Enterprise DX

For decades, JICA has focused on supporting the development of essential social and economic infrastructure in developing countries, such as railways, roads, and water supply systems. In addition to these physical infrastructure projects, JICA is now actively promoting "Enterprise Digital Transformation (Enterprise DX)" for government ministries and agencies, as well as public infrastructure operators in sectors such as water supply, transport, and energy - collectively referred to as public-sector entities (enterprises) that serve as counterparts in Official Development Assistance (ODA) programs.

Public service providers in developing countries often face challenges such as low customer satisfaction and limited revenue generation. There is significant potential to improve service quality, operational reliability, and management approaches. Through Enterprise DX, JICA supports enterprise-level operational improvements by leveraging digital technologies, enhancing data-driven management, adding value creation, and improving revenue. These efforts aim to generate sustained development impact that contributes to broader social and economic development. JICA leverages its deep expertise, local knowledge, and trusted relationships cultivated through years of infrastructure cooperation in partner countries to deliver these initiatives effectively.

JICA begins by assessing the current level of digitalization in target organizations. Based on this assessment, JICA helps develop tailored DX strategies aligned with each organization’s stage of digital maturity. These strategies include practical and actionable policies such as: what types of data should be collected and how, how to build digital capabilities within the organization, and how to establish and embed governance frameworks for long-term sustainability. Once the strategy is defined, JICA supports implementation in collaboration with external digital partners, as needed. In parallel, JICA works with digital partners to facilitate knowledge transfer to ensure that target organizations are able to self-reliantly and sustainably continue DX initiatives beyond the period of JICA's support. This includes a focus on operational integration and long-term ownership of digital transformation efforts.

Enterprise DX initiatives have already been implemented in the water supply and urban transport sectors, contributing to improved operational efficiency and enhanced customer experiences. For example, in Bangladesh, JICA supported Chattogram Water and Sewerage Authority (CWASA) in formulating a DX strategy and implementing pilot solutions. These included the development and deployment of a water meter reading app, a management dashboard, and a monitoring tool for reducing non-revenue water (NRW) - which is caused by issues such as leaks and unauthorized usage. These efforts were implemented with the aim of generating impact through reduced operational burden for CWASA staff, a roughly 20% decrease in NRW, and more stable water service delivery through earlier anomaly detection. We are applying similar support in places like Tanzania’s water utility and India’s urban transit operator. JICA will continue to scale up Enterprise DX efforts to help strengthen the management and sustainability of public utilities in developing countries, paving the way for long-term, tech-enabled development.