Figure4-2-15 Breakdown of Japan's ODA by Purpose

Source: Japan's ODA on Water – Japan's Contributions to the Resolution of Water Issues (Ministry of Foreign Affairs brochure)

## (2) Organizations, partnerships and measures to tackle water problems

## a) Japanese organizations and measures involved with water problems

As water problems involve policy measures in a variety of fields, the Japanese government organizes a liaison conference among ministries and agencies involved in water problems, bringing together the Cabinet secretariat, one office and 12 ministries and agencies for better policy coordination through exchanges of information and views on water problems at home and overseas. Japan also provides much international support in water and sanitation fields through official development assistance (ODA) (Figure 4-2-15). Aside from the quantity side of Japanese ODA in these fields, which accounts for about 40% of global assistance, the ratio of untied aid is very high, demonstrating the fair and exemplary nature of Japanese assistance.

## b) Task Force on Water Environment Strategies

In January 2010, the Ministry of the Environment established Task Force on Water Environment Strategies, chaired by Parliamentary Secretary of the Environment Nobumori Otani. The taskforce is investigating into policy issues for the conservation of the aquatic environment and also discussing not only domestic administrative issues but also ways of internationally contributing to solving global water problems. Regarding international contributions as of urgency, the taskforce is considering Japan's support for Asia and Africa facing serious water shortages in such areas as water quality purification and sanitation measures.

## c) Water Environment Partnership in Asia

As an initiative proposed by the Ministry of the Environment at the 3rd World Water Forum held in 2003, under the partnership among 11 countries in East Asia, we are providing support for relevant countries in their policy implementation by carrying out construction of information database, information sharing among stakeholders, and human resources development and capacity building in an integrated manner for the purpose of strengthening environmental governance in the region.

The WEPA (Water Environment Partnership in Asia) database Japan provides consists of four databases on “policy information,” “water environment conservation technology,” “information on NGO and CBO activities” and “information on information sources,” offering basic background information for policy development and implementation.

## d) Japan-China water environment partnership

In April 2007, Japan signed the “Joint Statement by Japan and the People's Republic of China on the Further Enhancement of Cooperation for Environmental Protection” with China, where water contamination has become a problem of urgency. The statement, on the first area of bilateral cooperation, says, “Cooperation will be implemented … in particular water pollution prevention measures in vital waters …” In May 2010, the two countries concluded the “memorandum of understanding on the implementation of cooperation in the model project for decentralized wastewater treatment in rural areas, etc.” which called for efforts for the penetration of compact wastewater treatment systems suited to local conditions in each of decentralized rural communities. Under these agreements, the Chinese government is pushing ahead with efforts to spread wastewater treatment systems to rural villages. Japan is cooperating with China in holding seminars and policy dialogue, making demonstrative research on wastewater treatment technology through model projects, evaluation and analysis of outcome, and considering management guidelines and measures to spread these systems.