Cooperation projects in the African region

Since 2008 (Heisei 20), City of Yokohama, Water Works Bureau has been accepting water supply engineers from African countries in Yokohama for training according to JICA assignments. In addition, from FY2014 (Heisei 26) to FY2019 (Reiwa 2019), we dispatched staff to Brand Tire Water Corporation in Malawi using the JICA volunteer system. Since fiscal 2019, we have been cooperating with JICA technical cooperation projects in Lilongwe, Malawi.

At the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) held in Yokohama in May 2008, City of Yokohama, Water Works Bureau began accepting JICA-specific training programs for urban water supply engineers in Africa. The course is about one month, and has been held 17 times by FY2023 (Reiwa 5), accepting 170 people from 32 countries.

In Africa, many countries still face challenges related to water supply projects, and it has been featured as a theme every time at the African Development Conference. Many participating countries face challenges, such as 30-50% of the water distributed to customers is not linked to income due to water leaks or stolen water.

In addition to technical aspects such as water treatment and water quality management, water distribution management for water pressure, water volume and water quality, water supply planning and facility management, Water Works Bureau also provides lectures on water supply business in general, including fee management, customer management, customer service, and management planning. Participants formulate an activity plan to solve their own issues in the training based on what they have learned in lectures and practical training, bring them back to their own countries and lead them to their own efforts.

From 2020 (Reiwa 2) to 2021 (Reiwa 3), trainees were unable to visit Japan due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and there were various time differences, so we conducted a combination of video teaching materials and weekly online meetings (Q & A). We photographed lectures given by Water Works Bureau staff and combined them with explanation slides to create a total of 15 courses. In consideration of the concentration of the trainees, each lecture is compiled within 30 minutes, and the site of water leakage surveys, meter difference tests, distribution pipe installation sites, etc. is also included in the video. Department staff appeared in all lectures and appealed to the participants about the existence of Water Works Bureau.

Until now, City of Yokohama, Water Works Bureau has dispatched staff to Africa using the JICA short-term volunteer program. In fiscal 2012 (Heisei 24), four staff members were dispatched to Zanzibar Water Supply Corporation, Tanzania for about one month, and worked to improve the water supply business in terms of both office work and technology.

In the three years from FY2014 to FY2016 (Heisei 26) to FY2016 (Heisei 28), nine staff members were dispatched to Blantyre Water Corporation for about one month to improve water leakage management and fee collection. After that, in response to a strong request from the Brand Tire Water Corporation for the continuation of the dispatch, a memorandum of understanding was signed with JICA for a new three-year project in April 2017, until FY2019 (Ryowagen). We dispatched a total of 11 staff members (20 in total in 6 years) for about one and a half months.

We set up a model area in Blantyre city and instructed how to measure and reduce non-revenue water (water that does not generate income due to water leakage or stealing water). In addition, we prepared construction management manuals and fee management manuals, conducted customer satisfaction surveys, held workshops for meter readers, and held on-site water supply classes.

Instructed the Chiwembe district in Blantyre city as a model district on methods of measuring and reducing unrevenue water (water that does not generate income due to water leakage or stolen water) and reducing the yield rate from 69.3% to 35.8%. In addition, we conduct customer satisfaction surveys in the area, identify issues related to the water supply services of the Brand Tire Water Corporation, and hold workshops. In addition, we have been promoting the maintenance of construction management manuals and fee management manuals, and guidance on how to conduct on-site water supply classes. We will continue to follow up on the site using online tools.

In Blantyre, Malawi, there is a height difference of 800 meters from the water source to the city, and water supply to the city requires a lot of pumps. For this reason, once a power outage occurs, the water will be cut off for a long time. While promoting support to Brand Tire Water Corporation, we confirmed the water outage many times. In order to respond to this frequent water outage, we donated two water vehicle units, which were renewed in City of Yokohama, Water Works Bureau in fiscal 2019, to Brand Tire Water Corporation. It is useful for transportation and water supply when water is cut off.
Regarding overseas transportation from Japan to Malawi, export procedures and cost burdens were issues, but we cooperated with By Forede Co., Ltd. (outside site), which has a track record of transporting vehicles to Malawi.

Since June 2019, City of Yokohama, Water Works Bureau has been cooperating with JICA's technical cooperation project to improve the capacity of Lilongwe Water Corporation, the capital of the country. City of Yokohama, Water Works Bureau has been working to improve the Malawi water business at Team Yokohama in cooperation with Kyowa Consultants Co., Ltd., a member of the Yokohama Water Business Council, and Yokohama Water Co., Ltd. (outside site).
In the project, we provide guidance on formulating plans to reduce non-revenue water, acquiring methods, and sharing and disseminating knowledge.

Click here for more information about LiSCaP.
JICA Web page: https://www.jica.go.jp/project/malawi/007/ (external site) (external site)

In addition to the above, in fiscal 2009, City of Yokohama, Water Works Bureau dispatched two short-term experts in charge practice to JICA technical cooperation projects at Zanzibar Water Supply Corporation in Tanzania. In addition, since participating in the JICA Water Supply Planning Investigation Team in 1977 (Showa 52), until FY2004 (Heisei 16), a total of 17 staff members have been dispatched to the Ministry of Water Resources of Kenya to carry out water supply planning and design. We have a track record of dispatching staff to various places for a long time, such as transferring technology.