GRIPS-ODI Joint Feedback Seminar
Good Donorship and the Choice of Aid Modalities—Matching Aid with Country Needs and Ownership—
 Time: The 15th of March 2005, 14:00-17:00
 Venue: JICA Institute for International Cooperation

1. Background and Objectives
The main purpose of this joint seminar between the National Graduate Institute for Policy
Studies (GRIPS) and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) is to present the findings ofrecent studies on aid modalities, undertaken respectively by GRIPS and ODI researchers, andto facilitate debate including the implications for global aid policy and practice. In particular,the seminar intends to promote understanding of features of different aid modalities and how
to choose appropriate aid modalities, with due consideration of the country- andsector-specific context.
The topic of aid modalities is a growing area of interest in Japan. The 1990s saw theemergence of new aid approaches—especially general budget support, sector budget support
and pooling fund arrangements under the Sector-Wide Approach. However, a perception"gap" over aid approaches appears to exist between the UK (and the Like-Minded DonorGroup) and Japan. This is partly because project aid is traditionally dominant in Japan andalso because the UK and Japan have different development and aid experiences in
Sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia respectively. Now that experiences with the new aid
approaches have been accumulated in Sub-Sahara Africa and there has been increased interest
in its applicability among Asian countries, it is highly relevant to examine how and underwhich conditions specific aid modalities and/or their optimal combination work, in order tounderstand the relative usefulness of respective aid modalities. At the same time, there is a setof issues, or “good donorship” principles that should be honoured by all donors, regardless of
their choice of aid modalities, in order to realize effective aid. For this reason, therefore, it isimportant to build common understanding regarding donor practice as well.
Against this background, throughout 2004 GRIPS has been engaged in a research project on“Good Donorship and the Choice of Aid Modalities”. The GRIPS team has greatly benefited
from ODI’s extensive knowledge and analyses, particularly in Africa, including an initialbrainstorming meeting with ODI researchers. The GRIPS team has also benefited from advice
provided by Japanese aid professionals and researchers, built on their field experiences.
Through the proposed seminar, the GRIPS team would like to provide feedback from thisresearch and stimulate discussion concerning the issues that need further investigation.
Two researchers from the ODI will be invited to the seminar (Ms Karin Christiansen as
speaker, and Ms Debbie Warrener as moderator). They will present recent ODI research on
this topic, comment on the GRIPS studies, and facilitate seminar discussions; for example, byproviding a UK-Japan comparative perspective. It is hoped that this opportunity for two-way
dialogue will contribute to broadening the spectrum of the research agenda and policy
debates.

12. Seminar Program:A feedback seminar, jointly organized by GRIPS and ODI, is scheduled for the 15th of March
2005 at 14:00-17:00 at the JICA Institute for International Cooperation. (See Annex 1 for theseminar program.)
The target audience will be researchers and aid professionals interested in issues ofdevelopment effectiveness and aid modalities, who ideally have different regional, country,and sector expertise (e.g., universities, think-tanks, consultants, government officials, JICAand JBIC). The seminar will be kept relatively small in size (approximately 30-40participants) to promote active and in-depth discussions among those familiar with the topic.
Although the seminar does not intend to lead to pre-determined conclusions, it would be
useful if some of the following issues can be concretely discussed.
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What are the key factors that affect the choice of aid modalities?
What are the lessons learned from the latest experiences with new aid approaches?
What are the specific features of respective aid modalities? How can country andsector-specific issues be incorporated so that the merits of respective modalities can befully exploited? Are there any overall differences in country contexts in Africa and Asia
to be borne in mind when considering the choice of aid modalities?
How the program approach is applied to support growth promotion and the productivesectors?
Whether and to what extent can the choice of aid modalities make a difference inimproving development impacts? What are the limits of debates on modality?
What are the elements of “good donorship” so that donors can practice aid to effectively
assist in achieving sustainable growth and poverty reduction?
[About the Speakers]
Debbie Warrener:
Research Officer (Research and Policy in Development) / ODI
Specialized in Japan-UK dialogue on aid policy; role of civil society in the policy process; bridging
research and policy.
Karin Christiansen:
Research Fellow (Poverty and Public Policy Group) / ODI
Specialised in PRSPs and linkages to public expenditure management; participatory anddecentralised approaches to public expenditure and implementation.
Izumi Ohno:
Professor / GRIPSSpecialized in PRSPs and development partnership; ODA policies and reform.
Shoko Yamada:
Associate Professor / GRIPS
Specialized in policy studies in education, comparative and international education; African studies.
Yumiko Niiya:
Researcher / GRIPS
Specialized in ODA policies and reform, particularly in the area of social development, as aid
practitioner in the fields and head quarter offices.

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(Annex 1)

GRIPS-ODI Joint Feedback Seminar:
Good Donorship and the Choice of Aid ModalitiesVenue: JICA Institute for International Cooperation, 2F conference room.
Time: The 15th of March 2005, 14:00-17:00
Target Audience: Researchers and aid professionals (interested in issues of development
effectiveness and aid modalities, with different regional, country, and sector expertise).

Tentative Program

14:00-14:15

14:15-14:55

Introduction to the Feedback Seminar(by Debbie Warrener/ODI and Izumi Ohno/GRIPS)
General Overview (20 min. each):
A Conceptual Framework for Considering the Choice of Aid
Modalities—Matching Aid with Country Needs and Ownership(by Izumi Ohno/GRIPS)- Presentation by Karin Christiansen/ODI(Title to be decided; possible topics could include experiences with newaid modalities, good practices and emerging issues from the recent studies
and practices, etc.).
-14:55-15:15

Questions & Answers

15:15-15:35

Case Studies (10 min. each):- Development Needs, Ownership and Aid Modalities—Health Sector inVietnam(by Yumiko Niiya/GRIPS)- Priorities and Equity of Resource Distribution—the Case of Education
Sector Program in Tanzania(by Shoko Yamada/GRIPS)

15:35-16:45

Comments by ODI researcher, followed by Free Discussions(moderator: Debbie Warrener)

16:45-17:00

Wrap up(by Debbie Warrener, with GRIPS & ODI discussants)

17:00

Informal Gathering with Participants (Refreshments will be served.)[END]

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