Mainstreaming COBSI Project

M-COBSI Project Team visited Zambia Embassy Tokyo!!

On 20 April, 12 participants from 10 African countries arrived in Zambia for a two-week Overseas Training under the JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program (KCCP).
The program began with training in Japan, followed by hands-on learning in Zambia after sessions at the JICA Tsukuba International Training Center.
In addition to the international participants, 12 local officers from Zambia also joined the program to support the nationwide dissemination of the COBSI approach. They came from ZCA Mpika, Chapula, Monze, as well as Eastern, Lusaka, and Western Provinces.
Starting on 21 April, trainers from the PACO office (SIE, SCO, SMDO, SFNO) delivered lectures in the Copperbelt Province. After the classroom sessions, participants visited a COBSI site in Kalulushi District, followed by practical training on simple weir construction and canal alignment in Luanshya District.
The training continued in Northwestern Province, where participants observed two simple weir sites in Mushindamo and Solwezi and a permanent weir site in Kasempa.
Through these field-based experiences, participants deepened their understanding of COBSI as a practical, locally adaptable irrigation approach.
At the end of the program, each participant developed an action plan to disseminate the COBSI approach in their respective countries.

🌍 Strengthening Smallholder Irrigation in Zambia 🇿🇲🤝🇯🇵
I had the honor to participate in the 1st Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) Meeting for the Mainstreaming of Community-Based Smallholder Irrigation Development Project (M-COBSI), held in Lusaka on October 28, 2025.
The meeting gathered representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Zambia and the JICA Zambia Office, together with provincial officers and project experts. Together, we discussed strategies for promoting sustainable irrigation and strengthening resilience among smallholder farmers.
It was inspiring to see such strong commitment and collaboration among all partners toward making irrigation development a key driver for agricultural transformation in Zambia. 🌾💧
Grateful to all participants for their dedication, and to our partners for their continued friendship and support toward empowering smallholder communities.

🌍 ザンビアにおける小規模灌漑の推進 🇿🇲🤝🇯🇵
2025年10月28日、ルサカで開催された「ザンビア国地域密着型灌漑開発の主流化プロジェクト（M-COBSI）第1回合同調整委員会（JCC）」に参加しました。
本会議には、ザンビア農業省（MoA）、在ザンビア日本国大使館、JICAザンビア事務所をはじめ、各州の農業関係者や専門家が参加し、小規模農家の持続可能な灌漑開発とレジリエンス強化に向けた取り組みについて意見交換を行いました。
灌漑開発をザンビアの農業変革の原動力とするため、関係者が一丸となって取り組む姿勢に大きな感銘を受けました。🌾💧
ご参加いただいた皆さま、そしてプロジェクトを支えてくださっているすべてのパートナーの皆さまに心より感謝いたします。

The COBSI Project Team has come back!!
On 2nd October, Dr. Kabwe Alex, Dr. Yoshinao Adachi (Team Leader), Mr. Tatsuya Ieizumi (Co-Team Leader), and Mr. Hiroki Mizuno visited Natural Resources Development College (NRDC) in Lusaka to introduce and explain M-COBSI.
NRDC incorporated our COBSI approach into their curriculum in the Department of Water Engineering last semester.
The vice principal of NRDC warmly welcomed the project team and introduced the college's activities.
Eng. Mwanza Davis kindly took the project team to the simple weir in NRDC after the meeting.
Although the weir has a challenge in its location, its strong structure was appreciated by the project team. M-COBSI will follow up on the progress and support further dissemination of COBSI approach by NRDC.