Japanese International Cooperation Agency Research Articles

The Alteration of Flood Peak Discharge by Land Cover Change in Prek Thnot Watershed, Kampong Speu Provine, Cambodia

This study analyses the alterations of peak catchment runoff from Prek Thnot watershed using the Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) methodology. Two major studies using different approaches have previously been conducted in the catchment, albeit producing inconsistent results. The Snowy Mountain Hydro-electric Authority published the first study in 1967 and found that the peak surface flow runoff over a 10-year return period was 710 m3/s. The second study was conducted by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) between 1991 and 2006 and reported a peak catchment discharge of 1,380 m3/s. To date, there has been no discussion comparing the two studies to determine why the discharge during the later study was double that of the first. As the annual rainfall during the two study periods was similar, it is suggested that this discrepancy may be attributed to physical changes in the watershed, such as changes to forest cover. We deployed the Hydrologic Engineering Centre-Hydrologic Modeling System to simulate the peak runoff of the catchment. Our result was very similar to the JICA finding. Our data suggested that the increase in catchment discharge may be attributed to the conversion of 26% of forest cover in the catchment to agricultural land since the early 2000s. This information is useful for flood management practices, particularly with respect to managing catchment runoff in the context of rapid deforestation and the hydrological impacts of climate change within the watershed. The paper analyzes the impact of land-use changes on catchment runoff and provides valuable insights for flood management practices in the context of climate change and deforestation.

Soil salinity mapping using remote sensing and GIS

The monitoring of soil salinity plays a vital role in agricultural society. Soil salinity causes land degradation processes, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, which influence soil properties, reduce yield production of crops, and affect infrastructure. This research produces soil salinity mapping of the East Delta in Egypt in 1995 using remote sensing technology. A Landsat 5 image taken on 26 September 1995 was used. Radiometric and atmospheric corrections for satellite data were applied. Different salinity indices (SIs) were used, such as the normalized difference salinity index, SI1, SI2, SI3, SI4, SI5, SI6, and SI7, in addition to the normalized difference vegetation index, which was used for data filtration. The field’s electrical conductivity was measured during the period from 22 to 26 September 1995 by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency. These data were used as ground truth for the correlation analysis with different indices image bands values. Simple linear regression and mean relative error were used to find the best index, which was SI5 with a 0.87 correlation with field truth data and mean relative error equal 22.7%. This index was used to produce a salinity map of the Eastern Delta with acceptable accuracy. Finally, it is concluded that using remote sensing in salinity detection and mapping is highly appreciated.

Challenges to NGOs' ability to bid for funding due to the repatriation of volunteers: The case of Samoa.

Although there are an increasing number of funding facilities accessible for non-government organisations in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, critics suggest that it is still insufficient. Non-government organisations provide many essential services across the world, especially in the developing world, where they supplement or in some instances extend the government services. With services from health to gender issues to humanitarian support, non-government organisations continue to grapple with insufficiency of core and programming funding and unstable staffing. In Samoa, technical assistance through government volunteers supplemented the need for expert human resource and enabled the ability to apply for funding. With the mass repatriation of government volunteers such as Australian Volunteers, American Peace Corps and Japanese International Cooperation Agency, it resulted in a sudden and massive gap in technical human resource, equipped to apply for the rapidly expanding number of funding options. Through the experiences of a non-government organisation worker and an academic researcher based in Samoa, this piece shares the current experiences and potential repercussions of this sudden change in the non-government sector and suggestions moving forward to utilize the existing expertise in country in the academic sector to support non-government organizations to access funding.

Toward the Integration of Paratransit in Transportation Planning in African Cities

This research examines the history of transportation planning in African cities and how paratransit has been taken into account in the production of planning documents. On the rise since the 1980s, paratransit today is the most common motorized transportation mode in many African cities. The dominant approach among policymakers has been to limit paratransit, in some cases even to ban it. The question this research explores is how distrust of paratransit, and underappreciation of its intrinsic qualities, have been reflected in urban transportation plans. Having selected two cities—Cape Town, South Africa and Nairobi, Kenya—we conducted an in-depth analysis of planning documents at national and local levels. South Africa has a long tradition of transportation planning, with documentation available at the national, provincial, and municipal levels. In the 1990s, paratransit was a national-level concern. It gradually became a municipal issue with the implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). In Kenya, planning has a shorter history. Development agencies (e.g., Japanese International Cooperation Agency [JICA]) have played a key role in recent planning processes and encourage the formalization of paratransit. However, planning documents contain no explicit references to “matatus.” In both cities, the focus in the documents is still mainly on developing infrastructure rather than improving mobility. While the role of paratransit is increasingly recognized, this trend is still more apparent in regulation than in planning.

Yangon “Emerging Metropolis”: Challenges for the Authorities and Resilience of the Yangonites

Since the elections of 2010 and the accelerated economic openness of Myanmar (formerly Burma), changes are taking place in the country. Those metamorphoses are particularly visible in Yangon’s landscape, which remains the economic capital and the national entry door, and major for its inhabitants. Yangon’s population is growing, its suburban areas are expanding, and the limits of its metropolitan area are not well defined yet. As a result of the urban pressure and of the increased influx of people from other regions, as well as foreign investors, the metropolization is disorganized: scattered construction of new skyscrapers, larger malls, destruction of green spaces, gentrification of the Central Business District, etc. Because of the new economic legislation, which has allowed a massive importation of cars, Yangon is also facing many other issues: inadequate road infrastructures, severe traffic congestion, lack of parking spaces, noise and air pollution. Yangon Municipality—the Yangon City Development Committee—assisted by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, prepared an urban transport plan of Greater Yangon. Since environmental, cultural and social costs seem to be high, to what extent do the Yangonites benefit from the economic openness? Based on data collected by the Myanmar government in the 2014 Census, and years of interviews by the author of local and international actors living in Yangon, this paper analyzes the challenges of the authorities and the resilience of the Yangonites facing the metropolization of Yangon.

Retrospective Analysis of Discrepancies in Malaria Diagnosis Based on Rapid Diagnostic Test Blood Smear in Japanese International Cooperation Agency Volunteers Dispatched to Sub-Sahara African Countries

Retrospective Analysis of Discrepancies in Malaria Diagnosis Based on Rapid Diagnostic Test Blood Smear in Japanese International Cooperation Agency Volunteers Dispatched to Sub-Sahara African Countries

Developing a new stochastic model considering bi-directional relations in a natural disaster: a possible earthquake in Tehran (the Capital of Islamic Republic of Iran)

Timely, effective delivery of relief resources to the sufferers in a natural disaster is quite crucial. All governments especially those having high risk of natural disasters must have a comprehensive and implementable plan to suitably manage humanitarian issues after a natural disaster occurs. They should construct sufficient facilities and prepare and store enough relief items (e.g., tents, medical packages, and meals) to be able to quickly respond to necessary needs of injured and homeless people; otherwise, it might lead to humanitarian crises with high numbers of casualties. In this study, we extend the mathematical two-stage stochastic optimization model proposed by Mete and Zabinsky (Int J Prod Econ 126:76–84, 2010) simultaneously considering two phases: pre- and post-disaster. All decisions pertinent to the pre-disaster phase, such as the locations of warehouse and pre-positioned relief items, should be taken in the first stage; however, other decisions pertinent to the post-disaster phase, such as the allocations of warehouses to the demanding points are taken in the second stage. In this study, we consider bi-directional relations between warehouses, which can increase the flexibility of the constructed network to handle the needs of injured people in a shorter time interval. Furthermore, whereas the relief process should be implemented within a specific time interval (e.g., 3 days), our extended optimization model is constructed for a multi-period and multi-product situation. We construct the extended model based on a professional report prepared by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency in a study of the seismic micro zoning of Tehran on April 13, 1999. The respective data in this report has also been updated based on the reports of Tehran Municipality to be matched with the current situation of Tehran. The results of our extended multi-period model for the respective real case study in this paper verify suitable responses and better services to the affected areas compared to what are provided through the respective single-period optimization model.

SPREAD OR CONCENTRATED: WHERE IS SOUTH KOREAN INBOUND EDUCATION AID AIMED AND WHERE SHOULD IT BE DIRECTED? A COMPARISON WITH THE JAPANESE CASE

South Korea's official development assistance (ODA) is “spread thinly” to many recipient countries. It's inbound education ODA is no exception. In spite of the growing number of long‐term scholarship recipients, South Korea considers too many countries, regardless of geographical proximity, which reduces the program's effectiveness to manage and sustain aid. This contrasts sharply with the Japanese system in which only a small number of Asian countries are considered. The linking of scholarship allocation to priority partner countries that already lack concentration may be a contributing factor. Based on a gravity model and using a dataset of scholarship recipients funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, this study examines the two ODA programs and recommends the establishment of an agency to focus on scholarship programs to enhance selection and concentration.

Pre-positioning of relief items in humanitarian logistics considering lateral transhipment opportunities

The main objective of this study is to investigate the inclusion of lateral transhipment opportunities into the humanitarian relief chain and to examine the effect of different parameters on minimizing the average distance travelled per item while serving the beneficiaries. Direct shipment model (DT), lateral transhipment model (LTSP) and maritime lateral transhipment model (MLTSP) are developed and compared between each other by using a real life earthquake scenario prepared for the city of Istanbul by JICA (Japanese International Cooperation Agency). Developed mathematical models decide on the locations and number of disaster relief facilities, quantity of relief items to hold at those facilities, and quantity of lateral transhipment between the facilities. Vulnerability of the roads and heterogeneous capacitated facilities are also considered. It can be concluded that both LTSP and MLTSP models gave better results than DT model and lateral transhipment option helps beneficiaries to obtain relief items faster and with higher service level.

Scientific capacity building and the ontologies of herbal medicine in Ghana

The Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine, a large herbal medicine research center in Ghana, has received important research equipment and training through a transnational research collaboration involving the Japanese International Cooperation Agency. By situating this project in regional debates about traditional medicine research priorities and the ontologies of plant medicine, this article argues that the collaboration had the perceived effect of standardizing research practices oriented toward drug discovery rather than the rationalization of crude drug preparations. This shows that “capacity-building” components of research collaborations should not be taken as the transfer of neutral goods from one location to another. They are charged with the political potential to make crucial decisions about the objects of research in postcolonial Africa.

Cultural Aspects of the Japanese Business Model Applied in Mexico

This article analyzes how Japanese trading companies (Sogo Sosha, in Japanese) have penetrated international markets, especially Mexico, thanks to their organizational and operating efficiency. It focuses on how these companies operate and presents a model for small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises to follow that consists of continuous improvement through corporate diagnostic processes. Officials from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency prepared this model to increase the competitiveness of small‐ and medium‐sized businesses. The conclusion is that if these businesses in Mexico made the most of the method, they could increase their participation in international markets.

Current Situation of E-Waste Issues in Mongolia

Mongolia is a consumer of e-products and their parts are imported from abroad. Currently, e-waste represents the biggest and fastest growing manufacturing waste. The objectives of this study are collecting and analyzing data from statistical reports of Mongolia and comparing them to other countries, and recommending an infrastructure of e-waste management in the existing legal environment. Thereby, all data was published by governmental entities and central statistical bureaus. An e-product, such as computers and TV’s are leading by their imported quantity in Mongolia. The e-waste is becoming one of the most challenging environmental issues because of its tendency to be incompatible for reuse and recycling. However, up to now, a main portion of e-waste is utilized through re-using (45.1%) and disposing (31.9%), and fewer amounts are recycled (23.0%) as was estimated in a study supported with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan, 2010. In conclusion, Mongolia needs to establish e-waste management by implementing core activities such as adapting experiences from high developed countries, harmonizing the corporation between in governmental entities and supporting business activities of recyclers and retailers. The green development policy was approved by the Mongolian Parliament in June, 2014. According to this new policy, it is needed to be applied recycling incentives to raise the environmental awareness of all stakeholders.

Fostering Regional Integration in Africa: The Case of Arusha-Namanga-Athi River Road Development Project*

This case study aims at identifying operational challenges that are specific to multinational projects and the extent to which these projects contribute to fostering regional cooperation and integration. The study is based on the analysis of relevant documents and data mainly from the African Development Bank. It also draws on individual and focus group interviews carried out during a field work in Tanzania and Kenya between 3-15 July 2011. The Arusha-Namanga-Athi River Road Development Project was approved by the African Development Bank on 13 December 2006 for joint financing with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The overall project objective was to rehabilitate a major arterial trunk road with a regional bearing on trade and integration of the East African countries. The project has resulted in increased traffic flow, faster travel times, and lower vehicle operating costs. Development impacts such as increased cross-border trade, increased tourism and socio-economic development are still unfolding. Data on cross-border trade and other activities were not available, but interviews with stakeholders pointed to positive achievements. However, given the financing gap of about 45% in both countries to meet the cost of periodic maintenance of their road networks, sustainability of the road is at risk unless more pro-active measures are taken.

Creating Law from the Ground Up: Land Law in Post-Conflict Cambodia

AbstractSince 1990, successive waves of foreign experts have introduced legal transplants into Cambodia dealing with the possession, use, and ownership of land. The Land Law of 2001, sponsored by the World Bank, first created a registration system that made land ownership dependent exclusively on a central cadastral registry. The 2007 Civil Code, sponsored by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, subsequently cast doubt on the exclusivity of the registry by declaring it only presumptive evidence of ownership. Both laws are based on foreign models that presume economic, technical, and professional resources that Cambodia, as a very poor, post-conflict country, lacks. Despite recent efforts to reconcile the laws, implementation remains uneven and legal ambiguity persists. While it is too early to make conclusive judgments, the Cambodian experience brings into question not only the wisdom of top-down foreign intervention but also the desirability of any form of centralized formal legal construction in a society without the necessary social, political, and institutional prerequisites.

Japanese Cooperation for Urban Planning in the Old Capital of Damascus

Historic cities are cultural achievements that are gradually created by inhabitants over the centuries. In developed countries, the conservation of historic cities seems to be generally acknowledged as a method of community development that does not depend on huge exploitation. On the other hand, no sufficient countermeasures have been taken in developing countries because most native stakeholders are still interested in development. Here the author could focus on so-called international cooperation, but urban conservation for historic cities where inhabitants actually live is still a minor consideration except for some government-based conservation projects for monuments and isolated examples of cultural heritage. In this paper, the example was taken of a conservation project which has been carried out by JICA (Japanese International Cooperation Agency) in Damascus, the old capital of Syria. The target area for the project is Qanawat South. Although the origin of Qanawat South dates back to the Roman age, efforts for urban conservation have not been well organized, partly because the area is located outside of the so-called old city registered as a world heritage site. For example, the master plan of 1968 indicated the redistribution of the traditional quarters, while some conservation laws have been restricting the regeneration of the area. Moreover, there is not yet any consensus among the stakeholders concerning the historical value of the quarter, they are still questioning why the area should be conserved rather than being freely sold or developed and what and how they should contribute to conservation. Based on analysis of the actual situation of Qasr al-Hajjaj Street, this paper examines a method called restoration-type facade improvement adopted by JICA, for which the final goal is not only to maintain the appearance of the street but also to activate the life of the habitants of the street.

Dietary Intake of Arsenic by Households in Marua Village in Jessore

Arsenic (As) consumption through foods by adults and children in the As contaminated Marua village of Chowgacha upazila under Jessore district was studied. The Asian Arsenic Network (AAN) and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have provided some interventions such as installation of deep tube-wells and As-Fe removal plants and awareness program to reduce drinking water As exposure of people living in the village. But scope exists for food crops grown in this area to accumulate As from As contaminated irrigation water. With these points in view, a household food survey was made to investigate As intake by the people living in Marua village. For it, cooked meals and uncooked foods were collected from households and local market. The study revealed that an adult consumed 220 ?g As per day from food source and rice alone contributed 86% of it. Considering 80% inorganic As in rice, 220 ?g total As is equivalent to 176 ?g As which exceeds the WHO’s provisional maximum tolerable daily intake of As which is 2 ?g/kg body weight i.e. 120 ?g As for a 60 kg person. This result suggests that next to drinking water, food (mainly rice) is the principal source of As entry into human body in Bangladesh. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i1.11593 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 5(1): 283-288, 2012

Development of GIS as a tool in the Ministry of Mining and Energy, Serbia

On behalf of the Serbian Government, the Ministries of Mining and Energy and of Science and Environment Protection are signatories to a master plan for the promotion of the mining industry in Serbia. This is being achieved with the assistance of the Japanese Government through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), who engaged a mining company from Tokyo–Mindeco (Mitsui Mineral Development Engineering Co. Ltd) to partner the Serbian ministries, the Mining and Geology Faculty in Belgrade, the Geological Institute of Serbia (Belgrade), the Copper Institute (Bor), and the Military Geographical Institute (Belgrade), as well as private companies dealing in geological exploration, etc. Apart from other things, the master plan contains a newly‐formed GIS application, which registers exploration, exploitation fields and other relevant data. This GIS web application was one the first steps towards the realization of ‘e‐Government’ in the field of geological exploration and mining activities within the Republic of Serbia.

Lessons and Challenges Encountered in the Implementation of Solar Energy – The Case of Botswana

A number of photovoltaic pilot projects have been started in Botswana since 1990. The first photovoltaic pro- ject was Manyana PV project which started in 1992. The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) PV solar pi- lot project is the most recent PV solar project in Botswana, which was launched in 2003 at Kudumatse, Motlhabaneng, and Lorolwana villages. The primary objective of all these projects was to access the viability and sustainability of solar energy technology as an alternative source of energy especially for rural based communities. Depending on the findings, such projects were also intended to be replicated in other parts of the country. Despite all these efforts by the government of Botswana and donor agencies, the level of use of PV solar systems for power generation in Botswana, particularly in isolated communities, is very low. This paper, therefore, discusses the factors that impede the rapid development of photovoltaics power generation systems in the rural environment of Botswana. The study is focused on the photovoltaic power generation project which was car- ried out in three villages in Botswana, namely Kudumatse, Lorolwana and Motlhabaneng. Keyword: Solar energy, barriers in Botswana.

The current status of major tick borne diseases in Zambia.

Tick-borne diseases occurring in Zambia are assuming more importance as they continue to be a major economic problem not only in Zambia, but in many parts of Eastern, Southern and Central Africa. The current control methods, which include the use of toxic acaricides to kill ticks, and the virulent sporozoite infection and treatment method have limitations. Recombinant vaccines, currently in their experimental stages, offer hope for the future. The use of acaricides is hampered by the development of acaricide resistance and live vaccines are dependent on cold chain facilities, which are a formidable obstacle in the poorly developed infrastructure in parts of Zambia where the vaccine is most needed. Amidst these drawbacks are the results of the recent research on parasites and vector recombinant vaccines which promise to circumvent these problems. The history, current status and attitudes regarding the control of these diseases, taking into account their complexity, are reviewed. The establishment of the well-designed Central Veterinary Research Institute (CVRI) and Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) sponsored veterinary school, both have a potential for high quality research, with access to a wealth of specimens a veritable goldmine of research material. It is thus hoped that this review will stimulate the desire to maximize the value of the tick and tick-borne disease research in both Zambia and the international research community.

Perspectives on Vocational Education in Africa

The aim of this paper is to provide a landscape view of the values and justifications of different types of vocational education, specifically in Africa. At first, the paper will review the justifications of vocational education. African governments often state that vocational education is the most efficient means to meet the manpower demand in the labor market. However, this justification is rarely supported by empirical data. The paper reveals that there are other reasons that governments do not give up this form of education. Three different types of vocational education are here examined: Separate-track vocational education; vocationalized general education; and non-formal vocational education. Based on the review of the opinions of people who promote or criticize each types of vocational education, the paper will show the strengths and weaknesses of each type. This analysis will serve to better understand and consider the vocational education in Africa. Vocational training/education in industrial technology has been the largest part of the JICA's (Japanese International Cooperation Agency) cooperation in the field of education (see Figure 1). So far, JICA's programs in this category have been infrastructure building, technical assistance, and trainin of teachers/trainers and administrators for the establishment of independent vocational education/training institutions at the secondary and higher levels of formal and non-formal education. The types of vocational skills taught in these JICA-funded institutions have been diverse: fisheries, farming, electronics, automobile repair, information technology, architecture, etc. The types of skills taught have been decided basically according to the request of the respective government. Although JICA also conducts a needs assessment before implementation, it mostly assumes that the request from the government is based on the forecast of manpower needs on the side of the government. Given the fact that one third of JICA's fund for education has been spent for vocational education (34.1 percent in FY 1998), it is important to review whether or not the funding policy in this area meets the general economic and labor market conditions of the countries' JICA support and to consider the future policy so as to maximize the utility of the funds JICA provides. The purpose of this paper is to overview the recent debates about vocational education in developing countries as a basis for considering what direction the development assistance in the area of vocational education might head. Arguments in support or critical of different forms of vocational education at the secondary level will be examined. In the formal education sector, many people believe that secondary schools are the most