Date

2025/8/21 (Thu)09:00-11:00（JST）

Field

Local governments

Venue / Event Format

Yokohama Bay / Hybrid (In-person and Online)

Co-Host

Background

• This initiative aims to further strengthen the ties between African countries and Japanese local governments—ties that have been cultivated through JICA projects and various other channels—by leveraging TICAD9 as a key opportunity. It also seeks to contribute to Regional Revitalization 2.0 from the perspective of international cooperation.
• Establishing connections that lay the groundwork for future human resource circulation (from Africa to Japan and vice versa) aligns not only with the interests of African nations but also with Japan’s national interests. Through such circulation, we can foster “bridge-building personnel” who serve as links between Africa and Japan, enabling the implementation of initiatives that benefit both sides.
• In Japan, promoting international exchange from the standpoint of regional revitalization is expected to lead to an increase in related populations. This makes it an effective strategy for revitalizing local communities.

Key Questions

• Expectations from local governments in hometown initiatives, and the benefits for African countries of connecting with local governments in Japan.
• In addition, the benefits for local governments in Japan of connecting with African countries.
• Expectations for the overall development plan of JICA Africa Hometown Initiative, What kind of things should be exchanged between hometowns, and the involvement of JICA and the Japan government in accordance with that.

Objective

• Four municipalities that already have close ties to Africa have been awarded the "JICA Africa Hometown" certificate. The mayors of four municipalities with ties to African countries will present their achievements and history of exchanges and their visions for future exchanges, and share good practices and exchange opinions.
• JICA Africa Hometown Municipalities are connected to each other and networking is conducted among all stakeholders.

Materials

Speakers

Mayor of Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture – Scheduled for Africa Hometown Certification

Mayor of Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture – Scheduled for Africa Hometown Certification

Mayor of Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture – Scheduled for Africa Hometown Certification

Kohya Promotion Association from Marumori Town, Miyagi Prefecture – Considering Participation in Africa Hometown Program