November 2015Reaching Greater Heights Together

JICA President Visits Kenya I n a move that highlighted the

country as a key partner of Japan in the region and in Africa, Kenya became the first calling station for the newly appointed JICA President, Dr. Shinichi Kitaoka. In 2016, Kenya is also set to host the first TICAD Conference to be held outside Japan. The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) has been held in Japan every 5 years since TICAD I in 1993. After TICAD V in 2013, the forum will be held every 3 years,

alternating between Japan and Africa.On his recent visit, Dr. Kitaoka

had an opportunity to meet and hold talks with Kenya’s Deputy President, H.E. William Ruto. He also visited some JICA-supported projects, the first being the Mombasa Port. Noting that Mombasa is important not only to Kenya but also as a gateway to the region, Dr. Kitaoka announced the injection of an additional Ksh. 28 billion towards the expansion of the Port. This project is currently underway. JICA is

JICA President, Dr. Shinichi Kitaoka, meets Kenya’s Deputy President, H.E. William Ruto.

Dr. Kitaoka tours facilities of the Mombasa Port.Dr. Kitaoka is shown around the Engineering workshop at JKUAT.

also supporting the Mombasa Gateway City Master Plan, Mombasa Special Economic Zone Master Plan and implementing the Mombasa Port Area Road Development Project (MPARD). Our support for Mombasa is not new, as Japan funded the expansion of the Mombasa airstrip in 1973, upgrading it to International Airport status in 1978.

Dr. Kitaoka also visited the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), which has had a long history of collaboration with JICA since its construction with support from Japanese grants in 1981 as an agricultural diploma college and even after attaining fully-fledged university status in 1994. Dr. Kitaoka toured the AFRICA-ai-JAPAN project, BRIGHT Project, the Engineering workshop and planted a commemorative tree.

On meeting Dr. Kitaoka, H.E. Ruto appreciated the role played by Japan in Kenya’s development in sectors such as road construction, electricity production and modernization of the Mombasa port. He lauded the robust economic partnership between the two countries and looked forward to hosting a successful TICAD Conference. Dr. Kitaoka observed that JICA has had a long and successful relationship with Kenya since 1963, and noted that the country remains core to the development of the African continent.

JICA Wins Capacity Building Award

P rof. Jacob Kaimenyi, the then Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of

Education, Science & Technology officially opened the 29th Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) course on Strengthening of Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) on 7th September 2015. The course participants were secondary mathematics and science educators from 9 countries, namely: Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zanzibar and Zimbabwe. The ceremony was held at the Centre for Mathematics, Science

and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) in Karen, Nairobi.

The JICA-supported SMASE Project was started in 1998, on the backdrop of studies and reports that indicated poor performance in science and mathematics subjects at national examinations in Kenya. With support of JICA, the program spread to other countries, after formation of the SMASE-WECSA Association in 2001. The SMASE–WECSA Association stands for Strengthening of Mathematics and Science Education in Western, Eastern, Central and Southern Africa. It was

H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta presents the Capacity Building Award to Ms. Anne Olubendi, who receives it on behalf of JICA.

Group photo with the Project Coordinator, Ms. Yoko Konishi (2nd from left) with KRA Senior Staff and Partners from Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA).

Cabinet Secretary Opens SMASE Third Country Training Program

I n October 2015, JICA was honoured to receive a Capacity Building award

for its role in training of Customs Officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the East African Community region at large. The award was in the Partnership Category, and was handed over by H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta

during the KRA luncheon in honour of distinguished taxpayers.

The award was in respect of JICA’s Project on Capacity Development for International Trade Facilitation in the Eastern African Region that began in 2007. The Project is in its third phase, running from 2013 to 2017. On hand to

receive the award on behalf of JICA was Ms. Anne Olubendi, Senior Programme Officer in charge of Economy and Private Sector Development.

We are indeed humbled by this recognition and will continue to walk with the Kenyan people towards inclusive and dynamic development.

borne out of a regional conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, hosted by SMASSE–Kenya in February 2001. Since then, over 1600 educators from 27 member countries have been trained.

On the same day, Prof. Kaimenyi launched the Coordinating Committee for the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)’s Inter-Country Quality Node for Mathematics and Science Education (ICQN-MSE). The ICQN-MSE, as successor of ADEA Working Group on Mathematics and Science (WGMSE) established in 2004, will bring together African countries to address challenges in mathematics and science education on the continent.

The TCTP course aims at increasing the number of core national staff and enhancing participants’ capacity as key trainers in their countries on strengthening mathematics and science. As explained by Mr. Kazuhiro Tambara, JICA Kenya’s Senior Representative: “Through JICA and using lessons learnt from SMASE Project in Kenya, Japan has been supporting the TCTP courses since 2004 in the hope that participants of the programme will play a key role in improving quality of teaching and learning of mathematics and science in their countries for technological and industrial development in Africa.”

Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi officially opens the course. Mr. Kazuhiro Tambara delivers his speech.

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” In the same vein of this quote by Confucius, Narika Corporation from Japan creates science teaching materials that help students to understand scientific concepts not just by hearing or seeing but by actually conducting the experiments themselves.

With the support of JICA, Narika, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOEST) and the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) recently launched a verification survey with the private sector to disseminate science teaching materials. They aim to enhance student-centred teaching and learning of science education in Kenya through provision of teaching apparatus developed by the Corporation.

The launching ceremony was held at CEMASTEA in Karen, Nairobi and was presided over by Ms. Grace Ngaca, on behalf of the Principal Secretary, MOEST. Noting that the Narika materials have been used throughout the world and helped to improve science learning, she embraced them and urged Kenyan teachers to use them. “The Ministry will walk with Narika and apply the innovations to unlock the potential in students,” she added.

The ceremony was attended by, among others, the Japanese Minister, Mr. Mikio Mori, JICA’s Chief Representative, Ms. Keiko Sano and CEMASTEA’s Deputy Director, Mr. Moses Kawa. Narika Corporation was represented by Mr. Masao Tanaka, Director of International Business, Mr. Keiichi Naganuma, Chief Advisor for the Narika Project, heads of primary schools in Nairobi and students from Uhuru Gardens Primary School.

The JICA-MOEST SMASE Project (Strengthening of Mathematics and Science Education) run from 1998-2013, and aimed at in-service training of teachers on student-centred pedagogy in the teaching and learning of mathematics and science. “The involvement of the Japanese private sector, like Narika Corporation, in commercially providing relevant materials to JICA’s previously supported

programmes will ensure continuous improvement of human resources needed for Kenyan and African development,” observed JICA’s Chief Representative, Ms. Keiko Sano.

Attendees of the launching ceremony had an opportunity to experience the ‘Genecon’ – a hand-held DC generator – which helps students to easily understand some physics topics such as energy conversion/loss and

Enhancing the Science Learning Experience

electric circuit, which are difficult to conceptualise without experiments. Some of the apparatus has been vetted and received approval for use in teaching science in Kenyan schools. It is hoped that the equipment will serve to “help pupils have a more meaningful science experience,” as stated by Mr. Kawa, CEMASTEA’s Deputy Director.

For more information on Narika Corporation: http://global.narika.jp/

Mr. Naganuma and Mr. Michal Marcik demonstrate the workings of the Genecon.

Guests enjoy an exhibition of models created by pupils from Uhuru Gardens Primary School to explain different concepts. (Photo by Ilink/Takeshi Kuno)

Ms. Ngaca officially launches the Narika Verification Survey.

Mr. Tanaka delivers his speech.

Participants conduct experiments using the Genecon.

A t a colourful ceremony held at the Ahero National Irrigation Board in

Kisumu County, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Ms. Sicily Kariuki, presided over the launch of Agricultural Plant Operators’ Training. This followed the provision of rice machinery and equipment under Japan’s 2KR Scheme. The beneficiaries of the machinery are underprivileged small-scale farmers in

A s Ms. Keiko Sano began her assignment as the new Chief

Representative of JICA Kenya in September 2015, she was indeed in familiar territory. She is not new to JICA Kenya, having served as the Representative in-charge of Education from 2001-2004. Her relationship with Africa, however, began years earlier when she was dispatched to Zimbabwe from 1993-1995 as a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV). She enjoyed this posting and it enhanced her passion to contribute to Africa’s development.

Ms. Sano is the first female Chief Representative in JICA Kenya’s history. She now comes to Kenya from the Human Development Department at JICA Headquarters in Tokyo, where she has been serving as the Group Leader for Higher Education and Social Security, which includes disability issues. She previously served at the African

Department at JICA Headquarters in charge of many African countries and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan.

With the JICA office in Kenya being the biggest in Africa and having the largest coverage area, Ms. Sano plans to steer the office to further support infrastructure projects and big impact projects in the

‘I Will Do My Best to Contribute to Kenya’s Development’social sectors, which will contribute to Kenya’s and Africa’s development. She also foresees a memorable time since TICAD VI will be held in Kenya in 2016, the first time for the conference to be held outside Japan.

Comparing the Nairobi of 2004 and 2015, she observes great development in upcoming buildings in the city, which signifies economic growth. She also notes that despite the increasing traffic jam, many Nairobi residents seem to enjoy working.

“I will do my best to contribute to Kenyan development, from my experience in the African department, Human Development Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan,” she says, noting that there are great expectations of her. She hopes to enjoy working with all stakeholders, and is also looking forward to enjoying her favourite Kenyan dish - a plate of ugali and sukuma wiki.

Ms. Keiko Sano, the new Chief Representative of JICA Kenya.

Ahero, West/Kano, Bunyala, Perkera and Tana Delta rice growing regions.

This is the second batch of agricultural machinery provided under 2KR, with the first phase supplied to the Mwea Irrigation Scheme in 2014. It included 45 4WD tractors, 90 rice threshers and 90 rice reapers with their accompanying spare parts. Also included are 42 disc ploughs, 42 rotary tillers, 42 ridgers and 3 power harrows.

Other guests at the ceremony included H.E. Tatsushi Terada, the Ambassador of Japan to Kenya, Mr. Hiroshi Itoyama, JICA Kenya’s Representative in charge of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Jack Ranguma, the Governor of Kisumu County and other government and political leaders.

Ms. Kariuki noted that rice is the third most

important cereal in Kenya after maize and wheat. “With two thirds of rice consumed in Kenya being imported, we need to increase our production and move to an era of mechanization, which will bring our production costs down,” she added, appreciating the newly acquired equipment.

On his part, Ambassador Terada noted that Japan was lending its support to Africa’s policy of doubling rice production by 2018, and saw great potential for rice production around Lake Victoria. He also noted that there are many Japanese companies that could help with mechanization. Hon. Ranguma expressed his appreciation for the long history of cooperation with Japan, including financing of the Sondu Miriu Hydro Power Plant.

It is hoped that the equipment and machinery provided will go a long way towards increasing rice yields and contribute to economic empowerment in the region.

Plant Operators’ Training Course Launched

Ambassador Terada hands over machinery manuals to Principal Secretary, Ms. Sicily Kariuki.