Japanese International NGOs
Working Towards
a Symbiotic Society in Asia
– Our Experiences and Appeals –What links us
to people in other
Asian countries ?

CON TENT S
P.2
About the NGO Council
on the Prospects for the Future of Asia
P.4
Deliberations by the Three Sub-groups
P.6
Round Table Discussion:
What Water Can Teach Us about the Future of Asia and Japan– Nature, Technology, Community – (Water Group)
P.14
Toward Vibrant Local Communities Establishedthrough Collaboration and Mutual Learning– Initiatives Linking Communities in Japan and Overseas –(Community Development Group)
P.23
Building Creative Partnerships across National Boundaries(Partnership Group)
P.33
Symposium:
Japanese International NGOs Working Towards
a Symbiotic Society in Asia
– Our Experiences and Appeals –P.38
Concluding Remarks
P.39
Report to the Toyota Foundation on Grant Activities
1About the NGO Council on
the Prospects for the Future of Asia
– On the occasion of
the publication of this booklet –The NGO Council on the Prospects for the Future of Asia was born from among
the international NGOs participating in the workshops organizedby the Toyota Foundation in fiscal 2013 as a follow up activity to the Foundation’s“Asian Neighbors Program for Fiscal 2012 Special Purpose Grant: Prospects for the Future of Asia”.
Just arranging the schedules for the Steering Committee members,
who represent international NGOs engaged in diverse activities and with offices locatedin different areas, to gather together in one place to hold meetings was a big “project” in itself.
Having overcome that hurdle, we hope that the new partnerships arising among
the members will work toward the forging of creative partnerships in Asia.

From the Sharing of Experiences

Activities of the Steering Committee
Following the inauguration of the Council, six people from six

Fifteen Japanese international NGOs that had received grants
from the Toyota Foundation’s “Asian Neighbors Program forof the participating organizations formed a Steering Committee,

Fiscal 2012 Special Purpose Grant: Prospects for the Future”

which met once a month in order to begin work on the practicalparticipated in two workshops held to share the results of experi-

implementation of the project. Firstly, at a meeting to determine

ences with our Asian neighbors in fiscal 2013, and this became

the themes on which member organizations of the Council

the trigger for the establishment of the NGO Council on thewanted to make appeals to society, the Steering Committee

Prospects for the Future of Asia. In the second workshop, held on

members selected three themes, water, community development

February 24, 2014, the participating organizations voluntarily

and partnership. For each theme, a sub-group (composed of theconsulted with each other to reach a decision to cooperate on

Council members based on their respective interests) was

further enhancement of their outreach to Japanese society on

formed to plan activities, following which communication andthe basis of the results of each organization’s experiences.

dialog activities were carried out with respect to the relevanttarget organizations and people. The Steering Committee acted
in the role of coordinator to these three sub-groups.

Founding and Purpose of the Council

In addition, and in order to present an overall summarization of
the activities of the sub-groups, the Committee decided to hold

Following a period of advance preparations, the NGO Council
on the Prospects for the Future of Asia was inaugurated in Aprila symposium titled “Japanese International NGOs Working

2014. The name of the project initiated by the Council was “Japa-

Towards a Symbiotic Society in Asia – Our Experiences andnese International NGOs Working Towards a Symbiotic Society inAppeals –”, which took place on February 6, 2015. Furthermore,

Asia – Our Experiences and Appeals –”. The aim of the projectin order to communicate and engage in dialog with as many

was to communicate to and share with people of Japan’s civil

people as possible even after the completion of the project, it

sector, the government and corporate sector the results of ourwas also decided to prepare a booklet (in both Japanese andexperiences with our Asian neighbors, and through this toEnglish), an ebook and a YouTube video in order to promote

promote the following goals:

dissemination efforts.

1) To construct a foundation for the expansion of the number ofpeople who understand, sympathize with and support the social

From Learning to Creative Partnershiprole and significance embodied by Japanese international NGOs,
2) To provide opportunities to learn about and reconsider the

Looking back on the activities conducted thus far and thecooperative relationships between people of Japan and the

preparations for the publication of this booklet, it has been a year

peoples of other Asian countries, and 3) To enhance learning andof great learning experiences. This refers especially to the atti-

self-examination on the part of the Japanese international NGOs

tude of learning from others with humility while engaging inthemselves.

communication with various stakeholders in society.

Originally, fifteen Japanese international NGOs and fourFirstly, this involved mutual learning among the participating

overseas NGOs participated in the Toyota Foundation’s Asianinternational NGOs themselves. Throughout Japan there is a

Neighbors Program for Fiscal 2012 Special Purpose Grant:

large number of both large and small network-type NGOs that

Prospects for the Future. However, since some of these organi-provide their respective members with opportunities for mutual

zations had constraints of time and geography, twelve Japaneselearning, but there is never any such thing as enough learning.

international NGOs finally participated in the Council.

The participating NGOs made a considerable number of new

2

discoveries about each other, leading us to reconfirm the factpromote dialog with a far greater diversity of organizations andthat there is still a strong necessity for peers to learn from eachpeople. Large numbers of people are suffering from problems

other.

such as poverty and human rights violations both across theSecondly, our great concern as international NGOs is in theborders in Asia and inside Japan. We intend to work toward thefield, where development is taking place, and thus we placebuilding of creative partnerships aimed at forging a future symbi-

priority on activities regarding issues faced by local residents.

otic Asian society where, in the light of social justice, we all can

However, since similar issues and the experience of having

think about and act upon these common issues that we face

overcome those issues also exist inside Japan, we learned thetogether.

importance and necessity of making connections across national

Lastly, the Council members would like to express theirboundaries. The Water Group and Community Development

heartfelt appreciation to the Toyota Foundation for providing theGroup report on this experience below.

grant for the implementation of this project. We are extremely

Thirdly, there was the mutual learning by organizations andproud to note that that the implementation of this project itself

people active in differing sectors. Society can be roughly divided

has been for us a part of our creative partnership with the Toyota

into the three classifications of government sector, corporate

Foundation. We also wish to express our deep gratitude to thesector and non-governmental/not-for-profit sector. The people

Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC) for

working in each of these sectors and organizations all havesupporting this project by taking on the role of secretariat.

values and modes of thought that are associated with the pursuitof their different missions. People engaged in international NGOs
tend to have a strong sense of citizenship, even among theMichio Ito,actors in the non-governmental/not-for-profit sector. Our values

Representative, Steering Committee

and modes of thinking may not necessarily be widely accepted

NGO Council on the Prospects for the Future of Asia

by people in other sectors. Through the activities of this project,
we were fortunate in finding much to learn from the exchanges
and dialogs with people in government agencies, businesscorporations, trade unions and citizens in general. It was reconfirmed in the Water and Community Development Groups thatpartnerships built through sharing experiences in the field is an
important issue, and within the Partnership Group, with regard to
the acceptance of funds, the relationship with Japanese government agencies, among other donors, is another challenging
issue. This helped us to renew our awareness of the necessity formuch greater efforts in engaging in dialog with government
people. The details of this are reported by each of the groups
below.
Fourthly, in considering the learning mentioned above to belearning arising from horizontal connections, we were alsostrongly aware of the importance of vertical learning, by which ismeant learning with the participation of the youth of the next
generation. The Water Group had an opportunity to engage indialog with high school students. The high school students
gained new knowledge about the world’s water and were alsoable to widen their horizons about the state of the world. It
appears that the group members were asked a lot of typically
youthful fundamental questions by the students and were given
very original ideas for solutions to water problems, resulting in a
wonderful learning experience for everyone.

Further Dialog with a Great Diversity of People
In this way, we learned a lot while communicating with people.
In order to make effective appeals and to share with the peopleof Japanese society what we have learned through our experiences in cooperating with our Asian neighbors and the achievements that we have made thus far, it will be necessary for us to3Deliberations
by the Three Sub-groups
It is now more than 50 years since Japanese international NGOs began engaging
in development assistance to and cooperation with local peoples in Asia.
Their accumulated experience is an important asset for thinking aboutdeveloping the prospects for the future of Asia.
In recent years we have also been keenly aware that the knowledge andexperiences of these international NGOs have many facets in common with those of
local NGOs (referred to as “NPOs” in Japan) that have sprung up
all over Japan to deal with social issues such as ageing and population decrease.
Of the various issues that Asian people face today, we formed working groups on water,
community development and partnership,
issues in which many common elements are seen in communities in different countries.

WATER

Activities of the Water Group began when Sendai Nika HighSchool in Miyagi Prefecture contacted Mekong Watch. The
school has been designated a super global high school, a schoolGroup

which has the purpose of cultivating global leaders capable ofacting on the international stage. The school selected the study
theme of “the world’s water problem”, and through having
requested the cooperation of Mekong Watch, the three organi-Can the problems of life-sustaining water
be resolved by technology alone?
We discussed this topic with private companies,
civil society and the youth who will shoulder
the next generation.

zations comprising the Water Group gave lectures on the threethemes of “Water as Seen from Water Sources”, “Water as Seenfrom Rivers” and “Water as Seen from Users” to 240 students inthe first year at the high school on September 9, 2014. Four ofthe students who attended the lectures also participated in the
symposium “Japanese International NGOs Working Towards a
Symbiotic Society in Asia – Our Experiences and Appeals –”organized by the NGO Council on the Prospects for the Future of
Asia on February 6, 2015, and reported in their own words about
their experiences, as well as what they had learned and felt,
during their visit to Thailand.
On October 31, 2014, we held a Tokyo workshop to discuss
the future of water in Asia. In the role play held during theworkshop, actual cases of arsenic pollution in Bangladesh andlarge-scale dam construction on the Mekong River in Laos wereused as the basic situations. This allowed us to have participants
engage in simulated experiences that looked at issues fromangles different from those usually experienced. We asked theparticipants to speak as if they were villagers, government
officers, construction company staff and so on in situations
where technological methods to resolve problems were being
proposed to local residents. As companies, NGOs, educators andordinary citizens were quite evenly represented among the 24
people who attended the workshop, it was possible to hear
opinions from a wide variety of standpoints.
Asia Arsenic Network, FoE Japan, Mekong Watch

4

COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT

We who have been active in communities in Asia, Africa,
Oceania and Japan began to feel that there was some relation
between issues in local communities overseas and those in thecommunities where community development activities are taking
place in Japan. We first held discussions among the participatingGroup

members on such issues as the current state and common pointsof activities overseas and in Japan. As a result, we recognized theimportance of Japanese international NGOs sharing their experiences in the field and engaging in dialog with people active incommunities in Japan. Putting out a call to our friends who share

What can we learn fromlocal communities in the field?
NGOs and NPOs active in communities both inJapan and overseas exchanged experiences ofworking to develop vibrant communities.

similar feelings, on January 31, 2015, we invited people who are
involved in community development activities in Japan to aworkshop titled “50 Ways to Make the Most of What We Learn
from Local Communities – Linking Community Development inJapan and Overseas –” This was an opportunity for all of us who
are active both overseas and in Japan to share experiences whileconsidering the questions, “What can be learned from the field,
both overseas and inside Japan, that can lead to resolution ofissues in local communities? What was the result of the encounters between overseas and Japanese on-the-ground realities?”
i-i-network (Research and Action for Community Governance), OISCA(The Organization for Industrial and Cultural Advancement), SHARE(Services for the Health in Asian & African Regions), Shapla Neer—Citizens’ Committee in Japan for Overseas Support, Nara Machizukuri Center, Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC)

PARTNERSHIP

Through our long experience as international NGOs, we havelearned that partnership building with local NGOs and residents
of local communities is vital.

Group

At the same time, a large part of our working funds is received
as grants or subsidies from government agencies, private foundations or companies as well as individual contributions inside
Japan. While partnerships are not necessarily limited to funding

What kinds of relationships do
we call “partnerships”?
We carried out series of dialogs with people
in related fields based ona questionnaire survey.

relationships, funding is crucially important for NGO activities indevelopment situations. Our experience has highlighted the factthat partnership building in the field can be strongly influenced
by the nature of the fund-providing organization.
In our group activities, we began by forming a common
percep tion of the concept of partnership among the members.
Following that, we conducted two questionnaire surveys that
addressed many more international NGOs on the realities ofpartnerships with donor organizations (both governmental andprivate organizations) as seen from NGOs’ perspectives. On thebasis of the survey results, we carried out dialog activities withthe relevant organizations and their officers in charge.
Asia Community Center 21, Shapla Neer—Citizens’ Committee in Japanfor Overseas Support, Bridge Asia Japan, Green Earth Network (GEN)5

WATER

Towards resolving water issues:
Making use of local water resources,
choosing appropriate technology and urging
the participation of affected persons.
6

Photo by Kazuhito Hattori

Due to a number of factors, including large-scale development, population growth,urbanization, the propagation of modern agriculture, and climate change, water sources and rivers around the world are currently facing serious crises. Water shortages andwater pollution are serious concerns in the countries of Asia. Are these issues of noconcern to those of us living in Japan? There are many people who think that the
problems facing Asian countries, including water issues, can be solved using superior
Japanese technology. But is that really possible?
To completely deny the importance of technology would be a mistake, but however
wonderful existing technology is, once aquatic ecosystems and the cultures they foster
break down, it is terribly hard to retrieve them.
We think it is important to consider the following points for solving Asian water
problems:(1) Understanding, protecting and utilizing the characteristics of local water sources andrivers;(2) Choosing “technology near at hand”, which is sustainable and appropriate to local
conditions, rather than “distant technology” that is not easy to obtain locally or isbeyond the control of the local residents; and(3) Disclosing well-balanced information such that the persons most affected, particularly local community residents, can participate in the process of making appropriate
choices for solving problems.
These points came to light in our discussions with people ranging from high school
students to corporate representatives attending a lecture and a workshop that theWater Group hosted.

7

Round Table Discussion: What Water Can
Teach Us about the Future of Asia and Japan– Nature, Technology, Community –Three organizations, the Asia Arsenic Network (AAN),FoE Japan (FoE J) and Mekong Watch,held a round table discussion to reflect on the many things
they learned from their year’s experience in the Water Group.
Thinking about the familiar substance we call “water”,
what are the future prospects for Asia and Japan?
(Interviewer: the NGO Council on the Prospects for the Future of Asia secretariat).

Technology’s shortcomings
from the perspective of
Asian water issues

are problems with the idea itself thattechnology on its own can solve theproblems.
Doi: Speaking of technology, Mekong---In Japan, many people think there

Watch has been sounding alarm bells

are no water problems, perhaps because

because the technology of large-scalewater service coverage is nearly 100

dams is being promoted as a means ofpercent here. There is no motivation foreconomic development, but they are, inpeople to consider where their drinking

fact, destroying the environment andwater comes from, and they do not

local societies of the Mekong basin andrealize that their lifestyles and corporate

aggravating water problems rather thanactivities in Japan are being supported bysolving them.( 2 ) Not a few of these dams

water resources in distant Asian coun-

have been completed using Japanesetries. Can you please talk about yourtechnology. When the residents com-concerns from the standpoint of aplain about the damage, the dam’s

Japanese NGO coming to grips withproponents propose adding morewater issues in Asia?

technology, saying “Well, let’s make aIshiyama: First, there is the problem of

dam without a reservoir,” or “Let’s build a

how to relate to technology. At AAN, we

fish ladder so that the fish can pass by.”have been making efforts to solve theThis is consistent with what Ms. Ishiyama

problem of arsenic contamination of

was saying about the idea that technolo-

drinking water in Asia. For example, ingy by itself can solve problems. This is

Bangladesh, where I myself have lived,

not limited to Japanese companies,

arsenic in well water had already becomethough.

an issue about 20 years ago, and people---Would the proposed technology

living in economically weak farming

solve the problems?

communities, in particular, suffered great

Doi: No. Fish ladders are not suitable fordamage.( 1 ) We frequently receive

Mekong River fish, and the villagers

proposals from Japanese companies

displaced by the dams become unable to

who learn of AAN’s activities, saying thatgain easy access to the natural resources

if we use their technology it will befrom the rivers and forests that havepossible to remove arsenic cheaply. In

supported their way of life, and thismost cases, however, such technology

frequently leaves them impoverished.

cannot be used sustainably in the loca----You discussed these issues with

tions where we are working. The prob-high school students and corporate

lem is rooted in the villagers’ lack ofrepresentatives, right?

understanding of how dangerous arsenic

Doi: At a lecture held at Sendai Nika Highis, or even if they do understand, for

School, I stressed the point that water is

economic reasons or due to peer pres-not only for drinking, but plays complex

sure in the community not to be tooroles, such as providing a place for fish to

vocal about it, they cannot take steps tothrive, carrying nutrients downstream,

ascertain the quality of the water theytransporting people and goods, and so

drink or obtain safe water. I think thereon.( 3 ) I wanted them to understand that8

1 Arsenic pollution in
Bangladesh

In 1993 arsenic was detected inwater from hand-pump wells that
had been installed by internationalorganizations, NGOs and thegovernment after the war for
independence in 1971 as a measure to ensure safe water. It is said
that the number of people
exposed unknowingly to arsenic is
as high as 35 million.

2 Mekong River Development

The Mekong River, with its headwaters on the Tibetan Plateau, is alarge international river, ranking
sixth among the world’s rivers, andflowing through six countries,
China, Burma/Myanmar, Laos,
Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Currently, dam construction is
being planned in a number ofplaces along its main course andtributaries, raising concerns aboutdamage to the 60 million people
who rely on river fisheries for theirlivelihoods.

3 Video recording(only in Japanese) of the lectures given by thethree organizations in Japanese
can be seen on Youtube.
Lecture by FoE Japan
https://youtu.be/H_qdaYXTBzILecture by Mekong Watch
https://youtu.be/TmYfKjjoDo4
Lecture by Asia Arsenic Network(ANN)
https://youtu.be/FEjdz7UYhoY

if we rely solely on technology we will

stances of the people directly involved, I

find that some aspects are overlooked. In

think it would also lead to a reduction in

December, I led a small group of teach-business risk.

ers and students from Sendai Nika HighMishiba: Certainly, corporate representa-

School to go and actually see the Me-

tives have a strongly rooted bias in favorkong River.

of technology, and the inability to “jive”

Ishiyama: My awareness of the current

with them is difficult to overcome, but I

situation doesn’t jive with that of corpo-

have encountered some that made me

rate representatives, so we tried role

wonder if they were beginning to have aplaying to develop sympathy for differentchange of mind. There were business-points of view and sought for ways tomen who attended the workshop andinitiate a dialog.( 4 ) Specifically, a busi-

stayed around for the social gathering

nessman from Japan who would like toafterwards so that they could engage insell his water purification equipment sets

an active sharing of their views with us

off to the villages damaged by arsenic

NGOs. The assertions and points of views

contamination and tries to convince

they hold as “company people” cannot

various “stakeholders” about his product,be easily changed, but I sense theincluding a female patient who has beenpossibility that continuing the dialog may

impoverished due to arsenic poisoning, aprovide a start.

TamikoIshiyama
Director of the Asia Arsenic
Network (AAN) for supporting theability of communities affected byarsenic pollution in Asia to ensure
the safety of their water.
http://www.asia-arsenic.jp/top/community leader who has strived toensure safe water for the community but
failed for various reasons, a politician andan NGO worker. It was not only corpo-

Technology is merely a meansof supplementing the functionsof nature and communities

rate representatives that we involved in
the role play, but NGOs, teachers and---Mr. Mishiba, I hear that you fre-ordinary citizens also participated inquently visit the forests of Malaysia androughly equal numbers, so I think weIndonesia. From the perspective of yourwere able to reproduce various view-

own experience, what have you noticed

points quite realistically.

in terms of water issues?

---Did you find ways of starting aMishiba: In Japan, I spotted a slogan on

dialog?

a Waterworks Bureau publicity campaign

Ishiyama: The participants expressed

poster aboard a JR train that said, “Hap-thoughts such as, “Try putting yourself inpiness is being able to use water services

the position of the affected people facingat any time,” which brought about in me

complex issues, and you will see thata keen realization that we who live ineven the finest technology will not solve

Japan do not even know where thethe problem directly,” “I am involved inwater we drink comes from. Later, to thethe development of technology at mystudents at Nika High School, I made thecompany, but in the laboratory, there ispoint that the original source of tap

no opportunity for me to consider

water was the forests, and that the many

non-technical matters. Here, I actuallydams that had been built in the local

got a real sense of how big non-techni-watersheds of Miyagi Prefecture were

cal factors can be,” and “The difference

nothing more than a way to supplement

between having information and notwith technology what will always be thehaving it can result in big differences inwater producing function of the natural

judgment.” Matters that could not haveforests.

been explained even if I had exhausted

I then highlighted the problems facing

myself in the attempt, seemed to havethe forests by comparing Japan’s forests,

been made easily understandable

which were originally created by people

through a simulated experience. If

and then ruined through neglect, withcompanies considering involvement in

the forests of Sarawak, Malaysia, which

the water business in developing coun-

have been lost through excessive log-

tries were to plan their business on theging. The reason I chose the example ofbasis of an understanding of the circum-

Sarawak is that Japan is the largest

9

4 We received valuable assistancefrom Akiko Yagi at the Development Education Association &Resource Center (DEAR: see
http://www.dear.or.jp) in designing
the role plays and in preparing forand holding the workshop. The
role playing plans used at theworkshop are described here:
http://www.janic.org/asiamirai/
roleplay_laos.pdf
http://www.janic.org/asiamirai/
roleplay_bangla.pdf

photo by Sayed Sunnyconsumer of wood from that area.( 5 )ment and use of water resources, and led

Moreover, we fail to realize that ourto the propagation of small-scale water-

lifestyles and corporate activities are, inways throughout the land.( 6 ) Many Japa-

fact, supported by water resources innese have forgotten this, but they shouldcountries far away. I hope that we canregain their awareness of the fact that

become more aware of water, which wetechnology was brought to life throughtake for granted, in our everyday lives.

cooperation. I do not want all of the

For example, the concept of “virtual

attention to go only to technology.

water” is a means of quantifying the large--- The high school students’ reaction

amounts of aqueous resources that go

to this must have been very interesting

into producing the goods we import,

from the viewpoint of looking to thesuch as meat and vegetables, and can be

future. Did they make any remarks thatused to make such hidden connections

left an impression on you?

easier to see.

Mishiba: They were such excellent

Doi: When I talked with high school

students, that I found myself responding

students, I didn’t want them to take theto them as if I were speaking to well-in-

simplistic view that “Japan is rich and theformed adults. I said, “The harnessing

rest of Asia is poor,” so I emphasized theand development of technology and thestrong, rich interconnections that exist

effect of the burden it puts on theeverywhere between nature and people

environment, that is, the Earth, natureor among the people living in the Me-

and people, are like two sides of thekong basin. On the other hand, in Japan,

same coin. When you think about

I told them, we have ironically stopped‘technology’, please also give some

exercising the potential strength we havethought to the effects of the negativein our relationships between people inburdens ‘technology’ imposes.”

the effort to ensure safe water, for

Ishiyama: I was impressed when one ofexample, because we rely on the tech-

the high school students visiting Thailand

nology of the “water supply”.

said, “From my perspective in Japan, I

Ishiyama: On that point, my experiencethought flooding was a problem, but I

in Bangladesh was similar. Private wells

learned that the people living there dofor households have spread rapidly in

not necessarily see it as a problem.”

Bangladesh since the 1980s, and the

Certainly, it seems as if people living inpeople have given up the tradition of

the watersheds of large Asian rivers havecooperative water use. When arsenic

managed to adjust themselves to na-

contamination was discovered, theyture... I think that, unlike the Japanese,

needed to return to cooperative water

who worry so excessively when they try

use, but in many cases they have failed toto control nature but cannot, theseform a consensus or perform regularpeople have a quite laid-back attitude. Of

management and maintenance. Ulti-course, if it exceeds certain limits, it’s amately, in order to provide safe water

problem, but unless you come and see itsustainably and fairly in areas with arsenic

for yourself, it is hard to understand that

contamination, what is most important is

the water from normal flooding is a

not to have advanced technology.

blessing.

Rather, what is important is for NGOs to

Doi: There was one interesting remark atalk with the residents to select the most

student made that the water supply has

appropriate water source in each com-not yet reached Thai villages, so because

munity, use local materials, and conduct

they rely on wells and rain for their water,

activities to foster the understanding of

they are conscious of diversified water

the government and the users them-use, while on the other hand, the wish

selves. One NPO has also pointed out

among Japanese to obtain clean, safethat Japanese villages were good atwater has gone too far and could beselecting and applying appropriate

considered to have become an obses-

technology based on cooperation. This

sion. In the past, however, I hear thatmade possible the sustainable develop-

different water resources were used10

Photo by Kazuhito Hattori

Toshiyuki
Doi
Senior Advisor to Mekong Watch,
who works with villagers topropose development that does
not threaten the wealth of therivers and other features of thenatural environment.
http://www.mekongwatch.org/

5 Sarawak Forest Issues

The tropical forest covering theState of Sarawak has been rapidly
lost due to unregulated logging,development of oil palm plantations and dam construction, withmuch of the wood from logging
going to the Japanese market.

6 Community Water Supply
Support Center of Japan

http://www.cwsc.or.jp

appropriately and skillfully in Japan, withintertwined in very complex ways. Hereno demand for excessive water cleanli-

we are focusing on water, but by bringing

ness.

up different views from the different---It sounds like the three organiza-

perspectives of our organizations, wetions learned a lot by working as a team.

have become able to put forward ideas

Doi: It is not as if we never knew of eachand approaches toward this one issueorganization’s activities at all to begin

from much broader overviews. I thinkwith. However, I have been living andthis may have given us an impetus toworking in Thailand, so chances to work

start with a specific problem and movewith NGO staff who normally work in

toward a discussion of global concerns.

Japan are valuable to me, and I felt acomfortable level of tension.
Ishiyama: I also have few opportunities
to get an accurate understanding of whatkinds of problems are occurring andWe must consider carefully forwhose sake something is being
done and what we callachievements

what kinds of issues other NGOs arefacing outside of my own fields of---I think there will be many readersactivity, but I came to realize that in fact

who will want to start grappling with

we face many issues in common. One ofwater issues. Do you have any sugges-

these is the awareness of the possibility

tions for actions they might take?

that certain things might need to be

Ishiyama: The arsenic contamination

done before developing sophisticatedissue in Bangladesh was the result of thetechnology. In concrete terms, what

rapid propagation of the technology ofneeds to be done is to think of ways to“wells” by the UN, government and NGOs

ascertain the characteristics of the water

without bothering to test the water

resources in the area and methods ofquality. The outcome was a decrease inprotecting and using those resources. A

cholera and other communicable“technology at hand” must be chosen,

diseases, but it also led to many people

which is harmonious with and sustain-

suffering from cancer and chronicable under local conditions, not “distantillnesses. I think the good health acrosstechnology”, which is hard to obtainthe life-course of people living in farming

locally or which is beyond the control ofvillages in developing countries has been

people living there. The people involved,

discounted in the public’s assessment.

especially those living there, who will be

Even the people affected do not thinkmost heavily affected, must have fairmuch about how their health will beaccess to information to help themseveral decades in the future. This isparticipate in the choice of solutions asprobably the biggest obstacle to resolv-

well as to make proper choices. It can be

ing the arsenic contamination issue. If aboiled down to these three points.

person is unaware that her health andMishiba: Global issues such as climate

her family’s health is irreplaceable, shechange/global warming, the loss orwill make no effort to change her behav-

degradation of forests, poverty reduction,

ior and habits in order to use safe water.

human rights and water privatization, areFor both NGOs and companies, the firstpriority when dealing with water issues is
to base their actions on the recovery of
the right to good health of the user.
Beyond that, there is the need to support
the users so that they become able todevise means of ensuring access to safe
water while adapting themselves to thechanges in their environment.
Mishiba: The questions of “For whose
sake is the effort being made?” “Whobenefits from it?” and “Can those benefits

11continue to be enjoyed with reasonable

are lovers of the sea” is a good example

sustainability?” are not limited to waterof the “slow language” that was fosteredissues. When choosing goals and objec-

by traditional Japanese waka poetry. The

tives for their problem-solving efforts, I

way these expressions and thoughts

would like especially for people who are

were spun strikes me as important frominvolved with technology to design their

the perspective of Asia and Japan’s future

projects on the basis of the principle ofconcerning water.

benefiting many people in Asia. I strongly---That means giving considerable

hope that their plans will not be biased

thought to the state of water in the

toward one set of assertions or interests.

future, while keeping in mind for whose

Furthermore, I think what is most import-sake things are done and what we will

ant is that they run their businesses in acall success. So, finally, what do you

way that thoroughly reflects the inten-

think the future role of internationaltions, volitions, assertions, aspirations

NGOs will be?

and sovereignty of the people who are to

Ishiyama: The conventional model ofbenefit, both women and men, byinternational cooperation, in which

ensuring sufficient communication,

things are distributed, will probably

maybe even too thoroughly, with them.

become relatively smaller. We haveThat, I think, is the most important point

learned the local languages and talked

in ensuring sustainability.

with the local people to help themDoi: Technology has become the central

recover or improve their health andtopic here, so I would like to touch on

ensure access to safe water. I also think

information technology (IT). IT has beenthat sometimes, by distancing ourselves

recognized for the great role it plays inas “outsiders”, we might have achieved

NGO activities, but I also feel concerned

better results by forming a wider network

about the instantaneous transmission ofand making use of different viewpoints

large quantities of sound bite-like mes-and experiences than the local people

sages abstracted from the ground reality

could have done for themselves. In thefor the purpose of consumption. It has

near future, I think the same kind of thing

removed us from the traditional way of

could happen in Japan. The people ofconsidering things slowly and taking the

Asia could learn Japanese as a local

time to make sense of them. Don’t you

language, and might bring in ways ofthink it would be important to take a new

expressing things that differ from thoselook at “slow language”, the language ofof the Japanese, but which have a sense“slow life”, if you like, involving time andof compassion that both sides can relate

effort in local production for local

to, and then come into our localities in

consumption?

Japan and support us. Wouldn’t learning

Just before I was to give my lecture atfrom one another and building up trust

the high school in Miyagi Prefecture, I

among international NGOs then become

was looking for ideas, and so I plungedeven more important?

into a thorough reading of Shigeatsu

Doi: Now, as Japan’s economic power is

Hatakeyama’s book, Mori wa Umi noreceding and domestic problems are

Koibito (Forests are Lovers of the Sea),

becoming apparent, perhaps cooperative

which records the case of the fisherfolk

relations will be established across all ofof Kesennuma planting trees in upstream

Asia on a more equal footing than before.

forests in an attempt to revive the bay.( 7 )I think that in order to transform that

The whole area depicted in the bookpossibility into concrete actions, we

nurtured historical and everyday interac-should devote ourselves to creatingtions between the people living in thevisions and plans.

forest and those living by the sea, whichcannot be captured even by the term
“ecology”, and there are generations ofwaka poets who have described this in
their works. I think the expression “forests

12

Jun’ichiMishibaSecretary General of the international environmental NGO FoE
Japan, relaying the importance ofprotecting forests as the first step
toward the protection of water.
http://www.foejapan.org/

7 Hatakeyama, Shigeatsu (2006)
Mori wa Umi no Koibito (Forests
are Lovers of the Sea), Bunshun
Bunko.

KEYWORDS
We have learned much from all who participated in our discussion with the Water Group.
Expressing our gratitude, we will introduce some keywords for a fresh consideration ofwater issues that were also quoted at the round table discussion. Thank you all most sincerely.

Visit the locality“From my perspective in Japan, I thought flooding was a problem, but I learned thatthe people living there do not necessarily see it as a problem.” “The water supply has
not yet reached Thai villages, so because they rely on wells and rain for their water, they
are conscious of diversified water use, while on the other hand, the wish among
Japanese to obtain clean safe water has gone too far and could be considered to havebecome an obsession.” (Remarks by students from Sendai Nika High School, who
visited the Mekong River)➡ Not even the most excellent records or narrator could relay a comprehensive
description of the scene. When considering water issues, it is essential to visit the
locality.

Harbor compassion“Try putting yourself in the position of the affected people facing complex issues, andyou will see that even the finest technology will not solve the problem directly.” (Remark by a corporate representative who participated in the role play)➡ Compassion brings about awareness, which may in turn trigger changes in the
habits of the heart and action. Role play brings out compassion, and is an important
tool in development education.

Technology andsocial relations capital“Japanese villages were good at selecting and applying appropriate technology basedon cooperation. This made possible the sustainable development and use of water
resources, and led to the propagation of small-scale waterways throughout the land.”(Remark by Hatsuko Hoyano, Director of the Community Water Supply Support Centerof Japan)➡ Japan’s technology achieved results only when it was complemented by the spiritof joint efforts, which were fostered in Japan’s rural villages. Strong awareness of thisfact would be the first step in opening up a new perspective on the future of Asia,
which includes Japan.

13

COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT

We report on the future outlook
for the kind of community development we hope to achieve,
which has emerged through the sharing of experiences,mutual learning, collaboration and mutual support
by the local persons involved andby persons cooperating from outside
in their efforts toward resolution of problems
in communities both in Japan and overseas.

14

We are a group that includes international NGOs working jointly with people in local
communities striving toward solutions to local problems in Asia, Africa and Oceania,
and community development NPOs interacting with local citizens, providing mutual
assistance and learning from each other while conducting community development
activities in Japan. We engage in a wide variety of activities, including community
development, forest revival and agricultural development (OISCA); health support forthe socially vulnerable (SHARE); addressing child labor, disabled persons and local
disaster prevention issues (Shapla Neer); community and human resource development(JVC); townscape preservation and community development (Nara Machizukuri Center); and human resource development and experience sharing for local communities(i-i-network). We all share the stance, however, of cooperating with people who aretaking the initiative to solve the problems they face, or engaging in activities ourselves
as a part of the affected persons, on the basis that the affected persons themselves be
the main actors. Another similarity among us is that our activities turn their attention toareas both in Japan and overseas. In the course of these various activities, we bear inmind that issues in communities overseas may possibly have some relation with theissues of community development in Japan, and we undertake group activities aiming
to learn from experiences in Japan and overseas and to return the favor locally.

15

Toward Vibrant Local Communities
Established through Collaborationand Mutual Learning– Initiatives Linking Communities
in Japan and Overseas –In the first half of the Community Development Group’s activities (summer and fall 2014),
the group’s five organizations located in the Tokyo area gathered and shared
the experiences from their respective activities in Japan and overseas,
discussing what they had learned from communities
and how communities in Japan and overseas are related.
In the second half (winter 2015),
we called together people with similar ideas, holding a workshop titled,“50 Ways to Make the Most of What We Learn from Local Communities– Linking Community Development in Japan and Overseas –”to which we invited people active in Japanese communities.
This became a venue for mutual learning through the sharing of experience in the field.

What Emerged from the
Shared Activities of the Participating Organizations

experience to the situation in Japan.
Under the theme of child labor, ourexperienced members stationed overseas have held lectures throughout

We would like first to introduce theJapan, where they held discussions withefforts made within Japan by each of theexperts on the problem of child poverty

organizations participating in the Com-in Japan, comparing the situation inmunity Development Group.

Japan and overseas. We have also

Japan International Volunteer
Center (JVC)

cooperated with an organization aiding
the homeless people of Shinjuku, organizing reciprocal field trips between

Within Japan, JVC’s efforts have thus

Shinjuku and places in Bangladesh,far centered mostly on advocacy, with nowhere child labor is an issue. In either

community development projects. Whatcase, we strive for mutual learning. Since

is meant here by advocacy is suggestions

the earthquake disaster, we have been

made for corporate activities or Japaneseactive in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture.

government policies that have someconnection with issues facing residents
living in areas overseas where the organi-

OISCA
OISCA began performing practicalzation is active. It was under these

activities in Japan 20 years ago. The

conditions that the Great East Japan

broad concept of sustainable community

Earthquake of 2011 occurred, and it

development has provided links between

served as a turning point. Throughefforts in Japan and overseas. In Japan,

activities in the Tohoku region, we began

while engaging mostly in forest mainte-

to feel that the methods, specialties andnance, OISCA has become involved inapproaches we have been using overseas

village development, and is now con-might also be useful in Japan. The

ducting a coastal forest revival project inquestion will be: How can we bring back

Natori, Miyagi Prefecture. Some of ourour overseas experience and apply it incommunity-organizing activities have

our own back yard?

clear parallels with our activities over-

Shapla Neer—Citizens’ Committee
in Japan for Overseas Support
Shapla Neer has recently begun

seas. Moreover, as many OISCA trainees
have come to Japan from overseas, theorganization is conducting exchange
programs with depopulated areas.

discussing how to relate our overseas

16

SHARE—Services for the Health inwith people who are conducting com-

8 Primary Health Care

Asian & African Regions

munity development activities both in

SHARE has provided support for theJapan and overseas. We feel that there

health of foreigners living in Japan forare many similarities between Japan andmore than twenty years. Recently, incountries overseas regarding sharedcooperation with the Tokyo Metropolitan

management of common resources (iriai

government, we have been cultivatingin Japanese) in communities, deci-

human resources to serve as interpreterssion-making practices (yoriai in Japa-

for tuberculosis patients, and are puttingnese) and the roles of outsiders in theconsiderable effort into our domestic

community.

Methods and approaches thatrecognize the basic human right ofall people to health, guaranteeing
the right of citizens to make theirown decisions and to participate
actively in the process of achieving
Primary Health Care. The five basic
principles of Primary Health Careare, (1) a basis in citizen needs, (2)effective use of local resources, (3)citizen participation, (4) harmonization and integration of multiple
fields, including agriculture,
education, communications andconstruction, and (5) use of
appropriate technology.

activities, such as our dispatch operations. The Primary Health Care( 8 ) ap-

The activities of these five organiza-

proach that has been developed over-tions in Japan and overseas, and theirseas has been proving useful in Japan as

linkages between Japan and other

well, but has sometimes run into difficul-

countries, are presented in Table 1.

ties in Japan (relations with the govern-

The following views emerged duringment, etc.). SHARE has been active infree discussion based on this table.

Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture since the▼ Even in the case of the poverty issue inearthquake disaster.

Japan, the mechanism that produces thei-i-network (Research & Action
for Community Governance)
i-i-network has continued to engage

problem is similar to what occurs undercircumstances overseas. Opportunities
for interaction to learn from each otherare important.

in mutual learning activities, visiting local▼ The globalization of Japanese society

communities in Japan to hold exchanges

is inevitable. NGOs with overseas con-Table 1
Activities Overseas

Activities in Japan

Overseas → Japan Links

Japan → Overseas Links

Invitation of overseas interns
and staff to local communities
in Japan.

Farmer exchange, sharing
experiences of Fukushima withoverseas visitors.

Community development,
human resource development,
farmer exchange.

Farmer exchange

Shapla Neer

Assistance for child workers,(community-based) disasterprevention activities, disabled
persons, etc.

Operating the Iwaki ExchangeSpace (run by users), taking careof earthquake victims living inplaces other than temporary
housing.

Learning about the notion andapproach of "affected persons
as main actors" and "the people
left behind" in the field.

Getting a real feel for thedifficulties of conducting
activities in communities andopportunities to reassess
overseas partnerships: What is
the structure for reliance onpartners? What is a real partner?

OISCA

Community development,
reforestation & maintenance,
agricultural promotion, humanresource development (agriculture).

Forestation & maintenance;
environmental education forcompanies, municipalities andforestry cooperatives; accepting
trainees.

Learning knowhow and ideas
about community development.
(OISCA acts as a coordinator,and has no direct operations in
the field). International exchange such as in the case of
Tabayama.

Human resource development,
inviting people from overseas
who want to learn in Japan, as
in the case of Tabayama.

SHARE

Assistance for health improvement in the socially vulnerable(children, mothers, sexual
minorities, patient self-helpgroups, migrants, etc.). Activities: Health education, humanresource development, community development throughhealthy residents.

Assistance for health improvement in the socially vulnerable(migrants, homeless). Activities:
Free health consultation,
telephone consultation, humanresource development (interpreters for tuberculosis patients,
foreign volunteers living inJapan), emergency and reconstruction aid.

Application of Primary HealthCare approach introduced fromoverseas (community-based,using local resources, participation of the affected, networking), learning about the difficulty of activities in Japan(particularly with local government) and the importance oflooking at one's own locality(collaboration with Taito Wardduring the 2011 emergency).

Surveys using a foreign network
to study treatment conditionsof foreign patients in Japan.
Sharing knowhow on health-related activities for migrant
workers in Japan with relevant
overseas organizations.

i-i-net"Iriai" exchange, human resource exchange, filming ofrituals in shifting cultivation,
collaborative management of
national parks (human resource
development in West Bali).

On-site training for community
development as JICA training
courses (for people involved incommunity development
overseas) at various community
development sites.

Linking residents of West Bali with Sado and Toyooka throughreciprocal exchanges for study and mutual learning.

JVC

17

nections may be able to play a guiding

nomic bubble burst in the early 1990s. Itrole in promoting an appropriate form of

has achieved rapport with people living

globalization and achieving internationalon the street. We realized that street

understanding.

people were originally part of communi-▼ Couldn’t we ourselves improve ourties, and some of them return to com-projects overseas by learning frommunities. Thus we became involved inexperience in Japan?

communities, and in cooperating with

▼ Could international NGOs contributepeople in organizations running foster

to Japan’s communities? Let’s create ahomes and promoting measures against

venue for dialog with people engaged insolitary death of people living alone, we

domestic issues!

then initiated community development
activities ourselves. Later, we met Shapla

Workshop “50 Ways to Make
the Most of What We Learn
from Local Communities– Linking Community Development in Japan and Overseas –”Neer representatives at a symposium,and engaged in a series of collaborative
projects in which we deliberated on what
constitutes poverty, what support isappropriate, and what powers citizens
have. Through these we gained a shared

A workshop titled “50 Ways to Make theunderstanding that the perspectives of

Most of What We Learn from Local“being a part of the affected” and “per-Communities” as held on January 31,

sons affected being the main actors” are2015 at the JICA Tokyo International

central to the provision of support.

Center to build connections between

Shapla Neer has engaged in supporting

Japanese and overseas community

street children in Dhaka, and from its

development. The thirty participants who

methods of delegating activities to its

gathered for the workshop included

local partner NGOs I have learned that

representatives of Japanese NGOs

the essence of aid is to create multi-

engaging in activities overseas andtiered connections with a variety ofpeople active in Japanese communities,

partners. I feel that as partners we canand this became a forum for mutual

come to see what is essential despite

learning and exchanging experiences.

coming from completely different fields,

The workshop consisted of two sessions.

or, really, because of these differences.

The first half was a keynote discussion, in
which four participants active in Japa-

April Joy Duran (OISCA trainee,

nese communities presented reports on

Education Committee member,Tabaya-

the theme of connections in the field

ma Village, Yamanashi Prefecture)

between Japan and other countries. In* Hiroyuki Cho of OISCA introduces April

the second session, the participants

OISCA has been involved in Japanese

broke into five groups, and while sharing

forest issues since the 1980s. Several

their activities in their respective com-

years ago, at the request of Tabayama

munities, they considered the two

Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, we became

themes of what can be learned in theengaged in efforts to protect degradedfield in Japan and overseas toward

forests. The village asked OISCA to sendsolving issues faced by communities, andsomeone young, so as a part of ourwhat has occurred when the fields incapacity building, we sent April, who was

Japan and in other countries cameborn in the Philippines, as a trainee.

together.
April
Session 1 Keynote Discussion

I greet the children at Tabayama’snursery school and grade school in

Koji Goto (“soup” association)
The “’soup’ association” has involved

English every day. I teach them English
once a week, and we engage in playitself in the problem of homelessness

while using English. I want the children tothat surfaced after the Japanese eco-make friends with foreigners. The chil-18

dren don’t go outside very much, butAsia.

because I go outside, they come with me

Miki Nishiyama (SHARE—Services for theand play outside too. I read to them in

Health in Asian & African Regions)the library from books in English. At the

SHARE specializes in international

day service center, it would be too hard

health care, tackling the issues of childfor the old people to speak English, but I

health and access to healthcare services,put my heart into smiling and making it awith activities in Cambodia, Thailand,

pleasant time for them. I explain to them

East Timor and Japan. We also conduct

in Japanese what kind of place theactivities in suburban Tokyo together

Philippines is, and we do exerciseswith members of the foreign community,

together. Other than that, I cook foodNPOs providing aid to foreigners, andwith the volunteers in Tabayama and doother community members to provide

activities such as tree planting, forest

cost-free health counseling to foreigners

preservation and farming. The Philippines

residing in Japan. In cooperation with thehas serious problems with trash. I am

Tokyo Metropolitan government, we also

learning about the way trash is put out inprovide a dispatch service of support

Tabayama, and I hope to put this knowl-

personnel who can interpret for foreignedge into practice in the Philippines.

tuberculosis patients. We are training
volunteers from Thailand who live in

Masashi Imase (Nara Machizukuri

Japan to help with the HIV/AIDS prob-

Center)lem. We are promoting this by having

Since its founding in 1979, the Nara

Thai residents of Japan, as persons

Machizukuri Center has engaged in com-

affected in the foreign community,

munity development activities by citi-

conduct their own educational activities.

zens. In the course of that, we have

We are also making use of SHARE’s

teamed up with a number of citizens’

overseas network, helping patients whoorganizations in various countries of Asia,

have difficulty with treatment in Japan

starting with Penang, Malaysia, in 1991,

obtain treatment after they return to theirforming the “Asia and West Pacifichome countries. Overseas, we have been

Network for Urban Conservation”. At thatproviding assistance to migrant workers

time, there was notable economic andat karaoke bars near the border between

urban development in Asia, and problems

Thailand and Laos, and I think what wearose with the loss of historical town-

have learned from our work in Japan isscapes and breakdown of communities.

very useful. On the other hand, AIDS

We undertook interchange, mutual

education is more advanced in Thailand,

assistance and mutual learning while

so we would like to make use of ourconducting conservation activities inexperience in Thailand when teachingeach locality. After the year 2000 wehigh school students in Japan.

have expanded our network into Chiang
Mai, Thailand, and Aceh, Indonesia.

Session 2 Group WorkAt this time, there is a global trend
toward conservation and active use of

All of the participants broke into fivehistorical townscapes, and we are awaregroups to discuss the two themes ofthat citizens have been a big part of the“What can be learned in the field in Japandrive. We held a symposium in Penang inand overseas toward solving issues faced

2013, drawing together 20 citizens’

by communities?” and “What has oc-

organizations from nine Asian countries,

curred when the fields in Japan and inat which we expanded by establishingother countries came together?” In eachthe Asia Heritage Network. Small activi-group, in addition to activities announced

ties have added up step by step to create

during the keynote discussion in Session

results, so in the future we will increase

1, we had activists who had travelled in

our interchange, mutual assistance andfrom distant locations (Hippo

reciprocal learning, while conducting

Machizukuri Center in Marumori, Miyagi

activities in each community throughout

Prefecture; Isumi Lifestyle Laboratory in19Isumi, Chiba Prefecture; Asia Health Insti-

es. It can therefore be said that thetute in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture; andrealizations that occurred to each of the

Nagoya NGO Center in Nagoya, Aichi

participants through this forum consti-

Prefecture) report on their activities in

tuted its “outcomes”. Unfortunately, we

their respective communities. We thenwere not able to reach the “50 ways”

had the participants consider the themes

suggested by the title, but several things

while exchanging information with eachbecame clear in view of the workshop

other on their respective experiences.

overall, and we would like lastly to

The photos below provide an overview

introduce the outcomes below.

of the group work outcomes.
During the group work, the participants described their experiences toCommunity Development is a Processof Connecting People to People

each other, discussing actual examples

When April first visited Tabayama

of community issue solving in Japan andVillage, the first thing she did was greet

overseas, providing each person with an

everybody she met individually. A diverse

opportunity to consider these experienc-

variety of people is residing or is involved

20

in communities nowadays for various

thought, “There is nothing here where I

reasons. In order for these people tolive,” and have yearned for big city life

cooperate with each other toward

while continuing to depend on assis-

improving the community, it is vital totance from outside. There are a growing

have a process of connecting them withnumber of communities, however, that

one another.

have realized that this attitude is fruitless.
There is a need to reappraise what there

Bridging Insiders and Outsiders

is in the local area where you are and to

The Presence of Mediators

take a view toward making the best of it.

In the town of Isumi, former residents
who have experienced big city life are

How do We Understand the Notion of

returning once again. Known as the“Being a Part of the Affected”?

“U-turns”, they are becoming the town’s

The principle of “persons affectedbackbone in its activities, as mediators

being the main actors”, in which thebetween the local people and the newpeople directly facing an issue them-people who are moving in. These days, aselves play the leading role in its solution,community cannot exist completely shutis being accepted in many places. How

off from the outside world. How can they

can NGOs, however, who are involved asstrengthen their connections in coopera-

outsiders, see themselves from thetion, not only with companies, adminis-

viewpoint of “being a part of the affect-

trative bodies, universities, etc. but alsoed”? Would it not be important for themwith people living in other communities?

to consider that they also live in a com-

People who can fill a bridging role aremunity and might themselves become

needed.

“affected persons” facing similar issues?

Community Development from a

Crossing the Overseas-Domestic

Perspective of Future Centuries

Barrier, Linking Communities

Communities are entities that have

In globalization, where people, goods,

existed over long historical periods, andand information all cross national bound-

will continue in the future as our descen-aries, activities toward solving community

dants inherit them. Mr. Yoshizawa, who

issues need to connect with each otherhas undertaken community developmentby overcoming the overseas-domestic

activities in the town of Marumori, Miyagi

barrier. How can the fields of “community

Prefecture, is keenly aware of the impor-issue solving” or “community develop-

tance of thinking about communities

ment” in Asia, Africa and Oceania befrom a perspective of future centuries.

linked with those in Japan, and what

Humans, however, are apt to be distract-kinds of mutual learning will that bringed by matters of immediate concern, so

forth? This will be our new challenge.

the presence of outsiders with theirbroader perspective may be useful.
Make Use of What there isin a Community
Whether in Japan or overseas, people
in rural communities have always

21

KEYWORDS“Affected persons”
and “Being a part of the affected”
The term “affected persons”, mentioned repeatedly at the workshop and discussion
in the Community Development Group, refers to the people who are themselves
directly facing a problem of some sort in a community. In the world of so-calledinternational development assistance, it has become important for the projects to gain
the active participation of the local residents. The term “affected persons”, taken further,
expresses the view that the people who are directly facing a problem themselves
should be the main actors in any action, as expressed in its usage in the expression“affected persons being the main actors”. These words are also used in the welfare
sector, as seen in the terms “sovereignty of the affected”, meaning having people withdisabilities or illnesses take the leading role in deciding how they will live their lives, or“study by the affected”, meaning taking an objective view of one’s own difficulties, andfinding one’s own way to live by examining the experiences of others in similar circumstances or persons involved in the sector.
On the other hand, the term “being a part of the affected” reflects the view that not
only those persons directly facing a problem, but their family, colleagues and friends, aswell as people in their community should be cooperating to find solutions in the same
way as the affected persons themselves. One example of this is found in solving thestreet children problem, where it is important that not only the children themselves takea leading role, but that the community around them also see themselves as main actors
in efforts to resolve the issues. In this world of increasing globalization, it can be said
that in order to solve problems in different and distant countries, we need to reassess
our own way of living because we are also becoming “a part of the affected”.
What we want to impress upon the reader, finally, is that we who are involved incommunity development activities led by the affected people are ourselves “a part of
the affected”. All of us are persons living in a community somewhere. We shop at local
shopping centers, our children go to schools in the community, we enjoy community
festivals, we have community centers that provide nursing care for our aging parents,
and in times of disaster, we need to help each other in our communities. We must notforget that anyone who engages in community development is “a part of the affected”
in his or her own community.
(Makoto Nagahata, i-i-network)

22

PARTNERSHIP
Partnership is an important concept that links people with people,
organizations with organizations,and societies with societies.
Here we report on activities
for building partnerships across national boundaries.

23

The four organizations participating in the Partnership Group are all active in supporting local residents in gaining freedom from poverty, but their approaches andcontents of the projects vary. Shapla Neer—Citizens’ Committee in Japan for Overseas
Support provides support for marginalized children and community disaster prevention
activity through local NGOs; as secretariat of the Asian Community Trust (ACT), Asia
Community Center 21 implements grant programs for local NGOs covering a wide
range of fields; Bridge Asia Japan carries out projects such as water supply and school
construction; and Green Earth Network (GEN) conducts reforestation activities with theaim of reviving natural green areas on China’s Huangtu Plateau.
Through our experiences thus far, we have learned that in order to achieve success inlocal projects and bring about sustainable development, the participation of responsible
local NGOs and local residents, in other words, relationship building based on theconcept of partnership with these actors, and building partnerships with Japanesedonor agencies that support these relationships, are extremely important.
We therefore surveyed the current state of partnerships between Japanese international NGOs and overseas counterparts and also between Japanese NGOs and donor
agencies in Japan, and decided to make recommendations to the domestic donor
agencies based on the outcomes of the survey.

24Building Creative Partnerships acrossNational Boundaries
First, we analyzed the concept of “partnership” and expressed it in a diagram.
Based on this concept, we then conducted a questionnaire survey targetinginternational NGOs throughout Japan.
We also conducted an ad hoc questionnaire survey byfocusing on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ “NGO Partnership Project”
under the Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects andreported theresults in a meeting of the Partnership Promotion Committee ofthe NGO-Ministry ofForeign Affairs Regular Consultation Meeting (hereafter NGO-MoFA Regular Consultation Meeting).
Furthermore, we organized two meetings:
1) a conference where we shared and discussed partnership projects
by NGOs and their private financial supporting organizations; and2) a meeting to share the results of the first aforementioned survey with
the NGOs that responded to the questionnaire, and to discuss future efforts
to grapple with the issues raised in their responses.

What is a Partnership?

limited the donors in this survey toinstitutionalized government and private

We, the four organizations in thisgroup, firstly defined the concept oforganizations.
The questionnaire, sent out to approxi-

partnership, and developed a common

mately 300 organizations, was imple-

understanding among ourselves. Thismented from October to November

concept, consisting of eight factors, was2014 with the support of the Japan NGO

then expressed as a diagram (see figure

Center for International Cooperationon left). Based on this concept, we then

(JANIC) and the 13 regional network

conducted a questionnaire surveyorganizations throughout the country.

targeting other international NGOs,

The responding organizations totaled 36,

asking them how they view or under-

with return rate of about 12 percent.

stand partnerships, and focusing on the
aspect most crucial for international

The main points of the survey results
are as follows.

NGOs, that is, securing a flow of funds
for activities, especially their relationships

Characteristics of the Organizations

with the donors that provide them with

▼ Roughly 70% of the responding

grants, subsidies and so on.

organizations were 50% or more
self-funding, and just under 50% were

Implementation of
the Questionnaire Survey
It is necessary for international NGOs

70% or more self-funding, showing
relatively stable financial circumstances.
▼ Just over 90% had 10 or more years ofexperience as international NGOs.

to secure funds (including funds neces-▼ 25% were spending an annual 100

sary for dispatching human resources

million yen or more on projects in Asia.

such as experts and volunteers, or for▼ Responding NGOs focused theirinviting local residents to Japan, etc.) in

activities mainly in 18 countries, the top

Japan in order to support local NGOs

eight, in order of number of NGOs

and community residents overseas. We

involved, being Cambodia, Philippines,

implemented this questionnaire survey to

Nepal, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, Myan-find out what outcomes and impacts the

mar and Bangladesh.

relationship with the donor agencies▼ Their main fields of concern were

have on the partnership with the local

education, rural development, health andNGOs and community residents’ organi-hygiene, livelihood enhancement,zations, and also to know how eachnutrition, the environment, vocational

international NGO views partnership andtraining, and water supply and water

practices it in the field. Additionally, we

sources.

25

Relationships with Local NGOs andremained and 14% had not concluded a

Community Residents’ Organizations

written agreement with their partner▼ In principle, all organizations haveorganizations.

partner organizations.

▼ In order of frequency, the resources▼ Over half of the Japanese internationaland services provided by the JapaneseNGOs had found partner organizations

international NGOs extended to 1) funds,

after many years of activities in the areas2) dispatch of human resources, 3)

they were engaged. Subsequently,

technical assistance, 4) acceptance ofintroduction by prominent figures in theleaders of local NGOs, residents andareas concerned came next in finding

others to Japan, including for training, 5)

local partners, and this was followed byin-kind assistance, 6) policy advocacy, 7)

introductions from the resident offices ormarketing in Japan for goods produced

international alliance offices of Japaneseby the partner organizations.

NGOs.

▼ In order of frequency, the resources▼ With the exception of one organiza-

and services provided by local partner

tion, all the organizations shared com-organizations were 1) provision of local

mon goals and a common awareness of

information, 2) participation and cooper-

problems with their partner organiza-

ation by local residents, 3) participation

tions.

by local NGO staff in projects, 4) bur-

▼ About half of the organizations re-den-sharing of project expenses, 5) inter-sponded that they had horizontal rela-pretation services in the field.

tionships with their partner organizations▼ Points to note when ending a partner-

and about half said they were aiming forship project were 1) continuity of thethat kind of relationship.

projects engaged in, 2) sustainable▼ 47% of the organizations had written

development of partner NGOs andagreements on division of responsibilities

resident organizations and of the proj-

and roles with their partner organiza-

ects concerned, and 3) extension of thetions, 39% said that grey zones still

effects of the projects.

Partnership Concept Diagram. This figure shows the flow of funds fromJapanese donors to developing country NGOs or resident
organizations and the concept of partnershipJapanese donors
Citizens

Government
agencies

Companies

Foundations

Other organizations:Rotary Club, etc.

International agencies

Direct support(e.g. UNICEF)(donations, etc.)

Overseas NGOs, etc.

Japanese international
NGOs

Developing country NGOs,
resident organizations

Project implementation
Flow of funds under survey

Flow of funds not under survey

Partnership under survey

Application/Reporting

26

The Partnership Group members define“partnership” as a relationship formed
from the following characteristics andfactors:
1) A relatedness between an actor and anotherexternal actor (interaction between two or more
actors),2) Shared awareness (values) of problems regarding
development issues (poverty reduction/livelihood
improvement, access to education, measuresagainst communicable diseases, gender equality,etc.) that require resolution,3) Sharing of the goal of a project to be implemented,
4) A relatedness that brings about value added
through bringing together the resources andstrengths of the parties involved,5) The existence of understanding and agreement
on a clearly-defined division of roles (or at the very
least a clear sharing of awareness),6) An awareness of horizontal relations (not chainof-command or prime contractor/subcontractor
relations),
7) A relationship that involves mutual learning,8) A relationship that is not necessarily permanent (arelationship in which links can be reviewed once a
joint project has been completed or goals achieved).

Securing Funding in Japan

were impossible to carry out under the▼ Just over 60% of the organizations

circumstances in the local area, 4) thewere applying to private organizations

contents of instructions changed several

and just under 30% to government

times at the time of application, and soagencies for grants and subsidies.

on. The second group of problems▼ The most highly evaluated as an

stemmed from the vexatious complexity

effective grant scheme was, amongof the required office work. For instance,others, the MoFA Grant Assistance for1) after completion of the project, it was

Japanese NGO Projects (N-Ren). The

necessary to attach and copy a list of

next most effective was considered to be

expenses including those of several tens

the Japan International Cooperationof yen and also documents proving that

Agency (JICA) Grassroots Technicaltransactions had been completed, 2) the

Cooperation Projects (Proposal-type

proposed budget was checked in greatTechnical Cooperation in particular). Of

detail, resulting in a long period of timethe 30 NGOs that responded, seven

before funds were provided, and so on. A

NGOs, 23%, were making use of thecertain degree of accounting expertise isformer and four NGOs, 13%, werenecessary to receive public funding, but

making use of the latter. The remaining

we have doubts about the demands for

19 NGOs’ responses centered on private

excessively detailed office work.

grants as the most effective, but cited 15▼ While the size of grants made bydifferent agencies and grant schemes.

private organizations was smaller, the▼ The reason for the high evaluation offollowing positive evaluations were

N-Ren was “the size of the grants”. (Thegiven: 1) The attachment of original

grant amount per project ranges from 10

receipts was not necessary for quarterly

million to 100 million yen. See thereports, making office work simpler (aKeywords at the end of this section.)foundation grant), 2) an opportunity was▼ While the size of private grants isgiven to participate and learn from thelimited, being in the range of 500,000

exchanges of experiences among

yen to 3 million yen, the application andJapanese international NGOs engaged inaccounting report requirements, and thedeveloping countries (a foundation

speed of decision-making and disburse-

grant), 3) changes in the content of ament received high evaluations.

project were handled flexibly (a company
fund), 4) company executives visited theRelationships with Donor Agencies

project in the field and it was possible toin Japanengage in a direct exchange of opinions▼ 56% of the NGOs reported experienc-(Company CSR Department), and 5)

ing an excessive degree of burden,

expert advice was given at the time ofespecially with N-Ren and the JICA

presenting an interim report at a compa-

Grassroots Technical Cooperation

ny meeting (Company CSR Department).

Project. Summarizing the content of the
responses, the problems can be divided

These were the results from theinto two main groups. One originatedviewpoint of the international NGOs, andfrom the characteristics of the officer in

we consider it necessary to research the

charge, and especially conspicuous wasviews and reactions from the donor side

the difference in handling methods by

as well.

different officers. For instance, 1) while
officers were given good evaluations for

Implementation of an Additional Ad Hoc

flexible responses to changes in the

Questionnaire

contents of a project plan, 2) applications

During the process of the survey, wewere sometimes rejected despite spend-learned from the MoFA that there had

ing huge amounts of time rewriting the

been very few applicants for the “NGOapplication several times according toPartnership Project”, which had beensuggestions given by the officer, 3)

initiated in FY2004 to encourage part-demands were made for studies thatnership with local NGOs in developing27

countries under its funding scheme tolack of flexibility toward project changes,

Japanese international NGOs, N-Ren.

and while a three-year project continua-

The lack of response from Japanesetion period is permitted, since, in fact, theNGOs was becoming a cause for con-contracts are only for single fiscal years,

cern in MoFA. We therefore decided

the process of “preliminary screening →immediately to conduct an additional

acceptance of application → priorquestionnaire as an ad hoc survey toscreening (four or five exchanges ofverify the hypothesis that “the cause of

paperwork) → refund of unused budget

the small number of applications may be→ completion” has to be repeated eachdue to a lack of necessary knowledge

year.

and knowhow about procedures forconcluding contracts with local NGOs”.

Proposals for Improvement

Of the roughly 300 NGOs that were theBased on the outcomes of the survey,

target of the survey described above, we

we proposed the following measures forreceived valid responses from 22 organi-improvement.

zations.

▼ MoFA, JICA and other donors are, in a

broad sense, partners of international

Reporting the Outcomes of
the Ad Hoc Survey to Ministryof Foreign Affairs Officers at a
Meeting in Nagoya

NGOs; they simply perform a different
role. If we see this relationship in termsof a “team”, what we would like to do isform a relationship built on trust where
each player makes use of his or her

The “FY2014 Second Meeting of theindividuality to contribute creative play

Partnership Promotion Committee” of(activity) to reach the common goal

the NGO-MoFA Regular Consultation(development target).

Meeting was held in Nagoya on 10

The director of the MoFA Non-Gov-

December, 2014. In addition to theernmental Organizations Cooperationcommittee members, JICA officials andDivision gave a forward-looking response

about 50 local NGO staff members in theby saying, “I believe that the Ministry of

Nagoya area also participated in theForeign Affairs is also a partner, one ofmeeting. We reported to the meeting on

the members of a team,” “we would likethe results of the additional ad hoc

to develop projects by working together

questionnaire on the “NGO Partnershipwith NGOs so that we can achieve

Project” under the N-Ren scheme.

shared goals.”

Overview of the Results of the Ad Hoc

dialog between NGOs and the MoFA, andSurveyfurther promoting shared goals and the▼ All 22 organizations that responded

fostering of trusting relationships, we

knew of the “NGO Partnership Project”,

hope to work toward improvements in

but 18 organizations, 82% of the total,

the environment that will enable Japa-

had never applied.

nese international NGOs, local NGOs and▼ While there were some organizations

local residents’ organizations overseas tothat implemented their projects inde-

engage in greater “creative play”.

In the future, while maintaining thependently from the N-Ren scheme andalso others that made use of different
project categories under the N-Ren
scheme, the most common reason for
not applying was the heavy burden of
office work required for the application

Dialog with Private Donor
Organizations Based on Examples of Successful Partnerships
On January 22, 2015, we held aprocedures and the general user-un-

seminar in central Tokyo for the purpose

friendliness of the scheme.

of engaging in a dialog with private▼ “Budgetary” constraints had a great

donors. The aim of the dialog was toeffect. It is difficult to move money

examine the factors that lead to successbetween budgetary items, resulting in a

by taking up successful cases of project28

partnerships forged between internation-aiding the specialist knowledge to take

al NGOs and private donor organizations.

root in the local communities. ThisA total of about 30 people, threeNGOs along with representatives of thedivision of roles led to a mutual win-win
relationship.

company, trade union and the charitable
trust that acted as their partners partici-[Case Report 2] Cooperation between

pated in the seminar and gave reports on

Aeon Retail Workers Union and Green

their different collaborations.

Earth Network
Reporters: Takeshi Suda, Aeon Retail[Case Report 1] Cooperation between

Workers Union (ARWU) / Kunio Takami,

the CSR Department of Ajinomoto Co.,

Green Earth Network (GEN)Inc. and Hunger Free World

The meeting between the two organi-

Reporters: Kei Kuriwaki, CSR Department

zations occurred when, on the morningof Ajinomoto Co., Inc. / Kiyotaka Wata-of the Great Hanshi-Awaji Earthquake onnabe, Hunger Free World (HFW)

January 17, 1995, the then General-Sec-

Ajinomoto has been carrying out social

retary of ARWU was so impressed by ancontribution activities through thearticle written about Kunio Takami of“Ajinomoto International Cooperation

GEN that he decided to get in touch with

Network for Nutrition and Health (AIN)”

him. The ARWU General-Secretary had

program in order to contribute to thejudged that participating in GEN’s refor-

improvement of nutrition in developing

estation activities in China would lead tocountries, mainly in Southeast Asia.

the realization of “happiness” as defined

Ajinomoto considered that it is theby ARWU. Support began in 1995, withresponsibility of the company as a global

union members participating as

corporation, not as a charitable activity,tree-planting volunteers.

to work for the improvement of nutrition

As well as helping to plant trees,and health and decided to collaborate

through exchanges with the local people

with NGOs. While there have beenand visits to historical places, the ARWU

discussions within the company about

members were able to gain a real sense

whether or not such projects have aof the current situation in China and thepositive effect on company value, themagnitude of the environmental prob-

reality is that this is very difficult to provelems there. The collaboration with GEN

numerically. Ajinomoto, however, has

1) helped the members to know moretaken on this project with the long term

about the people and history of China

in view.

and gave them experiences they could

Financial support for a bee-keeping

not have in Japan, 2) broadened theirproject in Bangladesh in 2005 was thevision through exchanges with otherspark for the relationship with HFW. The

trade unions, and 3) brought them into

company then supported and collaborat-

contact with the aspirations of theed with HFW for five years in two periods

people of the past, becoming the trigger

from 2010 to carry out a composite

for reflection on their lives as Aeon staff,

project of dietary education, school

as well as providing them with an oppor-

lunches, poultry farming, and so on intunity to review the aspirations for

two Bangladeshi villages.

carrying forward social reform that were

Ajinomoto executives and CSR Depart-

upheld at the time of the founding of thement staff visited the location of the

trade union. For its part, GEN reported

project, and HFW was able to receivethat with the cooperation of ARWU andexpert advice that they were able to put

other trade unions, foundations, compa-

to use in their project when they gave annies, and JICA, they had thus far planted

interim report at the company’s AIN

18,800,000 trees on 5,900 hectares ofcommittee meeting. The company, withland.

its specialist knowledge, came to know
about the customs and culture in the[Case Report 3] Cooperation between

villages, and the NGO played the role ofthe charitable trust Asian Community

29

Trust (ACT) and WE21 Japan

meeting focused on the two issues of theReporters: Michio Ito, Asian Community

stance of Japanese international NGOs

Trust (ACT) / Kyoko Niekawa, WE21

toward partnership, and the stanceJapan

toward government funding. The main

ACT is a charitable trust which enables

views of the participants are given below.

a donor to establish a special fund of 10
million yen or more within the trust, andThe Stance of Japanese International

as of 2014 maintains more than 20 funds

NGOs toward Partnershipfor the support of local NGOs and other

Compared to western NGOs, Japaneseorganizations in Asia. One of these is theNGOs are not yet used to forming

Asian People’s Partnership Support Fundpartnerships, and there is the impression

which supports exchanges and collabo-

that they have not yet achieved good

rative activities between Japanese andresults. One of the trends in international

people of other Asian countries where

cooperation is that the era when NGOs

Japan caused great suffering during thewould go directly into the field without

Second World War, and assists bothworking through a local partner has

parties in growing and developing

already ended, and Western NGOs havethrough sharing of views and experienc-

the awareness that it is necessary toes.

foster local partners. NGOs even educate

WE21 Japan is an NGO that gains its

local government employees. I think thisactivity funds from sales at its recycling

is a very interesting effort, but unfortu-

shops, and carries out exchanges withnately, considering the fact that there are

local residents in northern Philippines

only ten participants in today’s meeting, I

who are facing mining developments inthink there are very few international

the hope that disasters such as that at

NGOs in Japan that are ready to focus on

the Ashio Copper Mine in Japan do notthis issue.

occur there. WE21 Japan received grants
for three years from 2010 from ACT’s

Government Funding

Asian People’s Partnership Support Fund

▼ Western donor agencies provide

to carry out an exchange project with thefunding in order to urge self-reliance byindigenous peoples who live in the area

the partner, but this way of thinking is notwith the aim of helping them to raise

only lacking in Japan, continuation ofawareness of their rights and to shareoperations is made difficult due to thewith them the techniques for organic

cutting off of working funds after proj-

farming and reforestation. During thatects are completed. The result of this istime, ACT secretariat staff and the fundgreat strain on the local NGOs anddonor visited the area and held friendly

resident organizations in field.

exchanges with the local residents. ACT▼ Since government funding may imply

and WE21 were able to share values andthe notion that it is being provided in

an awareness of the issues and wereaccordance with the interests of Japan,

both delighted that they had formed a

one wonders whether or not these kinds

strong sense of camaraderie.

of funds are actually welcomed by local
residents and NGOs. We really need to

Sharing the Outcomes of theQuestionnaire with NGO Staff
and Discussions on
Future Activities
We held a meeting titled “Sharing the

make the use of public funds more
responsive to local needs and NGO
conditions so that they can maximize theeffects in the field.
▼ Government funding is highly evaluat-

ed for its large sums of money, but I get a

Questionnaire Survey Results and Activi-

strong feeling from the questionnaireties for Future Issues”, which was attend-

results about the hardship that NGOs are

ed by ten NGO staff members from eight

experiencing with the complicatedof the organizations that had responded

application procedures. This is causing

to the questionnaire. Comments at theJapanese NGOs to lose their positive30

qualities as “NGOs”.

not change unless we bring to the▼ International NGOs based in local

forefront the awareness that NGO

towns in Japan have great diversity andworkers are taxpayers as well as being

are carrying out wonderful activities thatusers of funds. In that sense, the word

are firmly rooted in their locality. It is very

“citizens” should be added above theunfortunate that these NGOs have very

government in the partnership concept

little opportunity to make their voices

diagram that was shown at the beginning

heard by the government and that thereof the meeting. (This proposal was

are no user-friendly schemes for them.

accepted and Figure 1 “Partnership▼ It is very difficult to obtain public

Concept Diagram” was amended.)funding for abstract activities such asorganizational building, empowerment

Outlook for the Futureand human rights. Projects that leaddirectly to positive economic effects tend

The Partnership Group learned a lot

to take priority. It is unfortunate thatfrom the activities of this project. Firstly,

projects that take some time, such as

more opportunities should be found to

helping people to become aware of theirconsider the significance of partnershiprights, are often not accepted.

among the officers and staff of interna-▼ We need to develop funds that allow

tional NGOs. Secondly, efforts should be

us to realize the strong points of Japa-

made to increase the opportunities fornese NGOs, such as mobility, attention todialog with and to engage in team-build-detail, flexibility and empathy.

ing involving both the Japanese govern-▼ It is necessary to make more appeals

ment and private donor organizations.

to Diet members, who are the represen-

By further analyzing the results of thetatives of the people.

questionnaire, we are determined to▼ Government funding is first of all

make efforts toward improvement andprovided by the people who pay taxes.

resolution of the relevant issues in order

There is too much of an imbalance into act as bridges of creative partnership

power in the relationship between NGOs

building between our Asian neighbors

and the government. This situation will

and Japanese society.

31

KEYWORDS
We reconfirmed anew the importance of building creative partnerships acrossnational boundaries through the questionnaire survey and our dialog withthe officers and staff of NGOs and donor organizations.
Below we have summarized the important keywords for “building creative partnerships”.

International NGO
International NGOs may be regarded as citizens’ organizations that are engaged ininternational cooperation. It is said that there are 400 to 500, or even more, suchorganizations in Japan. While they are far smaller in financial and organizational scalethan government organizations, the characteristics of their activities are that they arevery mobile and flexible, they are able to carry out very detailed activities and form
human and trusting relationships with people in developing countries. In the future,
Japanese international NGOs will play an important role in moving toward the new
symbiotic society and building creative partnerships across national boundaries.

Grant Assistance for Japanese NGO Projects(Usually known as N-Ren)
This is the funding scheme under which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) provides government funds for economic and social development projects undertaken by
Japanese NGOs in developing countries and regions. Since the primary source of thefunding is taxes, strict conditions are placed on its use. Examples are preparation of thelarge amount of documents and materials, the long screening process and certain
accounting skills required for application for the funding. The conditions given are often
different from the stance of NGOs, which place importance on spontaneity, mobility
and flexibility. As a result, there are negative impacts on NGO activities and strain is felt
in the projects in the field. If the taxes are being paid by us, the citizens, then there is aneed to engage in further dialog with the MoFA to request improvements in N-Ren withthe participation of Diet members, who are the lawmakers.

Team-building
The term “partnership” makes us think of the relationship between Japanese NGOs,on the one hand, and local NGOs and residents’ organizations on the other, but in fact,
it is the donors that have an enormous impact on the relationship between the twosides, and it is not possible to consider this issue without including the donors. For
Japanese NGOs, to develop activities with local NGOs and residents’ organizations thatwill lead to social impacts, it is crucial that due attention is given to how the donors,
who are situated in the location farthest from the field, will share the goals of the
project and foster trusting relations. This is exactly what we mean by team-building.

32Symposium

Japanese International NGOs Working
Towards a Symbiotic Society in Asia
– Our Experiences and Appeals –A symposium titled “Japanese International NGOs Working
Towards a Symbiotic Society in Asia
– Our Experiences and Appeals –”, was held on Friday, February 6, 2015
at the Bellesalle Iidabashi, Iidabashi, Tokyo.
Highly intense and enlightening discussions were held tosummarize the year’s activities and to finalize the“Declaration of the NGOs WorkingTowards a Symbiotic Society in Asia”.

Group meetings emphasizing dialog
Firstly, Michio Ito, representing the NGO Council on
the Prospects for the Future of Asia, the organizer ofthe symposium, expressed his gratitude to the Toyota
Foundation for its grant supporting this project.
Mr. Ito referred to the three aims of the project asfollows: 1) To promote understanding in society about
the role of Japanese NGOs engaged in international
cooperation and the significance of their activities, andthus to contribute to the expansion of support forinternational NGOs; 2) to learn and rethink about
cooperative relationships between the people of Japanand other Asian countries; and 3) to engage in self-re-general public were among the 56 participants. Suffi-

flection and learn about our role and position in society

cient time was given over to small group discussions inthrough dialog with a wide variety of stakeholders.

order to emphasize opportunities for dialog.

Mr. Ito also said that he was looking forward to

In the reports and recommendations on each of thepositive discussions and comments from the partici-

three themes, the stage was taken by the representative

pants on the draft “Declaration of the NGOs Workingof the first year students of Sendai Nika High School in

Towards a Symbiotic Society in Asia”, which was sched-

Miyagi Prefecture, who had attended a lecture by theuled to be adopted by the Council.

Water Group members and actually visited the Mekong

After hearing reports and recommendations on theRiver in Thailand. Mr. Sorato Hayasaka gave his impres-three specific themes of “Water”, “Community Develop-

sions of the visit by saying, “I had some vague knowl-ment” and “Partnership”, the participants took part inedge about the water problem in Southeast Asia, but I

group discussions, following which a plenary session

did not know about the arsenic contamination andfor exchanges of views was held. A wide range of

deforestation. I was also not aware that the water

people, not only NGO-related persons but also highproblem in Asia was linked to our lifestyle in Japan.” Ms.

school students, company staff and members of the

Mao Uehara, explaining that she had come to noticethat there were differences in the way people viewed
water, said, “In Japan we have the problems of floods
and water pollution and I thought that the situation was
the same in Asia, but it wasn’t so. I learned that in thehighlands of Thailand, people are having to deal withthe problem of arsenic as if it were just a normal
day-to-day problem.”Group Discussions
After a break, the participants broke up into groups tohold deeper and more detailed discussions. Desks weremoved to form a square or chairs were arranged in a33

be more than what was really necessary.

circle, after which quiet but intense discussions took

The Community Development Group reconfirmed

place. We introduce some of these here.

the importance of “being a part of the affected”, andIn the Water Group there was some debate onwhether water should be understood as potable water

keywords such as “a trusting relationship” and “consid-

or from a wider viewpoint. We are apt to see water as aering community development from a perspective of

substance or as potable water and believe that the

future centuries” came up during the discussion on

problems of water can be solved by technology, but the

how to interact with communities and what points one

discussion turned to comprehending water in a context

needs to be careful about.

which includes the relatedness between people in

It was also pointed out that if one puts oneself too

situations that involve water.

much into the shoes of the affected, the issue of

The Sendai Nika High School students shared their

becoming a do-gooder or forcing one’s views onto

experiences in Thailand with the other participants,

other people might arise. In response, the comment

mentioning that the people in rural Thailand use bothwas given that, for example, when talking to an AIDS/

tap water and rain water, though in different ways, andHIV patient, even if one is not an AIDS/HIV patient there

are well aware of the water sources. The students had

might be the necessity for treating the problem as if it

also noticed that the people maintain an attitude ofwere one’s own problem by saying “if it was me and if

restraint toward the fact that water can be obtained on

you were someone in my family…” One idea that wasa daily basis. On the other hand, Japanese people use

shared with the participants was that since people whowater as if it were taken for granted, and their aware-

are involved in communities are also in the same way

ness about where water comes from is poor. One“living in a community”, but in a different place, con-opinion was that the desire for water cleanliness mightstantly thinking about what one should do in one’s own

SYMPOSIUM

PROGRAMJapanese International NGOs Working

Opening Remarks and Outline Explanation

Towards a Symbiotic Society in Asia

Michio Ito (Asia Community Center 21, Representative of the– Our Experiences and Appeals –Council Steering Committee)

Date: Friday, February 6, 2015
Reports and Recommendations from the Three Groups

Venue: Bellesalle Iidabashi (Tokyo)

Water: What Water Can Teach Us about the Future of Asia andJapan
Tamiko Ishiyama (Asia Arsenic Network)*
Community Development: Toward Vibrant Local Communities
Established through Collaboration and Mutual Learning
Hironori Shimoda (Japan International Volunteer Center)
Partnership: Creative Partnership Building across National
Boundaries
Etsuko Nemoto (Bridge Asia Japan)*
BreakGroup Discussion on the Three Themes
Plenary Session
Facilitator: Masashi Imase (Nara Machizukuri Center)*Panelists: Toshiyuki Doi (Mekong Watch)*
Makoto Nagahata (i-i-network)*
Etsuko Nemoto (Bridge Asia Japan)*
Closing Remarks
Makoto Nagahata (i-i-network)** Member of the Council Steering Committee

34

Japan, since I now feel things that I was not able to see
previously, I think I would like to think again about
Japan. As from the viewpoint of adults we are thepeople who must shoulder the responsibilities of thenext generation, I think I would like to share my experiences with students and teachers in the school.
▼ I am really happy with the statement from the highschool students that they “would like to think again
about Japan.” The students said that comprehending
water not as a substance but as a context was hard to
grasp, but listening to their statements and impressions,
I think they have reached a good understanding of it.
In concordance with this, the organizers also gave
the following comment.

community would lead to a way of interacting with thepeople in the community where activities are taking▼ There is now a movement in society to review theplace.

overemphasis on safety, convenience and efficiency,

In the Partnership Group, a discussion was held

but I think language should also be reviewed to think ininvolving personnel of grant-making foundations,terms of “slow language” rather than “fast language”. Inbusiness corporations, NGOs, students and others.

the same way as local production for local consump-

Many complaints were heard from the NGO side, suchtion of food, there is also a necessity for the reinstate-as the fact that there is insufficient support for non-tan-

ment of local production for local consumption ofgible activities such as capacity building, and that grantlanguage, the language that is used in local contexts. I

applications have various kinds of restrictions. Thus,

think it will become ever more important to visit theonce granted, NGOs have great hardship in rendering

field and carry out sympathetic and engaged activities

compatibility between grant conditions and projectwith the people in the local community.

implementation in the field. In response, the view was▼ I have returned from field activities for an internation-

given that, with regard to the nature of the partnership,

al NGO and have been working with people in Japanit may be very important for the supporting side and thefor some time. In this event, talking with NGO staff, I

supported side to engage in a process where they

have realized for the first time in a long while that evencome together to have frank and intensive discussions

though the location may be different, looking from theto share the goals to be achieved.

viewpoint of resolving local issues, there are close
similarities in the things that people worry and think

In addition, there was a comment that the draft of
the joint declaration regarding Partnership was biased

about, and in the methods of dealing with these.

toward funding issues, and that there should be some

▼ In the future, I think human resource development is

mention of learning and constructive relationships with

important. I would like to tell people about the wisdom

the donor side.

that Japan has. I have renewed my awareness that atthat time, as everyone here has said, it will be necessary
to communicate with people in a way that is appropri-

Learning Together into the Future

ate for the local area.

At the final plenary session, looking back on the

In his closing remarks, Makoto Nagahata of the

discussions the following comments were given by theCouncil Steering Committee thanked everyone forparticipants.

being able to hold discussions based on the learning of▼ From the standpoint of a company, I think that funds

each of the participants, and expressed his wish toare important for whatever one wants to do. The

maintain a dialog with the people whom the Council

economist Thomas Piketty (Professor of Economics atmembers had had the opportunity to meet with during

the Paris School of Economics and author of thethe day’s event and to walk forward together toward

world-famous book Capital in the Twenty-First Centu-

the future.

ry ) has also talked about the redistribution of capital. I
believe that the time has now come to talk about thesethings.
▼ Listening to the statements of the young people in

the Water Group, I renewed my awareness of thenotion that it is important to “think in contexts”.
▼ After visiting Thailand and then taking another look at

35

“Declaration of the NGOs Working
Towards a Symbiotic Society in Asia”
The NGO Council on the Prospects for the
Future of Asia is a consortium formed for the limitof one year (from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015)
for the purpose of the member NGOs to develop
prospects for new relationships with the people ofother countries and regions of Asia.
Aiming for a better Asian future, we, the Council
member NGOs, have for many years built up
face-to-face relationships in Asia and have continued to work together on cooperative activities toresolve shared issues. However, in Asian countries
and regions, which include Japan, issues suchpoverty, widening economic disparities, environmental destruction, and community disintegration
are deepening in the midst of economic growth.
The causes of these issues are also becoming evermore complex as globalization advances, while theactors involved in the resolution of these issues
become ever more diverse.
We therefore wish hereby to reemphasize thefollowing.
We believe that in order to form a true vision of
the future of Asia, it is crucial that the local residents of each country and region themselves realizethat they are the main actors and begin to resolve
issues themselves for the development of their own
communities.
Further, we believe that while having mutual
respect for each others’ positions, learning together,and sharing the experiences and knowledge that wehave cultivated in Asia, building partnership relations of mutual cooperation, mutual support andwalking forward together will lead to the creationof a new Asia.
Based on the above, we hereby put forward
concrete recommendations for fundamental principles and future actions in the three areas of Water,
Community Development and Partnership.

Make Use of the Learning Gained from
Activities on the Water Issue to Form
Cooperative Relationships for the Future of
Asia and Japan● Comprehend the water issue, which is becoming
increasingly aggravated due to the pursuit of profitsand convenience, as a series of interconnectedchallenges that includes forest reduction in water
source areas, the degradation of rivers that foster
life, and the erosion of lifestyles that are in harmony with nature.
● Re-evaluate the strength of rural communities inJapan, where community members have made useof traditional bonds between people to manage
local forests and rivers, and have succeeded insecuring water resources through putting suchbonds to use even when technology such as thedomestic water supply has been introduced.
● In order to resolve the Asian, including theJapanese, water issue, while aiding the developmentof the bonds between people in the community,
establish appropriate technology that takes advantage of local resources, and engage in mutual
learning regarding the experiences and wisdom
thus gained.
Local Communities Revitalized throughCollaboration and Mutual Learning● The basis is that the affected people themselves
and the people around them should grasp the issues
in their communities as their own issues and begin
to take action toward their resolution. For that
purpose, it is vital to build up multilayered relations
that drive collaboration among diverse stakeholders.
● It is expected of us that, while forming trusting
relationships with people in the communities, wewill become a partner who will act together with36

autonomy are respected to the maximum degree,
the problem awareness (values) toward the development issues to be resolved is shared, projects to be
implemented have shared goals, and each partner’s
strong points are brought together in the process ofplanning and implementation of projects.
● From a long-term perspective, we are convincedthat development cooperation based on thesepartnership relations will lead on to self-relianceand sustainable development of the local NGOs
and residents of local communities, and that thiswill lead to confidence in Japanese internationalNGOs and the people and organizations that
support our NGO activities.
● In order to realize the partnership relations
mentioned above, we wish to build up our partnership relations with diverse supporters and supporting organizations within Japan. For this purpose,
we shall engage in further dialog and mutual
learning with citizens, people in government aid
agencies, private foundations, companies, tradeunions, education and research institutes and so on,
and thus will build creative partnerships with thepeople and related organizations in Asia.

the people to, for example, “explore local resources” and “act as a bridge between the outside andthe local community”. Further, while being awareof one’s own position as “being a part of theaffected”, it is important to have a vision fromwhich discussion and deliberation with the peopleof the community can be carried out not only on
immediate issues but also with a perspective of
future centuries in mind.
● There are a large number of common issues
faced by people engaged in community development both in Japan and overseas, and there aremany situations in which experience in one can be
put to use in the other. It is therefore necessary tocreate opportunities that enable exchanges ofexperiences and mutual learning among the peopleof local communities, transcending the boundaries
across countries in Asia.
Building Creative Partnerships acrossNational Boundaries● As NGOs that carry out international cooperation in countries with differing cultural, historicaland social backgrounds, we believe that it is crucial
to form partnership relations of mutual learning inwhich the partner’s position, endogeneity andMarch 2015

NGO Council on the Prospects for the Future of Asia (in Japanese alphabetical order)
i-i-network (Research and Action for Community Governance)
Asia Community Center 21
Asia Arsenic Network
FoE Japan
OISCA (The Organization for Industrial and Cultural Advancement)
SHARE (Services for the Health in Asian & African Regions)Shapla Neer—Citizens’ Committee in Japan for Overseas Support
Nara Machizukuri Center
Japan International Volunteer Center
Bridge Asia Japan
Green Earth Network (GEN)
Mekong Watch

37

Concluding Remarks– Towards further symbiosis in Asia –2035 the whole of Asia will usher in the era of the2014 marked the 60th anniversary of the inception ofJapan’s official development assistance (ODA). Withageing society, where those of age 65 and above will

formal affiliation to the Colombo Plan (i) in 1954, Japanaccount for 14 percent or more of the population. (iv)

initiated grant financial assistance in the form of post-

Urbanization is advancing in all Asian countries, and as

war reparations as the first ODA. Following that, the era

bonds with the people in the local communities be-of high economic growth began, and with the rise income more tenuous, and the modernization of life-

living standards support activities for other Asian

styles and the trend toward nuclear families strengthen,countries by non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

the plight of youth vexed by the pressure of living in analso began to take shape. Among the organizations

education-obsessed society is no longer a problem

participating in this Council, OISCA was formed in 1961

seen in Japan alone. As the population becomes moreand Shapla Neer was established in 1972. International

concentrated in cities, the issues of solid waste man-cooperation activities for the people of Asia by Japa-

agement and urban transport become more serious,

nese citizens already has a long history, and I think you

and all countries come to harbor the common issues ofcan get a strong sense of the fact that the organizations

widening urban-rural disparities and poverty gaps.
As we strengthen the links between Japan and Asianparticipating in this Council are involved in a broadsocieties, and common issues come to be harbored byrange of activity areas.
As globalization advances, the perceived distanceeach country, the question arises of how we should

between Japan and other Asian countries has shrunk topush forward Japanese NGO cooperation in Asia witha degree unimaginable in the past. There are, of course,

its more than 50-year history. During our year of

the trade and investment relations, but the movement

activities as the NGO Council on the Prospects for theof people has also seen great changes, with the num-

Future of Asia, we have looked back on our activities,

ber of Asian tourists visiting Japan exceeding ten million

shared experiences with each other, and deliberated on

in 2014, accounting for three-quarters of all people

the directions to take in the future. This notion isvisiting Japan. (ii) Moreover, youth culture originating incondensed into several terms such as “affected persons

Japan has caught the imagination of Asian youth with,as main actors”, “mutual learning” and “partnership”, asfor instance, 80 percent of all animations watched inthey appear in the “Declaration of the NGOs Working

Thailand and 70 percent of manga books sold in

Towards a Symbiotic Society in Asia”. We very muchIndonesia being of Japanese origin. (iii) Furthermore, inhope that you will also join us in sharing these ideas,

shops in many Asian cities, we can see large numbers

and we will be extremely happy if you will walk togeth-of Japanese game software packages, including pirated

er with us as our companions toward a greater symbio-

software, lined up on the shelves.

sis in Asia.

While the movement of people and information
becomes increasingly dynamic, year by year the problems existing in Asian societies become more similar to
Makoto Nagahata

those of Japan. In 2015, the proportion of people ofworking age (age 15 to 64) in the population in Asia as a

Member of the Steering Committee of the NGO

whole will begin to decline, and it is forecast that byCouncil on the Prospects for the Future of Asia

( i ) The official name of the Colombo Plan is The Colombo Plan for Cooperative Economic andSocial Development in Asia and the Pacific.
(ii) Statistics published by the Japan National Tourist Organization(iii) Asia trend map: http://www.asiatrendmap.jp/(iv) Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry 2010 White Paper on International Economy and Trade38

Report to the Toyota Foundation on
Grant Activities
adopted based on the opinions given on the day of the

The NGO Council on the Prospects for the Future of

symposium.

Asia has implemented activities for one year with theWith regards to the recording of activities, we spent

purpose of discussing how Japanese internationalNGOs have engaged in dialog with and have collabo-

much time in considering methods of getting ourrated with the people and societies in Asia, throughmessage across to people other than those that alreadywhat kinds of themes, as well as with the purpose of

have some connection with Japanese international

sharing the results of the discussion widely with theNGOs, for example, those of the next generation who

people in Japan.

we hope will take an interest in the ways that Asia andJapan can interact with each other at the level of

The Steering Committee members, elected fromamong the 12 participating organizations, have per-ordinary citizens and people who do not usually haveformed the central role in discussing and determining

any connection with international cooperation or

the principles and contents of the Council’s activities.

international exchange. As a result, we were able to

We decided on three themes (water, partnership andenlist the assistance of two specialists, the visualcommunity development) that we wished to make ancontents producer Teizo Taniguchi and the NPO/NGO

appeal to and share with society, the member organi-coordinator Mariko Harada, to produce a video and azations then forming three groups to push forward thebooklet summarizing the contents of the activities

activities. An overall symposium was held to share andcarried out under the three themes. By publishing thesemake an appeal for the Council’s activities, and all ofon the Council’s website, the outcomes of the project

the year’s activities were recorded.

will be freely available for browsing and viewing byinterested individuals at anytime and completely free of

The symposium was not limited to reports on theactivities associated with the three themes, but consist-charge. Furthermore, for positive promotion of infor-

ed of a program that emphasized dialog with themation about the activities of the Council, we have also

participants and learning from each other. As a result,planned to distribute the booklet as a free ebook on

opinions such as “I gained the new viewpoint of making

ebook websites.

use of what has been learned in overseas support inside

The international NGO network organization, theJapan as well”, and “I was able to learn about the kindJapan NGO Center for International Cooperationof relation building that is required for international(JANIC) was commissioned to carry out the duties ofcooperation” were given. The “Declaration of the NGOs

secretariat to ensure support for smooth activities by

Working Towards a Symbiotic Society in Asia” was later

the Council.

Steering Committee of the NGO Council on the Prospects for the Future of Asia
Tamiko Ishiyama, Asia Arsenic Network
Michio Ito, Asia Community Center 21
Masashi Imase, Nara Machizukuri Center
Toshio Shirahata, Shapla Neer—Citizens’ Committee in Japan for Overseas Support (until August 2014)
Toshiyuki Doi, Mekong Watch
Makoto Nagahata, i-i-network
Etsuko Nemoto, Bridge Asia JapanNGO Council on the Prospects for the Future of Asia, Secretariat
Sawako Matsuo, Ayumu Noguchi (Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation)

39

Record of Activities Carried out by
the NGO Council on the Prospects
for the Future of Asia
2014
April 11First Steering Committee meeting held

May 21

Second Steering Committee meeting held

June 13

Third Steering Committee meeting held

July 16

Fourth Steering Committee meeting held

August 20

Fifth Steering Committee meeting held

September 9Water Group: Lecture meeting held at Nika High School,		Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture

September 26

Sixth Steering Committee meeting held

OctoberPartnership Group: Implementation of questionnaire survey on partnership

October 27

Seventh Steering Committee meeting held

October 31

Water Group Round Table Discussion:		What Water Can Teach Us about the Future of Asia and Japan		– Nature, Technology, Community –November 14

Eighth Steering Committee meeting held

December 10

Partnership Group:		Report to the Partnership Promotion Committee of the NGO-Ministry		of Foreign Affairs Regular Consultation Meeting (Nagoya)

December 18

Ninth Steering Committee meeting held

2015
January 9

Tenth Steering Committee meeting held

January 22

Partnership Group Seminar:		Dialog with Private Donor Organizations Based on Examples of		Successful Partnerships. Meeting on the Outcomes of		

the Questionnaire Survey on Partnership

January 31

Community Development Group Workshop:

		

50 Ways to Make the Most of What We Learn from Local		

Communities – Linking Community Development in Japan and Overseas

February2

Eleventh Steering Committee meeting held

February 6

Symposium:		Japanese International NGOs Working Towards a Symbiotic Society in Asia		

– Our Experiences and Appeals –February 10

Twelfth Steering Committee meeting held

March 23

Thirteenth Steering Committee meeting held

March 31

Publication of the booklet

		“Japanese International NGOs Working Towards

		a Symbiotic Society in Asia – Our Experiences and Appeals –”		Establishment of exclusive website for publication of		the outcomes of the activities of this Council:

		http://www.janic.org/asiamirai/

Japanese International NGOs Working Towards a Symbiotic Society in Asia
– Our Experiences and Appeals –Published on 31 March, 2015
Published by the NGO Council on the Prospects for the Future of Asia
Secretariat:
Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC)
5F AVACO Building, 2-3-18 Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN 169-0051
TEL: 03 5292 2911
FAX: 03 5292 2912
Design, Illustrations: hooop (Eishi Takeda, Hanae Achiwa, Sae Shibata)
Printed by Nisshin PR Co., Ltd.
Edited by Mariko Harada, Sawako Matsuo, Ayumu Noguchi

40

Published by the NGO Council on the Prospects for the Future of Asia
Secretariat: Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC)
5F AVACO Building, 2-3-18 Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN 169-0051
TEL: 03 5292 2911, FAX: 03 5292 2912
Published on 31 March, 2015
Publication of this booklet was made possible
by a grant from the Toyota Foundation FY2013 Social Communication Program.