JAPAN-CANADA COOPERATION ON ODA
Tokyo, January 31, 2003
Mr. Hajime Furuta (Director-General of the Economic Cooperation Bureau (ECB), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan) and Mr. Len Good (President, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)) today held bilateral aid policy consultations in Tokyo. They followed up Japan-Canada cooperation on ODA and discussed wide-ranging development issues. In light of the changing global challenges especially after September 11th 2001, both sides confirmed the importance of further strengthening their partnership in the area of ODA.
Japan and Canada explored the possibility of closer cooperation in this framework outlined below, with the aim of responding more effectively and efficiently to the new development challenges the world is facing.
Goals and Objectives
The overall goal of Canada-Japan cooperation on ODA is to establish a strong donor partnership in order to advance common ODA objectives in a new global situation. ECB and CIDA intend to work together to pursue the following objectives:
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Identify areas and countries of mutual concern and explore ways of cooperation in a mutually complementary manner;
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Strengthen existing mechanisms for cooperation, including regular aid policy consultations both at each capital and in the field, and through personnel exchanges;
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Promote and support relationships between various Japanese and Canadian institutions and individuals working in the field of development cooperation;
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Pursue the implementation of on-going joint project(s), and share lessons learned from such project(s).
Possible Areas of cooperation
The possible areas of cooperation between ECB and CIDA include:
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Consolidation of peace, peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction;
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Human security issues (water, education, health, etc);
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Cooperation between Japanese and Canadian NGOs.
These areas can be reviewed and modified at a later stage.
Forms of Cooperation
The future cooperation can be fostered through the following forms:
1. Strengthened Policy Dialogues-
Annual CIDA/MOFA and CIDA/JICA aid policy consultations;
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Cooperation at international fora in the areas where each side can support the other's position.
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Exchanging knowledge and experiences at various levels and exploring areas of cooperation where complementarity exists;
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Continuing the personnel exchange programme between JICA and CIDA.
ECB and CIDA recognize the need to develop closer relations in the field. Their representatives in the field can be encouraged to promote exchanges of views on each country's development policy, and explore ways of cooperation in those areas identified by the aid policy consultations.
| Hajime Furuta Director General Economic Cooperation Bureau Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Japan |
Len Good President Canadian International Development Agency Canada |
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