Activities in Pakistan

Volunteers Program is one of the JICA `s assistance activities to developing countries.
There are two types of Volunteer Programs as follows:

1. Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV)

JOCV is Japanese youth between the age of 20 to 39 years. Those who are trained and qualified professionals in variety of technical disciplines, work at the local level in Pakistan in order to best meet host organization needs.

At the same time, assistance at local level deepens understanding of cultures, traditions, language (Urdu) and builds genuine friendship between volunteers and hosts.

As of September 2006,120 JOCV has been dispatched to Pakistan since the first batch was dispatched in 1995.

2. Senior Volunteer (SV)

Senior Volunteers whose age is from 40 to 69 years, is working in various regions of the world. SV possesses rich experiences and highly skilled in their field of expertise.

JOCV and SV effectiveness are attributed to the following characteristic features:

From its outset, the JOCV & SV has emphasized technical qualifications. Only technically qualified people are recruited and they are assigned overseas. The most essential requirement for "Nation Building" is the development of human resources, and the assignment of JOCV & SV represents an effective transfer of technical expertise.

Volunteers work with public agencies and NGOs in recipient countries. The volunteers stands fast in its basic tent of direct cooperation with local people in development efforts.

Volunteers are specialists in a wide variety of technical fields. With more than 160 categories of service, the volunteer is able to respond to the varied needs of virtually every country.

The Volunteer abides by the laws and statues of recipient countries.

The major fields of JOCV cooperation are occupational and physiotherapist at National Institute for Handicapped, Computer Instructor at Vocational Training Center for Disabled and Public Health Nurse at Punjab Tuberculosis Programme.

The major fields of SV cooperation are Science Education at National Institute of Science and Technical Education, Automobile Sector at Automotive Testing & Training Center and Production Management at Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority.

JOCV/SV requests are basically initiated by the Government of Pakistan. The requested organization are asked to describe in detail (on the request form) the required number of volunteers, technical fields and other relevant criteria. This detailed information is necessary for JICA to recruit the volunteers who will best meet the specific requests of each requested organization.