Co-creation” with diverse partners is the key to the future of international cooperation. We asked Sachiko Takeda, JICA’s Director of Public Affairs, who moderated the panel discussion, about the possibilities for the future of international cooperation and the role JICA will play.
Sachiko Takeda, JICA Public Relations Manager (affiliation at time of interview)
Considering the human resources of the future and the international cooperation of “Mirai”.
–What is the meaning of the word “Mirai” in the name of this conference?
Takeda: We prepared for this conference in the hope that it would provide an opportunity for people involved in international cooperation in various fields to frankly discuss what the future of international cooperation should look like and to share a common perspective. In the process of preparing for the conference, we asked ourselves, “Who will be the protagonists of the future of international cooperation? That is why we included the word “Mirai” in the name of the conference.
When we approached winners of JICA’s International Cooperation Junior High and High School Essay Contest and students at universities where JICA staff and alumni are in charge of courses and other activities, about 60 students, including high school students, participated in the program. This is nearly 40% of the total number of participants.
At the reception following the discussion, students asked questions directly to the Diet members, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and JICA officials, and JICA President about how to get involved in international cooperation, which we believe provided an opportunity to deepen their interest in the field. This was an opportunity to think about international cooperation in “Mirai” with the future leaders of the world, who are interested in and want to be involved in international cooperation.
The “Mirai Conference on International Cooperation” was held in Tokyo in May 2024. In addition to students, a total of about 160 people participated, including practitioners of international cooperation, ambassadors of partner countries to Japan, political, economic, and academic circles.
Greetings from Yuko Obuchi, a member of the House of Representatives, who serves as the chairperson of the JICA Parliamentarians Caucus. She received encouragement from many other participating Diet members.
Beneficial relationships are needed in both directions for sustainable co-creation.
–The panel discussion on “Future Development Cooperation through Co-Creation” was attended by people involved in various forms of international cooperation, including local government officials, former overseas cooperation corps members, NPO representatives, and ambassadors to Japan. What did you find out for yourself?
Takeda: One thing that all the participants shared was that international cooperation should be “sustainable and resilient” (i.e., have the resilience to overcome difficult situations). In order to achieve this, as Ambassador Leena Annab, Jordan’s Ambassador to Japan, who participated in the panel discussion, said, it is important to build “mutually beneficial relationships” between the bearers and recipients of international cooperation that are co-created. Otherwise, we will not be able to build a sustainable partnership.
JICA has been focusing on the development of human resources involved in cooperation in order to ensure the sustainability of its activities. We have reaffirmed the need to consider and explain to each other what benefits we can provide as we aim for further co-creation with diverse partners, including the private sector, and encourage their participation in our activities.
I don’t think there have been many opportunities like this discussion to speak on the theme of “co-creation” with people from diverse backgrounds in one place. In this respect, we were able to gain new insights from the various comments.
–What were some of the most memorable statements made during the discussion?
Takeda: Ms. Satoko Kouno, a representative of an NPO that conducts social investment in developing countries, expressed the idea that participating in the challenges of entrepreneurs who are trying to solve social issues through business, in the form of investment, will create a relationship of building a new society together, and said that this could be called a “new culture. This is “a new culture,” he said. I think this requires a considerable mind shift, but I felt that it is necessary to create momentum for the creation of such a culture.
Ms. Eri Machii, who started a business in Africa based on a system of “leftover medicine” originated in Japan, says that she started this business based on her experience as a JICA overseas cooperation volunteer in Niger and the idea that “a continuous system is needed,” rather than just providing transient support by giving money for medicines to sick people. This is precisely the point of view of “sustainability” that he is focusing on. There is a movement among former cooperative workers to start their own businesses, like Mr. Machii, to utilize their knowledge in developing countries to solve social issues in Japan and abroad. JICA is also supporting this trend by launching a new support program, “JICA BLUE. *2
In the panel discussion, each speaker raised various ways and possibilities of co-creation
–What challenges do you see today in furthering development cooperation through co-creation with diverse partners?
Takeda: The key is how to mobilize funds, and with ODA budgets limited, it is necessary to design a system that allows a wider range of private companies to participate in international cooperation. At the meeting leading up to this conference, Ambassador Annab pointed out that “we should actively involve the private sector from the initial stage” based on his experience as a businessman. To this end, he suggested that it is necessary to create a mechanism to provide incentives for companies to participate in international cooperation by informing them of the benefits of participating in international cooperation, such as gaining new markets, improving brand image, technological innovation, and sustainable growth, through dialogue. He also emphasized that projects can have greater impact, scalability, and sustainability if development cooperation organizations around the world are properly aligned with the resources, expertise, and networks of the private sector, including JICA’s SDG Business Support Survey3 for the private sector. One such example is the SDG Business Support Survey3 offered by JICA to the private sector. By creating a mechanism to attract various types of funds to international cooperation, I believe that even more diverse partners will be able to participate in co-creation and contribute to promoting innovative projects.
*3 Surveys in developing countries to formulate business models by examining business ideas utilizing technologies, products, and know-how that could contribute to solving issues in developing countries and the possibility of utilizing these in ODA projects.
JICA’s role in encouraging participation in various forms of co-creation
–What do you think about JICA’s own role in further strengthening international cooperation through co-creation?
Takeda: I believe that social interest in international cooperation is growing, but there is not enough mechanism to put it into practice. To this end, it is important to have a forum where people from various walks of life with an interest in international cooperation can engage in dialogue, propose ways to participate in international cooperation, and exchange ideas and opinions.
During the discussion, Kazuhiko Tada, Mayor of Tono City, Iwate Prefecture, said that the encounter with JICA led to the creation of new initiatives and ideas, such as the promotion of industrial internationalization and multicultural conviviality, and that the win-win relationship was co-creation itself. We are thinking of creating windows and doors for Tono City in Asia,” he said, expressing high expectations for JICA’s role as a catalyst with its domestic and international networks as the city takes on the challenge of connecting developing countries and regions.
In Tono City, many former Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers have participated in community development since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Recently, the “Glocal Program,” in which pre-deployment cooperation corps members receive training in Tono City, has also begun. In addition, Tono City has accepted more than 200 JICA trainees from developing countries to date, and has made contributions to the international community as one of its measures to revitalize the local community.
The “Glocal Program” for Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, a partnership between Tono City and other local governments and JICA. The program not only allows participants to apply their local development efforts to activities in developing countries, but also provides them with an opportunity to imagine how they can give back to society after returning to their home countries.
–Co-creation with diverse partners is not only for private sectors and organizations, but also for each and every individual. However, some may think it is a hurdle. What message would you like to send to all those who will be responsible for international cooperation in the future?
Takeda: With the world facing such major crises such as climate change and conflicts, all people living on the earth need to cooperate with each other. International cooperation is now the “norm.
Some people may say, “I want to be involved in international cooperation, but I don’t know what to do. There are various ways to get involved in international cooperation, and you can do as much as you can in any way you can. I hope that you will think about how your own life is connected to global issues and what you can do to help. If each of us brings our strengths together and unites them, we can create a huge impact. You may discover that your actions can actually lead to this kind of cooperation. JICA hopes to create more and more opportunities for communication that will lead to such discoveries.
© Source JICA
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