The 5th Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting was held on September 30th, 2023, at Jinka University in Ethiopia. Although it was the first international meeting of the project in a remote location in Ethiopia, a total 30 people including project members from Kyoto University, University of Miyazaki, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, and the Ethiopian Roads Administration, three officials from the JICA Ethiopia office, and local members, gathered at the ICT room of Jinka University. Those who could not come to the site participated via Zoom.
At the opening of the JCC, the project leader, Professor Kimura (Kyoto University), Dr. Kusse(President of Jinka University), and Mr. Takano(Deputy chief representative of JICA Ethiopia office) gave speeches.
In the first session of the JCC, researchers from both sides gave presentations on the progress in the four and a half years, and the progress was reviewed by all stakeholders. A lot of questions were raised from the audience on the floor and via Zoom, and the participants discussed the activity plan for the remaining time of the project.
At the second session of the JCC meeting, Dr. Frehaileab (Ehime University/AASTU), who just returned to Ethiopia in September as the first PhD recipient among the five MNGD project students who studied in Japan, presented his PhD research. Following his presentation, Mr. Mohammed of Jinka University, who would join a short-term training of the MNGD project at Kyoto University in October 2023, presented his research on road disasters around Jinka, which was followed by a lively discussion.
To hold an international conference in the remote city of like Jinka is not that much common. In fact, a blackout occurred in the middle of the meeting, and it caused a 15-minute internet cut out. However, all the participants enjoyed the reunion and the occasion, since they had deepened relationship through the joint research and short-term trainings in Japan. The meeting was quite fruitful thanks to all the active participants.
