Partnership Agreement with Hyogo Prefecture Summary 1. Objectives The objectives of the agreement are the effective implementation of international cooperation in developing regions, the further development of Hyogo Prefecture as an advanced internationalized region, and by extension, development in developing regions and global stability. 2. Focal points of the partnership cooperation (1) Cooperation related to receiving technical training participants from developing regions, dispatching experts to developing regions and implementing JICA partnership programs (2) Cooperation for JICA projects using technology and expertise from Hyogo Prefecture (3) International cooperation and cooperation for supporting activities by Hyogo Prefecture using JICA s network (4) Promoting Hyogo citizen participation in JICA volunteer programs such as the Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, and the promotion of a system by government agencies and companies in Hyogo that allows employees to retain their position while volunteering (5) Promoting development education and education for international understanding in educational and other institutions in Hyogo (6) Promoting public-private partnerships to work on projects such as support for overseas development of companies in Hyogo and global industrial human resources development (7) Cooperation for hosting international conferences and other events in Hyogo Prefecture related to international cooperation (8) Bilateral human resource exchanges of staff and others, along with human resources development
Main Achievements of the Hyogo-JICA Partnership 1. Disaster prevention (1) The Disaster Reduction Learning Center (DRLC) In 2005, the World Conference on Disaster Reduction was held in Kobe, the capital of Hyogo Prefecture, and the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action were adopted. Building on the momentum at the conference, the experiences and lessons of Hyogo s Great Hanshin Earthquake were communicated to developing countries through JICA s global network, and to provide support, the former Hyogo International Center and Hyogo Prefecture established the DRLC on April 1, 2007. (The partnership agreement with Hyogo Prefecture was renewed in April for the third year.) Coordinating closely with disaster reduction organizations that have gathered in HAT Kobe, the DRLC has worked hard to create a comprehensive disaster reduction training program (15 courses as of fiscal 2012) at JICA Kansai, and initiatives are underway to make DRLC an exchange hub for former participants and others learning about disaster reduction. (2) Japan disaster relief team A total of 17 people have been dispatched from Hyogo agencies, including the prefectural office, board of education, prefectural police and the University of Hyogo. The Japan disaster relief team uses the Hyogo Prefectural Emergency Management and Training Center in the city of Miki for drill practice. (3) Human resource exchange Beginning in fiscal 2002, prefectural office staff members were welcomed to JICA headquarters by the Secretariat of the Japan Disaster Relief Team to form a partnership (subsequently renewed four times). Two staff members from the prefectural office are stationed at the DRLC, which was built collaboratively by JICA Kansai (formerly JICA Hyogo) and Hyogo Prefecture, as mentioned above.
2. Technical cooperation (1) Participant acceptance projects Cooperation on training between JICA and Hyogo Prefecture began with a pest eradication training course in 1973. JICA Kansai has received cooperation from various Hyogo Prefectural agencies such as for training course lectures and tours, particularly in relation to disaster reduction, the environment and medicine. From 1973 to 2011, JICA Hyogo accepted 6,649 participants. (2) Cooperation for technical cooperation projects China: the Project for Capacity Development on Mental Health Services for Reconstruction Support of Sichuan Earthquake, Sri Lanka: Nursing Education Project in Sri Lanka, Turkey: the School-based Disaster Education Project, and Many others Prefectural agencies such as the prefectural office, the board of education, the prefectural police and the University of Hyogo have dispatched 74 experts since fiscal 1994 for technical cooperation projects and individual initiatives. 3. JICA partnership programs Eighteen partnership programs (community proposed) in which Hyogo Prefecture is the proposing or executing agency have been implemented to date. There have been eight more projects for which the proposing or executing agency is a local government seven by Kobe and one by Toyooka making a total of 26 in all. 4. Citizen participatory cooperation Since 1966, a total of 1,944 volunteers, including those in the Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV), have been dispatched from Hyogo Prefecture, and 110 are currently in the field, having been dispatched on July 31. For teacher employment, measures have been adopted to count two more years of JOCV experience as international contribution activities, and 26 JOCVs have been
employed to date as teachers under this system. In addition to holding the Education for International Understanding and Development Education Seminar for Cooperative Multinational Relations cosponsored by the Hyogo Prefectural Board of Education and the Kobe City Board of Education, among others, efforts have included spreading education for international understanding and development education while carrying out such activities as audience-tailored seminars and facility tours. One international cooperation promoter works at the Hyogo International Association to carry out joint projects and other activities. 5. Public-private partnerships Among the organizations that participate in the Kansai Small and Medium Enterprise Overseas Business Support Conference, sponsored by the Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, are JICA Kansai, Hyogo Prefecture, the City of Kobe and the Hyogo International Business Center. At the conference, partnerships are formed between prefectural agencies and the private sector. The Hyogo Overseas Development Assistance Agency Communication Committee, the Hyogo Employers Association and the Kobe Employers Association have partnered with Hyogo Prefecture. Activities include explanations of JICA s public-private partnership projects. JICA Kansai is one of the members of the Kansai Economic Federation. JICA Kansai provides a point of contact between participants and business through participant acceptance projects, provides information such as about the types of ODA assistance available and works to strengthen relationships through activities such as seminars. Three projects have been selected in Hyogo Prefecture through preparatory surveys for public-private infrastructure projects.
Partnership Agreement with the City of Kobe Summary 1. Objectives The objectives of the agreement are to promote mutually beneficial and problem-solving international exchanges and international cooperation organized by the City of Kobe, as well as international cooperation projects in developing regions where JICA is working, and by extension, to provide development in developing regions and bring stability to the world, as well as to stimulate the Kobe region. 2. Focal points of the partnership cooperation (1) Providing advice and cooperation for JICA projects utilizing the technologies and expertise of the City of Kobe toward solving urban problems in developing regions (2) Receiving technical training participants from developing regions and dispatching experts to developing regions, as well as implementing technical cooperation projects, JICA partnership programs, preparatory surveys and the like (3) Promoting and assisting public-private and industry-government-academia partnerships (4) Promoting the participation of Kobe residents in Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteer and other JICA volunteer projects (5) Promoting development education and education for international understanding in educational and other institutions in Kobe (6) Holding international conferences and other events related to international exchange and international cooperation (7) Creating opportunities for exchange and networking between technical training participants from developing regions and Kobe (8) Studies, information collection and other related activities in developing regions using the JICA network
Main Achievements of the Kobe-JICA Partnership 1. Technical cooperation (1) Participant acceptance projects Cooperation on training between JICA and the City of Kobe began with a practical trade training course in fiscal 1981. JICA Kansai has received cooperation from various Kobe municipal agencies such as for training course talks and tours, particularly on the disaster reduction, environment, medical and trade promotion fronts. JICA training courses have also been commissioned at the Kobe International Center for Cooperation and Communication. From 1973 to 2011, JICA Hyogo accepted 6,649 participants. (2) Cooperation for technical cooperation projects China: the Hospital Infection Control Project in Guangzhou, China: the Project for Promotion of Community based Hospital Infection Control Activities, Turkey: the School-based Disaster Education Project, and Many others City agencies, including city hall, the board of education, the fire department and community hospitals have dispatched 50 experts since fiscal 1994. In addition, four participants were dispatched in an Japan disaster relief rescue team for the 1999 İzmit earthquake. 2. JICA partnership programs The capacity development program on the water environmental improvement in Kien Giang Province of Vietnam The capacity development program on improvement of port cargo handling at Hai Phong Port A total of seven partnership programs (community proposed) have been conducted to date with the City of Kobe as the proposing or executing agency. 3. Citizen participatory cooperation
Since 1966, a total of 521 volunteers, including those in the Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV), have been dispatched from Kobe, and 52 are currently in the field, having been dispatched on July 31. For teacher employment, a special selection system is in place for people with social experiences, and two JOCVs have been employed to date as teachers under this system. The Kobe City Board of Education and JICA Kansai have signed three partnership agreements each lasting three years, and in this period, activities include audience-tailored lectures (dispatching lecturers to the Kobe Global Citizen Program), the acceptance of junior high school students for workplace experience (Trial Week) by JICA Kansai, co-hosting education for international understanding and development education seminars for cooperative multinational relations, and more. 4. Public-private partnerships The utility management for industrial parks and water supply project in Vietnam, with assistance provided through a partnership with the City of Kobe in which Kobelco Eco-Solutions and Shinsho Corporation provided equity participation to a local joint venture company and the City of Kobe provided assistance for sewer infrastructure (the first project after private sector investment finance resumption). As an observer, JICA Kansai participates in the Southeast Asia Working Group, held regularly at Kobe City Hall, and provides support for formulating policy. Along with assistance from the City of Kobe, support was provided for the water infrastructure development project in Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province of Vietnam, a preparatory survey for public-private partnership infrastructure.