In order to respond appropriately to developing countries’ needs for assistance, which are becoming increasingly diverse and complex, it is essential to utilize not only the resources of the government but also those of the private sector.

In the aftermath of an earthquake in western India in January 2001, emergency humanitarian assistance was provided through the Japan Platform. Working closely with the Japanese firm that developed a large-scale and super-lightweight tent for on-site use, a member NGO of the Japan Platform modified the tent to make it more suitable and easier to use in emergency settings, as a result of which its quality and performance were highly praised in India. Utilizing the superior technology and expertise of Japan’s private sector to make an international contribution is an important facet of achieving “visibility of Japanese aid.”

The provision of expertise includes the “Study on the Economic Development Policy in the Transition toward a Market-Oriented Economy in the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam,” the “Myanmar-Japan Cooperation Programme for Structural Adjustment of the Myanmar Economy,” and “Macroeconomic Policy Support for Socio-Economic Development in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.” In these efforts, government, industry, and academia joined forces to help reform the economic sector in each of these countries. Not only government resources but also the knowledge and experience possessed by industry and academia were utilized in a practical manner to provide assistance. The knowledge and experience gained through the provision of such assistance could, in turn, help invigorate Japan’s domestic industry and academia.

Since fiscal year 2000, moreover, “Project Formulation Studies Based on Private Sector Proposal” have been introduced to apply the knowledge of NGOs and private businesses in locating new assistance projects. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), the financing institute of yen loans, has initiated “Pilot Study,” a proposal-based study scheme. One function of “Pilot Study” is to solicit insightful suggestions from various national resources, such as NGOs, local governments and public institutes, which are expected to bring new concepts and ideas for yen loan projects. A more targeted function of “Pilot Study” aims to identify new projects with the participation of a diverse domestic group of specialists equipped with high-level expertise.

These experimental efforts to incorporate original insights and viewpoints, backed up by the technology and experience of the private sector, into Japan’s ODA activities will become increasingly important from the standpoint of promoting partnerships with the private sector. Such mechanisms need to be strengthened.

As demonstrated by the establishment of “the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria,” there is also an increasingly visible movement in the international community to mobilize private-sector funding as well as other resources (both material and human resources and know-how), in addition to ODA that comes from government expenditures, under the banner of public-private partnerships, to deal with global-scale challenges.

### SECTION 2. PARTICIPATION BY CITIZENS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE (PARTICIPATION)

The movement of people, materials, capital, and information is being conducted on an increasingly global scale, and there is greater cross-