Dr. Masahisa Nakamura (Vice President, International Lake Environment Foundation Committee, Kusatsu City, Shiga Pref.) received the 17th JICA President Award. -Dedicated to human resource development in developing countries through Lake Biwa conservation experience-

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) awards annually individuals and organizations that have made a distinctive contribution for human resource development and social development in developing countries through international cooperation. Dr. Masahisa Nakamura, Vice President, International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC) received the 17th JICA President Award.
Dr. Nakamura has imparted Lake Biwa conservation experience implemented at research institutes to administrators and specialists in charge of lake environment conservation in developing countries over thirty years. Around three hundreds and ten JICA participants from sixty different countries learned under him. Dr. Nakamura kept in touch with ex-participants through networking and has been disseminated the vital importance of Integrated Lake Basin Management*1 at international conferences with them. Dr. Nakamura, who has shown firm commitment to develop human resources in developing countries through online programs and seminars even under Covid-19, made a comment on his receiving award.

Message from Dr. Nakamura

International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC) has more than 30-years long experience of implementing various JICA programs, though the contents of programs went through changes over the years.
It was a privilege for ILEC to receive JICA President Award in recognition of our activities in 2018.
I am much honored to receive 2021 JICA President Award personally. However, the programs are made possible by strenuous effort of many other lecturers and organizations, cooperating with us and the understanding and support extended by over hundreds of participants who attended them.
Having such thought, I cannot help feeling somewhat awkward rather than gratitude. When I look back on myself, I have been involved in all the past programs and participated many technical projects overseas, then receiving this award is very impressive. I am fully committed to share accumulated experience and knowledge as ever, and try to explore many other ways to dedicate myself. I appreciate it very much.

Congratulatory messages from ex-participants from Zimbabwe and Nepal

Dr. Nakamura has been dedicated himself to develop human resources who undertake sustainable use and conservation of water, forest, sea and lakes over thirty years. In response to his great passion, ex-participants have made the best use of what they have gained through the program and has been struggling with challenges in seeking better use and conservation of sustainable water resources.
On behalf of ex-participants, we introduce congratulatory messages from Zimbabwe and Nepal.

(1) Dr. Portia C. Chifamba and Dr. Lightone T. Marufu,(from left side)
Biological Sciences Department, University of Zimbabwe

On behalf of the Biological Sciences and Ecology Department (University of Zimbabwe), we would like to extend our congratulatory message to Dr. Nakamura (Vice President of ILEC) for receiving the JICA President Award. Congratulations “makorokoto, amhlophe”.
It is a well-deserved recognition for the outstanding and exemplary leadership in matters to do with the management of aquatic systems not only in Japan but also on a global scale (including in Zimbabwe). Thank you for helping to develop a conceptual framework for the sustainable use and management of water resources through the Integrated Lake Basin Management (ILBM) that you also introduced to our department and university. Although the idea was new to us, you managed to articulate it so well and showed practical examples of how it could be useful in identifying and possibly resolving water challenges using an interesting and engaging multifaceted (six pillars) *2 approach.
Thank you for creating networking opportunities through the JICA’s Knowledge Co-Creation Programs (KCCP) that you have facilitated along with other experts in different fields. We are excited that due to our association with you through the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the International Lake Environment Committee (JICA - ILEC), we have managed to take part in Knowledge Co-Creation Programs (KCCP) along with representatives from many other countries. Our department managed to launch the ILBM platform on Lake Chivero (2012), managed to have a participant trained in ILBM (2015), took part in a JICA-KCCP follow up program in Kenya (2019) and most recently, also participated in an online ILBM program (2021) as observers. All these KCCP platforms helped in capacity building, developing sustainable management options and in providing alternative aquatic resources management options in the face of increasing pressure on aquatic resources e.g. climatic change.
We are happy that the ILBM concept is now part of our curriculum in training water resources managers, aquatic ecologists and other scientists through our new undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs. Through your guidance, we managed to do a Lake Brief for Lake Chivero, one of the most important lakes in Zimbabwe that supplies domestic and agricultural water in the capital city (Harare) and surrounding areas. We have had a number of DPhil students from our department also pursuing studies in ILBM related work and have produced outstanding publications/research work. We also designed new courses centered on the ILBM concept within our water related degree programs. Not all of this would have been possible without your clear articulation of the ILBM concept and emphasis on the need to conserve and sustainably use our water resources through the KCCP platforms.
Thank you for your warm, diligent, accommodating and humble personality that you always exhibit as you impart knowledge. Once again, congratulations to you for the JICA President Award. Thank you to the JICA-ILEC team for the outstanding work through the KCCP platforms.

(2)Ms. Prava Pandey
National Lake Conservation Development Committee,
Ministry of Forests and Environment, Government of Nepal

It is my honor to congratulate Dr. Masahisa Nakamura
for receiving the prestigious JICA President Award. He has already proved as a renowned global scientist for his commitment to introducing ILBM concept worldwide including Nepal, which is already being adapted for the lake basin management. His continuous effort for the betterment of lake and reservoir management to further expand the concept of ILBM in the global context is highly appreciated. His passion and dedication for imparting ILBM in JICA KCCP is accredited by this award. He well deserved. Congratulations!!!

*1: It is a concept necessary for the organizations and stakeholders that undertake lakes and their basin management in order to realize sustainable use and conservation of resources by taking account of characteristics of lentic water (lakes).

*2:（1）Institutions　(2) Policies　(3) Participation　(4) Technology　
(5) Information　(6) Finance