Japan resumes Overseas Cooperation Volunteer Program in Nepal after three-year hiatus

Published On: July 4, 2023 05:17 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, July 4: The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has sent a new Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) to Nepal, marking the resumption of the program after a three-year gap.

Issuing a statement, JICA said Miki Enomoto arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday and will be joining the Integrated Community Development Program in Lele, Lalitpur, organized by the JICA Alumni Association of Nepal (JAAN), starting from Wednesday.

The JICA volunteer program in Nepal was temporarily suspended in April 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19. However, with Enomoto's arrival, JICA said it is committed to sending more volunteers to Nepal in the coming months.

"Each JICA volunteer in Nepal works towards achieving one or more targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Following the SDG motto of 'No One Left Behind,' our volunteers engage at the grassroots level, working closely with local communities. This program's significant advantage lies in fostering friendship and partnership between Japan and Nepal," stated Okubo Akimitsu, chief representative of JICA Nepal.

"By resuming our volunteer program, we aim to contribute further to Nepal's development," he added.

The JICA volunteer program, established in 1965, enables Japanese volunteers to dedicate two years of their time and skills to support socioeconomic development in recipient countries. Volunteers immerse themselves in local communities, gaining insights into development needs from the perspective of the residents, while promoting mutual understanding and friendship between Nepal and Japan.

The first JICA volunteers arrived in Nepal in September 1970, and since then, their contributions have expanded across various sectors such as agriculture, health, education, forestry and fisheries, repair operations, civil engineering, sanitation, sports, culture, planning, and administration. The JICA volunteer program in Nepal emphasizes resource and technology sharing at the grassroots level, employing a "Learning by Doing" approach to support Nepal's nation-building efforts.