On October 26, 2022, six people from the Embassy of Japan in Ethiopia and the JICA Ethiopia office came to observe the MNGD project activities in Jinka, South Omo Zone for two days. The visit was organized in conjunction with the handover ceremony of the multi-purpose training and education center to Jinka University. This center was built with the support of the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project of the Embassy of Japan. Ambassador Ito was originally scheduled to visit, but due to unforeseen circumstances, Mr. Takahashi (Secretary, Embassy of Japan, Director for Economic Cooperation) visited in her behalf with Mr. Yoshida(Secretary, Embassy of Japan) and Ms. Tanaka (Director for Grassroots Project). From the JICA Ethiopia office, Mr. Morihara (Director), Mr. Amemiya, and Ms. Abebawork Abebe participated in the visit.
After arriving in Jinka by Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa, the party went to the South Omo Research Center (SORC) and Museum, located on a hill overlooking Jinka City. There they are greeted by the MNGD project members Prof. Shigeta and Dr. Kaneko (Kyoto University), along with Dr. Kusse (President of Jinka University) and Dr. Eilias, (Vice President of Jinka University). After a welcome speech by President Kusse, Prof. Shigeta gave a presentation titled “Field Research Activities of Kyoto University in Ethiopia: In Relation to Social Contribution and Development Assistance in South Omo” in the museum hall. He introduced the research and cooperative activities conducted with the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project of the Embassy of Japan and with support from JICA. He also explained the process leading up to the MNGD project, which is currently being conducted in collaboration with Addis Ababa Science and Technology University and Jinka University.
Afterwards, they toured the museum with exhibits of daily item of the 16 ethnic groups living in South Omo. Then, they visited the library and the research center, which were built as part of the SORC in 2010 with the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project of the Embassy of Japan.
