On November 6, 2009 at the City Club of Tokyo in Aoyama, Members of the House of Councilors Committee on ODA, Hon. Yoshitake Kimata (DPJ), Hon. Junzo Yamamoto (LDP) and Hon. Yumiko Himei (DPJ), who recently conducted a fact-finding mission to Kenya, South Africa and Uganda met with an ADC delegation led by the Dean, H.E. Mr. Jean-Christian OBAME and comprising the Ambassadors of Benin, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Uganda, South Africa and Zimbabwe, the Charge d’affaires of Djibouti and Kenya and the Minister Counsellor of Algeria.

The same ADC team had met with the Parliamentarians shortly before their departure for Africa and had agreed, at that time, to meet them again upon their return to Japan.

According to Hon. Kimata, the fact-finding trip was a “memorable one” and that it has been informative. The overall impression gained was that Japanese ODA has been used effectively – but noted that there were elements which could be improved. In particular, more efforts are needed on supporting social infrastructures in health and education and for providing clean water.

The parliamentarians had first person accounts of how the Japanese ODA is really working. They met Japanese educators in Kenya who worked long hours to accommodate those who are really interested in learning. They met 2 Japanese specialists and 12 volunteers in the Nerica rice production in Uganda where half of the total Nerica rice production was managed by them. They went to see South Africa and saw a public-private partnership in a company managed by Mitsubishi, a direct example of a synergy between Japanese private sector investment and Japanese ODA support in respect of enhancing health care and education facilities for communities associated with the Plant.

Hon. Yamamoto noted that Japan’s effort in helping the Education sector of Kenya is looking very well, knowing that Kenya will extend its success beyond its borders and lead neighboring countries to duplicate their success story. He added that this can also be done in the “hardware” sector such us in the provision of infrastructure where a country in region with Japan’s support tends to look at the region as a whole and shares knowledge learned from Japan.

Hon. Himei noted that although she found the African continent “very attractive”, there were still problems to be faced  -  specifically in the water, health-care and education sectors.  She noted also that there is a great deal Japan could do in the area of infrastructure-development.

Please refer to the Meeting Notes for more information.