JICA Namibia Celebrates 20 Years of Partnership, Trust and Sustainable Development

Windhoek, Namibia – The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Namibia Office proudly celebrated its 20th Anniversary, marking two decades of partnership between the Governments of Japan and Namibia in advancing sustainable and inclusive development.

The commemorative event brought together senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners, representatives from academia, civil society, former JICA experts and volunteers, and friends of JICA to reflect on the achievements of the past twenty years and reaffirm a shared commitment to Namibia's future development.

Delivering the welcome remarks, JICA Namibia Resident Representative Mr. Akihiko Hoshino described the anniversary as a celebration of "partnership, friendship, trust, and the many people whose commitment and dedication have shaped the remarkable journey we commemorate today."

He reflected on the longstanding relationship between Japan and Namibia, which began with the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1990 and was further strengthened by the opening of the JICA Namibia Office in March 2006 alongside the launch of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) Programme.

"Over the past two decades, JICA has worked alongside the Government of the Republic of Namibia under a shared vision of sustainable and inclusive development. Guided by our mission of promoting human security and quality growth, we have sought not merely to implement projects, but to build capacity, strengthen institutions, and create opportunities," Mr. Hoshino said.

The event highlighted JICA's longstanding collaboration with the Government of Namibia across a wide range of sectors, including transport and logistics, agriculture, education and skills development, human resource development, and local governance.

Among the key milestones celebrated was JICA's support for Namibia's aspiration to become a regional logistics hub through the Implementation of the International Logistics Hub Master Plan. The initiative has contributed significantly to strengthening regional trade connectivity and has supported progress towards the operationalisation of the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) at the Trans-Kalahari Border, reinforcing Namibia's role as a gateway to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

The anniversary also recognised JICA's contributions to rural development through the Northern Namibia Small-Scale Farmers' Livelihood Enhancement Project (N-SHEP), which has empowered farmers to adopt market-oriented agricultural practices, improve productivity, and increase household incomes.

Investing in people has remained central to JICA's cooperation with Namibia. As of April 2026, a total of 618 Namibians had participated in JICA's capacity development initiatives through the Knowledge Co-Creation Program (KCCP), Youth Training Programmes, Country-Focused Training Programmes, and Long-Term Training and Scholarship Programmes. These opportunities have enabled professionals, public officials and young leaders to acquire valuable knowledge and skills that continue to strengthen institutions and communities across the country.

JICA has also partnered with the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) through the Employability Improvement Project (EIP) to enhance workplace readiness among young Namibians. The initiative has expanded beyond the university to vocational training centres nationwide, with employability training kits recently donated to the Okakarara, Eenhana and Rundu Vocational Training Centres, broadening access to quality skills development.

One of the most enduring symbols of Japan-Namibia friendship remains the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) Programme. Since 2006, 177 volunteers have served in all 14 regions of Namibia, contributing their expertise across 29 professional fields in 35 communities. From education and vocational training to local government, tourism and municipal services, the volunteers have supported Namibia's development while fostering meaningful cultural exchange and lasting people-to-people connections.

Addressing the gathering, National Planning Commission Executive Director Mr. I-Ben Nashandi acknowledged Japan's significant contribution to Namibia's development over the past two decades. He noted that Japan's development cooperation, including technical assistance, grants and scholarships, has amounted to approximately N$80 billion, supporting infrastructure planning, agricultural productivity, education, and community empowerment.

Japanese Ambassador to Namibia H.E. Mr. Shinichi Asazuma reaffirmed Japan's continued commitment to Namibia's development, highlighting the importance of JICA's technical cooperation in strengthening the country's logistics sector and preparing Namibia to maximise emerging opportunities in green hydrogen, critical minerals, and the oil and gas industries.

The celebration also honoured the invaluable contributions of former and current JICA experts, Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, and both Japanese and Namibian staff members whose dedication has made the agency's work possible over the past twenty years.

Concluding his remarks, Mr. Hoshino expressed his appreciation to all partners who have contributed to JICA's journey in Namibia.

"Today we celebrate not only twenty years of cooperation, but twenty years of trust. Trust built between institutions. Trust built between governments. And most importantly, trust built between people."

As JICA Namibia enters its next chapter, the agency remains committed to working alongside the Government and people of Namibia to promote sustainable development, strengthen human security, and deepen the enduring friendship between Namibia and Japan under JICA's vision of 'Leading the World with Trust.'