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JICA-RI and JICA Global Plaza Co-host a Seminar to Commemorate the Launch of the Book on the Japanese Assistance to Afghanistan

2013.11.06

DayOctober 31, 2013(Thu)
PlaceJICA Ichigaya Building

On October 31, 2013, JICA-RI co-organized an open seminar with JICA Global Plaza to celebrate the publication of a book entitled “Afghanistan and Japan: Working Together on State-Building and Development (Afuganisutan ni Heiwa no Ishizue wo: Hitobito no Seikatsu Saiken ni Honso Suru Nihonjintachi),” published by Maruzen Publishing Co., Ltd. on June 2013. The book sheds a spotlight on activities of the Japanese who have dedicated their efforts for the reconstruction of Afghanistan since 2001. Those who were introduced in the book, a JICA senior advisor, a consultant, and a NGO member, gave presentations in the seminar, introducing their experiences and activities in Afghanistan.

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After JICA-RI Deputy Director Naohiro Kitano’s opening remarks, four panelists: Mr. Shozo Kawasaki from Oriental Consultants Co., Ltd. (Senior Architect, Urban and Regional Planning Group, Planning Department, Global Consulting H.Q.); Ms. Yuko Shibata from Japan Platform (JPF) (Manager, Overseas Program Division); JICA Senior Advisor Dr. Mitsuo Isono (Health Sector); and Dr. Haruyuki Shimada, Advisor of South Asia Division 2, South Asia Department of JICA reported their activities, with JICA-RI Research Fellow Ryutaro Murotani acting as facilitator.

Mr. Kawasaki talked about his involvement in urgent rehabilitation support program during the initial stage of reconstruction and the later progress in Afghanistan. He also introduced daily lives in Afghanistan for the Japanese who have engaged in recovery efforts in the country. Ms. Shibata outlined JPF’s emergency aid provided between 2001 and 2002 along with its recent humanitarian aid, while touching on the advantages and difficulties for women working in Afghanistan through her own experience. Reviewing how much the health and medical services have improved in Afghanistan over the last 12 years, Dr. Isono highlighted a feature of technical cooperation under JICA programs—a variety of efforts aimed at comprehensive capacity development and human resource development from the national to local levels. Lastly, Dr. Shimada, explaining the Afghan political situation and the Japanese cooperation at present, pointed out challenges that lie ahead with the presidential election scheduled for April 2014.

In a Q and A session that followed the panel discussion, audience from a wider range of generations asked a barrage of questions on various issues, such as human resources development program through inviting Afghan students to study at Japanese universities, future challenges for industrial and agricultural rehabilitation, and difficulties to improve health and medical services.