Official Development Assistance (ODA)
Outline of "Water and Sanitation for Broad Partnership Initiative (WASABI)"
March 2006
Government of Japan
About the Initiative
- The Initiative is a sector assistance policy based on the ODA Charter and the Medium-term Policy on ODA.
- It is a policy document showing the basic policies and concrete measures of Japan's assistance on water and sanitation.
- The Government of Japan launched it on the occasion of the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico.
1. Japan's Basic Position
- Water is essential for life and is an extremely important element in achieving the MDGs.
- In the current situation, many people in developing countries don't have access to safe drinking water or basic sanitation.
- Japan has a comparative advantage on water and sanitation, and has implemented $4.6 billion of ODA in the past five years.
- Japan will utilize its experience, expertise, and technology to implement high-quality assistance.
2. Basic Policies
Japan will support the self-help efforts of developing countries on water and sanitation, establishing broad partnerships with international organizations, and other donor countries, etc.
(1) Pursuing the sustainability of water use
- Japan will support the formulation of integrated water resource management (IWRM) plans based on monitoring, forecasting, and evaluation.
- Japan will ensure sustainability through support at both the policy level and the project level.
(2) Emphasizing the "human security" perspective
- Japan will support the self-reliance of people through the participation of inhabitants in the maintenance, management, and operation of infrastructure, and through capacity development.
- Japan will strengthen the capacity of people in dealing with insufficient access to water and risks of natural disasters.
(3) Emphasizing capacity development
- Japan will promote the development of the organizations, policies, systems, information and data, and human resources of the developing countries' governments.
- Japan will promote the development in technological and managerial capacities at the local level.
(4) Pursuing synergistic effects through cross-sectoral measures
- Japan will consider the effects and impact on other sectors from the project formation phase and promote coordination with related sectors.
(5) Considering local conditions and appropriate technology
- Japan will consider local conditions and characteristics with respect to nature, society, and culture etc., and the appropriate technology.
3. Concrete Measures
(1) Promotion of integrated water resource management (IWRM)
Implementation of IWRM; Support for structural development of trans-boundary watercourses
(2) Supply of safe drinking water and sanitation
- Rural communities: Supply of water and sanitation with consideration to local conditions and capacity development
- Urban areas: Utilization of private sector funds to meet large-scale funding needs; Support for transitional measures
(3) Support for water use for food production and other purposes
Multi-faceted use of water including agricultural water, electricity generation, industrial water, and water transport, etc.
(4) Water pollution prevention and ecosystem conservation
Water pollution prevention by sanitary facilities and effluent regulations, etc.; Support for greening and sustainable forest management
(5) Mitigation of damage from water-related disasters
Establishment of early warning systems; Strengthening disaster response capacities of local communities; Infrastructure development including flood control facilities and drought management facilities