Cooperation projects in Africa

Since 2008, City of Yokohama, Water Works Bureau has been accepting water supply engineers from African countries in Yokohama as part of JICA's assignment-specific training programs. In addition, from 2014 to 2019 (FY2014), we dispatched staff to the Brandtire Water Corporation in Malawi using the JICA volunteer system. Since FY2019, we have been cooperating with JICA technical cooperation projects in Lilangweh City, Malawi.

At the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) held in Yokohama in May 2008, City of Yokohama, Water Works Bureau started accepting JICA's "Training Water Supply Engineers for Urban Water Supply Engineers." This course has been held 16 times by FY2022(4) and has accepted 145 participants from 32 countries.

In Africa, many countries still face issues related to water supply projects, and it has been taken up as a theme at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development. Many of the participating countries face challenges, such as 30-50% of the water distributed to customers does not lead to income due to water leakage or theft.

In addition to technical aspects such as water purification treatment, water quality management, water distribution management such as water pressure, water volume and water quality, water supply planning and facility management, Water Works Bureau offers lectures on general water supply business, including fee management, customer management, customer service, and management planning. Participants will formulate an activity plan to solve their own problems in the training based on what they have learned in lectures and practical training, and take them home to their own efforts.

From FY2020 (Reiwa 2) to FY2021 (3), trainees were unable to visit Japan due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the time difference was different, so we held a combination of video materials and weekly online meetings (question and answers). A total of 15 courses were taken by Water Works Bureau staff and combined them with explanatory slides. In consideration of the concentration of the trainees, each lecture is compiled within 30 minutes, and videos include sites such as water leakage surveys, meter difference tests, and water pipe laying sites. Department staff appeared in all lectures and highlighted the presence of Water Works Bureau.

Until now, City of Yokohama, Water Works Bureau has used the JICA short-term volunteer program to dispatch staff to African regions. In fiscal 2012, four staff members were dispatched to Zanzibar Water Supply Corporation in Tanzania for about one month, and worked to improve the water supply business in terms of both office and technical aspects.

To Malawi, nine staff members were dispatched to Blantiire Water Corporation for about one month in the three years from 2014 to 2016 (2016) to 2016 (2016) to improve water leakage management and fee collection. After that, in response to a strong request from Blantic Tire Water Corporation to continue dispatch, a memorandum of understanding was signed with JICA for a new three-year project in April 2017, and a total of 11 employees (20 people in six years) were dispatched for about one and a half months.

We set up a model area in the city of Blantiire, and instructed how to measure and reduce non-revenue water (water that does not generate income due to water leakage or stealing). 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.

In the Chiwembe district of Blantyre as a model district, we instructed the method of measuring and reducing non-revenue water (water that does not generate income due to water leakage or theft) from 69.3% to 35.8%. In addition, we conduct customer satisfaction surveys in the district, identify issues related to the water supply services of Blantic Tire Water Corporation, and hold workshops. In addition, we have been working on 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 use our online tools to follow up on our site.

In Brantyre, Malawi, Malawi, has 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 outage will be cut off for a long time. While providing support to Blantiire Water Corporation, we confirmed the water outage many times. To respond to this frequent water outage, we donated two water vehicle units, which were renewed in City of Yokohama, Water Works Bureau, to Blantyre Water Corporation. It is useful for transportation and water supply when water is cut off.
Although export procedures and cost burdens were issues for overseas transportation from Japan to Malawi, we received the cooperation of Bai Forade Co., Ltd. (external 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 technical cooperation projects aimed at improving the capacity of Lilangwe Water Corporation, the capital of the country, Lilongwei Water Corporation in a technical cooperation project to improve the capacity of Lilangwe Water Corporation. In cooperation with Kyowa Consultants Co., Ltd., a member of the Yokohama Water Business Council, Kyowa Consultants Co., Ltd., and Yokohama Water Co., Ltd. (external site) to improve the Malawi WaterCity of Yokohama, Water Works Bureau.
The project provides guidance on formulating plans for reducing 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, City of Yokohama, Water Works Bureau dispatched two short-term practitioners to JICA technical cooperation projects at Zanzibar Water Supply Corporation, Tanzania, in fiscal 2009. In addition, since participating in the JICA Water Supply Planning Investigation Team in 1977, until 2004, a total of 17 staff members were dispatched to the Ministry of Water and Water Resources of Kenya, until 2004 (Heisei 16). We have a track record of dispatching staff to various places since ancient times.