JICA’s Role in Africa: Development Aid or Balancing Act Against China, France?
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Japan has been redefining its approach to Africa over the past three decades, aiming for a multifaceted role in the continent’s development. A key instrument in this policy is the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), a multilateral forum initiated in 1993 that has become a cornerstone of Japan’s foreign and development policy in Africa.
TICAD allows African countries to set their priorities through “African ownership,” with Japan, via JICA, providing technical assistance, loans, and investments for projects that offer real developmental benefits to Africa and build long-term economic and institutional cooperation. In this context, JICA acts as an intermediary between development projects and Japan’s foreign policy, bridging local African needs and Japan’s long-term interests. However, analysts caution that this relationship isn’t always straightforward, as developmental and geopolitical interests are sometimes so intertwined that distinguishing “pure aid” from an “instrument of influence” is challenging.
JICA’s projects in Africa include:
- Kenya–Tanzania Interconnection Project (400 kV Power Transmission): JICA has formally announced a project to construct 400 kV transmission lines in parts of Tanzania to ensure a stable power supply in East Africa, part of regional efforts to strengthen network connections and enhance power reliability.
- Nairobi Urban Roads Improvement (Kenya): JICA has implemented projects to develop and improve roads and reduce urban traffic in Nairobi, with official reports and assessments of their impact available on JICA’s website.
- Rural and Agricultural Finance Strengthening in Tanzania: In 2025, JICA signed agreements to facilitate intermediary lending to rural development institutions in Tanzania, aiming to improve farmers’ access to long-term capital and boost agricultural production.
- West Africa Growth Ring (WAGRIC) Development Strategy: JICA has released a strategic document and plans for the “Corridor Arrangement Plan for the West Africa Growth Ring,” focusing on longitudinal corridor development and regional integration in West Africa, including corridor planning to improve agricultural value chains and trade.
- Energy/Water Loans and Projects in North Africa: JICA has implemented or financed loans for land development and water resource management in Morocco and other water-agriculture projects, including major agreements in recent years.
During TICAD-9, countries and JICA offered aid and loan packages for renewable energy, human development, and regional infrastructure projects. For example, some media outlets reported that Nigeria and other countries signed agreements for clean energy projects and JICA loans.
Some analysts and research centers believe the following reasons underpin Japan’s program in Africa:
- Diversification and Market Creation for Japanese Technology and Companies: By focusing on clean energy, water, and digital technologies, projects create commercial opportunities for Japanese companies and equipment, seen by analysts as part of Japan’s “economic security.”
- Balancing Against China’s Influence and France’s Historical Presence: While JICA’s official documents emphasize sustainable development, analysts suggest that TICAD and Japanese investment packages implicitly serve as a quality alternative to China’s investment model and France’s presence in Francophone regions.
- Access to Resources and Supply Security: Some observers stress that competition for critical minerals (including lithium and rare earth elements) and dominance over supply chains are motivations for Japan’s increased activity in Africa, a point highlighted in recent analytical reports.
In conclusion, JICA’s role in Africa has both real developmental aspects and, at the analytical level, potential as a tool to strengthen Japan’s strategic interests. For Africa, benefiting from multiple partnership options is an opportunity; however, governments and local observers must monitor financial sustainability, local ownership, and transparency in contracts to ensure that aid leads to real empowerment and not long-term dependency.
