and “Student Thesis Contests” for undergraduate and graduate students.

## (c) Enhancing Dissemination of Information to the International Community

In addition to public relations within Japan, it is also important that Japan’s active international contribution through ODA is correctly understood and supported overseas. Traditionally, with the objective of having Japan’s assistance and contribution in individual projects overseas evaluated correctly, Japan has participated in interviews with the local press in addition to offering press releases at signings and handover ceremonies, attaching Japanese flag stickers (in English and Arabic) and the Japanese ODA logo (in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, and Chinese) to goods supplied through assistance, and setting up signboards next to buildings completed through assistance.

Japanese overseas diplomatic missions have arranged visits to Japan’s ODA project sites for the local press and created opportunities for the local media to gather information on Japan’s cooperation projects. Furthermore, Japanese embassies disseminated information via various lectures, websites, e-mail bulletins in both English and local languages. Various pamphlets concerning Japan’s international cooperation are also produced. To other donor countries and organizations, Japan takes active measures to disseminate information through daily diplomatic efforts and international conferences, as well as through various symposiums, seminars, and websites.

Japanese flag sticker (in Arabic)

Japanese ODA logo (in Portuguese)

### 3. Matters Essential to Effective Implementation

## (1) Enhancement of Evaluation

In order to implement ODA more effectively and efficiently, it is important to get appropriate and accurate knowledge of the implementation process and the effects in order to improve them when necessary. It is also important to explain to taxpayers how ODA is used and how effective it is. To this end, relevant ministries and agencies including MOFA as well as implementing agencies such as JICA conduct monitoring and evaluation.

ODA evaluation is positioned in the framework of PDCA Cycle (Plan → Do → Check → Act). The evaluation results provide feedback to the departments in charge and Japanese embassies overseas, so as to contribute to improving the formulation and implementation of ODA policy. The results are also conveyed to the parties concerned in recipient countries and released to the general public through websites and other resources to ensure accountability.

Further, the ODA Evaluation Workshop is held each year to improve the evaluation capability of developing countries and systematize results-oriented evaluation, with the participation of various Asian countries and international organizations. In 2007 it was jointly held in Kuala Lumpur with the government of Malaysia (with MOfA and the former JICA and JBIC as the Japanese side).

PDCA cycle

## Policy-level and Program-level Evaluations

Evaluations conducted by MOFA focus particularly on policy-level evaluations (country policy evaluations and priority issue evaluations) and program-level evaluations (sectors and aid modalities). In 2007, country evaluations verified the assistance for Sri Lanka, Indonesia, China,