Japan-UNICEF Joint Learning Mission
In November 2001, BCO received the visit of the Japan-UNICEF Joint LearningMission. This was the first attempt to jointly take stock of the experiences of pastcollaboration and draw critical lessons from them and expand collaboration in newareas. The mission members consisted of officials of the Japanese Ministry ofForeign Affairs, JICA headquarters, UNICEF Tokyo and New York headquarters.
Concerned staff of the local Japanese Embassy, JICA office and BCO joined themission. Bangladesh was selected as the first country to receive such mission
because of; 1) its successful and long history of Japan-UNICEF collaboration in both
multi-bilateral technical assistance and grant aid schemes; 2) its close working
relationship between the Japanese Embassy, local JICA office, and the UNICEF
country office; 3) good possibility in initiating collaboration in new areas; and 4) its
socio-economic situation giving high priority to social development.
During the one-week-visit in Bangladesh, the team reviewed the results of selectedcases of the past collaboration between UNICEF and Japan including polio
eradication, EPI, IDD control, and EOC, and studied the possibility of initiating
cooperation in new areas such as the IDEAL project in primary education, andarsenic mitigation. These projects were reviewed in terms of results and impact ofcooperation, visibility of the Japanese assistance, as well as level and process ofcoordination among Japan, UNICEF, and their government and NGO partners inthe field. In addition to the meetings conducted in Dhaka with GOB partners, theteam visited four districts away from Dhaka to see the actual implementation ofvarious projects in the field.
The followings are the major lessons learned:
Importance of selecting strategic areas of collaboration where the results, impactand visibility of collaboration can be clearly demonstrated and areas which are criticalfor the strategic priorities of the Government of Bangladesh, the Government ofJapan (e.g. Japan-US Common Agenda and the Global Issues Initiative) andUNICEF (e.g. Goals for 1990s).
Visibility through Multi-Bilateral Collaboration can be ensured with a standard
package of visibility-related activities developed and carried out by UNICEF. UNICEF
has very skilled staff in information and public relations, and their services wereutilized in supporting the above-mentioned high profile events and media coverage.
Importance of Close Interaction and Coordination between Japan, Bangladesh
and UNICEF with regard to the planning and execution of individual cases ofcollaboration including exchanging information on each other's priorities on variousoccasions. This has contributed to strengthening collaboration and making the entire
efforts more "result-oriented". Moreover, it gave the individual cases of collaboration
higher priority, more prominence and more stability over a long period of time.
The mission leaders expressed satisfaction with the results of the ongoing activities;
and recommended the continuation of collaboration in the existing areas of polio
eradication, EPI, IDD control, micronutrients and emergency obstetric care, inaddition to the initiation of collaboration in the two new areas of arsenic mitigationand primary education.
It was apparent from the Mission that programme cooperation with UNICEF wasappreciated and valued. The Japanese team highly commended UNICEF’s
implementation capacity, particularly in raising public awareness and working withcommunities and NGOs; community management; and continuous monitoring. Thesepositive outcomes will be reported during the forthcoming Japan-UNICEF annual
programme consultation meeting to be held in February 2002.