The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is considering financing energy and infrastructure programs in Ukraine that were previously overseen by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
At the 5th Ukraine-Japan Forum organized by the New Europe Center, JICA’s Ukraine office head, Hideki Matsunaga, acknowledged the differences between USAID and JICA’s approaches, making it challenging to take over certain programmes, particularly in the legal sector and direct civil society funding.
"However, we want to identify the gaps in the energy sector and try to fill them as much as possible. Of course, we have budget constraints, but we want to do more... We need to seriously consider the energy industry and infrastructure, and we will explore these areas," Matsunaga stated.
JICA's increased involvement could play a crucial role in Ukraine's reconstruction, particularly in stabilizing its energy system and rebuilding key infrastructure.
In the early days of the new administration, the White House has paused international aid funding through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an agency that former President Donald Trump has openly stated he intends to eliminate.
