POKHARA, JANUARY 27 Honoka Tanimoto moves between rows of students at Shree Ramrekha Basic School in Baglung, guiding their hands across computer keyboards as they practice typing. For many children from economically disadvantaged families, this is their first sustained exposure to digital technology-an experience Tanimoto is determined to make meaningful despite limited school resources. Tanimoto is one of 26 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) volunteers currently working in Nepal across Gandaki, Bagmati and Koshi provinces. Their presence continues a partnership that began in September 1970. Over the past 55 years, 1,471 JICA volunteers have worked at Nepal's grassroots level in sectors ranging from agriculture and health to education and traffic safety. As 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of Nepal–Japan diplomatic relations, and follows the 55th anniversary of JICA's volunteer programme in 2025, these volunteers represent a long-running model of international cooperation that emphasises living and working alongside local communities. Digital dreams in Baglung Tanimoto's path to Baglung began during her career in Japan's education sector. 'I have experience in education, and wanted to do something meaningful in this field,' she said. Her commitment had previously taken her to Tanzania as a JICA volunteer. 'After that experience, I wanted to continue this work, so I joined JICA Volunteers in Nepal.' Shree Ramrekha Basic School serves about 130 students from early childhood to Grade 8, supported by just 12 teachers. Tanimoto focuses on practical computer classes for students in Grades 4 to 8, teaching typing, Microsoft Word and Paint. 'Because my Nepali is not as fluent as I want, it can be an obstacle,' she said. 'So I focus on computer classes, which are mostly in English, while I continue improving my Nepali.' Limited and frequently damaged computers, along with virus-related issues, restrict how many students can learn at once. To maximise her impact, Tanimoto also uses vacant class periods to teach art, music, Japanese culture and other extracurricular activities when subject teachers are absent. Building confidence through hands-on learning In Pokhara Metropolitan City, Anna Tsushima faces similar constraints at Shree Sahara Bal Basic School, located near the city's main bus station. Around 90 per cent of the school's 260 students come from economically vulnerable households, mainly families dependent on seasonal labour. Tsushima teaches mathematics to Grade 2 and English to Grade 5, using hands-on methods to help students grasp foundational concepts. 'Many students struggle with basic number concepts because there are not enough teaching materials,' she explained. 'So I created simple number block cards and used concrete materials in class.' Her focus extends beyond academic instruction. Although extracurricular activities are not formally included in the school curriculum, Tsushima plans to introduce them once a week from the next academic year. 'These activities allow students to express themselves freely and gain confidence,' she added. 'Not every child can shine through academics alone. Extra activities can give them a sense of achievement and recognition.' Her longer-term goal is sustainability. Tsushima plans to develop a curriculum framework that local teachers can continue after her two-year assignment ends. She is also coordinating with Pokhara's sister city, Komagane in Japan, to receive donated number blocks and provide teacher training on hands-on learning techniques. 'I want to improve my questioning methods and create more opportunities for students to actively use English through speaking-based activities,' she added.

Preserving oranges, protecting livelihoods In Syangja district, JICA volunteer Nagisa Kawajiri is addressing a different challenge-post-harvest losses in mandarin orange production. Assigned to the Agricultural Section of Putalibazar Municipality since August 2024, Kawajiri works on improving cultivation practices and storage methods suited to local conditions. A graduate of Takushoku University, she is serving a two-year term. 'I have been assisting farmers to keep oranges safe using simple preservatives,' Kawajiri said. Her most promising initiative involves experimenting with refrigerated storage using underutilised municipal refrigerators. Earlier attempts to store oranges had failed due to complete spoilage. The current method combines scissor harvesting to minimise fruit damage, washing oranges with baking soda for its antibacterial properties, and comparing air circulation and humidity between plastic containers and wooden boxes. About 300 kilograms of oranges stored in November using this technique have remained intact so far. Phani Narayan Aryal, proprietor of Triputra Bagwani Farm in Arjunchaupari Rural Municipality, has closely followed the experiment. 'Using baking soda for storage is simple and inexpensive,' he said. 'Based on the current condition of the oranges, it appears useful.' Syangja's annual orange production exceeds Rs 1.25 billion, but limited storage capacity forces farmers to sell quickly at low prices during peak season. If the technique proves effective, farmers could sell oranges in the off-season at higher prices, expand cultivation and reduce imports. Aryal, who has farmed oranges for four decades and recorded transactions of around Rs 40 million last year, says A-grade oranges currently sell for Rs 117 per kilogram and B-grade for Rs 70 per kilogram. 'Off-season sales would benefit both farmers and consumers,' he notes. Beyond storage, Kawajiri provides technical guidance on orchard management, post-harvest handling, and control of citrus greening disease and fruit flies. She also shares educational videos on mandarin oranges, grapes, shiitake mushrooms and organic insecticides.

Zooplankton research reshaping aquaculture At the Fishery Research Center in Begnas, Pokhara-established with JICA grant aid in 1991-Senior Volunteer Yoichi Ohashi is conducting research that could influence fish farming practices nationwide. Ohashi, who arrived in April 2024 for a two-year assignment, has more than 30 years of aquaculture experience. His study compares natural zooplankton feed with artificial micro-feed to assess fry growth and survival in common carp, grass carp, rohu and naini. Six-day feeding trials on four-day-old fry showed that zooplankton-fed common carp achieved better growth-averaging 8.7 mm compared to 7.8 mm for micro-feed-with statistically significant results. Survival rates were slightly higher with zooplankton for common and grass carp. Micro-feed performed better for rohu survival, while no significant difference was observed for naini. Ohashi concluded that natural zooplankton generally produces better growth outcomes, while survival benefits vary by species. Alongside research, Ohashi lectures weekly to agriculture students, engaging around 100 young researchers in group discussions. Although close mentorship is difficult to scale, he hopes knowledge will spread through peer learning. 'Even if only a few researchers are directly involved, each can share their knowledge with others,' he said, describing a multiplier effect. The research centre produces around 400,000 fish fry annually, sold at Rs 1–2 per fry. These fish seeds support aquaculture across Pokhara's lakes, ponds and paddies, benefiting more than 100,000 households. A legacy of partnership Current volunteer activities build on decades of Japanese cooperation in western Nepal. The Western Regional Tuberculosis Center in Pokhara, constructed under Japanese grant aid in 1989, has since merged with the Gandaki Regional Public Health Laboratory to form the Provincial Disease Control Center. The International Mountain Museum in Pokhara also benefited from JICA volunteers between 2002 and 2014, who contributed to geological exhibitions, book management systems, scale models and displays on mountain ecology and Japanese mountain communities. According to Matsuzaki Mizuki, Chief Representative of the JICA Nepal Office, the volunteer programme complements larger development initiatives. 'JICA has been working in Nepal for nearly 50 years, promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth across sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, education, health and governance,' he said. On December 3, 2025, JICA signed a concessional loan agreement worth about 34 billion yen-approximately Rs 36 billion-for the Koteshwor Ring Road Intersection Implementation Project, aimed at improving urban traffic flow. 'Although volunteer activities may seem modest compared to large infrastructure projects, we place strong emphasis on human resource development,' Mizuki said. 'These volunteers bring valuable expertise and enthusiasm to areas where other schemes may not yet be active.' Dr Hari Bahadur KC, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, echoed this view. 'Support from JICA for physical infrastructure and human resource development, provided in line with Nepal's priorities, has contributed significantly to the growth of the agriculture sector,' he said. Looking ahead On January 21, 2026, JICA Nepal welcomed two new volunteers, continuing a programme that began more than five decades ago. After completing language training in Kathmandu, they will be deployed to their respective host institutions. The 26 volunteers currently serving in Nepal work across 13 sectors, including aquaculture, disaster risk reduction, fruit and vegetable cultivation, journalism, physical education, primary education, disability support, computer instruction, rugby, tourism, traffic safety, and youth development. What distinguishes the JICA volunteer programme is its emphasis on daily engagement with local communities. By living and working alongside Nepali counterparts, volunteers transfer skills while building relationships that often outlast their assignments. As Nepal and Japan mark 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, the JICA volunteer programme continues to demonstrate how people-to-people cooperation can support long-term, locally grounded development.