JICA Officials Visit APCD to Discuss Third Country Training Program Expansion

Bangkok, Thailand – January 30, 2026

The Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) welcomed distinguished guests from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) today, as Mr. TAKAHASHI Yohei, Director of the Social Security Team, Higher Education and Social Security Group, Human Development Department, and Ms. ASANO Yuko, Program Officer from the same department, paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Piroon Laismit, APCD Executive Director.

The high-level meeting focused on advancing collaboration through the Third Country Training Program, a vital initiative designed to strengthen disability-inclusive development across the Asia-Pacific region. The discussions centered on expanding training opportunities for professionals from developing countries, enhancing knowledge-sharing mechanisms, and building sustainable partnerships that promote the rights and empowerment of persons with disabilities.

Mr. TAKAHASHI and Ms. ASANO explored potential areas for program enhancement, including curriculum development, and the integration of innovative approaches to disability and development. The meeting underscored JICA’s and APCD's mission of creating an inclusive, barrier-free, and rights-based society for all.

APCD, established with support from the Japanese government, serves as a regional hub for capacity building, knowledge management, and advocacy for disability rights. The Third Country Training Program represents a cornerstone of JICA-APCD cooperation, facilitating South-South cooperation and enabling participants to gain practical skills and knowledge applicable to their home countries.

Both parties expressed enthusiasm about future collaborative initiatives and reaffirmed their shared vision of advancing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) throughout the region.