The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in collaboration with the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) has held its workshop titled “NCWD/JICA Overseas Training Multiplier Effect Workshop”.

The workshop which was held at the National Centre for Women Development Abuja, brought together ex-participants who have been sponsored by JICA to attend overseas training on the areas ofwomen empowerment through entrepreneurship development, particularly in rural areas.

These trainings constitute part of the activities of JICA for the ongoing project on Activation of Women Development Centers Phase II, which is being implemented in collaboration with NCWD.

Currently, Japan has the world’s largest training programme, with over 10,000 participants each year. The overall goal of the programme is to transfer Japanese specialized knowledge and technology in areas where Japan has developed expertise, in order to improve the capacities of counterpart government ministries, departments and agencies. Training programmes are implemented in collaboration with Japanese national and local governments, universities, private enterprises and non-governmental organizations.

In view of the JICA ongoing project with NCWD, the Japanese government has sponsored over 22 persons to attend various trainings since the second phase started in 2010. Trainings have focused on improving the capacities of civil servants to promote rural women empowerment through innovative knowledge and practical skills, drawing on Japanese experience.

By convening this workshop, the Japanese government envisages a further dissemination of the technical and innovative knowledge gained by participants during the training as this would undoubtedly benefit all stakeholders of the project, thereby enabling them to be more effective in implementation.

Participant at the workshop included  ex-training participants, members of the NCWD Project Team, Project Desk Officers from the six pilot states of Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Kwara, Anambra, Cross River, Directors of State Ministries of Women Affairs and Local Government Affairs from the States, as well as the 18 Heads of the Women Development Centers that are currently being supported through the project.