On the spot – Namibia-Japan relations anchored in humanity and education …  N$330 million plough in the last three years 

On the spot – Namibia-Japan relations anchored in humanity and education …  N$330 million plough in the last three years 

Japan’s former ambassador Nishimaki Hisao last week bid farewell to the country he had grown fond of and lived in for three years. He recalls the times spent here and the projects that were implemented, which further strengthened the bilateral relations between the two nations.

New Era’s Paheja Siririka (PS) engaged Hisao (NH) as he exited the office and headed back to Tokyo. The conversation centred on Japan’s presence in Namibia and its contribution to the health, education, and food security sectors, among others.

PS: What is the Namibian-Japanese relation founded on? What are the prominent areas of cooperation? 

NH: Our relations between our two countries didn’t just start after the independence of Namibia, but we started by supporting Namibia’s independence in the international arena. One of those steps and bold moves was criticising a lot about the apartheid occupations. After Namibia’s independence, we immediately continued with the bilateral ties by Namibian officials for training purposes in different sectors such as agriculture, mining, management, and so many others.

Japan’s Country Development Cooperation Policy for Namibia (JICA), in general, is aimed at supporting Namibia to realise sustainable and inclusive economic and social development. Priority area one deals with the strengthening of the industrial base to support economic growth in Namibia, focusing on supporting the effective and efficient implementation of the “Master Plan for Development of an International Logistics Hub for SADC Countries”. It also targets the improvement of the business and investment environment to strengthen the industrial base which contributes to diversification and high value addition of the industries. To help address the issue of inclusive economic and social development, the Embassy of Japan under Priority Area Two of our support looks at the contribution to poverty reduction and livelihood improvement in rural areas.

PS: Please highlight key projects that have been cementing the relations between Japan and Namibia in the past three years.

NH: These include the Project on Implementation of International Logistics Hub Master Plan Phase 2 (Technical Cooperation and Country-Focused Training)

– Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects – GGP (construction of physical infrastructure mostly in the education sector)

– Northern Namibia Small-Scale Farmers’ Livelihood Enhancement Project (Technical Support and Country-Focused Training)

– Various Focused Training Opportunities for Namibian Government officials (Annual Short-Term Training)

– Various scholarship opportunities for under and post-graduate studies (ABE, MEXT)

– Human Resources Development in the Regional Development Support (Annual JOCV Placements).

PS: Please dive into the economic ties between the two nations. Kindly touch on the projects you initiated to fulfil this. 

NH: From 1997 to date, we have built more than 300 classrooms, with 20 additional classrooms still under construction. From 2013 to date, we have funded more than N$270 million to save the Namibian people, especially in the situation of devastation of flood, drought, and malnutrition. This was particularly for children and babies. This is the reason why we have also given training opportunities for young mothers as a way of inculcating independence. We have refurbished the maternity waiting homes in Opuwo.

That is the humanitarian, educational, and infrastructural support. A project close to my heart that I was part of from the beginning since I started my tenure is the Ogongo Rice Project in the Omusati region. Namibian scholars approached us to support a cause of such nature. So, since 2021, we contacted the University of Namibia in the agriculture field, and by 2023, they gave feedback about how excited they are that they have started harvesting rice. Pamwenafye Nanhapo is a plant scientist and senior lecturer who oversees the project at the campus. He has been doing an amazing job, creating an environment where both students and local farmers are trained and exposed to the production of rice.

PS: Japan has taken in many Namibian students over the years. Since you have been attached here, how many students have left Namibia for studies and which fields are they mostly pursuing? 

NH: I would like to highlight the bigger extent of Japan’s assistance in training Namibian students which totals 64. Thirty-two students from 2013 – 2023 through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) took part in long-term training (ABE, SDGs Global Leader, AGRINET, KIZUNA scholarships) and additionally, 32 students from 2006 – 2025 were educated in Japan through MEXT scholarships and teacher trainings. The areas of interest that we have identified remain to be Agriculture Sciences, Chemical Engineering, various other engineering fields, Renewable Energy, Education, Mathematics and others.

PS: What role has Japan played in Namibia’s health sector?

NH: Japan, in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Namibia and the ministry of health has consistently supported Namibia’s health sector, contributing over N$28 million from 2019 to 2023 to combat the Hepatitis E outbreak, sustain essential health services during Covid-19, improve nutrition and health for women and children. We have equally been instrumental in strengthening the protection of women and children against violence and increasing access to quality healthcare services for vulnerable populations through outreach services and buying.

PS: How much has Japan contributed to Namibia’s development since you took over the office three years ago and what sector/s mostly benefited from that assistance? 

NH: TVET – On 1 March 2024, I officiated at the inauguration of workshops and the handover of Training equipment ceremony to Zambezi Vocational Training Centre in the Zambezi region. We handed over training equipment to the Minister of Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation Itah Kandjii-Murangi. This assistance was provided through Japan’s Economic Development Programme to the tune of approximately N$50 million for training equipment for the Automotive, Air-conditioning, and Refrigeration occupations. 

Trilateral Cooperation with UN Agencies (N$ 193 043 820 – 2022 till 2024) on various projects (Health, Agriculture, Basic Education, Human Resource Development and Emergency response capacity) with various UN Agencies. The total since 2013 is N$ 330 830 604.

JOCV – JICA has dispatched over 165 Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers mainly to schools, regional government offices, and vocational training centres since 2006.

GGP – Out of the total 95 GGP projects in Namibia with a total grant amounting to more than N$79 million since 1997, 76 have been related to school building construction.

N-SHEP – “Northern Namibia Small-Scale Framers’ Livelihood Enhancement Project” – (2020-2026) is to introduce market-oriented agriculture for small-scale farmers to uplift the lives of those farmers by enhancing productivity and market access.

PS: What is your favourite thing about Namibia and what will you miss most about our country? 

NH: On 4 May 2022, before I presented my credentials to the late president Hage Geingob, my wife and I grabbed the opportunity and travelled the country. So, during that time, we dedicated three months to travelling. All the directions of Namibia. North to south, east to west. You have a beautiful country, the scenery, warm and friendly people who mind their business, and most importantly – the food. We enjoyed it so much and we will miss that. So I will remember Namibia for its wildlife, landscapes, and amazing people.

PS: What message do you have for Namibians and the president-elect as the new administration gets ready to lead the country into a new era? 

NH: May the Namibians embrace this new era of having the first female president, with her vast experience in various governmental departments, I am sure she is well positioned to lead the Namibian nation. Her passion for agriculture and education will enable Namibia to go on to the next level of development.

I would like to use this opportunity to re-confirm our commitment as the government of Japan, to continue supporting Namibia in sectors such as economic development, health, agriculture, basic education, human resource development, and emergency response capacity. I firmly believe that this kind of cooperation will further strengthen the cooperation between our two governments.