### ii. Approach to peace-building and specific actions

It must be borne in mind that Japanese assistance for peace-building may be hindered by a variety of obstacles, such as the local security situation and malfunction of government. Therefore, in providing assistance for peace-building, Japan's stance should be to steadily implement what is possible while paying maximum consideration to the safety of those involved in providing assistance.

## (a) Assistance corresponding to various stages before and after conflict

The following forms of support will be provided corresponding to the stage that a country or region is at, ranging from prevention 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