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This June, the technical cooperation between Japan and Zimbabwe was given another boost as the JICA Zimbabwe Volunteers section continues to explore areas of cooperation and expansion of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) program in Zimbabwean higher education institutions. In this regard, the team conducted a joint needs assessment tour and a joint monitoring and evaluation exercise at different institutions in the country.

Needs Assessment Tour

The Volunteers section conducted a joint needs assessment tour with officials from the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation, led by the Director of Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr. Elias Murinda. The tour was held to assess the capacity of interested youth development institutions to host JOCVs over a two year period. Upon successful deployment to Zimbabwe, the JOCVs will play a crucial role in youth vocational skills development. The areas toured include Harare, Ruwa, Mt. Hampden, Mutare, Masvingo, Mutoko, Bulawayo and Gweru.

Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation at Magamba Vocational Training Centre explain on the equipment available at their Clothing and Textile department.

National Arts Regional Director, Silenkosi Moyo gives an account on the activities at the Gallery

Students during a practical lesson at Tabudirira Vocational Training Centre in Mutoko

Students go through their building lesson at Kaguvi Vocational Centre which is anticipating to receive a JOCV in Building

Following the tour with the Ministry of Youth, the team toured the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo to discuss the possibility of facilitating the deployment of JOCVs to the institution. The delegation was received at NUST by the Vice Chancellor Professor. Mqhele Dhlodhlo, PhD who expressed that receiving volunteers from Japan will enhance the achievement of the Innovation 5.0 in the field of Science and Technology as Japan is renowned for its Industrial and Technological advancement.

JICA and NUST officials discuss the JOCV program

Monitoring & Evaluation Exercise

The Volunteer's section together with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education Innovation, Science, and Technology Development, also the conducted joint Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of the JOCV program. The M&E exercise was aimed at appraising the Ministry on the activities of the JOCVs in the host organisations, assist in the creation of a standard operating procedure, gauge the significance of the program, ascertain the progress made and the challenges faced and help come up with recommendations to improve the program. The exercise was conducted at Morgan Zintech Teachers' College in Harare, Mkoba Teachers' College in Gweru and Bulawayo Polytechnic.

Officials tour one of the computer lab at Mkoba Teachers College

Sports Fields at Morgan High School are being utilised for teaching Physical Education by one of the JOCVs

Server connections done by a JOCV at Morgan Zintech College

One of the computer laboratories an ICT volunteer helped set up at Morgan Zintech Teachers College

The JOCV program which to date has seen 560 volunteers being dispatched to Zimbabwe has been commended for promoting human capital skills development at institutions of Higher and Tertiary education. It has had a pivotal role in the development and empowerment of the youth as well as catapulting career advancement.