(2) Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JICA Volunteer Program)
A JOCV conducting a workshop on dietary education and infant growth in the City of San Juan de la Maguana, the Dominican Republic (Photo: JICA)
The Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JICA Volunteer Program) was started in 1965 and has a long record of success of more than half a century. More than 54,000 volunteers have been dispatched to 98 developing countries and regions in total. This is truly a program for public participation and has contributed to the development of these countries and regions, embodying the “visibility of Japanese development cooperation.”
The JICA Volunteer Program is highly regarded both domestically and internationally. The program contributes not only to the economic and social development of developing countries and regions, but also to promoting mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and these countries and regions through the deepening of local people’s affinity for Japan (see “Project Introduction Column”). Moreover, the program draws attention in the respect that ex-volunteers utilize their experiences and knowledge to give back to Japanese society. For example, ex-volunteers who have obtained global views through the program contribute to the local revitalization in Japan and the business expansion of Japanese private companies to developing countries.
In order to promote these initiatives, the Government of Japan strives to make it easier for more people to join the program through supporting ex-volunteers in developing their careers, as well as disseminating information on how to participate in the program while retaining one’s job (see “Project Introduction Column” for the activities of a JOCV who participated in the program while retaining their job).
As for the response to COVID-19, the dispatch of JOCVs was resumed in November 2020 and volunteers were dispatched to 32 countries by December 2021. The spring recruitment for FY2021 was conducted after a one year pause. However, the resurgence of COVID-19 cases caused difficulties for the planned dispatch of new JOCVs and the autumn recruitment for FY2021 was postponed. The recruitment for FY2022 will be held depending on the infection situation.