overseas establishments and JICA offices will be strengthened.

## (d) Combination of assistance to governments and to local communities

In the aftermath of conflicts, central and local governments can frequently become dysfunctional. In order to urgently fill the resulting void, Japan will work to achieve the revival of local communities by providing basic social services, such as health and medical services, education, food and water, through assistance at the grassroots level to local communities. At the same time, Japan will strive to restore the functions of government and enable countries to become self-reliant swiftly by assisting in the development of human resources and institution building at the levels of central and local government.

## (e) Assistance to achieve domestic stability and law and order

Even after conflicts have ended, governments often lack the ability to maintain law and order. This can threaten people's safety and impede development activities, and can even lead to the recurrence of conflicts. Therefore, in parallel with humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, Japan will provide assistance with the objective of strengthening law and order and preventing the recurrence of conflicts, for strengthening the police, for social integration of discharged soldiers through job creation, for recovery and destruction of weapons (including landmines and small arms) and for reform of the judicial system. Such assistance will be undertaken in a manner consistent with the ODA Charter.

## (f) Consideration for socially vulnerable people

Rapid protection will be provided to people who are particularly vulnerable to the effects of conflict, such as people with impaired health, women and children, and to people who are direct victims of conflicts. Particular consideration will be given to capacity building for the socially disadvantaged, including mine victims.

## (g) Assistance that includes neighboring countries in its scope

Neighboring countries of conflict may face problems and fall into serious difficulties that arise from such problems as influx of refugees and adverse impact on trade and investment. Neighboring countries may also have close ties with a country in a conflict situation, giving them a political influence and enabling them to act as intermediaries, thus contributing to the resolution of conflicts. Trade and exchanges of people between the country in conflict and neighboring countries often play an important role in regional stability and conflict prevention. On the other hand, it is also common for neighboring countries to support particular parties to a conflict, and the power relations between neighboring countries are often reflected in the rivalries between the factions involved. In light of this, consideration will also be given to providing assistance to neighboring countries with a view to resolving and preventing conflicts and ensuring regional stability.

### 4. Measures to Ensure the Efficient and Effective Implementation of Assistance

## (1) Position on Strengthening Systems for ODA Policy Formulation and Implementation

For efficient and effective implementation of assistance, it is important to strengthen systems for policy formulation and the implementation of ODA so that a coherent approach can be applied from the policy planning stage through to the implementation stage. In the case of the main recipients of Japanese ODA, Japan formulates Country Assistance Programs and assistance policies for priority issues and/or specific sectors in a manner compatible with the development plans of recipient countries and international development goals. In the years ahead, Japan will strengthen policy-making capacity and systems reflecting policy in the formulation, selection and implementation of concrete projects, while enhancing collaboration with other actors, such as international organizations and other bilateral donors. For this purpose, it is crucial to strengthen the functions of agencies in the field, such as Japanese embassies abroad and the overseas offices of aid agencies, which are in a position to most directly analyze the development needs and aid situation bearing in mind the bilateral relations between the recipient country and Japan, and the political, economic and social situation in the recipient country. The Medium-Term Policy identifies concrete actions and systems for strengthening functions at the field level.

## (2) Concrete Actions to Strengthen Functions at the Field Level

Japan has made efforts to strengthen functions at the field level mainly through the use of country-based ODA Task Forces (hereafter ODA-TFs). ODA-TFs consist primarily of Japanese embassies and the local offices of aid agencies such as JICA and JBIC. In order