4th JICA Chair (Program for Japanese Studies): 'The History and Current Trends in Japan’s International Cooperation in Africa: Lessons for and from Uganda'

On September 17th, 2024, JICA Uganda, in collaboration with Makerere University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, successfully hosted the fourth JICA Chair session.
The event was held under the theme: The History and Current Trends in Japan’s International Cooperation in Africa: Lessons for and from Uganda, aiming to provide the students with the insights into Uganda-Japan cooperation and offer valuable lessons from Japan’s history of economic development and its Official Development Assistance (ODA) model.
The session attracted nearly 150 participants, including university students, academic staff, ministry officials, JICA experts and volunteers, and representatives from the Embassy of Japan in Uganda.

The keynote lecture was delivered by Prof. KATO Hiroshi, Vice President of the International University of Japan, who has over 40 years of experience working with JICA in the field of international cooperation. Prof. KATO highlighted the unique aspects of Japanese ODA, particularly its focus on fostering self-reliance through capacity development and knowledge creation—lessons Japan itself learned during its path to industrialization.

Following the keynote address, a panel discussion featured experts from Uganda’s Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the National Planning Authority, and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office. The panel emphasized the importance of strategic development approaches and the wise use of limited resources to promote economic growth in Uganda, drawing inspiration from Japan’s experience.

The event concluded with remarks from Hon. James Baba, former Ambassador of Uganda to Japan, and Mr. YOSHIMURA Tomotaka, Deputy Ambassador of Japan to Uganda, who underscored the importance of continued partnerships and mutual learning between Uganda and Japan.

The JICA Chair is a unique platform through which JICA shares Japan’s development experiences, offering lessons that can be adapted by developing countries. It facilitates intellectual dialogue on promoting sustainable development through locally driven solutions.

In Uganda, JICA has organized three previous JICA Chair sessions in collaboration with Makerere University:

The 1st Session (March 2022): Focused on Japan’s post-World War II foreign policy, with an inaugural lecture by Prof. Andrea Pressello of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS).

The 2nd Session (July 2022): Explored the modernization of agriculture in Uganda, with a keynote lecture by Mr. Tatsushi Tsuboi, a renowned Japanese rice expert.

The 3rd Session (September 2023): Discussed industrial transformation from the grassroots level, with a special lecture by Prof. Motoki Takahashi from Kyoto University's Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies (ASAFAS) and the Center for African Area Studies (CAAS).