PNN – JICA’s role in Africa has both a genuine developmental dimension and, at the analytical level, serves as a potential tool to advance Japan’s strategic interests.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network: Japan, through its Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), plays an active role in Africa’s development, focusing on Official Development Assistance (ODA), technical cooperation, and loans, with long-term emphasis on human development, technology, and innovation. However, Japan’s programs also carry strategic aspects; some analysts believe these activities help balance China’s significant influence and France’s historical presence.
Introduction
Over the past three decades, Japan has sought to redefine its approach to Africa, playing an active and multidimensional role in the continent’s development. The main instrument of this policy is the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD)—a multilateral forum launched in 1993 that has become a cornerstone of Japan’s foreign and development policy in Africa.
TICAD allows African countries, under the principle of “African ownership,” to set their own priorities, while Japan, through JICA, defines projects that provide real developmental benefits for Africa and build long-term capacities for economic and institutional cooperation. Within this framework, JICA goes beyond being a mere “charity arm”: it serves as a bridge between development projects and Japan’s foreign policy, linking African local needs with Japan’s long-term interests. Analysts, however, caution that this relationship is not always simple or unified; at times, developmental and geopolitical interests are so intertwined that distinguishing “pure aid” from an “instrument of influence” becomes difficult.
JICA Projects in Africa
Kenya–Tanzania Electricity Connection (400 kV transmission project): JICA officially announced a project to construct 400 kV transmission lines in parts of Tanzania to ensure stable electricity supply in East Africa. This project is part of regional efforts to enhance grid connectivity and reliability.
Nairobi Urban Road Improvement (Kenya): JICA has implemented projects to develop and upgrade roads and reduce urban traffic in Nairobi, with official reports and assessments available on JICA’s website.
Strengthening Rural Finance and Agriculture in Tanzania: In 2025, JICA signed agreements to facilitate intermediary loans to rural development institutions in Tanzania, aiming to improve farmers’ access to long-term capital and enhance agricultural productivity.
West African Growth Ring (WAGRIC) Development Strategy: JICA published strategic documents and project reports for the “Corridor Development Plan for the West African Growth Ring,” focusing on corridor development and regional integration in West Africa. These programs include corridor planning to improve agricultural value chains and trade flows.
Energy and Water Loans/Projects in North Africa: JICA has implemented or financed territorial development and water resource management projects in Morocco and other water-agriculture projects, including major agreements in recent years.
On the sidelines of TICAD-9, countries and JICA offered aid and loan packages for renewable energy projects, human development, and regional infrastructure; for example, some media reported that Nigeria and other countries signed agreements for clean energy projects and JICA loans.
Behind JICA’s Activities in Africa
Some analysts and research centers suggest the following underlying reasons for Japan’s programs in Africa:
- Diversification and market creation for Japanese technology and companies: By focusing on clean energy, water, and digital sectors, the projects create commercial opportunities for Japanese firms and equipment. Analysts view this as part of Japan’s “economic security.”
- Balancing China’s influence and France’s historical presence: Although official JICA documents emphasize sustainable development, analysts argue that TICAD and Japan’s investment packages implicitly serve as a qualitative alternative to China’s investment model and France’s presence in Francophone regions. France has historically been present as a former colonial power in African countries, while China seeks to expand its economic influence through substantial investments.
- Access to resources and supply security: Some observers note that competition over critical minerals (including lithium and rare elements) and control over supply chains motivates Japan’s enhanced activities in Africa, highlighted in recent analytical reports.
In conclusion, JICA’s role in Africa combines genuine developmental impact with a potential instrument for advancing Japan’s strategic interests. For Africa, having multiple partnership options is an opportunity; however, it is essential that governments and local observers monitor financial sustainability, local ownership, and contract transparency to ensure that aid leads to genuine empowerment rather than long-term dependency.