted since 2013. The Japanese training team visited Uganda and Tanzania this time to follow up the progress of their activity plans prepared by the participants in Japan.

Uganda: Initiatives to reduce non-revenue water and provide safe water
Ms. ATUHWERA Loveline (participant in 2023), a member of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), has been working on measures to address non-revenue water that does not lead to water tariff collection due to leakage and theft, such as establishing leak response teams and water theft response teams, using radio awareness-raising activities on illegal water use and crackdowns on illegal water users in cooperation with local police.
In addition, she tried to strengthen cleaning of water treatment plants, erected fences to protect water sources, cleaned pipes to improve water quality and trained staff in the proper use of chemicals.
As a result of these activities, the non-revenue water rate has improved from 15% to 13%, and in areas where it was previously difficult to collect fees due to concerns about water quality, it is now possible to collect appropriate fees due to a stable supply of quality water.
Ms Eng. Sharon Karungi (participant in 2024), another NWSC staff member, has not been able to develop specific activities so far, due to the fact that she has just completed her training and the department to which she was assigned after the training, but she has actively shared the knowledge acquired from the training to other departments to contribute to non-revenue water measures and the development of water safety plans.

Tanzania (Zanzibar Island): improving the management through water meter installation and pipe maintenance
Ms. Mohamed Asma Ahmed (participant in 2011) of the Zanzibar Water Authority (ZAWA) She installed 212 water meters based on the action plan developed during the training to combat non-revenue water, and also worked to improve the efficiency of the organization by the development and promotion of annual activity plan of the organization. She is now responsible for the commercial services department and plays a central role in the organization’s management, expressed her gratitude by saying, ‘It is thanks to my participation in the training in Japan that I am today in a position of responsibility’.
Mr. HASSAN Hassan Khamis (participant in 2023) is also working on improving dilapidated piping facilities and introducing a mobile phone application for quick leak detection, in line with the activity plan.

JICA’s KCCP Program goes far beyond the simple transfer of knowledge. With a strong focus on practical, context-specific approaches, the programs aim to equip each participant with the capacity to implement what they learn directly in their field settings.

In Uganda, healthcare professionals who trained in Japan have brought back Kaizen Approach and are actively applying them in their workplaces and communities. Meanwhile, in Zanzibar, Tanzania, significant reforms are underway in the water supply sector—ranging from the installation of water meters and improvements in piping to the adoption of digital technologies.

What has emerged across these cases is a shared “Transformation from Knowledge to Practice”. After returning home, ex-participants continue to think critically, collaborate with colleagues, and engage their communities to drive change.

This mindset demonstrates that JICA’s KCCP programs are not simply educational—they are practical platforms that empower participants to tackle real-world challenges and catalyze meaningful, lasting impact in their countries.