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DXLab aims to develop internal digital
capabilities and foster a culture of innovation

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and agility across JICA’s operations

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In a world that was rapidly embracing digital transformation

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also known as DX

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JICA found itself without a comprehensive digital strategy

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to tackle evolving challenges in its partner countries

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as well as within its own organization

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JICA launched the ‘DXLab’ in 2022 as a ‘special initiative’

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to spearhead its DX activities globally

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with BCG chosen as its critical partner

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From the outset, we have sought to integrate digital solutions

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into JICA’s mainstream projects across sectors and regions

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By doing so, we are trying to amplify the impact on the ground

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in line with JICA’s strategies for 20 priority areas

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under an initiative called ‘JICA Global Agendas’

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DXLab introduces cutting-edge digital solutions and data analytics

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as ‘proof of concept’ for on-going and new JICA projects

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which will be scaled up once proven successful

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BCG, as part of the JICA DXLab team,
worked side-by-side with JICA frontline teams

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starting from strategy development,
proof-of-concept design and implementation

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Similar to JICA,

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BCG also has extensive presence in emerging markets

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so we can quickly mobilize local teams on the ground

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to work closely with JICA country offices

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and project teams on the ground in different countries like India,

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Bangladesh, Indonesia, Bhutan, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia

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Through the DXLab program over the past 2 years

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we have witnessed the transformation within JICA –

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the frontline team has started proactively
digital initiatives with stronger ownership

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I personally witnessed this positive dynamic
in a collaboration with the JICA Water Resource Group

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Together with the DXLab and BCG team,
we identified digital solutions

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and analyzed intervention points based on our
existing water business strategy and Theory of Change

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We quickly applied this approach to the on-going JICA support for
water utilities in different countries

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such as Bangladesh and Tanzania

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in order to improve the management,
operation and financial situation in the utilities

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We assessed their digital maturity, identified
impactful and feasible digital use cases

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and started implementing some of them as proofs of concept

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As the initial proofs of concept, we have designed
and built the following digital solutions:

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1) Meter reading app

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2) Management dashboard

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and 3) Non-revenue water monitoring tool

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During the 2-year period that DXLab has been in operation

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steady progress has been made in the formulation of
mainstream digital solutions in JICA programs and projects

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We are very confident that the frontline teams
can proactively accelerate this movement

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DX has the huge potential to revolutionize
hundreds of JICA projects or programs

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sparking innovation and leading to greater impacts
in the countries and areas JICA is dedicated to serving

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To date, we have implemented over 30 DXLab initiatives
in more than 10 countries across Asia, the Pacific and Africa

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covering areas such as transport, agriculture, forestry,
water supply, education, and urban development

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Going forward, DXLab will focus on more cutting-edge,
cross-cutting domains such as AI and Digital Public Infrastructure

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JICA and its DXLab team are committed to leading the way
to generate positive impact on the ground,

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leveraging the power of digital & data