Japan's System of Official Development Assistance (PDF)

Until the early 1960s, Japan was a recipient of ODA (official development assistance). Today, and since 1989, Japan is the largest donor of ODA in the world. For 50 of the world's developing nations, in fact, Japan is the most generous donor of development assistance. What does the Japanese ODA system look like and how does it work with overseas partners? Existing publications tend to focus on the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund,and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. However, little is known about the relationships amongst these key institutions and practically no published information exists on the roles and relationships of municipal governments, nongovernmental organizations, and the myriad bodies created by government ministries. Given the complex nature of the Japanese ODA system, a detailed guide to its structure, its players, and its activities is an essential tool for successful international cooperation. This book serves as that guide. For the first time, it brings together under one cover a description of the range of ODA tools available in Japan, from all sectors of Japanese society. It describes the framework in which they operate and the activities in which they are engaged. The book presents a complete conceptual model of the Japanese ODA-delivery system. It provides the reader with a better understanding and appreciation of Japan's contribution to international development and will be a valuable guide to working cooperatively with the Japanese ODA system.