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Program Concept:

Countries across Eastern and Southern Africa are highly vulnerable to water-related disasters such as floods and droughts. These challenges are intensified by the growing impacts of climate change. To improve the resilience of these nations, the World Bank is organizing a knowledge exchange to Japan for technical delegates¡ªsuch as hydrologists and GIS specialists¡ªfrom South Sudan, Comoros, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi, as well as regional organizations. With technical support from the World Bank Tokyo Disaster Risk Management Hub and the Water Global Department, this knowledge exchange provides delegates with the opportunity to learn from Japan¡¯s experience, expertise, and good practice in developing systems for monitoring and forecasting of flood and drought situations.

This knowledge exchange marks the first step in a broader capacity-building effort aimed at equipping participants with the skills to harness cutting-edge technologies and scientific tools from Japan for early warning systems. Through hands-on learning and technical exchange, participants will explore how to adapt these innovative approaches to their own national contexts. This knowledge exchange has been made possible through the generous support of the Government of Japan, via the Japan-World Bank Program for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management in Developing Countries managed by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), and the Quality Infrastructure Investment (QII) Partnership¡¯s regional trust fund on ¡°Improving Infrastructure Planning and Operation and Sustainable Asset Management¡±.

The delegation¡¯s itinerary includes field visits to the historically significant Tone and Naruse River basins and a technical workshop at the International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM), Public Works Research Institute (PWRI) in Tsukuba. The workshop will focus on sharing the details of early warning sub-systems and discussing their applicability to the participating countries. Participants will meet with local authorities in Tone and Naruse River basins and observe critical infrastructure firsthand, including the Kusaki Dam, the Watarase Retarding Basin, and the Osaki Arable Land, a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS). These interactions and site visits will offer valuable insights into balancing agricultural production with flood control improvements and implementing modern climate change adaptation strategies.

This will be an invitation-only event for the delegation from the selected countries and organizations.