of conflict or its recurrence, the immediate post-conflict stage to restoration, reconstruction, and mid to long-term development.

## (i) Assistance to prevent the occurrence and recurrence of conflicts

In countries at risk of conflict and in countries that are socially unstable in the aftermath of conflict, it is especially important to provide development assistance that gives full consideration to conflict prevention. Target regions and aid recipients should be selected after first accurately analyzing the causes of the conflict taking into account the historical and cultural background, and care should be taken to avoid fomenting conflicts, for example through biased selection of aid recipients. Furthermore, dialogue and cooperation between opposing groups can be fostered through, for example, the implementation of regional cooperation projects in non-political fields, such as environmental protection and infrastructure development. In order to prevent conflicts, it is also important to prevent arms proliferation. Japan will therefore provide assistance to enable developing countries to strengthen import and export controls, prevent illicit traffic of weapons, and develop their legal systems, etc.

## (ii) Emergency humanitarian assistance required in the immediate aftermath of conflicts

In order for victims of conflict, such as refugees and internally displaced persons, to protect their own lives and livelihoods in the immediate aftermath of conflicts, emergency humanitarian assistance needs to be delivered rapidly and effectively so as to meet minimum requirements for food, clothing and shelter. Japan will therefore provide emergency humanitarian assistance for the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons, and provide assistance in areas such as shelter, food, water, sanitation, public health, and education.

## (iii) Post-conflict reconstruction assistance

The reconstruction assistance should develop the conditions to bring social and economic activities back on track by rebuilding social capital destroyed by conflict, such as hospitals, schools, roads, public transport, water supply and sewerage systems and energy facilities, while assisting the development of human resources. Japan will therefore support the rebuilding of social capital, give electoral assistance so as to restore the administrative functions of government, provide support for the development of legislation, and give media support to foster democratization.

## (iv) Medium- to long-term development assistance

Medium- to long-term development assistance is required to keep development on track. Japan will therefore provide a wide range of assistance designed to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable growth.

## (b) Coherent assistance

It is essential that assistance for peace-building be implemented in a seamless and coherent manner corresponding to needs at each stage before and after conflict. It is therefore necessary to accurately analyze the needs that arise from the immediate post-conflict stage to the stage of medium- to long-term assistance. Japan will accordingly strive to have adequate communication with interested parties such as the government and aid agencies in recipient countries, determine concrete needs, formulate projects, and share Japan's philosophy and other matters related to its ODA. Japan will undertake emergency development surveys that formulate both reconstruction programs and immediate reconstruction projects, and be prepared to make use of information that has been gained from such surveys at the necessary time. Japan will in addition work to ensure a smooth transition from emergency humanitarian assistance to subsequent reconstruction development cooperation, and to eliminate as far as possible the gap that tends to occur between the two.

## (c) Rapid and effective assistance

Conflict gives rise to a variety of problems, such as the generation of large numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons, destruction of infrastructure, collapse of the governing structure, food shortages, poverty, and epidemics. At such times of crisis, rapid action is required to protect human lives and livelihoods. Japan will therefore work in collaboration with international and regional organizations, domestic and international NGOs, and others in order to deliver aid more effectively.

For Japan to engage actively and effectively in peace-building in the years ahead, developing the human resources needed to provide peace-building assistance is crucial. Various kinds of training will therefore be provided for JICA personnel and specialists, consultants, NGOs, and other personnel involved in the provision of ODA. In addition, flexible use will be made of forms of cooperation suited to the security situation. Security training will be provided to persons dispatched to provide peace-building assistance. Systems will be developed to enable personnel to be dispatched swiftly when required, and the capacity of