This research group aims to reimagine the field of International Educational Development by bridging theory and practice. It intends to do two main activities: 1) facilitating a series of dialogue between next generation scholars and practitioners in this field to better understand each other; and 2) proposing new image of the field through collaborative explorations of the past and current experiences. The research team has already launched an informal study group last year, where we learned that scholars (or theories) and practitioners (or their practices) have somehow “passed” each other without really engaging in dialogue. For example, scholars tended to perceive JICA as a monolithic actor rather than paying attention to individual feelings and struggles inside the organization, whereas practitioners tended not to utilize researchers’ perspectives and critiques fully in their daily business. The proposed research group, therefore, tries to have continuous dialogue between scholars (or theories) and practitioners (or their practices) so that we could deepen our understanding about how and why there has been such a distance between them as well as whether we ought to bridge the gap or not, what it means, and how. Unpacking these questions in collaboration with the two parties may help reimagine the field of International Educational Development.

Over recent years, the international development sector has witnessed a rise in ICT-related projects, including digital transformation (DX) and innovation. This trend, driven by a significant increase in cooperation between public and private sectors, has resulted in transformative social changes catalyzed by digital tools and an increase in ICT applications in varied sectors, such as business, education, and peacebuilding.

However, challenges are also accumulating, including ethical issues related to AI, information management and censorship, and persistent digital divides. Many studies have raised concerns about the negative impacts and failures due to hasty digitalization, warning against excessive expectations towards ICT.

In response to these dynamics, our research group aims to explore both the potential and limitations of ICT and innovation within the international development sector. We have actively participated in JASID conferences, delivering presentations on subjects such as PeaceTech and the bottlenecks in DX Implementation. Additionally, some of the members have translated and published “ICT for Development” by Dr. Richard Heeks.

Once this application is approved, our group plans to hold regular research meetings and invite guest speakers. Moreover, we strive to foster the academic growth of our fields, such as Development Informatics and ICT4D, that are less recognized as an academic field compared to their practical application.

This study group will focus on how people in developing countries with low incomes, such as those in Africa and Asia, are involved in manufacturing in a broad sense, acquire skills, utilize them, and fabricate their lives.

This study is aimed at exploring these issues based on empirical cases as much as possible, while taking into account the theoretical backgrounds or labor and educational studies.

In the past, Japanese academic research in particular have not paid sufficient attention to the work or labor of people, their lifestyles, and the environment surrounding them in manufacturing and other industries in developing countries such as Africa.

However, in not only Asia but also Africa, the manufacturing sector, including informal and micro Asia but also Africa, the manufacturing sector, including informal and micro manufacturing, is deeply embedded in societies, manufacturing, is deeply embedded in societies, and in African cities, and in African cities, informal and micro manufacturing plays an indispensable role in pr informal and micro manufacturing plays an indispensable role in product supply, employment, and skill development and dissemination/transmission.

The development of the manufacturing sector in a broad sense, including The development of the manufacturing sector in a broad sense, including agro–industry, is essential to shift away from dependence on primary industry, is essential to shift away from dependence on primary commodities, create more sustainable commodities, create more sustainable and widespread employment, and e and widespread employment, and advance technology, knowledge, and economic opportunities, and there are advance technology, knowledge, and economic opportunities, and there are slight signs of industrialization in Africa as well as in Asia.

In addition, as slight signs of industrialization in Africa as well as in Asia.

In addition, as “work/life balance” has “work/life balance” has widely widely become a social issue, it is important become a social issue, it is important to take a to take a closer look at the current state of people’s manufacturing and labor.

Based on closer look at the current state of people’s manufacturing and labor.

Based on the above, we would like to provide a forum for JASID members who are the above, we would like to provide a forum for JASID members who are interested in manufacturing by people in developing countries to gather and interested in manufacturing by people in developing countries to gather and discuss the issue.

We will publicize discussion of the group through the website to be newly opened, Sessions at JASID conferences, and publications of books be newly opened, Sessions at JASID conferences, and publications of books and articles.

Through them, we can contribute to broadening the horizons of international development study.

The Resilience seminar cordially invite you to join the following hybrid seminar.
For zoom participation, prior registration is required here.

Resilience Seminar #41

• Date & Time: January 26, 2023, Thu 16:30-18:15 JST
• Language: English
• Venue: Seminar Room E220, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University
  and Zoom Web Seminar (hybrid)

Speaker

Masanori Matsuura, Institute of Developing Economies (IDE-JETRO)

Title

Weather Shocks, Livelihood Diversification, and Household Food Security: Empirical Evidence from Rural Bangladesh

Abstract

Extreme weather shocks have occurred more frequently because of global climate change. Livelihood diversification including crop and income diversification is one of the most remarkable strategies to cope with economic and weather shocks to improve rural livelihood. We investigate the empirical linkages among weather shocks, livelihood diversification, and household food security, exploiting three waves of nationally representative rural household panel data merged with granular climate data in Bangladesh

Brief bio

Mr. Masanori Matsuura worked for a Japanese private think tank as an analyst and obtained MSc in Agricultural Economics at National Taiwan University, prior to joining IDE-JETRO. His research interests lie in the intersection among climate change, food security, health, and rural development.

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Contact

Division of Natural Resource Economics
Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University
Ken Miura

• [at] (replace [at] with @)

*This seminar is co-hosted by Kyoto Environment and Development Seminar and Hokkaido Branch of Japan Association for African Studies.

The Japan Society for Afrasian Studies (JSAS) will hold its annual academic conference on July 9th 2022 (one day). JSAS is a multi-disciplinary research platform of African studies in Japan/Asia and, potentially, of Japanese/Asian studies in Africa. Its focus is the creation of inter-cultural and inter-generational links to facilitate dialogue among participants on issues affecting Africa and Asia.

The 2022 JSAS conference will take place as the world is still reeling from the effects and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which has restructured the political, economic, and cultural life of multiple societies in Africa, Asia, and elsewhere. 2022 will also be a year when the Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD) will be held for the second time on African soil. We welcome you to join us in our keynote and thematic sessions that will discuss these among other issues. Our keynote speakers will be;

Keynote Session 1
1. Prof. Kojo Opoku Aidoo, Visiting Professor, African Studies Center – TUFS, & Senior Research Fellow, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana.
2. Prof. Renu Modi, Professor, University of Mumbai, & Director, Center for African Studies.

Keynote Session 2 (Special TICAD 8 Session)
1. Prof. Shinichi Takeuchi, ASC-Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
2. Prof. Katsuya Mochizuki,Toyo Eiwa University
3. Prof. Christian Otchia, Nagoya University
4. Prof. Keiichi Shirato, Ritsumeikan University

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Contact

Those willing to participate are requested to access

and register. Please also see the JSAS website for details.

We are pleased to announce that Japan Society for Afrasian Studies (JSAS) and Institute for Future Initiatives (IFI) will co-host a Webinar on “Towards Understanding Grassroots Perspectives in Africa under COVID-19.” We look forward to your participation in our seminar.

◇◆Webinar Details◆◇

• Date: August 31st (Tue), 2021
• Time: 19:00 – 21:00 (JST)
• Venue: Online (Zoom Webinar) *The Zoom link will be sent to the email address you provided by the day before the seminar.
• Language: English Only
• Participation Fee: Free
  Please register from this URL: (by August 29th 23:59）
• Host of the Webinar: Japan Society for Afrasian Studies (JSAS),
• Co-host: SDGs Collaborative Research Unit, Institute for Future Initiatives (IFI), the University of Tokyo

◇◆Overview◆◇

Japan Society for Afrasian Studies (JSAS) and Institute for Future Initiatives (IFI) of UTokyo have launched an international collaborative research project on “Exploration of Practical Wisdom and Resilience Overcoming Downside Risk – Collecting grassroots voices in Africa under COVID-19.” This research project aims to classify and assess the real and perceived risks associated with both Covid-19 and government responses to the pandemic in six African countries. It also aims to elucidate the people’s resilience in overcoming the risks. We will collect daily grassroots voices from private mobile communication applications, including Twitter and WhatsApp, the most widely used platform in Africa. We shall also collaborate with research institutions in the countries. Through that, this research will contribute to improving aid policy and business strategies. As a kick-off event of the research project, this seminar will illustrate the research subject based on the information sharing with Japanese and African researchers concerning the pandemic situation and impact of COVID-19 containment policies in six targeted countries.

◇◆Program◆◇

1. Opening Remarks: Vick Ssali (President of JSAS / Aichi Gakuin University)
2. Introduction: Kazuyo Hanai (The University of Tokyo)
3. Session 1 – “Societal and policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of South Africa” Scarlet Cornelissen (Stellenbosch University) – “Martial law and COVID-19: Evidence from the Democratic Republic of Congo” Christian Otchia (Nagoya University) – “Responding to COVID-19 in Ethiopia: A Triple Heritage Perspective” Seifudein Adem (Doshisha University) – Comments: Masaki Inaba (Africa Japan Forum) – Q&A
4. Session 2 – “Political interference and the Socio-Economic Impact of Covid-19 on the Masses in Uganda” Vick Ssali (Aichi Gakuin University) – “The Politics of Scapegoating and Fatigue in COVID-19 Pandemic in Kenya” Kinyua Laban Kithinji (Sophia University) – “Farmers perception of COVID-19 (effects, implications and government response policy) on agricultural markets and rural livelihoods in Zimbabwe” Rangarirai Gavin Muchetu (Doshisha University) – Comments Scarlet Cornelissen (Stellenbosch University) – Q&A
5. Open Discussion

◇◆Inquiry◆◇

hanai [a]