Koki HIROTA is a former Visiting Fellow at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development. He worked for 37 years in Japan’s development assistance agencies, serving as JICA’s Chief Economist, Director General of Operation Strategy Department, Director General of Southeast Asia and Pacific Department etc. He earned his PhD. in Economics from Saitama University in 2014. From April 2018 to March 2024, he was a Professor at the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Saitama University, Japan. His main research area includes Public Policies, Development Economics, and Development Cooperation.