JICA RWANDA News O C T O B E R - D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 ● N U M B E R 3 7 ● K I G A L I

Imani Bora the CEO of Hatch Plus with his electronic hatching machine

Regional Work-shop on Non-Revenue Water Control…...Page2

Quality Education: A New Convenient E-Learning Platform to Improve Teachers’ Capacity Building…....Page2

KOPAKAKI Coffee Production Revolution………………….....Page3

Japanese Company to Transform Maths Education via ICT……..….Page3

6000 Trees Planted by JAAR and Kicukiro Residents ....Pag4

Volunteering Corner “Work-shops on Hand pump Repair and Maintenance in Kayonza”...Page4

“WE TRANSFORMED OUR HOBBIES INTO BUSINESSES”

It’s been a journey of six months together for a

group of 8 ICT startup companies with a dream to conquer the world market. That is learning how to transform their ICT innovative skills into market-oriented products. They are ex-pected to be a success story for the country, the region and the continent. In May 2018, during the Transform Africa Summit, these 8 companies won a national ICT contest organized by a JICA “Project for Strengthening the ICT Innovation Ecosystem” together with the ICT Chamber. They demon-strated talents and expressed needs, which require capacity building to grow into investa-ble companies. At their graduation ceremony of the program, Mr. Imani Bora, the CEO of the newly created “Hatch Plus” an entrepreneur whose electronic hatching machine is tripling the production of eggs at a third of the market cost, stated. “We used to practice technologies as amateurs for fun; here, we were able to transform our hobbies into businesses. We comprehended the needs of our clients, how to perfect products, improve their value and develop better a strong market-ing strategy.” The program provided by the Project, does not give cash but offers financial support only through procurement process, gives financial and legal support by providing each startup

with one junior lawyer and accountant, who are further guided by a senior lawyer and an accountant. Other business related courses were offered tot helped the startups grow from “a group of friends” to “a structured business organization”. The Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda, His Excellency Miyashita Takayuki, who officiated the graduation ceremony, stated, “Japan has been supporting this sector by dispatching experts and providing equipment. In a business minded country, this is a very unique way of supporting Rwanda through young Rwandan entrepreneurs. Through them, we are also promoting Rwanda-Japan bilateral relations.” Permanent Secretary in the ministry of ICT and Innovation Ms. Irere Claudette confirmed the success of the program stating that “This was the most succeeded trial phase which could be a model to the next generation of startups if the second cohort which is starting soon given the same outcomes.” It all started with the Government of Rwan-da’s policy and vision to become an ICT hub on the continent back in 2000. To materialize that, ICT Chamber in collaboration with JICA are creating appropriate and effective mecha-nism to incubate technology startups to be an essential component to strengthen emerging innovation ecosystem in Rwanda. ●

I N S I D E P A GE S Imani Bora at Graduation Ceremony

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Expectations for teachers are

increasingly high in Rwanda: It is no longer enough to graduate from teacher training institutions. Throughout their careers, teachers need to update themselves about pedagogy and subject contents that keep changing according to the government’s policy goals. In October 2018, 60 teachers from across the country participated in the launch and induction training of the e-learning platform at Muhanga Teacher Training College. The pur-pose was to train them as a master trainer in the use of the platform, as well as to solicit their feedback for improving the system. Participants provided inputs to REB and JICA as to how they may improve the plat-form before its national rollout.

Project News

A Groundbreaking workshop has

been held in Kigali City, from 6 to 9 November 2018. It was aimed at a promising partnership for a regional strengthening of water supply man-agement focusing on Non-revenue Water (NRW) control as a water utility.

It has been initiated with three wa-ter supply leading utilities from Rwanda (WASAC), Kenya (EWASCO) and Malawi (LWB) with the help of JICA’s Technical Cooperation.

JICA has been conducting technical support through the “Project for Strengthening Non-Revenue Water Control in Kigali City Water Net-work”, the “Project for Strengthen-ing Capacity in Non-Revenue Water Reduction” and through Water Re-sources Advisor’s Support, respec-tively in Rwanda, Kenya and Malawi.

The workshop objective was to share the planning, monitoring and implementation strategic plans for reducing NRW in each country and elaborate a comprehensive compar-ative NRW capacity assessment of the three agencies.

Non-Revenue Water is water that has been produced and is “lost” before it reaches the customer or consumed but not billed.

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In many countries NRW ratio could reach up to more than 50%. This means half of the water is produced in the water treatment plant will not be consumed by the customers and will be wasted and unbilled.

For the water supply utilities to supply water sufficiently, it is mandatory that they fully utilize and supply the limited water resource. Therefore, NRW reduction is crucial in man-aging water supply.

The workshop found that weak financial and human resources, aging infrastructures, and illegal pipe connections remarkably hinder the reduction of NRW. On another hand, advocacy, choosing cost efficient leak detec-tion tools suiting each situation and im-proved meter reading and billing process are keys factors to reduce NRW.

Mr. Dickson Kinyua, Head of Finance and

Commercial Services at EWASCO Kenya, stated that “NRW reduction is critically needed in Kenya. We are always questioned about the misusing funds from public which are supposed to be saved”.

Mr. Tomonori Nagase, JICA Rwanda Senior Representative, also commented that “the transfer and sharing knowledge and learned lessons in region are important in resolving

Quality Education: A New Convenient E-Learning Platform To Improve Teachers’ Capacity Building

The new e-learning platform, developed by JICA and Rwanda Education Board (REB), will transform the existing teacher educa-tion initiatives. Covering all the basics and applications of the new competency-based curriculum, the e-learning platform enables teachers to learn and update themselves at their own pace, wherever they are. It is a

Regional Workshop on Strengthening Water Supply Management

Teachers being trained to be master trainers

remarkable shift from the tradi-tional “cascade” model of teacher training that starts with training of trainers and ends with front-line teachers trying to absorb somewhat diluted information. The platform is especially fitting in Rwanda that aspires to achieve socioeconomic develop-ment using ICT as a core strate-gy.

The e-learning platform is a new attempt that requires fur-ther elaboration and improve-ment. The real question remains as to how the improved model of teachers’ continuous profession-al development can enhance the students’ learning. ●

common issues met in NRW reduction sustainably.”

The next workshop will be held in Lilongwe in the beginning of 2019.

WASAC: Water and Sanitation Corporation EWASCO: Embu Water Re-sources Management Company LWB: Lilongwe Water Board.●

𝑁𝑅𝑊 =(Water Produced − Billed Water Amount)

(Water Produced)

Participants during the Work-shop

Presentation by a participant from Malawi

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KOPAKAKI COFFEE PRODUCTION REVOLUTION

Project News

KOPAKAKI coffee cooperative from

Karongi District in Western Province has a new skill that has the potential to transform the coffee industry. The declaration was made as the Ambas-sador of Japan; His Excellency Taka-yuki Miyashita was witnessing the contribution of JICA`s technical coop-eration “Project for Strengthening Coffee Value Chain in Rwanda” to the coffee sector. Mr. Niyomugabo Xavier a quality and production mobilizer within the coop-erative stated, “The duration of first harvest has been shortened from 3 years to 1 year whereas the quality has been significantly improved from planting, harvesting, and washing coffee beans.” He attributes the changes to advices from a Japanese coffee specialist Mr. Jose Kawashima. Under JICA’s invitation Mr. Kawashi-ma has been teaching to KOPAKAKI

farmers techniques which boosted coffee production. The techniques consist of preparing good nursery bed and using shed nets to protect the seedlings against rough sunrays and heavy raindrops, which might damage the seedlings, better farm layout and management, postharvest handling techniques at the coffee washing sta-tion. H.E. Miyashita Takayuki emphasizing that Rwandan coffee has potential to become a world-class coffee if the on-going effort to improve the quality was maintained and accelerated. “Rwandan Coffee is known in the world’s largest cities like Tokyo and New York due to its flavor and quali-ty”. But “the same product can be improved in quality and production duration.” He made the declarations after visiting the model farm. The Deputy CEO of The National Agri-

has been beyond usual friendship since their actions speaks for them.” She promised uncondi-tional partnership from the Mayor’s office and the entire dis-trict. The JAAR representative Mr. Anicet Rwama stated that their activities are framed to being the solution they want to see in socie-ty “we chose Gahanga sector to be our pilot sector, every year we plant trees but we are grounded into different professional sec-tors”. JICA Alumni Association of Rwanda started to plant trees in 2011 to prevent soil erosion and to promote forest conservation.

Mr. Takada planting a tree together with a Local Resident

JAAR was estab-lished in 2004 and has started its actual activities by the General As-sembly held in March 2009. Cur-rently it counts around 200 active members, and around 500 inac-tive members. JAAR focus on community and cultural based

The Ambassador with JICA and District

representatives

JICA Alumni Association of Rwanda

(JAAR), organized an environmental

protection activity in which 6000

trees have been planted.

JAAR is a forum of people who have

attended various training and aca-

demic programs through JICA’ train-

ing Program in Japan. This was done

in a community work day commonly

known as Umuganda.

Among the participants were the

Ambassador of Japan His excellence

Miyashita Takayuki, JICA Chief Rep-

resentative, Hiroyuki Takada and the

Mayor of Kicukiro District, Dr.

Jeanne Nyirahabimana and residents

of Gahanga Sector.

Mr. Hiroyuki Takada, the Chief Rep-resentative of JICA Rwanda who commended the enthusiastic partici-pation reminded that “As of 2018, more than 600 Rwandans have trav-elled to Japan and attended our trainings, and many of them play key roles in government offices, academ-ia, and the private sector.” The mayor of Kicukiro district, Dr. Jeanne Nyirahabimana stated that “the col-laboration of the alumni association

6000 Trees Have been Planted by JAAR and Kicukiro Residents

culture Board (NAEB), Mrs. Sandrine Urujeni advised farmers to “invest more efforts and remain focused as they learn the new skill and a strive to own it in a way that the dreamed success will never fall into abandonment due to lack of skills ownership”. Since 2017, JICA in partnership with NAEB has started this project, which is aimed at building a resilient coffee value chain by several means. ●

H.E. Miyashita with Farmers

activities such as: Tree planting for environment protection, school construction for basic education, knowledge sharing in food pro-cessing and Cultural exchange festivals etc.●

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Project News

Taarifa: Japan, Rwanda Discuss Bilateral Relations (8th October 2018)

The New Times: New ICT-based initiative to boost pupils’ skills in mathematics (14th October 2018)

The New Times: Why do majority of local ICT startups fail? (19th December 2018)

Partnership with Japanese Private Sector to Transform

Rwanda’s Primary Mathematics Education via ICT

Mathematics lessons will be easier to

learn. “Interactive Mathematics” a game-like, practical, and enjoyable software pro-posed by Sakura (a Japanese company), is going to revolutionize math learning for youngsters in Rwanda. The Director general of Rwanda Education Board (REB) Dr. Irénée Ndayambaje, Chief Representative of Japan International Coop-eration Agency (JICA) in Rwanda, Mr. Hi-royuki Takada and the Chief Executive Of-ficer of SAKURA-Sha, the Japanese leading ICT solution provider for education, Mr.

Kenya Yokoyama have officially launched the joint collaboration titled “ the Verifica-

“Workshops on Hand pump Repair and Maintenance in Kayonza”

My name is Yui Suzuki. Ms. Hiromi Sasaki

and I are JICA Volunteers in Eastern Prov-ince of Rwanda. We live in Kayonza district where access to safe drinking water is a problem. In villages, people have to walk kilometers to reach their water sources. The Government of Rwanda and JICA collaborat-ed to address access to safe drinking water and has dispatched Water and Sanitation Security Team (W-SAT). W-SAT is a group of Japan Oversees Cooperation Volunteers which tackles water, sanitation and hygiene issues, hand in hand with the community. After spending 10 months there, I realized that there is a problem linked to the way residents manage hand pump wells. There-fore, we organized a workshop on how to repair and maintain the hand pumps. The workshop took place in Kayonza district in November 2018. Before the workshops, about one third of the hand pumps in Kayonza district were not functioning. The hand pump wells are usually managed by the Water Users’ Committees (WUCs). Most of WUCs in Kayonza were newly creat-ed; they had not started any activity such as checking hand pump functionality and col-lecting water tariff. Moreover, sector and cell officers did not grasp the situations of their hand pumps that they were not func-tioning. In order to change such situations, the workshops were planned.

Apart from WUCs, various stakeholders were involved in the workshop. Those include the Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) officer in Kayonza district, technical experts and offic-ers from WASAC. In addition sector and cell officers were also invited so that they could lead follow-up activities after the workshops. 169 people from 9 sectors (64 WUCs and 20 sector and cell officers) participated in the 3-days workshops conducted in 4 phases. After lectures trainees and their trainers repaired 8 hand pumps in total. Subsequently, we have created a reporting mechanism through which WUCs monitor water pumps and re-port their status to the district officials. We W-SAT would like to keep our support for the WUCs in close cooperation with gov-ernment officers so that they can make their activity forward. ●

tion Survey with the Private Sector for Dis-seminating Japanese Technologies for Utili-zation of ICT to improve the Quality of Pri-mary Mathematics Education in Rwanda”. The purpose of the joint survey is to verify the effectiveness of the localized Interactive Mathematics (IM) to improve math lessons by teachers and Math learning in the prima-ry schools. The survey also has a purpose of discussing the plan for disseminating IM into public primary schools along the policy of “SMART classroom”. In 2016, SAKURA has conducted a prelimi-nary Feasibility Survey assisted with JICA and found that the lack of the effective soft-ware content was one of the issues to effi-ciently utilize ICT in Education which is re-garded as a strategic lever to promote the improvement of the quality of education. The products of “IM Software” developed by SAKURA could be one of the solutions with “Interactive and Student Centered” Mathe-matics learning system.. ● Introducing “Interactive Mathematics” to

Primary students

Demonstration of Hand pump repairing by trainer

JICA RWANDA News is a quar-terly newsletter which focuses on JICA’s international perspectives and its involvement in local eco-nomic development. This news-letter details the work of JICA in Rwanda.

Editors: Mr. Koji Nakashima, PR Manager and Mr. Aimable Uwimana, PR Officer

JICA RWANDA EBENEZER HOUSE, Umuganda Boulevard, Kigali, Rwanda Tel 0788301732/31/23 Website: http://www.jica.go.jp/rwanda/english/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jicarwandaen/

JICA (Japan International Co-

operation Agency) is the world’s largest bilateral aid agency providing various forms of assis-tance in over 150 countries

around the world.