The partnership started in 2006 when the Japan Productivity Center (JPC) collaborated with various Pan African Productivity Association (PAPA) member countries on the Technical Cooperation on Productivity Improvement to African Nations under the support of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Government of Japan.
The World Economic Forum highlighted gender inclusivity in their 2014 Gender Report which indicates globally we will have to wait 81 years for workplace gender parity.