Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
and joint evaluations with recipients and other donors and organizations, will also be strengthened.

(11) Regional studies of developing countries, studies of development policy, and comprehensive evaluation of ODA will be further promoted.

(12) Full consideration will be given to the active participation of women in development, and to their obtaining benefits from development.

(13) Full consideration will be given to the socially weak, such as the disadvantaged, children and the elderly.

(14) Consideration will be given to redressing the gap between the rich and the poor and the gap among various regions in developing countries.

(15) Japan’s ODA activities will be conducted with full care to see that they do not lead to injustice or corruption in the recipient countries.

### 5. MEASURES TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT AT HOME AND ABROAD

The following measures will be adopted to ensure that ODA is implemented with public understanding both at home and abroad and to secure the participation of the Japanese people.

## (1) Making ODA Information Public

While taking into account such matters as diplomatic relations with recipient countries, more information regarding the ODA activities will be made available to the Diet and to the public.

## (2) Enhancement of Public Relations and Development Education

Organized public relations activities and educational programs on development assistance will be promoted.

### 6. ODA IMPLEMENTATION SYSTEM

## (1) Recruitment, Training and Utilization of Competent Aid Personnel

In order to recruit, train and utilize fully the talents of competent ODA personnel, training institutes of aid experts will be enhanced to foster more development experts, private enterprise consultants and others.

## (2) Ensuring Effective and Efficient Mechanisms to Implement ODA

Communication and consultation between relevant ministries and agencies will be promoted for the effective and efficient implementation of ODA. In addition, cooperation between the two aid-implementing organizations, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) will be intensified. At the same time, the ODA implementation functions of these two organizations will be improved. In order to obtain further cooperation from the private sector, efforts will be made to extend such support to this sector as will appropriately cover the related expenses.

## (3) Ensuring the Safety of ODA Personnel Dispatched Overseas

Continued efforts will be made to safeguard the lives and personal safety of ODA personnel dispatched to developing areas, and to provide necessary assistance in the event of unexpected incidents.
# JAPAN'S MEDIUM-TERM POLICY ON OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE (ODA)

August 10, 1999

## I NTRODUCTION

Humankind has achieved an unprecedented level of development during the second half of the 20th century. In developing countries, average life expectancy has increased by more than 20 years, while adult literacy rates, which in the 1950s stood below 50%, rose to about two-thirds. However, some 1.3 billion people continue to live in extreme poverty, 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe and clean water, and more than 800 million people are suffering the effects of malnutrition and starvation. Clearly much remains to be done. Many countries have taken large strides toward democratization and the implementation of market-oriented economic systems since the end of the Cold War. Yet during the same period, in some regions of the world, conflicts and domestic confrontations have taken on a greater intensity, often instigated by conditions of poverty and lack of development.

With dramatic advances in information technology and economic liberalization, important improvements in economic efficiency have been attained, together with a rapid growth in international interdependence. However, this wave of globalization has left many countries behind, exacerbating the gap between the rich and the poor. The Asian economic crisis of 1997 unveiled the structural vulnerability of developing economies and underlined the need for new assistance. Furthermore, the Asian economic crisis served to spotlight the close and inseparable economic ties between Japan and the East Asian region (including Southeast Asia). As such, Japanese assistance for structural reform, economic rehabilitation, and social stabilization in East Asian countries constitutes an extremely important and direct link to the prosperity of Japan and is also an important factor in the formulation of Japan’s economic policies.

Global warming and other environmental problems could potentially have a negative impact, not only on individual countries but on the Earth in its entirety. Indeed, there are numerous problems that demand a concerted effort on the part of the international community, including the problems of population growth, AIDS, food, energy resources, and drug abuse. These are problems that are intricately linked to the developing world.

With the approach of the 21st century, the industrial countries of the world face the common challenge of supporting developing countries to achieve sustainable and environmentally sound development. As the world’s second largest economy and the largest donor of official development assistance (ODA), Japan shoulders the important responsibility of contributing to sustainable social and economic development in developing countries. This is a role through which Japan can win the confidence and appreciation of the international
other donor countries and international organizations. Furthermore, active support must be given to encouraging and expanding South-South cooperation.

I. Coordination of ODA Programs within the Japanese Government, among Implementing Agencies and with Various Schemes for Aid

— A more effective and efficient system for collaboration and coordination covering the entire government will be created by promoting the sharing of information and a better mutual understanding among government ministries and agencies involved in ODA, through upgrading the level of communications (e.g. the improvement of liaison meetings) among government offices.

— The advantages of the various forms of financial and technical cooperation will be optimally utilized while promoting organic interaction among them. In this process, grassroots grant aid deserves special attention as a form of assistance that directly reaches the people of the recipient country. As such, efforts will be made to expand and more effectively utilize grassroots grant aid for projects, while paying due attention to synergy with other forms of assistance.

— The implementation of cooperation will be centered on the Japan International Cooperation Agency while fully utilizing the knowledge, know-how, and personnel of various government ministries and agencies. Efforts will be made to achieve effective and efficient collaboration and coordination between the Japan International Cooperation Agency and various government ministries and agencies.

### 2. Coordination with Other Official Flows (OOF) and with the Private Sector

Private-sector trade and investment is playing an increasingly important role in the economic development of developing countries. In light of this fact, due attention will be paid to the following points.

— Due attention will be paid to the division of roles and responsibilities with non-ODA other official flows (OOF), $ ^{30} $ trade insurance, and private funds based on their respective objectives, while taking into account the needs and conditions of individual countries.

— Efforts will be made to fully utilize the knowledge and know-how of the Japanese private sector in promoting collaboration with the private sector and due attention will be paid to increasing opportunities of Japanese businesses to participate in ODA projects.

— With regard to developing countries that have achieved accelerated economic growth and that are experiencing substantial inflows of private funds, projects suited to private-sector investment and OOF will be consigned to such forms of cooperation or activities. ODA will be focused on social development and poverty alleviation and will also emphasize the following points.

• Assistance will be provided to economic infrastructure projects that are unsuited to private-sector investment or OOF.

• To promote private-sector investments in projects with strong impacts on development, assistance will be provided to project portions implemented by government organizations in the implementation of tasks deemed necessary for the execution of private-sector initiative projects.

• Support will be provided for the strengthening of human resources de-
— Japan will actively support South-South cooperation, as this is a form of international cooperation in which the developing countries are taking the initiative.

### V. POINTS TO BE FOLLOWED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ODA

I. Understanding of the Conditions in Individual Developing Countries and the Formulation of Country Assistance Programs

— To enhance the impact of ODA, Japan will endeavor to develop a better understanding of the specific conditions in individual developing countries and to provide forms of assistance that match the needs and conditions of developing countries. For this purpose, Japan will actively undertake various types of studies and promote policy dialogue with developing countries.

— Through the coordination of the pertinent ministries and government agencies, Japan will formulate “country assistance programs” based on current “country assistance policies.” These country assistance programs will be formulated for major recipient countries of Japanese ODA and will specify the significance of the assistance provided by Japan, its basic objectives, the priority issues and fields, and the form of assistance to be deployed. These formulations will be based on a time frame of approximately five years.

— Country assistance programs will take an integrated approach to all forms of assistance and will take into account coordination and collaboration with other donor countries and international organizations, and collaboration with the private sector.

— Japanese diplomatic missions and the local offices of ODA implementing agencies will be more actively utilized, as they are in the best position to grasp the situations of and needs in developing countries.

2. Preliminary Studies, Environmental Considerations, Monitoring of Implementation, and Ex-Post Evaluation

## (I) Preliminary Studies and Environmental Considerations

— To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of ODA, preliminary studies will be conducted in accordance with country assistance programs to identify, formulate, and select appropriate projects. This process will be coordinated by maintaining close contact among related offices and, where applicable, the necessary adjustments will be made to avoid redundancies in preliminary studies conducted by ministries, government agencies, and related organizations.

— When necessary, rigorous examinations will be undertaken in accordance with environmental guidelines to assess the impact of assistance projects on the environment and regional communities. Appropriate measures will be taken in response to the findings. Depending on the assessed environmental impact, a proposed project may be canceled. To ensure that the proposed project contributes appropriately to sustainable development, alternative proposals will be formulated when necessary.

— In taking environmental matters into consideration, due attention will be paid to the importance of local participation and information disclosure in line with existing systems and situations in recipient countries. Procedures and standards pertaining to environmental considerations will be reviewed and improved as necessary.
### 4. Promoting Public Understanding and Participation

To establish broader understanding and support for ODA, it will be necessary to promote public relations activities, the disclosure of information both domestically and abroad, and enlist the cooperation of the various strata of society and organizations in project implementation. From the perspective of increasing national involvement in and visibility of Japanese aid, it will be extremely important to expand Japan’s personnel contribution to the international community by effectively utilizing Japan’s own human resources.

In light of the above, due attention will be paid to the following points.

— Efforts will be made to enlist the cooperation and participation of private enterprises, local governments, NGOs, labor and management organizations, and other members of society in the implementation of ODA.

— Given the growing interest of the Japanese public in development assistance, the cooperation and participation of various age groups, extending from youth to senior citizens, will be enlisted in the implementation of ODA.

— In addition to providing support for NGO activities, ODA projects and related tasks will be more extensively consigned to NGOs, universities, think tanks and other organizations. Similarly, efforts will be made to further promote the participation of local governments in development projects.

— Efforts will be made to increase public relations for Japan’s ODA activities, both domestically and abroad.

### 5. Promoting Information Disclosure

Japan’s disclosure of ODA information has received high marks in the international community as evidenced by the “Peer Review Report on Japan’s ODA” (1995) compiled by the OECD’s DAC. However, further progress must be made in disclosing information to the public in order to gain support and understanding.

In light of the above, due attention will be paid to the following points.

— From the perspective of providing access to integrated information, efforts will be made to improve the content of annual reports on Japan’s ODA.

— Further efforts will be made to disclose information pertaining to project tender processes and individual projects.

— Transparency of assistance will be improved through the preparation and publication of a long list of ODA loan candidate projects.

— In addition to expanding the scope of information disclosure, efforts will be made to render the information more understandable and easier to use. For this purpose, the available of ODA information over the Internet will be expanded.

— Information will be supplied to the national media as well as to the local media and local communities.

— In view of the fact that the public does not have direct access to overseas ODA sites, efforts will be made to create opportunities enabling the Japanese public to come into contact with ODA projects.
### 5. Africa

29: Support for poverty alleviation programs and social development in Africa

At TICAD II, held in October 1998, Japan announced that it would provide grant aid amounting to ¥90 billion over a five-year period for education, health and medical services, and water supply development.

### I V. METHODS OF AID

2. Coordination with Other Official Flows (OOF) and with the Private Sector

## 30 : Other Official Flows (OOF)

This refers to non-ODA government-funded economic cooperation provided to developing countries. Included in OOF are export financing and loans for direct foreign investment provided to the private sector by the Export-Import Bank of Japan and the Bank of Japan’s purchase of bonds issued by the World Bank.

### 4. Coordination with Other Donor Countries and International Organizations

## 31 : Sector program

Under this approach, a recipient country takes the initiative in formulating a development plan for a specific sector (such as education, health and medical care). The plan is then discussed by the recipient country and the agencies of donor countries, and necessary adjustments are made.

## 32 : Japan-US Common Agenda

This refers to common issues identified by Japan and the United States from a global perspective for assisting the development of developing countries. The Common Agenda, launched in July 1993, provides for joint Japan-US action with regard to global-scale problems such as the environment, population, and health and medical services. Currently, various types of projects are being implemented in 18 different fields, which come under the following four major concerns: “promoting health and human development,” “responding to challenges to the stability of human society,” “protection of the global environment,” and “the advance of science and technology.” Activities in these fields are reviewed in annual plenary meetings held at the deputy-ministerial level.

### 5. Support for South-South Cooperation

## 33 : Support for South-South cooperation

Japan has taken advantage of various opportunities to promote South-South cooperation. For instance, Japan held a meeting for “emerging donors” (developing countries who have made progress in economic development and are simultaneously aid recipients and aid donors) to discuss future directions. This South-South Cooperation Meeting was held in May 1998 in Okinawa. At the 2nd International Conference on African Development (TICAD II) hosted by Japan in October 1998, a decision was made to promote Asian-African cooperation as a concrete form of South-South cooperation. In fiscal 1997, Japan contributed $4 million to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to support South-South cooperation through UNDP.
# FINAL REPORT OF THE SECOND CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON ODA REFORM

MARCH 29, 2002

What is currently required of Japan’s ODA is to introduce concrete measures to positively draw out the potential eagerness and ability of the Japanese people and to develop these traits. The very focus of the reform is how to reflect, in ODA, the mind, intellect and vitality of the Japanese people directed toward people in developing countries. It is necessary, in addition, to further enhance the transparency of ODA and to ensure accountability to the Japanese people.

This Final Report, the central concept of which is public participation, indicates concrete measures for finding, fostering and utilizing human resources incorporated into ODA. It also proposes that a “Board on Comprehensive ODA Strategy” be established to actively absorb various people’s expertise, and to effectively implement ODA on a priority basis. Furthermore, this report seeks a setup for implementing ODA through public participation. The Final Report’s proposal consists of the following three recommendations:

I. ODA totally utilizing the mind, intellect and vitality of the Japanese people;

II. Prioritized and effective ODA with a strategy;

III. Drastic improvement of the ODA implementing system.

I. ODA TOTALLY UTILIZING THE MIND,

INTELLECT AND VITALITY OF THE JAPANESE

PEOPLE

Although the Japanese economy continues to slump, and public interest is focused on domestic issues, the Japanese people’s eagerness to help poverty-stricken countries and people has not diminished, as has been seen in its support of reconstruction assistance for Afghanistan.

ODA based on public participation emphasizes the Japanese people’s thoughts. It is necessary to strive to set up a mechanism under which the intellect and vitality which are latent in people of various backgrounds and fields can be brought out and reflected in the ODA policy. In order to do so, it is first necessary to incorporate development education, $ ^{1} $ second, to find and foster human resources that will contribute to international cooperation and, third, to create a dynamic mechanism to utilize these human resources.

### I. Finding and Fostering of Development Personnel

Development education can help heighten children’s awareness of humanity and the world, and this can promote the understanding
of, and participation in, international cooperation including ODA. Development education can serve as an incubator to foster eagerness for international cooperation. In view of this, it is necessary to provide young people who are willing to participate in international cooperation with opportunities such as internships, training and research, thereby positively rearing development personnel who can take an active role both domestically and internationally in the development field.

With respect to finding and fostering development personnel, the final report of the First Consultative Committee on ODA Reform $ ^{2} $ made concrete proposals including positioning development education in a school education curriculum. This Committee calls for immediate actions to undertake the not-yet enforced tasks and also suggests the following points.

Reform proposals this committee calls for include actions to:

— Strive to improve development education in compulsory school education;

— Introduce programs that enable teaching staff engaged in development education to gain actual experience in developing countries, including improvement and reinforcement of the system for special participation of incumbent teachers in the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCVs), and also set up a mechanism designed to supply information on development education to such teaching staff;

— Take steps to positively utilize those with experience such as JOCVs, senior overseas volunteers and NGO members in development education throughout Japan;

— Expand internship programs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ODA implementing agencies for a certain period to accommodate those people greatly interested in development and eager to be engaged in development activities in the future;

— Create human resources development programs for undergraduate and graduate students (for instance, allowing universities to recognize and give academic credits for training in developing countries and ODA implementing agencies);

— Establish a quota in the JOCV program for undergraduate and graduate students, and recognize their experience as JOCVs as academic credits.

### 2. Effective Utilization of Existing Human Resources and Technology

In Japan, there has been a growing number of people with expertise and various experience in specific sectors, countries and regions. There are also senior people, who have previously participated in various forms of development activities in Japan and abroad and are willing to continue being active in the field.

It is necessary to immediately build up a system to effectively find, foster and utilise existing human resources. In doing so, partnership with NGOs and enterprises should be strengthened through personnel exchanges. In implementing ODA, the know-how and techniques of NGOs and enterprises should be used.