On January 18, President Akihiko Tanaka delivered the first speech by a foreigner to the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority (BTA) Congress in Cotabato City on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, praising the BTA’s steady progress in the peace process in cooperation with the Philippine government and strongly emphasizing that JICA will continue to cooperate with…

The Mekong Delta region in southern Vietnam is a major producer of rice, fruits, and marine products, with exports accounting for 20 percent of the country’s GDP, making it an important region for the country’s socioeconomy and neighboring Mekong countries. It is also one of the three deltas most affected by climate change in the…

In Sudan, the National Health Sector Strategic Plan II (2012-2016), a mid-term health goal, has been developed by the Ministry of Health. One of the pillars of this strategy is to expand coverage and improve the quality of primary health care (PHC). However, the necessary funds and equipment have not fully reached medical facilities at…

In 2016, the Colombian government signed a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the largest left-wing guerrilla force, ending more than half a century of armed conflict that has caused an estimated 7 million internally displaced persons. Following this peace agreement, in 2017, the National Planning Agency (DNP) developed the Territorial…

In Sudan, the amount of waste generated is increasing in Khartoum State, where the largest city is located, due to the high population growth rate in urban areas. However, due to a lack of materials, equipment, and administrative officials’ systems and experience, collection and disposal capacity is low, and there are concerns about the deterioration…

In Myanmar, the poverty gap between rural and urban areas, where agriculture is a major industry, is growing, and there is a need to increase farmers’ income through improving agricultural productivity and adding value to agricultural products. However, in Myanmar, there are many small-scale farmers, and in addition to their lack of knowledge and skills…

In Sri Lanka, the burden of disease due to non-communicable diseases is increasing as society ages, and the prevalence of dementia is expected to increase. The government of Sri Lanka has decided on various policies and launched initiatives to improve the capacity of medical facilities to provide care for the elderly and to develop community…