On October 30, 2024, fourteen ministers from seven African countries (Kenya, Cameroon, Mauritania, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Benin) visited the Public Works Research Institute (PWRI), accompanied by African Development Bank (AfDB) officials, to discuss possible cooperation measures between Japan and African countries. The visit was planned with support from AfDB following the technical meeting in June 2024 between AfDB and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. At PWRI, the ministers attended lectures presented by ICHARM staff and participated in a facility tour.
Executive Director KOIKE Toshio delivered a lecture entitled “Climate and Water Resilience and Sustainability in Africa.” In his presentation, he explained ICHARM's initiatives, such as a project to prevent and mitigate flood damage in West African countries and the Online Synthesis System for Sustainability and Resilience (OSS-SR) to train facilitators. Hote Hassan Haren, currently enrolled in the doctoral program at ICHARM, introduced a transdisciplinary approach to governance and policy for water-related disaster risk reduction in Pakistan. The participants were intensely engaged during the presentations and, despite the tight schedule, continued to ask the executive director many questions even after the session, highlighting their enthusiasm to solve water issues in their countries.
After that, the participants toured the hydraulic experiment facility, where ITAGAKI Osamu, the deputy director of PWRI’s Hydraulic Engineering Research Group, provided an explanation of the facility, including a dam model experiment and a bridge pier scouring experiment.
This event provided a good opportunity for African ministers and others involved in water-related issues to learn about ICHARM and PWRI's technologies and deepen cooperation with ICHARM. We will continue to promote ICHARM's activities and achievements to the world through these efforts.
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delivering a lecture |
an experimental facility |