summary
The 11th Study Session for Municipalities and Others Involved in Water Supply Business (hereinafter referred to as the “Study Session”) was held at JICA Tokyo Center from December 22 to 24, 2025, with 40 participants from 21 organizations including municipalities from all over Japan, from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south.
Since 2014, JICA has continuously held this study session for municipalities that have experience or interest in international cooperation in the water supply sector. The purpose of this study session is to share various examples of international cooperation efforts in the water supply sector, promote participation in international cooperation by local governments, strengthen cooperation among related parties, and generate synergies among schemes.
In the study session, in addition to “sharing examples of initiatives for co-creation, innovation, and circular flow” by each organization, “new ideas were generated through the idea-thon,” which led to active discussions and exchanges among the participants.
Contents
(1) Program
(2) Main presentations
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism ・Introduced that the significance, direction, and specific measures for international cooperation in the field of waterworks are being organized in the “FY2025 International Cooperation Study Committee for Waterworks” and the results will be discussed in the “Basic Policy Study Committee for Water Supply and Sewerage”. Progress of the SDGs and key points of the Outline of Development Cooperation on Co-creation, Innovation, and Circular Flow
JICA’s contribution to multicultural conviviality and local economic revitalization, collaboration with diverse partners, sustainability, and DX initiatives JICA Tokyo ・Case studies of Saku City and Komakane City from the “JICA Survey on the Contribution of Domestic Projects, Focusing on Citizen Participation Cooperation Projects, to Local Internationalization and Revitalization” Sapporo City Participation in both grass-roots technical cooperation and technical cooperation projects in Pokhara City, Nepal, and the synergistic effects of the schemes, including grant aid
Collaboration with Sapporo Waterway Service Association and Sapporo Plumbing Cooperative Association
・Public relations and waterworks bureau staff training initiatives through international cooperation Saitama Prefecture ・Grassroots technical cooperation initiatives targeting two countries, Thailand and Laos, and synergistic effects with technical cooperation projects
Secure human resources for international cooperation, and publicize the project to the public.
Hamamatsu City – Grassroots technical cooperation in Bandung, Indonesia
Co-creation efforts with external organizations, such as cooperation with the Hamamatsu Indonesian Friendship Association and exchange programs with students and faculty in the city.
Osaka City ・International cooperation is clearly stated in the “Osaka City Waterworks Management Strategy”.
Collaboration with the private sector through the “Overseas Water Business Partner Program” and “Aquatic Osaka,” an exhibition facility for private-sector technologies and products.
The four Kansai cities will collaborate on issue-specific training initiatives Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Tokyo Waterworks Co. ・Original projects based on inter-city diplomacy and memorandum of understanding by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
International cooperation by intermediary organizations of industry, government, and academia; examples of utilization of JICA Biz
Grassroots Technical Cooperation in Cambodia (Water Mirai Hiroshima Co., Ltd.) – Efforts to promote DX in Pakistan
・Hosting a seminar on overseas water projects for private sector collaboration Nago City ・Introducing a case study of the implementation of ideas raised at last year’s study session Idea-thon. Co-creation with a local business high school and a plumbing contractor in Nago City ・Conducted a plumbing skills competition between trainees and high school students. Initiatives for recruiting local government officials Idea-thon ・Create a matrix that crosses local and international cooperation issues with co-creation partners and innovation, and generate ideas in the form of group work. Ideas from each group included approaches to students and pupils (to address the shortage of human resources in local governments and to educate international understanding), publicity linked to a popular video game character who is a plumber, remote instruction using 3D goggles, 24-hour multilingual support using AI, and sharing the benefits generated by cooperation between the two parties. A variety of ideas that contribute to co-creation, innovation, and circular flow were seen.
3) Presentations of Key Takeaways by each organization and their future plans
On the final day, each organization was asked to prepare and present Key Takeaways, which included “expectations and results of the workshop,” “the best idea presented at the Idea-thon and the reasons why it was the best idea,” “words or examples that impressed you,” and “other feedback to your organization and your overall impression of the workshop. Feedback to the organization and overall impression” were filled in.
The participants commented that they gained many suggestions and new ideas. This was a valuable opportunity for JICA to share its ideas and initiatives on co-creation, innovation, and circular flow.
JICA also hopes to continue this study session in the coming year and beyond as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with partners in Japan.
Presentations of case studies from local governments Q&A session using a round table format
The event was divided into eight groups
Group work in an ideaathon Examples of ideaathon results
Group photo with “W” for Water made with both hands
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