Report on Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) Press Tour in Karachi

Introduction

On Thursday, June 26, 2025, the Consulate-General of Japan in Karachi organized an Official Development Assistance (ODA) Press Tour. This event involved a group of journalists from various media houses with the objective of enhancing public awareness in Pakistan regarding the Japanese Government’s assistance projects. The tour aimed to inform local media about Japan’s contributions to Pakistan’s development, particularly in key sectors such as education, healthcare, and human security, aligning with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Objectives and SDG Alignment

• Increase awareness of Japan’s development assistance in Pakistan
• Highlight contributions to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
• Promote human security and social well-being at the grassroots level (SDG 1: No Poverty; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities)

Project Site Visits

1. Disabled Welfare Association (DWA)

The first visit was to the Disabled Welfare Association (DWA) near Mazar-e-Quaid, Karachi. Since 2003, DWA has been providing vocational training to women with disabilities, focusing on underprivileged communities. Under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), new transport vehicles and vocational training equipment were provided in 2025 to support low-income women with disabilities.

This initiative supports SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by empowering marginalized women through skill development and improved mobility. A handover ceremony was conducted with the presence of the Consul General of Japan, HATTORI Masaru.

2. Women Skill Development Center (WSDC)

The second site was the Women Skill Development Center, operated by the Women Development Foundation Pakistan (WDFP) in Maripur, Karachi. This center is part of JICA’s Technical Cooperation Project titled “Improvement of Livelihoods and Well-being of Female Home-Based Workers (FHBWs) in the Informal Economic Sector in Sindh Province (Light-F).”

WDFP supports women domestic workers in Sindh and partners with JICA to improve livelihoods and welfare standards for informal economy workers, many of whom are low-income women. This project directly contributes to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 1 (No Poverty) by promoting equitable economic growth and human security.

Journalists observed a Light-F training course and toolkit designed to enhance livelihood skills and economic opportunities for female home-based workers.

Impact and Insights

1. Journalists gained firsthand knowledge of Japan’s role in advancing social well-being and human security in Karachi.
2. The projects demonstrate Japan’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s progress towards multiple SDGs.
3. These initiatives emphasize grassroots empowerment, especially for women and vulnerable populations.

Contact Information

For further details, please contact the Economic Section of the Consulate General of Japan in Karachi at 02135220800.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The article highlights Japan’s assistance in the healthcare sector and human security, which are integral to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being.
2. SDG 4: Quality Education – Vocational training provided to women with disabilities and skill development for female home-based workers relate directly to inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities.
3. SDG 5: Gender Equality – The focus on empowering women, especially women with disabilities and female home-based workers, addresses gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
4. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Improving livelihoods and welfare standards of informal economy workers, particularly low-income women, promotes sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and decent work for all.
5. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Support to underprivileged communities and marginalized groups such as women with disabilities and informal sector workers contributes to reducing inequalities within Pakistan.
6. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – The focus on human security through grassroots projects aligns with promoting peaceful and inclusive societies.

2. Specific Targets Under Identified SDGs

1. SDG 3
   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including access to quality essential healthcare services.
2. SDG 4
   • Target 4.4: Increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment.
3. SDG 5
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making.
   • Target 5.a: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.
4. SDG 8
   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, and formalization of informal economy.
   • Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men.
5. SDG 10
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, or other status.
6. SDG 16
   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Number of projects funded and implemented: The article mentions Japan has funded more than 400 projects under the GGP since 1989, which can be an indicator of outreach and scale.
2. Number of women with disabilities receiving vocational training: Implied by the support to Disabled Welfare Association and provision of vocational training equipment and transport vehicles.
3. Number of female home-based workers trained: Implied by the Women Skill Development Center’s training programs under JICA’s Technical Cooperation.
4. Improvement in livelihood and welfare standards: Implied through the Light-F training toolkit aimed at livelihood enhancement for informal sector workers.
5. Access to new resources and equipment: Such as transport vehicles and vocational training equipment provided to low-income women with disabilities.
6. Participation and engagement of local media: The ODA Press Tour itself is a measure of awareness-raising and information dissemination.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: reliefweb.int