Kaizen in the New Era: Africa's Future Achieved through Digital Technology
Kaizen in the New Era: Africa's Future Achieved through Digital Technology
August 19, 2025 16:00-17:40(JST)
Date
2025/8/19 (Tue)16:00-17:40（JST）
Field
Kaizen (quality/productivity improvement)
Venue / Event Format
InterContinental / Hybrid (In-person and Online)
Co-Host
AUDA-NEPAD (Supporter: UNIDO)
Background
Since 2006, JICA has provided assistance on Kaizen and Business Development Services (BDS) in Africa through technical cooperation projects in nine countries. In 2017, JICA launched the Africa Kaizen Initiative (AKI) with AUDA-NEPAD (African Union Development Agency - The New Partnership for Africa’s Development) with the aim of disseminating the Kaizen approach from individual countries to all of Africa by 2027, based on ownership from the African side. By enhancing the productivity of individual companies through Kaizen, AKI aims to promote industrial development and the realization of decent work, aligning with the AU's AGENDA 2063 and AIDA (The Accelerated Industrial Development for Africa). Within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), improving the productivity and quality of companies in each country is also important for stimulating intra-regional trade, and the Kaizen Approach can be expected to play a significant role.
In this evolving environment, private companies face changing circumstances daily. The challenges include adopting new approaches to Kaizen, such as leveraging ever-evolving "digital" technologies and solutions created by "startups" particularly those led by youth, and incorporate the Kaizen approach into "startup" to foster innovations and create jobs for youth. JICA has initiated the Knowledge Co-Creation Program in Japan on "Digital Kaizen" since FY2024 and has begun incorporating training on Digital Kaizen into projects in each country (e.g., South Africa: already implemented, Tunisia: under preparation). In addition, local startups have developed VR materials for Kaizen training and startups are participating in Kaizen Dojos in Ethiopia.
This seminar will explore the new direction of the Kaizen Approach, which is expected to expand further by 2027 and 2030. It aims to increase interest and understanding of the Kaizen Approach among policy makers in African countries, and to discuss the direction of Kaizen projects that incorporate “Digital Kaizen” and “Startup x Kaizen”.
Key Questions
What are the benefits, effects, and challenges of implementing Digital Kaizen in Africa?
How can SMEs in Africa implement Digital Kaizen?
How can startup and youth be involved in (Digital) Kaizen?
What actions will the institutions (represented by the panelists) take to disseminate Digital Kaizen domestically and internationally? And how can JICA support these efforts?
How can Africa and Latin America collaborate particularly in promoting Digital Kaizen?
Key words: Digital Kaizen, Startup, youth
Objective
To determine the direction of Kaizen projects that incorporate “Digital Kaizen” and “Startup x Kaizen”, and to promote these projects.
Through these efforts, foster innovation by youth and create employment opportunities for them.
To promote collaboration with other regions outside of Africa and with other development partners.
Industrial Development Expert, Food Security and Food System Unit, Division of Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Mr. Amine Idriss Adoum
Director of Economy - Infrastructure, Trade, and Industrialization, AUDA-NEPAD (TBC)
