TOKYO – Accenture, a global leader in digital, cloud, and security services, has been chosen by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to spearhead digital transformation (DX) initiatives across six countries in Asia and Africa. As a pivotal player in Japan’s international development efforts, JICA is leveraging digital technologies to tackle pressing development challenges, with Accenture onboarded to support pilot programs aimed at mainstreaming digital transformation in international cooperation and development, according to a press release published on EuropaWire.
The pilot projects, spanning Cambodia, India, Mauritius, Thailand, Uganda, and Vietnam, encompass diverse initiatives such as digital currency verification, public-private platforms for loan efficiency, and predictive modeling of water quality to induce citizens’ behavioral change. Notably, for the Mauritius pilot, Accenture will conduct a feasibility study for a Smart City OS (Operating System) tailored for disaster management. Given Mauritius’ vulnerability to natural calamities, including cyclones and floods, the Smart City OS will integrate meteorological data, satellite imagery, and environmental information to bolster disaster prevention and mitigation efforts, while also supporting tourism and environmental conservation.
Mikiya Saito, leader of JICA’s Office for STI and DX, highlighted the initiative’s potential to pioneer a new model of cooperation leveraging digital technologies and data to address development challenges worldwide. Joichi Ebihara, leading Accenture’s Strategy & Consulting group for healthcare and public service in Japan, emphasized the company’s commitment to empowering communities and public agencies through digital innovation. This collaboration signifies a pivotal step towards recognizing the transformative impact of digital solutions in driving economic development and social progress in emerging economies.
The partnership underscores Accenture’s Smart City OS, a digital platform facilitating data collaboration and service provision in smart cities, which will be deployed outside Japan for the first time. With citizens contributing personal data to access personalized services and governments leveraging insights for policy formulation, the Smart City OS exemplifies Accenture’s commitment to harnessing digital technologies for societal benefit.
