NGO aid activities.

-Collaboration and cooperation with NGOs will be strengthened through various means, such as the contracting-out of projects and the utilization of NGO personnel and know-how.

-Support will be provided to strengthen the base of Japanese NGOs involved in the implementation of aid activities.

-Efforts will be made to promote the participation of persons with experience in the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers and NGO activities, in the implementation of ODA projects.

It is necessary to strengthen collaborative relations with local governments that have a wealth of technical know-how and experiences in fields closely linked to everyday life of the people or that are involved in personnel exchanges with developing countries through sister-city arrangements. The active utilization of the know-how of local governments can facilitate more effective assistance and is extremely beneficial in terms of developing public participation in aid activities.

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

-Efforts will be made to actively utilize the experience, know-how, and personnel of local governments and to effectively support the cooperative activities of local governments.

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

In order to achieve greater effectiveness and efficiency in ODA implementation, it is necessary for Japan to develop closer ties of collaboration and cooperation with other donor countries and international organizations. Such initiatives must go beyond the avoidance of redundancy in aid and must aim to achieve significant synergy. In this process, it is also important to assist developing countries to enhance their coordinating capacities as aid recipients.

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

-As a leading contributor of funds to international organizations, Japan will endeavor to take greater initiative and to influence the management of these organizations in the direction of its basic policies.

-Japan will pursue the possibility of collaboration and cooperation with other donor countries and international organizations in fields where those countries and organizations are especially experienced and enjoy advantages.

-With regard to the coordination of ODA programs, Japan will continue to participate in and contribute to existing coordination mechanisms, including sector programs coordination, which center on international organizations, taking into consideration the primary role of recipient countries. $ ^{*31} $

-Japan will actively promote cooperation through collaboration and the exchange of information and opinions with governments of recipient countries, other donor countries, and aid agencies. Japan will also pursue this objective through bilateral consultation with other donor countries, such as through the Japan-US Common Agenda, $ ^{*32} $ and through collaboration with international organizations.

### 5. Support for South-South Cooperation

The development of developing countries is a challenge that should be addressed by the entire international community. As such, donor nations should not be limited to industrial countries. Rather, it is desirable for more advanced developing countries and developing countries with adequate experiences and technologies to actively participate in helping other developing countries. This form of assistance will contribute to bolstering global aid resources and will also stimulate intra- and inter-regional cooperation.

Development assistance provided by developing countries, or "South-South cooperation," $ ^{**33} $ can be particularly effective in facilitating the transfer of technologies between countries at similar stages of development or that have common backgrounds, such as language and culture. Moreover, South-South cooperation can result in significant cost reductions when undertaken between neighboring countries.

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

-Japan will actively support South-South cooperation, as this is a form of international cooperation in which the developing countries are taking the initiative.