Category: Information

From April 25th to May 4th, 2026, Kiyotaka Tokuraku and Shinya Yamanaka visited Malawi.
This was the final research visit to Malawi under the project.
During their stay, they actively visited progressive farmers in Zomba, Blantyre, and Lilongwe. They also met with staff at the Embassy of Japan in Malawi and the JICA Malawi Office to report on the project’s progress and discuss future directions. At WOTA, they held discussions on small-scale irrigation facilities and gathered information on advanced farming practices. In addition, they conducted a field survey at the Sustainable Cape Maclear Farm and held research meetings with Nicholas Sikoya Chanza, John Matewere, and Yasuko Kusakari.
Tetsu Sato had originally planned to join the visit; however, due to the severe fuel shortage affecting the country, he regrettably had to cancel his trip.

From April 24th to May 1st, 2026, Hiromu Okazawa visited Malawi.
This was Okazawa’s final visit to Malawi. Upon arriving in Lilongwe, he traveled directly to Chembe Village!
Together with members of Sustainable Cape Maclear and other project stakeholders, he completed the remaining farmland surveys and carried out maintenance work on the irrigation pumps. After returning to Lilongwe on the day before his departure, he reported on the project activities at the JICA Malawi Office.
Although the visit lasted only five days in the field, it was an intensive and highly productive schedule.

Hopeson Kasiya of the Malawi Department of Fisheries has completed his studies at the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Tokyo, earned his Ph.D., and returned to Malawi. Drawing on his extensive fieldwork in Malawi, he was able to complete an outstanding doctoral dissertation while collaborating with local communities there as a researcher in fisheries social sciences. Malawi faces a shortage of expertise in this area. There is no doubt that he will apply the knowledge he gained in Japan to the field of fisheries resource management in Malawi and contribute to further research on integrated natural resource management. Hopeson’s sincere approach to his research left a strong impression on members of both the local communities in Malawi and Japan. Thank you for your hard work over the past three years.
Hopeson, we look forward to seeing you take the lead in fisheries resource management in Malawi. Congratulations!

Talandila Kasapila, the Park Manager of Lake Malawi National Park at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife has completed his studies at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering at Ehime University, earned his master’s degree, and returned to Malawi. There is no doubt that he will apply the knowledge he gained in Japan to the management of protected areass and sustainable development of communities in Malawi, contributing to the continued practice of integrated natural resource management. We hope he will continue to demonstrate leadership in the protected area management at Lake Malawi National Park and others. Kasapila’s kind and gentle personality earned a warm welcome not only at Ehime University but also from the people of Yakushima, where his field research was conducted, making these two years truly wonderful.
Congratulations, Talandila!

From March 11th to 19th, 2026, Talandila Kasapila, a long-term researcher at Ehime University, conducted research in Yakushima.
This is the fourth on-site research in Yakushima for his master’s thesis. He shared the main findings with previous research participants, confirmed a shared understanding of the challenges surrounding local governance, and had constructive conversations about future collaboration. On March 15, he held a dialogue-based workshop to present the research outcomes, during which participants discussed the future of Yakushima and their respective values in depth. This visit enabled him to build a foundation for continued engagement and future follow-up.
He is deeply grateful to Dr. Sugishita of the Yakushima Onoaida Clinic, Ms. Makiko Sugishita of Kaleido Forest Co., Ltd., their staff, and all the residents of Yakushima Town who kindly supported Tarandlila’s research.

From March 7th to 17th, 2026, Hiromu Okazawa visited Malawi.
From March 7th to 18th, 2026, Tetsu Sato visited Malawi.
We held the fifth and final Technical Meeting on March 10th and the JCC on March 12th as the project entered its final phase. We deepened discussions on the project’s achievements and the final consolidation of results, and were able to determine the direction for the remaining period.
In the field survey, we conducted a well survey at the Sustainable Cape Maclear experimental site and carried out investigations in the Agroforestry plots.
We also held meetings with relevant stakeholders to discuss future research plans, as well as the current situation in Chirundu and the way forward.

From January 21st February 4th, 2026, Tetsu Sato travel to Malawi.
As the project entered its final phase, the JST team traveled to Malawi to conduct the terminal evaluation. They carried out interviews at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, at the University of Malawi, at the Monkey Bay Capture Fisheries Centre, at Lake Malawi National Park Office, and at Chembe village. They also held an on-site briefing session for the terminal evaluation. We believe that these activities provided many valuable insights into the project’s final outcomes.
After completing the evaluation, a new diving survey for Chirundu was conducted in Chembe Village. During the survey, we were able to confirm the partial settlement of Mbuna species as well as the reproduction of Kampango in the existing Chirundu area.

From December 1st to 15th, 2025, Kiyotaka Tokuraku and Shinya Yamanaka travel to Malawi. From November 29th to December 16th, 2025, Tetsu Sato travel to Malawi.
Reports on the progress of the project and future coordination meetings were conducted at the Embassy of Japan in Malawi and the JICA Malawi Office. At WOTA LTD, discussions were held regarding small scale irrigation facilities, along with the collection of information from leading farmers. Surveys were carried out at the Sustainable Cape Maclear Farm, and visits were made to progressive farmers in Zomba, Blantyre, and Lilongwe. Research meetings were also held with Nicholas Sikoya Chanza, John Matewere, and Yasuko Kusakari. In addition, Sato conducted a diving survey in Chirundu.