On March 9, 2018, an annual meeting of ex-participants of JICA Training Programs was held at Dushanbe Plaza to exchange experiences and knowledge gained through trainings and post-training activities conducted in Tajikistan, according to JICA Tajikistan.

The JICA Training Programs, now known as Knowledge Co-Creation Program (KCCP) is a long term capacity building program that has been implementing in Tajikistan since 1993 and a total number of participants has exceeded 2,200 to date.

The meeting was attended by representatives of ministries, committees and agencies, as well as the representatives of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Embassy of Japan in Tajikistan.

Ms. Mehri Ghulomshoyeva, Representative of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, in her welcome speech highlighted the importance of capacity building in Tajikistan and expressed her gratitude to JICA for the long-term support and the expansion of cooperation for the development of human resources in Tajikistan.

Mr. Takashi Okimoto, Representative of the Embassy of Japan in Tajikistan, in his opening speech emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation with ex-participants of training courses and with their organization to further promote the development of Tajikistan.

During the first part of the meeting, ex-participants of various sectors (health, transport, agriculture, irrigation, and energy) presented activities and good practices introduced to Tajikistan last year.  The activities including the seminars at their organizations and field visits to other regions of Tajikistan were conducted by their initiatives and JICA’s assistance. 

At the second part of the meeting, the ex-participants discussed the challenges facing implementation of their action plans in Tajikistan, further needs in capacity building, and ideas for improving coordination and cooperation among themselves.

It should be mentioned that at the meeting, JICA Tajikistan office announced the launch of a new Mini-Grant Scheme designed to strengthen cooperation and contributions of ex-participants for socio-economic development of Tajikistan.  The new JICA Mini-Grant Scheme provides a new opportunity to secure financial support to implement their activities.  Enhancing cross-sectorial cooperation and joint activities especially with active involvement of  education sector was also highlighted as a key to further strengthening of their activities for the development of Tajikistan.

Mr. Tomohiro Nakagaki, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Japan in Tajikistan at his closing remarks expressed his gratitude to the initiatives of the ex-participants and mentioned that Japan will continue to strengthen relation with Tajikistan. Mr. Hideki Tanabe, Chief Representative of JICA Tajikistan appreciated active discussions throughout the meeting, and stated that JICA Tajikistan would take into account all the valuable ideas and proposals for further improvement of cooperation. 

JICA, as one of the leading development partners in the area of human resource development, will continue to support ex-participants activities in Tajikistan, in consideration that they are a great asset for socio-economic development and a bridge for promoting friendship between Tajikistan and Japan.

JICA began its technical cooperation with Tajikistan in 1993 by inviting Tajik officials to gain knowledge and experience on governance and macroeconomics development.  JICA Office was established in 2006 in Tajikistan and since then various Grant Financial Assistance and Technical Cooperation projects have been implemented more dynamically, aiming at improving living standard of Tajik people for the sectors such as agriculture and rural development, water supply, health, transport, energy, capacity building etc.  JICA’s cumulative investment portfolio in Tajikistan in all sectors comprises 33 projects amounting to more than 341 mln. USD (82 mln. USD for Technical Cooperation and 259 mln. USD for Grant Assistance), including 12 on-going projects.