On Thursday, September 25, 2025, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) officially announced the withdrawal of its 'Africa Hometown' project. The decision was made after recognizing significant misunderstandings surrounding the project and the heavy administrative and financial burdens it imposed on local governments in participating African countries.
The 'Africa Hometown' project was initiated by JICA with the aim of fostering regional development and strengthening ties between Japan and African communities. However, the project encountered challenges related to communication gaps and differing expectations between JICA and local authorities, which led to operational difficulties.
According to JICA officials, the misunderstandings stemmed from unclear roles and responsibilities, as well as insufficient consultation with local governments before project implementation. These issues resulted in local governments facing unexpected costs and administrative workloads that exceeded their capacities.
Local government representatives expressed concerns that the project diverted resources from other critical local needs and complicated their governance processes. The burden was particularly felt in areas with limited infrastructure and administrative support.
JICA stated that the decision to withdraw was made to prevent further strain on local governments and to reassess the approach to international cooperation projects in Africa. The agency emphasized its commitment to supporting sustainable development in Africa through more collaborative and clearly defined initiatives in the future.
The withdrawal announcement was made public through JICA's official communication channels and was reported by multiple news outlets, including Fuji News Network (FNN), which provided detailed coverage of the project's challenges and the reasons behind the termination.
This development marks a significant shift in Japan's international cooperation strategy in Africa, highlighting the importance of clear communication and local government capacity considerations in project planning and execution.
