The first JICA Senior Volunteer since the re-opening of Samoa’s borders, Mr. Tadashi Baba, has arrived in Samoa. Here to assist the management and staff of Samoa Fire & Emergency Services Authority [SFESA], especially in Fire Safety; Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.
Baba is the first JICA volunteer assigned to SFESA, so his work will originate an ongoing partnership between SFESA and JICA Samoa Office.
By profession, Mr. Baba is a civil engineer and a firefighter for 45-plus years. His past work experiences comprise working as weather communications operator for Japan Air Self-Defense Force, firefighter for Tatebayashi Fire Association Fire Department, radio equipment consultant with Tone Alpha Company Limited and serving recently as JICA Senior volunteer/civil engineering in Fiji from 2017 to 2019.
Baba was supposed to commence work with SFESA in April 2020, but the border closures from COVID-19 prevented him from coming to Samoa. Although a long wait of almost three and a half years, this has not dampened his willingness to work together with Samoa Fire & Emergency Services Authority, an organisation that shares similar qualities to his own.
On August 2nd, he paid a courtesy visit to the ACEO Aid Coordination Office at Ministry of Finance [MOF], Ms Peresitene Kirifi and Principal Officer, Ms Danielle Lio, “We are honored at MOF to welcome JICA Senior volunteer to Samoa warmly” and stated they were looking forward to having more opportunities with JICA volunteers.
JICA’s Volunteer program supports Japanese nationals wishing to volunteer their services and skills in economic and social development and assists in the reconstruction of developing countries.
